ItвЂ™s a bit sentimental and reflective, but Robert knows they canвЂ™t live in the past вЂ“ вЂњwhoвЂ™s to blame for what we lost, years will run through me with nowhere to hide cause they knowвЂќ. This could sit next to Seals and Crofts and Bread. Robert sounds like a lost shoegaze indie rock voice thatвЂ™s perfect for another song that harkens back to the 1970вЂ™s pop/rock radio. Taking вЂњAdhesiveвЂќ as a template, it fades in вЂ“ something no STP song had done since вЂњVasolineвЂќ. My favorite is the Robert DeLeo-sung вЂњYearsвЂќ. WeвЂ™re almost in Traffic territory by the time we hit the woodwind coda that caps this off so well. A late summer song when the first cool winds of autumn blow around you and you reminisce about all the summer fun. When things are normal again, I gotta go to the park and lay on the grass and hear this album вЂ“ or at least thatвЂ™s the inspiration I get from this. More success can be found in вЂњI DidnвЂ™t Know The TimeвЂќ, and that must be the song itself singing that, since itвЂ™s so lazy dazy hazy waves of acoustic guitars, casual bass, and relaxed drums. The album cover does predict some of this вЂgrayвЂ™ glaze that lingers over the album. вЂњSheвЂ™s My QueenвЂќ takes the vintage instruments and comes up with a likable pop/rocker with more of the hazy vibe some of these have. ThereвЂ™s a great tension here, thereвЂ™s some drama on this one. вЂњThree WishesвЂќ is great and reminds me of early 90вЂ™s alternative rock -bands that were willing to go acoustic. ItвЂ™s a pretty good album so some balancing is in order. Gutt continues to write in a way that his lyric can be universally applied instead of letting more specific things take on universal meanings. Again, the lyrics come into play here вЂ“ they are totally competent with no clunks but thereвЂ™s just that lack of something really heart tugging вЂ“ something more personal. This, вЂњPerdidaвЂќ and вЂњFare Thee WellвЂќ all have good melodies and singing but are missing the things that would put them over the top. вЂњYou Found Yourself While Losing Your HeartвЂќ is such 70вЂ™s soft rock radio to me and I like it for that reason. The melody and singing are good but itвЂ™s strings are too sympathetic вЂ“ they just sit there sad without any other emotions weaving in and out. This one also never really has a peak moment or a highlight вЂ“ it softly and slowly carries itself along the dusty roads of Mexico with no peaks or valleys. I canвЂ™t see most вЂњPlushвЂќ fans waltzing to this.

вЂњPerdidaвЂќ has mini-touches of Latin influence and is like a torch-lit ballad sung by Gutt as if it were traditional pop. IвЂ™m actually not too impressed with the title track either. They also use some retro instruments which I do like as an idea but itвЂ™s not always successful. Still, thereвЂ™s a pretty melody here and itвЂ™s solid overall as a composition. DeanвЂ™s slide guitar solo sounds like George Harrison reincarnated but itвЂ™s the version of Hari in the late 70вЂ™s when he was safe, snug and settled in comforting soft pop that had no edge nor challenge. He croons well on the opener and single вЂњFare Thee WellвЂќ, with some nice falsetto moments but itвЂ™s actually the backing thatвЂ™s bland on this. IвЂ™m not implying itвЂ™s all Jeff GuttвЂ™s fault either. The albums that were more unpredictable, had more character, had more of that вЂitвЂ™ factor. I can claim this album is above average but I canвЂ™t really claim itвЂ™s better than their normal albums. The only issue is similar to the last album. So did it fare (thee) well? Mostly, yes, they can keep their reputation for making great soft rock as a lot of beautiful vibes are on this. Despite liking so much soft material from them, I didnвЂ™t want it necessarily forced on me for a whole album.

STP is an automatic purchase for me so of course I took the plunge. I just had to get used to the fact that Weiland was gone, then I had to get used to a new singer, and now I was promised zero rock from a rock band. The songwriting really had to be good to now not have Scott Weiland or their signature sound. A surprise I still donвЂ™t know I agree with, the songs had to be up to par for such a task to be accomplished especially considering their fanbase was still split about them continuing at all under the name. STP have taken turns towards softer material but never have they dedicated an entire album to it.

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