I decided to sit on the single for a few days prior to giving my opinion. Here goes:
Upon my first listen to the song, I had mixed feelings. Immediately, it sounded like a throw away track from one of the older albums, something like “Church on Tuesday” or another one that sort of slips by that is mediocre that we forget about. I will admit the more that I listen to the song the more I enjoy it. However, I am very far from loving it.
I actually see me not loving it right away as sort of a problem and I will explain why. When I used to buy STP albums, there was an immediate sentimental attachment to most of the songs. I loved each album on its own and was assured repeatedly (even with Scott’s solo work) that these people were my favorite musicians and the way their music made me feel was the sole reason. I felt this way with No. 4 especially when “Atlanta” was the finale. I remember buying the album, rushing home, and I listened to it over and over. I listened to that song in particular over and over and it was one that I fell in love with immediately. I was so proud of STP that they had gone through so much even at that time and could still create such beauty. Most of the songs on No. 4 are complete masterpieces to me as with SLDD. When I came upon the self-titled album and High Rise, I thought they were complete duds and a lot of this has to do with the musical style STP seemed to be embracing, which was very different from any of their past material. People have often said that bands evolve and to get used to the new sound. However, this is not evolving, it is devolving in my view. I am sad to think I will never feel the way I used to feel about STP.
When I hear the new single, I am still hearing elements of that self-titled era that mashes sounds together with really fast guitar riffs, forcing the singer to jumble words. “Between the Lines” is a great example of this new style I am talking about. We barely understand Scott there and it just seems like a big mess. Listen to that song and then “Wonderful” and you have two completely different bands. However, the new single is absolutely saved by the chorus itself. To me, it makes the entire song and is a part of the song I keep going back to, which is probably natural with music in general.
Me personally, I want the Deleos to discontinue this fast riff jumble thing I’ve been seeing lately, which I know people will mock me for saying. Their past albums have been a nice spread of ballads, mixed with fast songs, and then some that are sort of both (Still Remains and Adhesive). This single is good, but I (Just like everyone else) need to hear much more before I can really comment on this movement as a whole.
