The 5 We have heard so far

[Core76]

What does everyone think of the 5 songs we heard so far off the new album?

Here is how I rate them
1. Between the lines 5/5
2. Huckleberry 5/5
3. Bagman 5/5
4. Hickory 3/5 .... The vocals on the verses is what hurts this one for me. Kinda a b-52's thing going on vocal-wise lol.
5. Take a load off 3.5/5

[Ivy]

Take A Load Off 5/5
Huckleberry Crumber 4.8/5
Hickory Dichotomy 4.0/5
Between the Lines 3.5/5
Bagman 3/5

[Jim The Stimulator]

Take A Load Off 5/5
Huckleberry Crumber 4/5
Hickory Dichotomy 4.5/5
Between the Lines 5/5
Bagman 3/5

[Tyrant]

Take A Load Off 5/5
Bagman 5/5
Huckleberry Crumble 4.5/5
Hickory Dichotomy 4.5/5
Between the Lines 3/5

[Rogienatural34]

For me, and I stress that:

 A rating of 5 would equate to a classic song.   You can't get better than a 5.

Are these songs really on that level?

5's are those are songs that don't HAVE to be hits (but most likely are among favorites of fans).  E.G.  Crackerman, Dead and Bloated.  Most STP fans I know love those songs.  Trippin...even lesser knowns that are just really well done like Kitchenware and Candybars, Atlanta, Seven Caged Tigers, Tumble in the Rough...just great STP songs that everyone loves.  Also songs like Vasoline, Wicked Garden (the monsters).

Having said that, here's how I would rate the songs I have heard, in terms of how they excite me and what kind of staying power they'd have.

Between The Lines 4.5/5
Take a Load Off  3.5/5
Huckleberry Crumble 3.5/5
Hickory Dichotomy 3/5
Bagman 2.5/5


I like these songs, don't get me wrong.  I'm just not going apeshit over them.
Solid rock songs.

Edit:  A reminder, who am I to dictate a ratings scale?  Everyone has their own based on their feelings and the way the song moves them.  This is strictly opinion-based.

[Unglued]

I will just rannk them in order of preference.

1. Take a load off - A solid song all around IMO
2. BTL. - love the chorus.
3. Bagman but mostly because of the bridge.
4. HD
5. HC - Again I like the bridge much more than the rest of the song.

[disasterami]

Between The Lines- 5/5 (Just love it from the complete drums to the final solo, everything about it actually)
Hickory Dichotomy- 4/5 (should eventually grow on me fine, actually like the verses)
Bagman- 4.5/5 (Love the Crash, the Bridge, The solo and the alternate lines in the chorus)
Huckleberry Crumble- 5/5 (I'm Feelin' Like Im Pullin' Away, Yeah! The bassline and Dean's all the way thru solo)
Take A Load Off- 5/5 (The melodies, the bassline, its complete, but short as well)

[roughtumble]

I think "Hickory" is the best of the bunch, but let's be honest: it's not that great. I wish STP had recorded "Let It Roll," "Get Out the Door," "She Mine," and "Mary Mary" for this album, because I can't picture any of the other songs being better than those. This is my opinion based on the 5 songs and the 30-sec clips I've heard, so it could change. Hopefully. Especially if "Cinnamon" lives up to its hype.

[Shannon]

In order

1. Hickory Dichotomy : Just love the overall flow of the song. It gets stuck in my head for hours at a time.
2. Huckleberry Crumble: The vocals are great, and Dean's guitar is just AMAZING throughout this song. The constant crazy riffs he throws in give the song a great crunch-sound.
3. Between The Lines: Another song that gets stuck in my head for hours. The lyrics and vocals are great. Dean's solo here is insane (as expected), and Rob's bass lines seem to just flow perfectly into the song. Its just a great job on everyones part on writing this tune.
4. Take a Load Off: Definitely feeling a little Purple and Shangri in this tune. Honestly, I think Scotts vocals are giving out more of a purple sound, while the guitars are giving the Shangri sound. They sound great, and it sounds like classic STP.
5. Bagman: More classic STP. Has a catchy, bouncy riff that gets stuck in your head as well. Only thing that bothers me is the song itself gets somewhat repetitive. But still pretty good.

[EyesOfDisarray]

Take a Load Off      4.5/5
Hickory Dichotomy   4/5
Huckleberry Crumble   3.5/5
Between the Lines   3.5/5
Batman         3/5

[detomaso]

For me, and I stress that:
 A rating of 5 would equate to a classic song.   You can't get better than a 5.

Like you, I'm a tough critic. A 5 is a perfect song.:

Between The Lines 3.5 - excellent except for the "Dylan" voice (video is superb)
Take a Load Off  4.0 - excellent, I might even raise this after repeated listens
Huckleberry Crumble 3.0 - good, just not great
Hickory Dichotomy 2.5 - nice chorus, but I HATE the twangy verses
Bagman 3.5 - very catchy

[Rogienatural34]

Take a Load Off      4.5/5
Hickory Dichotomy   4/5
Huckleberry Crumble   3.5/5
Between the Lines   3.5/5
Batman         3/5

LOL Batman

[Rogienatural34]

For me, and I stress that:
 A rating of 5 would equate to a classic song.   You can't get better than a 5.

Like you, I'm a tough critic. A 5 is a perfect song.:

Between The Lines 3.5 - excellent except for the "Dylan" voice (video is superb)
Take a Load Off  4.0 - excellent, I might even raise this after repeated listens
Huckleberry Crumble 3.0 - good, just not great
Hickory Dichotomy 2.5 - nice chorus, but I HATE the twangy verses
Bagman 3.5 - very catchy

I'm just trying to be honest with myself.  All too often I find that I am in denial about new material from my preferred bands.  My two favorites are Incubus and STP.  When the latest Incubus material came out (Light Grenades), I was all gung ho.  After a few years, I regarded some of the material as lazy.

With the new album from STP, I am very inclined to think the recording process was forced, and that it doesn't matter how they try to sell the studio separation.  With STP being a band I'll always adore, I know that I will enjoy the new material by default.  Therefore I don't mind being a bit critical.  I can't help but think that by not collaborating with each other during the most creative stage of the song production, the concepts may have not reached their full potential.  Who knows.  

Overall, I have been thankful for new STP, and recognize their talents.  I'm just not blown away by the new stuff.  I think it's simply solid.

[facepollution]

Take A Load Off
Huckleberry Crumble
Between The Lines
Hickory Dichotomy
Bagman

[EyesOfDisarray]

LOL Batman

LOL, thanks to BE members, every time I listen to the song, I hear "Batman Honey!" and it gives me a chuckle.