Purple

by Stone Temple Pilots

Overview

Stone Temple Pilots had hits with Core, but they got no respect. They suffered a barrage of savage criticism and it must have hurt, since their second effort seems a conscious effort to distinguish themselves as a band not indebted to grunge. That didn't get them anywhere, as they were attacked as viciously as before, but Purple is nevertheless a quantum leap over their debut, showcasing a band hitting its stride. They still aren't much for consistency, and there's more than a fair share of filler over this album's "12 Gracious Melodies." Still, this filler isn't cut-rate grunge, as it was on the debut; it has its own character, heavily melodic and slightly psychedelic. That's a fair assessment of the hits, as well, but there's a difference there -- namely, expert song and studiocraft. Yes, they were considerably more mainstream than their peers, but time has proven that that's their primary charm, since they were unafraid to temper their grunge with big arena hooks and swirling melodies. It works particularly well on the tight, concise "Vasoline" and the acoustic-based "Pretty Penny," but it really shines on the record's two masterpieces, "Big Empty" and "Interstate Love Song." "Big Empty" is ominous and foreboding, yet remains anthemic, a perfect encapsulation of mainstream alienation that is surpassed only by "Interstate Love Song," a concise epic as alluring as the open highway. These two songs are so good (really, mainstream hard rock didn't get better than these two cuts) that the unevenness of the rest of the record is all the more frustrating, but the filler here is better than before -- and those singles are proof positive that STP was the best straight-ahead rock singles outfit of their time. ~ Stephen Thomas Erlewine

Product Details

Release Date:	10/20/2023
Label:	Rhino Atlantic / Warner Bros.
UPC:	0603497829514

Album Credits

Performance Credits

Stone Temple Pilots   Primary Artist
Paul Leary   Guest Artist,Guitar,Soloist,Mellotron,Percussion
Eric Kretz   Drums,Percussion
Dean DeLeo   Drums,Guitar,Percussion,Guitar (Acoustic),Guitar (Electric)
Robert De Leo   Bass,Guitar,Percussion,Guitar (Bass),Vocals (Background)
Brendan O'Brien   Guitar,Mellotron,Percussion
Scott Weiland   Guitar,Vocals,Percussion,Lead Vocals

Technical Credits

Steve Stewart   Management
Bob Ludwig   Mastering Engineer
Jimmy Page   Composer
Clay Harper   Assistant Engineer
Eric Kretz   Composer,Lyricist
Caram Costanzo   Assistant Engineer
Lee Mendelson   Composer
Vince Guaraldi   Composer
John Bonham   Composer
Dean DeLeo   Composer
John Paul Jones   Composer
Ryan Williams   Engineer
Robert De Leo   Composer
Nick DiDia   Engineer
Mike Love   Composer
Brendan O'Brien   Mixing,Composer,Engineer,Producer,Audio Engineer,Mixing Engineer
David Bowie   Composer
Woody Guthrie   Composer
Brian Wilson   Composer
Stone Temple Pilots   Design,Composer
Robert Plant   Composer
Scott Weiland   Composer,Lyricist
John Heiden   Design
Dale Sizer   Illustrations