I’ve been absorbing the record for the last few days. It’s bittersweet for me. On one hand, I’m happy to hear this sound again. I’ve always loved this band and am very happy to see them making music again. On the other hand, it kind of reopens that wound that Scott is indeed gone and never coming back. That’s just me though.
That aside, I think it’s a very good rock album. Vocally, I think Jeff has enough Scott-isms to make it sound familiar. Some moments the resemblance is uncanny. While some folks might use that as a criticism, I actually appreciate it. I wouldn’t want STP to sound like a vastly different band vocally. The writing is quality as well, especially for the first go-around with Jeff. I hope this incarnation lasts and brings us more music. I also hope they consider working with an outside producer next time. Ideally, Brendan, but if not, there are other guys out there that could be cool, ie: Dave Cobb or someone like that.
As has been said, I’d shuffle the order a bit, but that’s their call of course. The cool thing about digital media is that we can sort it any way we like.
I was waiting for a song to blow me away, and upon first listen it didn’t really do that, but after repeated listens, this indeed has a very classic STP sound all over the album. I can see some of these finding their place in the STP pantheon.
The “ballads” are always great. “The Art of Letting Go” and “Thought She’d Be Mine” especially being top dog. Dean’s solos on those two are his best in a long while. I love his work on “Six Eight” too. Surprised more folks haven’t jumped all over that.
There are only a couple songs that I can take or leave, like Guilty and Good Shoes…meh. They’re just there. I would take the bonus tracks over those. But anyway, overall, this is more than solid. It’s an encouraging return.
It’s easy to give Jeff grief because of the “contestant” angle, but I’m beyond that. In today’s music biz, he was just trying to do what he could to get noticed. I don’t fault him for it. I hope fans give these songs an unbiased listen. They are more than deserving of it.