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Stone Temple Pilots: No. 4
 This fine band's powerful music has been often overshadowed
by singer Scott Weiland's well-documented drug and legal troubles. Not
to mention that STP's 1992 debut, Core, was dismissed by critics as
"Seattle lite." Nonetheless, STP has managed to make four noteworthy
albums, No. 4 being the latest in their solid and cohesive body of work. No. 4
is not groundbreaking, but the quartet's aggressive, dynamic hard rock is
emotion-packed and timeless. Not as hit-heavy as its predecessors, No. 4 is
nevertheless strong and diverse. On the gentler side, there's the lilting '60s-influenced
"I Got You" and "Atlanta," which is almost Doors-like in
its dreamy mood. Heavier fare includes the midtempo heavy riffing opener
"Down" and the winning but not-so-subtly titled "Sex and
Violence," which matches an aggressive, linear feel with a cool punk vibe.
At 42 minutes, the only thing wrong with No. 4 is that there's not enough of
it.
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