When the guys in Stone Temple Pilots released their 3rd album, the jazzy, glitter rock throwback with teeth, 𝗧𝗶𝗻𝘆 𝗠𝘂𝘀𝗶𝗰…𝗦𝗼𝗻𝗴𝘀 𝗙𝗿𝗼𝗺 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗩𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗰𝗮𝗻 𝗚𝗶𝗳𝘁 𝗦𝗵𝗼𝗽, in March of 1996, they did so only after enduring, overcoming, and flat out ignoring myriad issues within the band. Despite the ever-growing dark cloud over the band, 𝗧𝗶𝗻𝘆 𝗠𝘂𝘀𝗶𝗰… was a joyous expression of collective individualism; layers of hog hide, built up after years of uneducated “grunge copycat” barbs, was shed. Guitarist Dean DeLeo married his love for the shimmery sixties glam rock sound with bassist (and younger brother) Robert’s adoration for jazz and bossa nova, drummer Eric Kretz’s classic, funk-inflected sophistication, and singer Scott Weiland’s Bowie-meets-Bobby Darin thing to create an album replete with soaring choruses and hooky pop songs.
It all damn near crashed before it even got off the ground — vocalist Scott Weiland didn’t bother showing up for most of the pre-production. Mired in his addictions, legal woes, and relationship struggles, his absence almost ended the band. It would, eventually, but not before they rallied for arguably the most adventurous album of the band’s historic run. That they managed to mask just how fractured the band dynamic was at that time shines stadium lights on the massive talents of each member. The ability to compartmentalize and push forward in the name of art (and money). That said, exasperation was high. Fed up with Weiland’s inability to stay clean, at least half of the songs written in pre-production had already been earmarked for the Talk Show project that would come out just one year after Scott’s demons reared their ugly heads once again, forcing the cancellation of STP’s tour and ending the band for a time.
But before hurt feelings, cancellations, lawsuits, and ill-fated outside projects Scott was, at least for a time, able to pull his nose out of an uncontrolled dive and deliver a wealth of timeless melodies and stream-of-consciousness wordplay. Nowhere are his lyrical stylings better displayed than on the multi-layered “Tumble In The Rough”. In addition to being the only song in the band’s history for which Scott wrote the music and the lyrics, it is also a love song, a plea for understanding, and a not-so-subtle jab at his bandmates.
“Don’t want any plastic validation
Not looking for a new way to die”
There’s a resignation in those words, an acceptance of fate. During this time, Scott reveled in his stardom (and the many awful trappings it provided). He had bought entirely into going out a “rockstar”.
“I made excuses for a million lies
But all I got was humble kidney pie
So what”
Scott forever claimed that he was not the only junkie in the band at this time — that guitarist Dean DeLeo was also using to excess. Scott felt he was made out to be the scapegoat by the STP camp — the one to whom all blame was attached. He was very open about his addictions during this time, never mentioning anyone else in the band, and he believed this was used to paint a narrative of being the band member who was out of control when Dean was walking a similarly dark path.
There is almost certainly something to the idea that just the right amount of tension can positively fuel artistic expression, and despite all the tumult, 𝗧𝗶𝗻𝘆 𝗠𝘂𝘀𝗶𝗰… feels like the album the band had always wanted to make. When you sell 15 million albums worldwide in four years, you get the leeway you need to make any record you desire (and the band didn’t blow the opportunity). 𝗧𝗶𝗻𝘆 𝗠𝘂𝘀𝗶𝗰… is the band’s 𝗦𝗴𝘁. 𝗣𝗲𝗽𝗽𝗲𝗿’𝘀 Lonely Hearts Club Band; its mix of fuzz, buzz, jazz, and pizzazz is quintessential STP. To call it a beautiful record is an understatement.
Tiny Music… went on to sell another two million records. Though considered a flop for STP in ’96, history has been kind to the somewhat experimental album. There is an authenticity to it that was never again duplicated by the band. Songs like “Adhesive”, “Seven Caged Tigers”, and “Lady Picture Show” are audio perfection.
On a personal note, the 1st time I saw the band live was at the beginning of the 𝗧𝗶𝗻𝘆 𝗠𝘂𝘀𝗶𝗰… tour. They sounded amazing. More importantly, Weiland was amazing. When he was on, he was a charismatic, generational frontman. It would all unravel later on down the road (multiple times, in fact), leading to various breakups, makeups, and shakeups, but for a moment in time, STP was the greatest band in the world.
Track List:
- Press Play 7/10
- Pop’s Love Suicide 8/10
- Tumble In The Rough 8/10
- Big Bang Baby 10/10
- Lady Picture Show 10/10
- And So I Know 8/10
- Trippin’ On A Hole In A Paper Heart 10/10
- Art School Girl 6/10
- Adhesive 10/10
- Ride The Cliché 9/10
- Daisy 9/10
- Seven Caged Tigers 10/10
Grade: 88
Illegal Foreign Object 
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