Showing posts with label Stone Temple Pilots. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Stone Temple Pilots. Show all posts

Thursday, October 6, 2011

90s Rock: Best Songs (Part 4)

And finally, continuing on from last week, here are my last group of favorite 90s songs.  There really are too many songs that are awesome.  My list is probably hobo excrement.  Oh well, it has been fun anyway. 

16) "Photograph" by The Verve Pipe

I went through a phase where I listened to TONS of The Verve Pipe.  They are an excellent band.  They are not in my Top 10 favorite bands of all time, or anything, but they have an underrated catalog.  Much like this song.  "Photograph" was the first song I ever remember hearing by them.  Of course, they later found more notoriety with "The Freshmen" but the sick organ track that underpins this song is not to be denied.  Give it a listen if you don't recall this song. 

"Cup Of Tea" is also another underrated song by The Verve Pipe.



17) "Lakini's Juice" by Live

There is no arguing that "Throwing Copper" is Live's best record. However, my favorite overall song by Live is "Lakini's Juice." If you can't tell by now, I am a huge fan of dirty, deep guitar riffs. The distorted bass creeps into your ears like a burrowing earwig. It also uses excellent subtle placement of string arrangements. You can't go wrong here.



18) "Still Remains" by Stone Temple Pilots

The only band with two songs on the list. I just couldn't leave this one off. It makes the list with the following line alone: "Take a bath, I'll drink the water that you leave." It's pretty gross, twisted love song- and I love it.



19) "Little Things" by Bush

My band in high school used to rock the shit out of this song in our garages. One of our favorites to cover, "Little Things" is simple yet rocking. Why Bush didn't take the music industry by the throat and skull-fuck it, I'll never understand. "Sixteen Stone" is amazing. The rest of their catalog... just ok. This song deserves a spot on the list though.

What's that? You want shirtless Gavin Rossdale from Woodstock '99? Ok!



20) "Tomorrow" by Silverchair

Silverchair deserves a spot on the list. This is their first hit single in the US and probably their catchiest song (at least from their early catalog.) This song is most impressive given that it was written, performed and recorded by 14/15 year olds. Daniel Johns sings like a 40 year old. It is a solid song to round out the Top 20.



And so ends my Top 20. I should do this again in 3 months and I bet I'd get a different list. Enjoy all the Game 5's coming up, they should be fairly entertaining.

Wednesday, September 7, 2011

90s Rock: Best Songs

This list is fucking impossible to make, but I'm going to try to do it anyway.  The 90s is my favorite decade of music out of the last five.  As an aside, if I had to extinguish one decade's music from existence, my first pick is the 70s.  Then it would be the 2000s.  I'd much prefer to have the 60s, 80s, and 90s still in my future cloud player that will clearly be jacked directly into my brain like I'm Neo from the Matrix.

But I digress.  I was at Dick Tracy's house the other night and we were going through our favorite 90s songs.  There were too many to count, so I understand that my efforts will likely be futile.  I'm trying to come up with a Top 20, but let's start with the first batch of songs that, if they were at the Cold Stone Creamery, they would come in "Gotta Have It" size.

1) "Dead And Bloated" by Stone Temple Pilots

This song gets me pumped.  If I ever needed to win a Super Bowl, murder a vampire, or pull off a bank robbery with Jason Statham, I believe I would pick this song to put me in the right mindset. 

Making playlists for murder worked for Jessica Biel in "Blade: Trinity."
Obviously, this song is helped by me just having seen STP in July, but nonetheless, it tops my list of 90s Rock songs.  I'm not sure where Scott Weiland's deep grunge voice has disappeared to, but if I could request a return for their next hypothetical record, I would love to do so.  Make it happen interwebs!

2) "Drain You" by Nirvana

This song is a classic.  It is not overplayed like almost every other song on "Nevermind," and if it ever comes on the radio, I do not change the station.  This song really, really brings me back to my youth.  I can still remember watching a pink haired Kurt Cobain perform this song on MTV... ya know, back when MTV had music- not just Ronnie and CT knocking fools out.

MTV also had this crazy show that was probably awesome... on WEED!



3) "Them Bones" by Alice In Chains

This list is dominated with songs that get my juices flowing. "Them Bones" is a perfectly written Rock/Metal/Grunge song that stands up all these years later. Layne Staley yelling "AH!" a few times at the beginning sets the stage for an epic rocker with ridiculously memorable harmonies. With two of the original members of AIC dying due to heroin addiction, one has to wonder if they could've produced this song without the drugs. One could also wonder if they could've produced even more great songs had they actually kicked the junk. Much like, "How many licks does it take to get to the center of a Tootsie pop?"- the world may never know.

