With their 1992 debut release Core, Stone Temple Pilots were bashed by critics for being a "Pearl Jam-ripoff." While those comparisons were proven time and again to be erroneous by BOTH bands, it is perhaps ironic that out of the bands that broke big from 1991-1993, only PJ and STP survived past the year 2000.

Unfortunately, this retrospective, titled Thank You, is serving as Stone Temple Pilots swan song. Lead vocalist Scott Weiland is working with ex Guns N Roses members while trying to keep his drug habit under control (he was arrested again recently, the idiot), while recent rumors suggest the DeLeo brothers are going to form a supergroup of their own with Black Crowes singer Chris Robinson and drummer Steve Gorman.

Thank You comes in two forms; you can buy just the CD of the hits which also includes the new song All in the Suit That You Wear, or you can pick up what I am reviewing, a CD/DVD combo pack. The DVD portion holds close to 3 hours of content, from the band's videos for MTV to live performances to bootleg content.

The CD

There are 15 tracks on the CD, spanning all of the band's 5 albums. The new track, of course, is meant to get diehard fans to shell out for all the stuff they already have. Unfortunately the new track is "eh" at best. All in the Suit That You Wear has some interesting stuff going on in the background, but it's overshadowed by overbearing power chords and Weiland's awful Godsmack-like vocal performance for a good amount of the song.

The good news is that the hits are here in force. Unlike some hit compilations, this disc is not arranged chronologically, but rather, it seems that the band tried to make the disc flow optimally. It begins with Vasoline from 1994's Purple, a ringing riff rocker that was the first single released to MTV from the album. Also appearing from the Purple disc is Big Empty, the anthem that also helped The Crow soundtrack reach #1 album in the nation status. And then there's what might just be considered the band's biggest hit ever, Interstate Love Song, a song that infuses a bit of southern rock swagger into the classic early STP sound.

Of course, Plush from the Core disc might have a bit of a claim to "biggest STP hit" as well. The acoustic version that many adult alternative stations play to this day is included at the end of this disc (ironically, it was recorded on the old Headbanger's Ball). The electric version is also here in all it's glory. Also from Core is the driving Wicked Garden and Sex Type Thing, and the somewhat over-rated Creep, a depressing acoustical ballad.

From the band's best album, 1995's Tiny Music...Songs From The Vatican Gift Shop, comes 3 songs that are all extremely different. Big Bang Baby is a bit of an 80s postpunk throwback, an extremely fun rave-up that for some reason doesn't get the respect it deserves. Lady Picture Show recalls the ringing guitar chords and tones found on Interstate Love Song, just done at a more mid-tempo pace. And Trippin' On a Hole in a Paper Heart is a skittering rock song that enjoyed a nice well deserved run at rock radio.

From the band's least impressive album, No.4 come two of the better songs on that disc. Down is a bit of a throwback sonically, reminding many of a certain g word, while Sour Girl is one of the more melodic songs the band ever wrote. For album #5, Shangri La Dee Da, the band only picked the first single, Days of the Week, not surprising given the fact it's their worst seller commercially.

At 58 minutes, this is a solid collection of songs. But the inclusion of some album tracks, such as the gorgeous Still Remains, or the rocker Crackerman would have fleshed out the album even further for the casual fan. The band's covers of Led Zeppelin's Dancing Days, a modern rock radio #1 hit, is also omitted, as is their cover of The Beatles' Revolution. With a good twenty minutes of empty space, these songs easily could have been added.

The DVD

The DVD portion of the package contains 14 music videos, as well as plenty of live performance footage and some bootleg stuff that seems to be ripped straight from the bootlegger's video cam. The videos are arranged in chronological order, with Big Bang Baby always being a personal favorite.

The live performances are solid, including Crackerman which rips and rolls, while other album cuts such as Pretty Penny and Sex and Violence get some airtime as well.

In the bootleg section, you can see the band dress up as Kiss for a performance, cover Sweet Emotion with Joe Perry and Steven Tyler themselves, as well as reaching even further into their album cuts for Pop's Love Suicide, among others.

For the real casual STP fan, the fan who didn't want to buy all the albums, the CD only version should satisfy. But if you find yourself like me, and you already own all of these songs, then the DVD inclusive package is the way to go. The DVD itself is well worth the $$$ you'll find yourself spending.



Recommended: Yes