Albums by this artist

Talk Show (1997)

Talk Show

Talk Show

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» DAVID THOMAS | STAFF WRITER

Talk Show Talk Show Atlantic, 1997 RiYL: Stone Temple Pilots, Led Zeppelin, Candlebox

Essentially, Talk Show is just Stone Temple Pilots minus the one element that made STP distinguishable from any other band spouting Led Zeppelin idolatry in the '90s. Scott Weiland might be a heroin addict, but he also has a very distinct singing style. And without him, Talk Show's self-titled debut comes off as ultra-generic alternative rock.

Guitarist Dean DeLeo sticks to playing Jimmy Page riffs left and right and doesn't try to disguise the similarity. On "Hello Hello," the resemblance is glaring, and nostalgia forces a gag reflex.

Dave Coutts, Weiland's "replacement," has a voice that is easily interchangeable with just about any other singer on alternative radio, from Matchbox 20's Rob Thomas to the Verve Pipe's Brian Vander Ark. Coutts' requisite rough, scratchy voice, sounds forced and emotionless.

Drummer Eric Kretz, while undramatic, is the album's only savior, keeping songs from disintegrating into sloppy guitar fuzz. Kretz, who wrote most of the songs, is improving from his Core days, but the songs fall flat when Coutts puts in his two cents.

Coutts displays his poor lyrics on some of the album's ballads, including the sickening "Wash Me Down." He sings, "Once I was a fine man / Until I met the woman, and then she washed me down / And once I was a dry man / 'Til they took me to a wedding, You know they washed me down."

Weiland is by no means comparable to Bob Dylan, but at least his singing voice is somewhat pleasant compared to Coutts'. Ultimately, Talk Show adds up to a big fat zero.

DAVID THOMAS |