4) "Infected" by Bad Religion

Another song that gets me pumped and would keep my attention if it came on the ol' FM radio. Changing the station when this song comes on could get your hand slapped in the same manner as if you were stealing french fries off my plate. Do not do either of those things!

"There are several sacred things in this world that you don't ever mess with. One of them happens to be another man's fries."
The overlapping lyrics at the end of this song are a highlight of not only just this song, but the entire decade of the 90s.

5) "Standing Outside A Broken Phone Booth With Money In My Hand" by Primitive Radio Gods

I can't name one other song by this band off the top of my head.  I'm certain one of my friends had the CD and I listened to it, but this is the only song that stood out- and it is a doozy.  I believe the sample in this song is of B.B. King and I still listen to this song regularly to calm myself during particularly stressful days.  The piano solo seems awfully improvised, and it works well within the framework of the song.



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Like I said, this list is impossible and ever-changing.  The point is, the 90s was a great decade for music and I love reminiscing about the great songs from back then.  It brings nostalgia to the forefront of my brain... in a great way.  Stay tuned for more songs and bring your list to the party in the comments.

Tuesday, July 19, 2011

My Top 10 Favorite Bands

This list is almost impossible to accurately materialize on paper.  Bands come and go in similar fashion to College Football Teams on the various Top 25 rankings during the season.  I am certain that my Top 10 Bands List has changed over the last year or two, so I figured it would be fun and informative (even to myself) to go through this exercise.

I know blogs are their most successful when they are open to debate, but it's hard to tell me that my own opinion of my favorite 10 bands is incorrect.  Instead, bring your list to the comment section and then we can have a debate for interstellar domination.

"How dare you not recognize Bon Iver?!"

Criteria - My criteria is simple- what bands do I continually listen to?  What bands do I rarely, if ever, get sick of?  I recently received an iPad for my birthday (savage!) and I put about 16 GB of music on the iPad out of the 82 GB that I have on my computer.  What bands did I immediately place on the iPad without a second thought?  These factors help indicate to myself what my favorite bands are.  I'm highly aware that this is a very "in the moment" type list.

First, I'd like to give a shout out to Bright Eyes.  Conor Oberst and crew once found themselves as high as #3 on this list and they will not make the Top 10 any longer.  The songs are still good, but the recent Oberst solo albums and the newest Bright Eyes album has lost my interest quite a bit.  Keep on rockin', but Ed Rapuano just pulled the trigger on strike three and you've been sent to the bench.

Honorable mention that missed the cut: The Beatles (I go through phases and they'll always be one of my favorites, but at the moment, I have not been spinning their tunes regularly), Nirvana, Smashing Pumpkins, Alice In Chains, and Guster.

#10 - The Killers

It's possible that no current band embodies the 1990s alternative rock sound more than The Killers.  Brandon Flowers is an odd character, but the quality of their songwriting is hard to deny.  If you're unfamiliar with them (trust me, you're not unfamiliar) start with "Hot Fuss" and rock track #1 "Jenny Was A Friend Of Mine."  You'll immediately know exactly how great this band is.

Favorite Tracks: "I Can't Stay," "Bones," "When You Were Young," "All These Things I've Done," "Smile Like You Mean It."

#9 - Radiohead

Radiohead has fallen from their former spot in my Top 5 because of their recent album "King Of Limbs."  I have yet to connect with that album as I have with all of their previous efforts.  It is next to impossible for me to drop them from the Top 10 based on "The Bends" and "OK Computer" by themselves, and I enjoy the rest of their catalog a lot.  They should watch themselves though.  A guitar driven rock album next would garner much enjoyment from me and many other fans- the weather report on that possibility looks doubtful at best.

Favorite Tracks: "Just," "Airbag," "You," "Optimism," "There There," "Bodysnatchers."

#8 - Foo Fighters

Their new album is stellar.  The new documentary I recently watched made me appreciate them even more.  The ups and downs of the Foo Fighters have made them stronger and increased the quality of their music.  I recently had a conversation debating (all moral issues aside) whether if you had the power to bring back Kurt Cobain and allow Nirvana to continue making music, would you sacrifice the entire Foo Fighters' catalog to do so (because Dave Grohl would have stayed with Nirvana had Kurt Cobain not committed suicide.)  This obviously involves reincarnation and time travel, so it's impossible, but you get the idea.  In the end, I came to the conclusion that I would not risk the Foo Fighters' catalog over the potential music that Nirvana could have released.  That is a strong statement for how good I think the Foos are.

