What could go down as one of the greatest comeback albums in music history, 1999's No.4 by Stone Temple Pilots is like a prize fighter coming back in the 12th after getting knocked down and beaten in previous rounds and firing back with everything he's got to get the crowd at their feet. Fueled by the single and lead track "Down," No.4 put the California grunge-post grunge rockers back on the map and on the charts. After famously battling drugs and stints in rehab, singer Scott Wieland returned to his former band mates after a three year hiatus to produce one of the end of the centuries finest. Produced by unofficial fifth member, Brendan O'Brien, No.4 was a much darker, louder and vicious look at the band that was written off as a Pearl Jam rip-off. It was a record that dealt with spiritual daemons as showcased on the songs "Church on Tuesday," "Sex and Violence," and "Heaven and Hot Rods," as well as personal inner conflict from tracks such as "Atlanta," "Glide," and "No Way Out." It was also a record that dealt with relationships, both of marital (Weiland's wife and son) and fraternal (Weiland's band mates) displayed on songs like "Sour Girl," and "I Got You." Yet No. 4 with its simple cover and black sleeve was a venture that was hailed by both fans and critics and yet seems to be the record they are least remembered for. The bands first two efforts, 1992's Core and 1994's Purple saw an alternative edge to heavy hitting grunge scene, this possibly because STP hails from California, NOT Seattle. However, by the time of their third release 1996's experimental dive into art rock Tiny Music...Songs from the Vatican Gift Shop, was a critical disaster. Soon after, the band hit rock bottom and went on indefinite hiatus. Going in and out of rehab faster than some of today's pop starts, Scott Wieland was on the edge of death and despair. Yet, in the hiatus Wieland recorded a solo record, and a fantastic one at that, 1998's 12 Bar Blues and the other members of the band, the DeLeo Brothers and drummer Eric Krietz formed the rock-flop Talk Show. After nearly three years apart, the band mates reconciled and delivered No.4. If this was going to be a make-0r-break record, a comeback record, or even their last record, they made sure they weren't going quietly.Friday, June 1, 2007
Underrated Classic - Stone Temple Pilots "No.4"
What could go down as one of the greatest comeback albums in music history, 1999's No.4 by Stone Temple Pilots is like a prize fighter coming back in the 12th after getting knocked down and beaten in previous rounds and firing back with everything he's got to get the crowd at their feet. Fueled by the single and lead track "Down," No.4 put the California grunge-post grunge rockers back on the map and on the charts. After famously battling drugs and stints in rehab, singer Scott Wieland returned to his former band mates after a three year hiatus to produce one of the end of the centuries finest. Produced by unofficial fifth member, Brendan O'Brien, No.4 was a much darker, louder and vicious look at the band that was written off as a Pearl Jam rip-off. It was a record that dealt with spiritual daemons as showcased on the songs "Church on Tuesday," "Sex and Violence," and "Heaven and Hot Rods," as well as personal inner conflict from tracks such as "Atlanta," "Glide," and "No Way Out." It was also a record that dealt with relationships, both of marital (Weiland's wife and son) and fraternal (Weiland's band mates) displayed on songs like "Sour Girl," and "I Got You." Yet No. 4 with its simple cover and black sleeve was a venture that was hailed by both fans and critics and yet seems to be the record they are least remembered for. The bands first two efforts, 1992's Core and 1994's Purple saw an alternative edge to heavy hitting grunge scene, this possibly because STP hails from California, NOT Seattle. However, by the time of their third release 1996's experimental dive into art rock Tiny Music...Songs from the Vatican Gift Shop, was a critical disaster. Soon after, the band hit rock bottom and went on indefinite hiatus. Going in and out of rehab faster than some of today's pop starts, Scott Wieland was on the edge of death and despair. Yet, in the hiatus Wieland recorded a solo record, and a fantastic one at that, 1998's 12 Bar Blues and the other members of the band, the DeLeo Brothers and drummer Eric Krietz formed the rock-flop Talk Show. After nearly three years apart, the band mates reconciled and delivered No.4. If this was going to be a make-0r-break record, a comeback record, or even their last record, they made sure they weren't going quietly.