Purple [Super Deluxe Edition] (1994)

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 like 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 their stride. They still aren't much for consistency, and there's more than a fair share of filler over this album's ... Read More

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 like 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 their 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, STP 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 were the best straight-ahead rock singles outfit of their time. Arriving just in time for the 25th anniversary of Purple, the Super Deluxe edition of the album spans three CDs. The first disc is devoted to a remaster of the album, the third consists of a previously unreleased live concert from New Haven, Connecticut, on August 23, 1994. The second disc is also largely unreleased tracks, containing demos, early versions, and acoustic numbers, including a three-song set from Live at KROQ Acoustic Christmas 1994 (the one released track is "Dancing Days," which was on Atlantic's 1995 compilation Encomium: A Tribute to Led Zeppelin). Considering how STP's singles contained live tracks as B-sides, there are no rarities left behind -- perhaps some live versions that don't match the ones here, but nothing seems absent. Part of the appeal of Purple is the glossy, oversized Brendan O'Brien production, but Stone Temple Pilots sound vigorous and bold on the live concert, and the demos and acoustic versions underscore the sharp craftsmanship at the heart of their songs. Perhaps these are subtle revelations, the kind that only hardcore fans would appreciate, but they are the target for this box and they'll like find this set quite satisfying. ~ Stephen Thomas Erlewine, Rovi Read Less

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