Favorite Tracks: "This Is A Call," "For All The Cows," "Hey, Johnny Park," Stacked Actors," The Pretender," "The Walk."

#7 - Oasis

Oasis has been broken up for awhile, and I think we can agree that their later albums aren't quite as good as their earlier products.  However, "Definitely Maybe" and "(What's The Story) Morning Glory" will always remain as two of my favorite albums ever.  Noel Gallagher is an amazing songwriter who has massively influenced me as a musician.  Now if only they could stop bickering with each other and go back to telling Damon Albarn that they hope he would "catch AIDS and die," well- then maybe they'd start making great music again. 

Favorite Tracks: "Slide Away," "Live Forever," "Don't Look Back In Anger," "Cast No Shadow," "Don't Go Away," "Talk Tonight."

#6 - Muse

Muse is another band that's dropped a few spots on my list recently, but they remain one of the best live acts touring these days.  If you get a chance to see them, do it!  You won't regret it.  They are amazing.  Mixing tons of MIDI tracks with their amazing musicianship is no small feat.  Their overall sound mixes classical music with metal with pop with alternative.  It creates quite the tasty stew.  And does anyone ever get sick of the song "Uprising?"  I think not.

Favorite Tracks: "Sunburn," "Stockholm Syndrome," "Hysteria," "Endlessly," "Starlight," "Knights of Cydonia," Uprising," "Plug In Baby," and so many more.  These "favorite tracks" are impossible!

Beethoven would be jealous of Muse- if he could hear.
#5 - The Damnwells

This is a band on the rise for me, recently.  The songwriting is just SO damn good.  I made sure to grab their entire catalog immediately when I got the iPad and I never get sick of listening to them.  I know they are a lesser know band, but I'm hoping they gain traction and make it bigger.  In the meantime, I'm going to see them in San Francisco next Thursday at a small club and I'm pretty excited about it. I highly recommend checking them out- start with "Air Stereo" and go from there.

Favorite Tracks: "Soundtrack," "Werewolves," "Louisville," "Golden Days," "Electric Harmony," No One Listens To The Band Anymore."

#4 - Wilco

Still one of the best around, Wilco rocks.  I went to see them for my birthday a couple years ago and they were as good as ever live.  They are putting out a new album in September and I can't wait.  The only thing about Wilco is that their music is not as easily accessible as other bands on this list.  It takes work to actively listen to their music.  Once you get it, though, it's totally worth the effort.  Does this make Wilco fans pretentious assholes?  Maybe.  But count me among them.

Favorite Tracks: "Sunken Treasure," "She's A Jar," "Nothing'severgonnastandinmyway(again), "Heavy Metal Drummer," "Jesus, Etc.," Theologians," "Walken," "You Never Know," "You And I."

#3 - O.A.R.

This band has exploded up my personal enjoyment list.  I agree there newer stuff is breaking away from their earlier roots a bit, but I enjoy almost all of it.  In fact, their music typically can put me in a better mood.  This is amazing from a band that is from Ohio State (which thinking about their dirty football program usually puts me in a worse mood.)  I have yet to see them live, but I plan to as soon as they come out West.

Favorite Tracks: "One Shot," "Crazy Game Of Poker," "Heard The World," "Right On Time," This Town," "Something Coming Over," and their new single (the acoustic version) "Heaven."

#2 - Stone Temple Pilots

Yeah, this has everything to do with me seeing them a few weeks ago.  However, it really was such a shot of nostalgia that I have been listening to their music a TON since the show.  In fact, it's driven me to listen to "Shang-ri-la-dee-da" and their newest self titled record, which I was less familiar with previously.  Guess what?  Those albums are amazing as well!  They may drop in the rankings later, but for now they have moved way up there.  No one can ever take away the fact that "Purple" was the first CD I ever owned, and I am proud of that fact.

Favorite Tracks: "Dead & Bloated," "Piece Of Pie," "Meatplow," "Still Remains," "Army Ants," "Big Bang Baby," "Down," "Black Again," "Hello, It's Late," "Hickory Dichotomy."

#1 - Crowded House

The still reigning champ is Neil Finn's band Crowded House.  I've seen them live a number of times and their live shows are fantastic.  Great music and great banter.  The songwriting is really what wins me over.  And Neil's voice could probably make a wolverine purr.  It would be hard for any band to usurp Crowded House as my #1 favorite band and I'll continue recommending them until people finally give in and listen to them!

