Review Summary: Still not dead and not for sale.
The idea of former
Stone Temple Pilots’ frontman, Scott Weiland, still making music post-1990s may surprise some people. The only time he manages to make headlines is when he’s done something wrong, whether it’s showing up late for shows, or turning up inebriated. A mere two years ago, things couldn’t get worse for Weiland, who received his official “termination” from STP.
But here we are in 2015, where the frontman, regrouped with his new band Scott Weiland and the Wildabouts, has just released his first album post-termination. It’s called
Blaster and it’s really good. And while 2010’s eponymous Stone Temple Pilots record left a lot to be desired,
Blaster feels more like what should’ve been.
Songs like “Hotel Rio” and “Parachute” are vintage Weiland with art rock vibes and strong, melodic choruses. “Blue Eyes” breaks new musical ground for the singer, though, with a lead riff that sounds reminiscent of
The Cure. Even though the chorus reverts back to the typical alt-rock that Weiland is known for, it’s good enough away with it.
There’s an underlying indie rock theme that becomes extremely evident on songs such as “Bleed Out”, a song that sounds like
Editors meets
Nirvana and the stomping
Jack White-esque “Modzilla”. The fuzzy arena rocker “Amethyst” and the upbeat “Beach Pop” are highlights, but neither song compares to the album closer, “Circles”, the strongest song on the album. It’s a beautiful, mellow, country-tinged song featuring slide guitar, banjo, and some of Weiland’s strongest lyrics.
Despite the forgettable “Youth Quake” and the derivative “White Lightning”,
Blaster is a cohesive album that never drags or feels overlong. In fact, it’s the best album that Scott Weiland has put his name on since Stone Temple Pilots’
Shangri-La Dee Da. It’s hard to imagine this album being anything more than a blip on radar of most people, though it’s good enough to be in the public conscience.
