As the front man for Stone Temple Pilots, Weiland has remained a dominant force in rock music. Now with his 2nd solo release he proves that his music and songwriting is as potent and powerful as ever. Produced by Scott Wei... more »land and Doug Green (Velvet Revolver, Sheryl Crow, Crystal Method), with select tracks recorded by Steve Albini.« less
As the front man for Stone Temple Pilots, Weiland has remained a dominant force in rock music. Now with his 2nd solo release he proves that his music and songwriting is as potent and powerful as ever. Produced by Scott Weiland and Doug Green (Velvet Revolver, Sheryl Crow, Crystal Method), with select tracks recorded by Steve Albini.
Seth D. (4wallz) from SPARTA, TN Reviewed on 8/6/2012...
Scott Weiland is the epitome of a rock star. I mean that in both a good and bad way. For the bad he was addicted to drugs and alcohol. For the good side, he has a great voice, writes great and insightful lyrics, and is phenomenal live.
We all know his work with STP and Velvet Revolver. And his first solo album was very out there and experimental. But how did he do with "Happy In Galoshes"?
Short answer: Awesome!
Longer answer: Awesome! A lot easier to be a fan of than his first record. Let's break it down song by song:
Missing Cleveland 5/5. This song is truly a great song. Cool lyrics and the music rocks. Love the chorus. Also the video is great too. With such a strong start where will the album go from here?
Tangle With Your Mind 5/5. Another song that will make you check your iPod to make sure it is Scott Weiland you are listening to! I mean that in a good way. A very country (not pop country) sounding song. You also hear influences from older rock groups as well. One of my favorite songs on the cd.
Blind Confusion 5/5. Alternative rock never sounded so good. And I love the vocals. Especially in the chorus do they shine. This song should get it's own video!
Paralysis 5/5. Starts off slower, but by the time it hits the chorus you realize you're in for a special treat. Another truly good song.
She Sold Her System 4/5. This song slows the album down. It's soft and has a lot of reflection in it. The record was inspired by his separation from his wife and the death of his brother.
Fame 5/5. Forget Entertainment Weekly bashing this song in their review. They are obviously tone deaf and stupid. Scott does an excellent cover of a classic Bowie song. He listed Bowie as one of his influences so it's cool he gives some props to him. Stupid critics....
Killing Me Sweetly 3/5. This song sounds like it could be an STP song. Pretty good and mellow.
Big Black Monster 4/5. One of the very few songs that could've been on 12 Bar Blues. Dirty production sound. I like it.
Crash 2.5/5 After the original radio friendly songs that were on the first part of the record, Weiland gets a little experimental. It ranges from good to alright depending on the song. This one is in the OK range.
Beautiful Day 5/5 As if he realized he needed to make up for the last lackluster song, bam! Here's a gem of a song. Love the piano and "carnival" sounding vibe. Excellent song!
Pictures and Computers 4/5. Horns and piano. Guitar and bass. This song has it all. The lyrics are very insightful too. This is a good song to put on and reflect on life. In my opinion of course.
Arch Angel 1.5/5 Not a big fan of this song. The lyrics are alright. The melody is OK. But I'm not a fan of that annoying beeping noise that goes through the song. Easily my least favorite song on the cd.
Be Not Afraid 4/5. An old hymn does as a bluesy song. I like it. Very intriguing add to the album.
Score: 53/65. Definitely worth spending your hard earned cash for. Not just a good Scott Weiland record, this is a good record hands down. I recommend picking it up asap.
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CD Reviews
Weiland doesnt disappoint
Z. Armstrong | NY | 11/25/2008
(5 out of 5 stars)
"If you're a fan of Weiland's first solo album, 12 Bar Blues, you will probably enjoy this album.
If you're a fan of STP, you may or may not -- it's more experimental and less mainstream than STP, but not as far out there as 12 Bar Blues was."