Favorite tracks: "Mean To Me," "Mansion In The Slums," "Better Be Home Soon," "Fall At Your Feet," "Locked Out," "In My Command," "Distant Sun," "Don't Stop Now," "Twice If You're Lucky," "Elephants."

"We're awesome, but under-appreciated in the US!"
So there it is.  My favorite bands at the moment.  I'm sure it will change in the future, but who doesn't love opinionated power rankings?  I mean, if every sports website can create power rankings for every sport, I suppose I can for music, right?  Let's hear your list in the comments.

Monday, July 11, 2011

A Weekend To Remember

What can I say?  Every time I go to the Peppermill in Reno, it just gets better and better.  This trip, as I mentioned last week, was to go to the Stone Temple Pilots concert on Friday and then relax and enjoy the rest of what the Peppermill has to offer.  First, let's talk about the concert.

Mrs. P., Dick Tracy, Mrs. Tracy, and myself were the culprits of this trip.  We showed up, checked in, and found that our rooms were placed across the hallway from each other on the 10th floor.  Mrs. P. and I had a killer view of the pool from our room, so we set up the bar quickly in our room and had a few drinks.  Dick Tracy and I decided to go down to will call and pick up the tickets our casino host and friend set up for us.  We had reserved seats, with the option of going to the general admission floor, AND VIP passes!  We were not expecting those, but it meant that we had access to the open bar VIP room throughout the entire show.  So clutch and delicious.

After having some appetizers at Biscotti's, we went into the VIP room and got a few drinks.  Eventually, we made it to our seats and waited for STP to start the show.  It was funny that they were running a little late and didn't get on stage until 8:30 (show was scheduled for 8pm.)  There was a thought in the back of my mind that something was wrong, but all worries were unfounded when they walked out and went balls to the wall opening with "Crackerman."

Scott Weiland's voice sounded great.  The band was well rehearsed which was impressive since this was their first stop on the tour.  The rest of the set list went like this:

1. Crackerman
2. Wicked Garden
3. Vasoline
4. Heaven and Hotrods
5. Between The Lines
6. Hickory Dichotomy
7. Still Remains
8. Big Empty
9. Bi-Polar Bear
10. Silvergun Superman
11. Plush
12. Interstate Love Song
13. Big Bang Baby
14. Down
15. Sex Type Thing
Encore:
16. Dead And Bloated
17. Trippin' On A Hole In A Paper Heart
    (Set List courtesy of Setlist.fm though I don't think they have it exactly correct and I corrected it.)



    The show was amazing.  Scott Weiland was charismatic and the band was on top of their game.  I was surprised that they didn't play "Creep" and "Sour Girl."  I was disappointed that they didn't play "Army Ants" or "Meatplow."  However, as a whole, the show blew me away and our group fully enjoyed it (even the girls who are not fans did agree that it was a well done concert.)

    STP - 7/8/11














    After the show, Dick Tracy and I headed to the Craps table (surprise, surprise) and rocked quite the fruitful session.  Even the girls eventually found their way down to the table and made some money.  There was an older Asian in the corner of the table that CRUSHED it on a roll.  I would guess we won 80% of our money on his roll and in the end, Dick Tracy and I were up over $400 each.  This was simply unbelievable based on how drunk we got.

    "This weekend was brought to you by the letter 'M'"













     After grabbing a bite to eat, it was on to bed.  We were so drunk that sleep was pretty awful and I ended up puking up Maker's and nachos in the morning.  I was able to get back to sleep for a little bit before eating and then heading to the Spa.

    There really is nothing quite like using the sauna, steam room, hot tub, cold tub, and all of the other amenities to sweat out all of the booze from a long night of heavy drinking and watching STP.  Dick Tracy joked about what the potential alcohol content of our sweat was.  I'm guessing 20 proof.

    After some rejuvenation and a short and disappointing Craps session with some of the biggest assholes I've ever played the game with, it was off to Bimini Steakhouse for the nicest meal you can get at the Peppermill.

    Dick Tracy generously treated us to the meal as a birthday present to me.   What a guy!  Bimini is a very upscale restaurant where a two-hour leisurely meal is expected.  The food was phenomenal.  We had Coconut Rum Battered Shrimp to start and I had the Filet as my main course.  Mrs. P. had a massive plate of crab legs and joked about this huge looking claw being from "Father Time Crab."  He apparently tasted delicious.

