the fact that this thread has turned into a bashfest proves, at the very least, that this video is controversial 
It's cheesy as hell. I think we can all agree with that. While that was the point, that doesn't mean I have to like the accurate representation of what they were going for. It's just too over the top and like someone said: Scott is not Weird Al. He's a serious artist that writes original music for rock bands. I realize it's unfair/ridiculous to expect him to always release the same album and/or not take a big risk/departure from his comfort zone. I've said it before and I'll say it again, I admire that Scott tried to do this. It's just not good though. Compare this to Michael Bolton/Michael Buble etc... it's just nowhere near as good, and there's a reason I hate those guys. So that's just my opinion and I am glad that many of you like the album/video. If Scott brings joy to you, that was the whole point, so that's awesome. I just can't take this seriously, and while I know I'm not maybe entirely supposed to, I like to take Scott Weiland seriously. His track record commands it. So this departure was a valiant risk but one that backfired for me.
I like Chris Cornell too. That doesn't mean his Timbaland album should be appreciated. That was a horror of an effort. Again, a big risk he decided to take, but one that exploded in his face. I sadly think this is an embarrassment to Scott's legacy.
The best part of this album is the music. He's always been different, and he has always been a chameleon, so this type of release isn't unexpected. I am just disappointed that I don't like it more.
And to show you how much I don't like it (save a few tracks, and even those have difficult moments), I actually
like Cornell's
Scream album. I know some of you will use that as something to say "your taste sucks," but hey, I know a lot of music snobs that like
Scream as a guilty pleasure.
Like the album, this video is not something I can play with pride for my non-fan friends. I can anticipate the response: “Wow, so this is Scott Weiland? The guy you travel around the country to see?” Um, no. This is not that guy.
Some of us like this. Some of us don't. But we're all very passionate about Scott. And I think that's a good thing.
I just finished my student teaching and am back at work at my job that pays--a music store selling instruments. We get to choose the store's "soundtrack" by trading off putting our iPods through the PA. From Black Friday to Christmas Eve, the only rule is it must be Christmas music. We listen to traditional stuff, jazzy stuff, and even rock stuff. This is something I hoped to add to my playlist, but I'm not.
I work with some fantastic musicians, including the owner, who actually likes STP for their skill and songwriting, even though he listens and plays exclusively classical music and big band jazz. But he plays upright bass, and intonation is extremely important in a fretless stringed instrument like that. If vocals are off, he'll comment on them.
Last year, I played "Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas". In my excitement for this release, I hadn't really actively listened to it. But even on that track--one of the better off of the album--Scott doesn't hit all of the notes, and it causes you to cringe. Most of this album is actually worse.
Because of the quality of the vocals on this CD, I won't be able to play it at work, and I don't think I would want to. It would be embarrassing to say "yeah this is one of my favorite all-time artists". When it comes to crooning, timbre, inflection, and intonation are incredibly important. I'm not sure I like any of those on this record.
Doesn't mean I don't still love the 5 STP records, the VR stuff, and the solo stuff, but this...I just can't roll with the rest of the board on it.
