Stone Temple Pilots – Shangri – La Dee Da

Atlantic

2001

On June 19th 2001, Stone Temple Pilots’ fifth studio album, Shangri – La Dee Da was released to mixed to good reviews. In truth this would prove to be STP’s most experimental record to date, touching on every influence from The Doors and The Beatles right through to Bowie, with the heavier aspects of the band discography thrown in for good measure. The production of the record would be equally decadent; STP would hole themselves up in the Malibu Mansion in California and would write enough material for a planned double album an idea that was scuppered by longtime producer and collaborator Brendan O’Brien perhaps wary of a potential lack of focus. There were also plans to release a fly on the wall documentary and accompanying coffee table book but neither of these projects came to full fruition. To give you an idea of the current climate of music at a time before Napster and falling to non existent record sales, STP had their very own chef come in to live with them at the Malibu Mansion, now that’s Rock n’ Roll.

Shangri – La Dee Da kicks off with “Dumb Love” a heavy down tuned brawny bruiser of a tune owning to a massive main riff courtesy of guitarist Dean DeLeo and a catchy vocal chorus line from vocalist Scott Weiland, a song mostly about the perils of addiction in its many forms “Dumb Love” essentially picks up where No. 4 left off. It is a short but sweet memorable introduction to the record and it doesn’t outstay it welcome. Next up is is the irresistibly catchy “Days of the Week”. Many fans upon hearing “Days of the Week” for the first time were not particularly impressed; the song is essentially a straight up pop song and is a complete contrast to the previous track and, indeed, much of STP’s material up until now. However, “Days of the Week” is a remarkable tune and showcases STP’s commendable knack for crafting memorable songs with excellent songwriting. Featuring a jangly guitar riff from DeLeo and wistful bass playing from brother Robert DeLeo with sing a long, almost nursery rhyme vocals and personal lyrics from Weiland, “Days of the Week” had lead single written all over although, funny enough, that was not the bands thinking at the time as Weiland himself states in his 2010 memoir Not Dead And Not For Sale: “When we were done the suits wanted us to put out, as the first single, a more pop-orientated song; Days of the Week”… the suits prevailed and we were left out there hangin’ with “Days of the Week”. Our fans were disappointed and our sales flagged”. Whatever your thoughts are towards “Days of the Week” there can be no doubt that it is a decent tune and featured a memorable music video to boot.

“Coma” follows featuring heavy buzzy guitars from DeLeo almost giving an air of the otherworldly combined with soaring vocals from Weiland with suitably ‘out there’ lyrics in the verses such as “Tar and feathers hide your feelings if you even know the meaning your high road is overrated you left your guru out there hanging” leading into a memorable chorus before an excellent, almost trippy, middle section which then leads into a frenzied guitar solo from DeLeo. “Coma” is an excellent STP tune and easily one of the highlights of the record, in fact “Coma” was the bands original choice for lead single, Weiland: “To satisfy our core following, we had always led off with a rock single. We wanted “Coma”. The groovy, staccato “Hollywood Bitch” is next; a withering critique of the decadence of old and new Hollywood and the knowing jaded rock-star life. “Hollywood Bitch” would be the second single to be released from Shangri – La Dee Da and is one of the best tracks on the record. A live performance of this track was recorded for the documentary that was supposed to accompany the release of Shangri – La Dee Da along with the previously mentioned coffee book, however that documentary was never released save for some footage included on the official website at the time and on the bonus DVD included with the Thank You compilation released in 2003.

“Wonderful” is next, a heartfelt fairly maudlin tune. Shangri- La Dee Da would prove to be something of a personal record for Weiland, being as he was having some difficulties in his marriage to his wife Mary Forsberg at the time and this is evident throughout much of the record. Unfortunately “Wonderful” falls rather flat and is almost more reminiscent of Weiland’s solo material rather than an STP track outright. Things pick up again with the excellent “Black Again” a kind of lullaby for grown ups, featuring aching guitar riffs wrung out in unison with thundering tom drum patterns from the excellent Eric Kertz, the song features yet more heart on sleeve lyrics from Weiland: “Think of me as a ship that might hold you carry you to the shore when your tired and lonely”. “Black Again” is easily one of the highlights of Shangri- La Dee Da, but would not be played live until the reunion tour cycle after 2010.

“Hello its Late” follows and it is yet another heartfelt ode to lost love and perhaps lost opportunities. It is clear enough that the song is yet another tune directed to Weilands wife. Nevertheless, “Hello its Late” is a memorable tune featuring almost weightless dreamlike guitar riffs playing along with Weilands as usual excellent vocals, which almost evokes Burt Bacharach vibes at times. The song may not be to every ones taste, but it is a worthy addition to an album which has so far been equal parts rock and equal parts psychedelic. “Too Cool Queenie” is next, another tried and true STP jangly guitar rock song and the tune is the perfect example of Scott Weilands uncanny knack of addressing naysayers always in a clever yet biting way. This time his ire is directed, by his own admission, to Courtney Love. The lyrics frankly speak for themselves and yes, indeed, sadly this story is true.

The excellent, criminally underrated “Regeneration” follows featuring rumbling bass riffs and slightly odd guitars leading into a solo by Dean Deleo which precedes an excellent layered arena rock middle section; the song was meant to be played live and in recent gigs, the band has done just that, sometimes even opening with the track. “Bi – Polar Bear” is perhaps the most experimental track to be found on Shangri-La Dee Da, but for this reviewer the song doesn’t quite come off and despite an excellent atmospheric chorus, “Bi-Polar Bear” feels like it would have had a better home on one of Weiland’s solo albums. “Transmissions from a Lonely Room” is in much the same vein; a totally spacey song with a memorable insanely catchy chorus along with equally trippy almost bluegrass sounding guitars in the verses. “Transmissions from a Lonely Room” is a fun song and shows off yet again Weiland’s vocal chameleon style. One of the highlights of the album.

Next up is “A Song for Sleeping” and it is a track which has never done much for this reviewer. A kind of love song to Weiland’s young son, it is a touching piece of music certainly but sadly the song itself is fairly dull and easily the weakest track on Shangri- La De Da. “Long Way Home” closes out Shangri – La Dee Da and it is an excellent tune. Featuring heavy, almost drone like riffs in the verses and excellent paranoid lyrics from Weiland before leading to yet another catchy sing along chorus, the song is a fine closer to what has been a fine album. Shangri- La Dee Da may not have sold well and touring may have been fraught with difficulties by times, but I consider it the last truly great Scott Weiland era album. 2010’s self titled had its moments but by then Weiland was already a victim of his circumstance and would sadly pass away on 4th December 2015.

Stone Temple Pilots continue to tour to this day with new singer Jeff Gutt, an excellent front man and vocalist and last March the band released their second self titled record which touches on nearly all the sounds STP have accumulated over the years, with a hint of what may come in the future. I’ve already talked at length about Scott Weiland and his talent in my previous retrospective on Velvet Revolver’s Contraband; the music at this stage really speaks for itself. Shangri La Dee Da is not a record to everyone’s taste but give it time and let is breathe; it is a colorful, vibrant and at times heavy record which repays the listener more and more with every repeated listen.

Works cited:

David Ritz with Scott Weiland, Scott Weiland – Not Dead and Not for Sale, A Memoir,Canongate, New York, 2011.