7/12/08
Ben Rayner
Pop Music Critic
Oh, what difference hindsight makes.
Once reviled as alt-rock poseurs and Pearl Jam copyists, Stone Temple Pilots stuck around long enough to gain the grudging respect of their former enemies before parting ways a few years ago.
Now reunited with its wayward lead singer, Scott Weiland – who's been slumming in Velvet Revolver for the past few years – the band is arguably the highlight of today's not-bad Edgefest lineup at Downsview Park (for more info, see tinyurl.com/6dk5eo).
STP's impressive catalogue of hits never went away in its absence, though, suggesting that guitarist Dean DeLeo was on the money a few years ago when he ventured to me: "I think we've written a few songs that you'll still be hearing on the radio 25 years from now. We'll make a pretty good Rhino Records collection." Let's take up the argument again today:
10
Scott Weiland
Not only is ol' Snake Hips a dynamite frontman, he also looks freakin' great for a repeat offender with a self-destructive thirst for hard drugs.
"I live my life the way I live my life," he told the Los Angeles Times this week. "I don't have to make any apologies."
Just say "yes," kids!
9
"Vasoline"
You knew something good was up with Stone Temple Pilots when this towering riff-rocker rumbled out as the lead single to their fine second album, Purple.
8
"Creep"
They stole the title from Radiohead and the melody could be accused of biting Pearl Jam, but Weiland's sensitive-boy bellowing on the chorus ("I'm half the man I used to be!") is pretty indelible.
7
They're an ass-whuppin' live band
Seeing STP perform was what initially settled my own internal debate about them. They write big, arena-ready rock songs and they know how to wield 'em properly. Plus, they've got a bewitching girly-boy prancing around in front of them the whole time.
6
"Big Bang Baby"
This glam-bang track came as a bit of a surprise at the time, but now makes total sense as an early assertion of Weiland's true colours. The rest of the band always seemed less at ease with their inner Bowies, but its singer had obviously spent a lot of time staring at the cover of Aladdin Sane.
5
"Big Empty"
The prom ballad.
4
They were the first band to be accused of ripping off Pearl Jam
They'd shake off some of those criticisms soon enough, but even if Stone Temple Pilots had never properly earned its stripes, at least it got in line ahead of Creed, Days of the New, Staind and the rest of the horrors to come.
Take that, Scott Stapp!
3
"Interstate Love Song"
Unapologetic, AM-ready classic rock. It just sounds like it's been around forever. But in a good way.
2
"Down"
Sludgy metallo-rocker from 1999's No. 4, the STP record most audibly scarred by the Weiland-related turmoil within the band.
1
"Sour Girl"
Because every band eventually writes a song that your mother will like, too. And wasn't that Buffy the Vampire Slayer frolicking with Weiland in the video? Mmm.