    "Damn you Peppermill for catching me!"










    Afterward, we made it back down to the Craps table for another disappointing session.  However, we were not losing all that much money, we just didn't like the people at the table so it wasn't worth sticking around.  Depressed, Dick Tracy and I headed back to the Terrace Lounge to play Video Poker.  This is where I won a $1000 progressive jackpot two weeks ago...

    We sit down and within five hands, I get dealt a pair of Aces, hold them, hit the button and the next three cards come Ace, Ace, King.  BOOM.  $430 just like that.  Apparently the Terrace Lounge and I will continue to be friendly on future trips!  So ended night two.

    In the morning, Dick Tracy and I got breakfast without the girls because they wanted to sleep in a bit longer.  Eventually, we made our way back to the rooms and checked out.  Our new tradition is for some afternoon Sunday gambling before leaving.  With our luggage stored in the car, we went to the Craps table.

    The table was pretty full, so we walked around to the new Poker room and played some Video Poker at the bar.  No luck.  Upon heading back to the Craps table 20 minutes later, Dick Tracy stopped at some slots to play $20.  He hit a jackpot of $240.  BOOM.  Re-energized, we had to hit Craps immediately.

    And this is the point where I had one of the best rolls of my life.  I hit a number of points (probably 4 passes) but with come bets I had an extra 5 or 6 of those (I think... I don't think I'm exaggerating, but hey- I wasn't keep exact track!)  In the end, Dick Tracy and I were again, up another $400+ each.

    We found the girls at Roulette and played with them for a bit.  It was pretty casual, but we ended up doing alright.  On the way out, Mrs. Tracy had two $25 match play coupons.  Dick Tracy posted the $50 necessary to play two hands of blackjack (dealt at the same time.)  The first hand was a 19 and the second was a 12.  The 19 stayed, obviously, and the 12 hit to an 18.  The dealer showed a 7, and ended up busting.  Solid gambling this weekend!!!

    In the end, it was a great trip- in fact, one of the best trips to the Peppermill ever.  The place really gets better and better every single time.

    Wednesday, July 6, 2011

    90s Rock: Stone Temple Pilots Deeper Tracks

    Since I'm going to see STP in Reno this Friday, I figured I'd go back into their catalog and look at lesser known tracks.  I've already posted about them earlier, but their 90s concoctions are fantastic and deserve a closer look.

    "Dead And Bloated" - I'm really hoping they open with this song.  I know it was a mild single, but it never reached popularity of other singles on "Core."  This is probably as close as STP gets to Alice In Chains.  This song has the AIC type vibe. 



    "Sin" - Creepy intro that builds into a full blown rock and roll fest. Believe it or not, this was pretty racy stuff for the early 90s! This grainy live version from 1993 gives me chills.



    "Naked Sunday" - You want to see a crazy drugged out motherfucker? Check out Scott Weiland at the Reading Festival in 1993. This dude unleashes the siren on his megaphone at the beginning of the song. That megaphone was fully utilized on "Core."



    "Unglued" - What a rockin' song! This song kicks fucking ass. I found a live performance on Letterman which leads me to believe they were going to try to release it as a single, but it never caught on. Get past the Christmas wishes and sink your teeth into the good part of the video!



    "Pretty Penny" - These guys were so popular that they played "Pretty Penny" on the MTV Awards in '94. The song is badass, but you have to be a HUGE band to talk your way into playing a non-single and decorating the stage in lava lamps on an award show.



    "Silvergun Superman" - Yeah, I could for some of this on Friday.



    "Pop's Love Suicide" - A poppy-er entry into their catalog, but certainly not suicide. This song rocks, though it is clear that Dean DeLeo got a brand new pedal he was infatuated with that does not sound as cool as the guitar tones used on their first two records.



    "Ride The Cliche" - I like this song. The verse riff reminds me of something Aerosmith would rock and the chorus is solid STP. Very underrated tune.



    "Heaven and Hotrods" - Structured in similar fashion to "Ride The Cliche" but this song is well worth your time to take a listen. It is easy to forget exactly how awesome these guys are, and I'm finally glad I'm able to see them this Friday.

