:: Shangri-La Dee Da

Stone Temple Pilots

Over recent years, press surrounding the Stone Temple Pilots has mainly focused on singer Scott Weiland’s battle with drug addiction rather than on the band’s musical triumphs. Notwithstanding, the band has managed to stay together and remain one of the few surviving bands from the grunge explosion of the early 90’s. After the minor success of their ‘No. 4’ record, fuelled by the hit single “Sour Girl”, the STP are back with album number five, ‘Shangri-La Dee Da’. And in a similar vein to ‘No. 4’, ‘Shangri-La Dee Da’ is an album split between heavy rockers and psychedelic-pop tunes. The album opens with all guitars blazing on “Dumb Love”, and the sonic assault of guitarist Dean DeLeo continues on the explosive “Coma” and the lead single “Days of the Week”. The album then shifts gears with excursions into psych-pop, and Weiland’s voice is restored to its familiar focal point. Tracks like the acoustic-led “Wonderful” and the dreamy “Hello it's Late” provide a now customary contrast between Weiland's soft balladry and DeLeo’s hard rock. Whilst the STP don’t go out of their way to redefine their sound, ‘Shangri-La Dee Da’ is a solid album that will certainly please the fans, and is evidence that this band still have quality music left in them.