lambchops's Full Review: Tiny Music...Songs From the Vatican Gift Shop by S...
As I've mentioned in previous reviews, I am a huge fan of Stone Temple Pilots. Weiland and co. really have to do something horrendously bad to get a bad review from me. This album is by no means their best, but there are quite definitely some shining moments. Of these moments, my favorite is the song "Lady Picture Show." It is quite honestly my FAVORITE STP song of all. "Tiny Music..." isn't for everybody, in fact I would only specifically recommend it to people that already like STP. If it's an introduction to the band that you are searching, I'd look toward either "Purple" or "Core." But, alas, is is still a good album. Not just average, but good. Hold on to your hats folks, here's a quick review of "Tiny Music..." from Stone Temple Pilots.
1. PRESS PLAY
Okay. Just an introduction. I can't honestly rate something that is instrumental and only consists of just over a minute of material. Despite this, it is a pretty darned good track and a good introduction to the album :)
2. POP'S LOVE SUICIDE
Something about this song isn't the old STP that I've come to know and love. Weiland's voice isn't so angry or so intense. It's a bit poppier to be specific. Anyway, so far as song like this go, it's still a pretty good one even if it's not really my taste. And, to be quite honest, the lyrics aren't really profound in any way so I don't even have a favorite line out of the song. An altogether "blah" song from my men of rock.
3. TUMBLE IN THE ROUGH
I like this one. It's fast, it's A.D.D. But, to be quite honest it is one of the band's best on the album despite the fact that it got little attention for mainstream fans. My favorite part of the song is the following: "I'm looking for a new mediation Still looking for a new way to fly Don't want any plastic validation Not looking for a new way to die." Definitely high quality, this song may have even fit into STP's earlier albums with ease.
4. BIG BANG BABY
In my humble opinion, this song isn't great. Alot of people like and liked it, but it's not my kind of thing. It's too sparse, to plain, and for that matter too boring. I was almost (not quite) insulted when the boys released this one instead of some of the others. Bad move if you ask me. I think this is one song that the band should regret. Despite the lack of real musical content, I did enjoy the actual lyrics. My favorite line goes as follows: "Does anybody know how the story really goes Or do we all just hum along..."
5. LADY PICTURE SHOW
Okay. I know that the guitars aren't as grinding as I like (oh, how I wish the Deleo brothers would crank it just a little more on this one), but this is an AWESOME song. It's my favorite STP song of all time. Hands down. It was released as a single, and you still hear it occasionally on the radio. "Lady Picture Show" really is beautiful. Weiland's vocals shine through...it must have been a moment of sobriety when he recorded this track. And, as usual, I have a favorite line. "he hides because she don't know nothin', don't know nothin' anymore." This is a sad song, but gosh darn it all! I still love it!
6. AND SO I KNOW
Not a popular STP song by a longshot, this one is musically and lyrically weak. I really don't want to know how happy the campfire girls make him feel. Not my favorite, but to be quite honest the one immediately before this makes up for the sins of this one.
7. TRIPPIN' ON A HOLE IN A PAPER HEART
A popular little diddy, this one is fine in my book. Not great, just fine. It's a bit psychadelic (or so much as STP can be). I wouldn't specifically recommend this song despite the airplay it managed to wrangle up. Weiland seems to be pleading, as the next passage from the song indicates "I am I am I said I'm not myself, but I'm not dead and I'm not for sale Hold me closer, closer let me go let me be just let me be..."
8. ART SCHOOL GIRL
It's a fun novelty song, but it's also a bright spot on a somewhat blah album (you know it kills me to admit that this isn't the best album in the world). It's short and sweet and shows that Weiland has a bit of a sense of humor. But, again, it's musically lacking. "She left her home from sweet Alabama Rose Alabama for the city, New York City yeah." It's soft and then boom! Loud. I like it. A definite must-listen on this album.
9. ADHESIVE
Good, pure STP. I can't really complain about this track. It hints at the STP that I love. The track is altogether good, and my favorite line of the song is: "Have a listen lend an ear Here's a song now if ya care We can all just hum along Words don't matter anymore." Hey, there's even a muted trumpet thrown in for good measure. Good job, guys.
10. RIDE THE CLICHE
Yeah, yeah, yeah. It's a STP song. I don't think it's anything special. In fact, I don't think anything can be said except it's original. Another ode to Weiland's drug problems so far as I'm conserned.
11. DAISY
Another instrumental track, it's fun to listen to. And like so many other STP instrumental tracks, it doesn't even seem like it's a different song than the others that surround it necessarily. The Deleos and drummer Eric Kretz flex a few muscles, but don't gain any ground on this track. I'm not really too excited by it, but STP really can't do really wrong in my book.
12. SEVEN CAGED TIGERS
What saves this song foom complete mediocracy is Weiland. Fortunately. It's nothign special, but the title is so special and so catchy that I bought a dot com address with the same name. Yeah! There's a hint of retro seventies, and it seems like the production company is attempting to wrap things up on a good note. Altogether, it's a decent song, but in no way classic STP.
This album left me crossing my fingers that Weiland would get off drugs. It was obvious that the talent still existed, but that Weiland was so far gone that the substance just wasn't there for this album. It yielded a few hits, but it was a blah album to many fairweather friends and critics. Good album. Not great. Just good.
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