Scott Weiland
12 Bar Blues
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Scott Weiland
12 Bar Blues
Atlantic, 1998
RiYL: David Bowie, Stone Temple Pilots, Daniel Lanois, Porno For Pyros, Swell |
"Barbarella's" spacey sound is Weiland at his best as a new-wave Bowie, and the video is based on a full-length film Bowie released in the '70s in his Ziggy Stardust persona. But despite the obvious comparisons, Weiland's voice on "Barbarella" is very reminiscent of early STP ballads. The main difference: the accompanynig music is complicated and full of unique percussion instead of basic guitar riffs.
Indeed, the songs here are far more involved than the title may imply. "Divider" and "The Date" both encompass a number of different instruments, creating an eclectic quality that proves to be the trademark of the album. Weiland himself plays guitar, piano, drums, bass, beat box and a vibraphone.
The requisite guest musicians are credited with doing a lot, but in reality add little to the album's sound. Porno For Pyros' Peter Distefano plays guitar on "Barbarella" and ex-Samiam drummer Victor Indrizzo contributes the bulk of the drumming as well as guitar and bass. Indrizzo also receives co-writer credit on a number of the tracks. Sheryl Crow makes a small contribution of some accordion licks on "Lady, Your Roof Brings Me Down".
Because Weiland's voice alone cannot carry an album, he succeeds when deferring to highly-orchestrated tunes such as "About Nothing" and heavier rockers such as "Cool Kiss." A vastly reworked "Mockingbird Girl," previously released on the Tank Girl soundtrack, and "Lady, Your Roof Brings Me Down," finish off the album well.
But Weiland's lyrics haven't grown much past the idiocy of his days with STP. The following vignette actually poses as lyrics on "Jimmy Was A Stimulator": "Jimmy was a stimulator, he was a high flying oscillator / Jimmy was an oscillator, he was a high flying oscillator / Jimmy was a masturbator, so he'll call back and see ya later."
His shite lyrics aside, Weiland does at least have a tight grasp of what sounds good. And the tracks on 12 Bar Blues show he has talent as a songwriter. Unlike the dreadful album released by STP-minus-Weiland spinoff Talk Show, 12 Bar Blues stands up as a real album that can be marketed without the hype surrounding the band's split.
DAVID THOMAS |