I haven't posted here in a long time, but I've been a reader of BE since a little before the reunion. I figured a good way to get back into posting would be to review the new album.
Between the Lines - 3/5 - I really didn't dig this song at first, but after about a month of exposure, I could hear the redeeming qualities. This is, though, the weakest STP opener thus far, counting Pop's Love Suicide instead of Press Play.
Take a Load Off - 4/5 - Best rocker on the album, and the only song to scream STP to me upon initial listen. I'm not the biggest fan of the overproduction, and see why it's a turn-off for a lot of listeners. All that being said, I don't think this song would ever punch its way into the mainstream charts if released as a single.
Huckleberry Crumble - 1/5 - Dean's guitar work and the bridge before the solo are the only positive aspects of the tune. Maybe it's because I was never a fan of Aerosmith, but it seems like they purposely tried to sound just like them.
Hickory Dichotomy - 3/5 - I really dig the country vibes mixed in with Scott's Johnny Rotten impression during the verse. Other than that, a solid album filler. Not particularly memorable, but certainly not something to skip over.
Dare if You Dare - 2/5 - Boring song. Awful refrain. Good solo. I'll be skipping over this one. Also, just a general comment, but did the mix Rob completely out of this album. A solid noodly base line from Rob would've improved this song a great deal.
Cinnamon - 2/5 - STP and adult contemporary mashed together. Not a bad tune, but repetitive lyrics kill this one for me. This'll be a hit if released. This is what music today demands.
Hazy Daze - 3/5 - I like this one, but the guitar is the best and worst aspect here. Little overdone during the refrain, but solid throughout the rest of the song. I could've lived without the fuzz on it, as well.
Bagman - 2/5 - Scott really does well during this song, other than the, "Bagman, honey..." bits. Everything else is pretty forgettable.
Peacoat - 4/5 - I don't dig the lyrics, but the song has a good, memorable riff. Wish more of the album had the balls this one has. The mixing didn't do this track justice.
Fast As You Can - 3/5 - Could've been a real rocker, but the mixing castrated this one. This one begs to have heavier guitar and bass.
First Kiss on Mars - 2/5 - The music's not bad, but Scott's Bowie has always been pretty low on my desire to hear scale. Total outtake from Happy, or at least it feels that way. I think this may have been a victim of the separate writing.
Maver - 5/5 - The only real winner on this album. Beautiful music, good vocals. They may have limped into the album with Between the Lines, but the closed it just the way they should have. I personally hope this isn't a single; I'd like it to remain an unknown gem like Atlanta.
Overall - 3/5 - This is a good album, especially based on what we're all used to hearing in today's rock climate. For STP, this was a miss. Their worst release thus far because I'm skipping over way too many tracks when I listen to this album. Every other album I can listen straight through without my finger on the 'Next' button. Also, I think this album is the death of the heavy-hitting, punch-you-in-the-mouth STP from No. 4.
The mixing was awful. Rob and Dean are great musicians, but it just doesn't translate over to mixing and producing. The bass, which has been one of the strongest aspects of their work in the past, was almost non-existent in the one. The guitar got the spotlight more, a good thing, but keep the bass in there too. They can coexist.
Finally, the general feeling of this album, to me, was to be a bunch of radio-friendly hits. While I don't really dig a lot of the tracks on this one, I could see them being commercially successful. Melodic choruses, lazy riffs, but they all have that quality that makes them feel like they would do well in today's music climate. It's nice to have new STP, but I wish I wouldn't have gotten my hopes up for a rocker like the band kept saying it was.