    Wednesday, June 29, 2011

    The Dirty 30

    So today's the day.  I'm finally in my 30's.  I'm not sure if I feared this day or not.  Probably not.  I think there was a time where I felt like this was old, but I really don't feel that way anymore.  I would like to get my ass in gear and find an actual career path that leads to growth and more money, but everything else is pretty damn great.  There's not too much I actually want for my birthday (plus my friends and family have done a great job with gifts this year) but here are some other things I would definitely like on the 30th anniversary of my birth:

    1) NFL LABOR AGREEMENT - Sign it!!!  I want the lockout ended so we all can be sure that we'll be able to spend Sundays watching NFL Red Zone and betting on the Detroit Lions to cover.  Not to mention how terrible it would be if Fantasy Football was affected.  This cannot happen.  For my birthday, I want NFL labor peace.  Make this happen. 

    2) Transformers 3 - It is nice that Summer blockbuster movies have a tendency to release around my birthday.  Regardless of the quality of the plot in the Transformers movies (not great), these movies do offer phenomenal special effects and a level of nostalgia that is unmatched for me, personally.  I grew up a huge Transformers fan and I will continue to be one until I die- much like my love for the Cubs.

    (I have tickets for tomorrow at 8:45pm- let's do this.) 

    3) Speaking of the Cubs... Let's get them a win against the San Francisco Giants today!  After losing both games in their double header yesterday, the Cubs may have reached a low point in their season.  Give me a ray of happiness on my actual birthday and then you can go back to competing with the Astros for next year's #1 draft pick. 

    4) Adele - I would prefer to not hear "Rolling In The Deep" once today.  I've stated before that it is a great song, but it is SO overplayed that I'm sick of it and never want to hear it again.  I know that's impossible, so how about just for today, give it a rest.

    Fuck- it was already on the radio this morning.

    5) Stone Temple Pilots, July 8, at the Peppermill Reno -  I'm officially going.  They better bring it with some "Army Ants," "Piece of Pie," and "Meatplow."  It's going to be fucking awesome. 

    ---

    And that's pretty much it.  Not too much to ask for right?  If you're already 30, feel free to leave me advice on which arthritis creams work the best or what type of fiber products you eat to keep yourself regular.  I need all the advice I can get. 

    Wednesday, June 22, 2011

    90s Rock: Stone Temple Pilots

    Archived post from my previous blog:

    Stone Temple Pilots "Purple" was the first CD I ever owned.  I got it in 7th grade and listened to it over and over and over... To this day, it is still a phenomenal album that I love to queuing up from time to time.  STP is still going in between Scott Weiland's drug episodes and while their music is definitely not as strong these days, their old hits from the 90s crush most of today's rock music.  Let's examine their 90's collection (focusing on their first 3 albums.)  As always, I may include the singles or I may not- I'll do what I want!

    "Wicked Garden" - This song just straight up rocks.  I know it was a single, but it probably doesn't have the same notoriety as "Plush" or "Creep."  The build up to get to "Burn, burn, burn- burn your wicked garden down" is candy to my trick or treating ears.  This song has serious balls.



    "Plush" - One of my favorite songs to play myself, this is such a well written song. The acoustic version I'm posting is so sweet (with an intro by Riki Rachtman!) It really shows how versatile this song actually is.



    "Piece of Pie" - Picking a non-single is tough, but this song is so dirty that I had to go with it. It's as if this song should've come from Alice In Chains. Here's a live performance from 2000.



    "Meatplow" - And we're at the "Purple" album. I love the singles off this record, but you will find none on this list. There are three songs that need mention that were never released as singles. This is the first. I actually played this song for the Craigslist buyer of my old guitar amp. He immediately recognized it and bought the amp. He probably got good value too, but the point is that this song has magical powers.



    "Still Remains" - This is one twisted love song. One of my favorite songs of all time. I always find this line funny: "Take a bath I'll drink the water that you leave." Nothing says love like drinking someone's used bathwater. At least, that's what STP taught me.



    "Army Ants" - The drum solo around 3:20 is one of my favorites ever. "Fall in those single file lines, like army ants." So awesome.



    "Big Bang Baby" - This album is where the choice of guitar distortion gets a little weaker, in my opinion. However, this song is a lot of fun and it's definitely worth a listen.



    "Lady Picture Show" - It was between this one and "Trippin' On A Hole In A Paper Heart." I chose this one because it's a little softer and the use of 7th chords is agreeable to the ears. Check out this performance from '97.



    "Down" - No. 4 made it out at the tail end of 1999, so it barely makes the cut. This was the first single off the album and it brings back the dirtier guitar distortion. This song keeps it real.



    I know there are plenty of other great songs from this great band. What say you? Was STP one of your first CDs too? Ever shoot heroin with Scott Weiland? Feel free to leave your favorite STP songs or memories in the comments.