Excellent
S. White | NY USA | 11/28/2008
(5 out of 5 stars)
"Scott gets back to some singing on this second solo release. The 2nd velveeta revolver was a step up from the first but it kinda stifled someone with a voice of his caliber. Maybe you can have Slash solo on stuff but you can't go in all directions if you write with him. This cd like his first solo finds all sorts of moods and tempos but is more cohesive than the first solo cd. He even covers Bowies "Fame" and its good but I could swear that justin timberlake was behind the board somewhere on the percussion track! Most impressive is the last uncredited track in the vain of a gospel/inspirational feel - it must be a standard from years past and if it isn't more credit to him. Other standouts are Blind Confusion & Big Black Monster. Hell, really its all good."
A huge improvement over previous solo album
smith | usa | 11/27/2008
(4 out of 5 stars)
"I'm glad Scott made an effort to write actual songs this time. Simple and melodic. With clear emotions and creative yet tasteful arrangements. Not designed to compete with anything on radio. Just to be listened to at home from beginning to end.
Weiland will probably never be able to duplicate this album again so enjoy it while you can.
Note: my review is based on the double-cd edition.
"
A worthy effort that might hopefully help Weiland win over s
Daniel Maltzman | Arlington, MA, USA | 12/21/2008
(4 out of 5 stars)
"No matter what you think of Scott Weiland, one thing is certain--he is a ridiculed artist. Almost immediately as he achieved fame in the early 90s with Stone Temple Pilots he was accused of ripping-off Pearl Jam's Eddie Vedder with his baritone growl in "Plush," and then with his solo album and later STP it was David Bowie he was said to have taken a page from. His lyrics are mocked as nonsensical gibberish and he has been called a hack, a fraud and a poser.
All this is unfair because the man does have talent, a lot of talent in fact. I will be the first to admit Weiland is somewhat of a "musical chameleon," borrowing elements from Vedder, Bowie, Reed, etc, over the years but his songwriting, willingness to experiment, melodies and, overall ability to craft a good song are superb. As for his lyrics...yeah, I don't always get them, but whatever...
Weiland's full talents perhaps best manifested themselves on his solo debut "12 Bar Blues" (1998). Unconcerned with making something radio-friendly in the vein of STP, Weiland was free to experiment, throw in the kitchen sink and create whatever he wanted. The result was an eclectic, wonderfully bizarre, carnival-esque; Bowie/Reznor inspired ride through a depressed, tortured, and most importantly creative mind.
Ten years and four albums later (two with STP and two with his "supergroup" Velvet Revolver) Weiland is back with a new album "'Happy'" in Galoshes" (2008).
If you're one of those people that absolutely loved "12 Bar Blues" you might be a little disappointed with "Galoshes." There's really nothing as alluring and downright weird and hypnotic as "Desperation #5," "Barbarella" or "Lady, Your Roof Brings Me Down" and the album, overall, is far more straightforward and can seem a little pedestrian compared to its predecessor. That said "Galoshes" is still a fine album and has a lot to offer. Think of it as a cross between the more mellow songs from "12 Bar Blues," like "Son" and STP's final album "Shangri-La Dee Da," (2001) like "Hello, it's late." It's the sort of album you can just kind of unwind and relax with. The last year-and-a-half haven't been the best for Weiland as he lost a brother, his marriage fell apart and he was kicked-out of Velvet Revolver, and this album sort of reflects that. "Galoshes" is a poppy and melodic, yet melancholy, lonely journey...
While there may not be a "Slither" or "Sex Type Thing" to rock out with or anything quite as captivating as something from "12 Bar Blues," "Galoshes" is still a worthy effort that might hopefully help Weiland win over some of his more harsher critics (Note: a lot of the album's more offbeat songs were left off and available on the deluxe edition).
"
Lounge Funk Rock?
Ryan Tidwell | 11/28/2008
(5 out of 5 stars)
"Great CD.
Listened nonstop for a week now and the sounds just keep growing. Very original, very real."