Review Summary: "Core," satisfied masses of listeners, but failed to impress critics. "Purple," manages to do both.
The Stone Temple Pilots make it fairly easy to recognize the amendments they’ve made to their style between the release of their 1992 debut, “Core,” and the release of this, their 1994 sophomore outing, ”Purple.” Their overall formula barely changes; write a handful of phenomenal radio-ready singles, then fill the rest of the album with some more genuine personal material. For “Core,” the fans were pleased, but critics bad-mouthed the San-diegans for “ripping off of grunge acts like Pearl Jam or Alice In Chains.” Leveling with them on this point isn’t difficult, there are notably un-original moments throughout, as well as some seemingly filler-songs such as “Piece of Pie,” or the strange interlude, “Wet My Bed.”
What Purple does, is make everything better in at least one way, with nothing detracting from the identity STP has already set out. For starters, all tracks on the record are more distinguishable from one another than the set that was on “Core.” There is nothing close to the redundant similarities between the intros of “Sex Type Thing,” and “Crackerman.” There’s most certainly a rise in the group’s devotion to good songwriting on “Purple,” as well. Scott Weiland’s lyrics become much more accessible and much less awkward to endure. His voice also traverses a wider spectrum of style, instead of sticking to the mumbled growl that followed him through most of “Core.” His natural diversity will surely win listeners over, and makes him that much more loveable.
The DeLeo brothers throw the grunge rulebook out the window and put their own spin on things, which adds a psychedelic flare to “Purple,” that was not present on their debut. This flare manages to set STP apart from their grunge counterparts like Nirvana, Soundgarden, and especially Pearl Jam. Drummer Eric Kretz is no doubt also due his share of credit; his rhythms, especially on “Vasoline,” and “Lounge Fly,” are both exotic and entrancing. They still break out into some rough-and-tough grunge-rock riffage on “Silvergun Superman,” “Army Ants,” and “Unglued,” but the overall tone of “Purple,” has been rendered into a somewhat easy-going, yet still energetic version of grunge. It’s perhaps the only record of its kind to comfortably fit a late afternoon drive in the middle of summer. Its charm is indubitably relaxing and much more positive than the angst that fuels most of the discographies of other grunge acts.
“Purple’s,” greatest strength is in how it quickly chiseled the ever-moldable signature sound that STP is known for today. On “Core,” they tended to lean more toward heavier rock, a choice that made them blend in completely with the rest of the rising grunge-scene. Then on “Purple,” they sway from leaning toward softer tendencies and resting on the harder stuff. The sugary sweet “Still Remains, and “Interstate Love Song,” are beautiful contrasts to the more crushing “Unglued,” and “Army Ants.”
All of this soul-searching and face-lifting makes STP’s “Purple,” a much more prominent record than its predecessor. The potential to conquer the grounds they did over the rest of their career is foresaw on this record. While the experimentation is in a moderate dosage on this album, it becomes a key component of the Pilots’ entire catalogue.
