Search - Stone Temple Pilots :: Tiny Music...Songs From The Vatican Gift Shop

Jerry B. from LOS ANGELES, CA
Reviewed on 11/21/2015...

Along with "Purple", this is STP's last great batch of catchy loud pop songs, and represents one of the seminal non-Nirvanva grunge albums of the late 90's.

1 of 1 member(s) found this review helpful.

Seth D. (4wallz) from SPARTA, TN
Reviewed on 2/23/2012...

It seems that bands reach a dangerous ground once they start working on their third album. Either they can stick with their tried and true formula that has been working for the previous records, or switch it up and try to grow as a band. With option 1 they risk being decried as a one trick pony. With option 2 they risk alienating their original fan base. So in some ways it is a loose - loose situation.
From the outside looking in, it seems STP had this ahead of them with Tiny Music... They had made two straight up grungy rock records. What would they do for number three? Happily for us music fans, they decided to try something new. And it sounds great. It still sounds like the Pilots, but it also sounds like a natural progression for them as well. The heavy riffs are still there (Tripping on a Hole in a Paper Heart), but now pop licks are added (Big Bang Baby), more soft thoughtful rock (Lady Picture Show), and even some weirdly compelling jazzy tunes (And So I know)! And guess what? It works.

I remember when this first came out I was in a local record store, and the owner tried to convince me that The Verve Pipe's new cd was going to be a better buy for me than STP's new one. I choose that one then, and bought Verve Pipe's later. Guess which tunes grace my ipod today?

3 of 3 member(s) found this review helpful.

STP find their own sound with album #3

Daniel Maltzman | Arlington, MA, USA | 04/27/2005

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Stone Temple Pilots proved that they were no one-hit-wonder or Pearl Jam clones with their classic second album "Purple." It was with their third album, however, that the band reinvented themselves and found their own sound. The DeLeo brothers still had their signature killer hooks and riffs, but "Tiny Music" is noticeably more eclectic than its predecessors. "Tiny Music...Songs from the Vatican Gift Shop" mixes alternative rock and grunge with Bowie-like 70s retro glam, pop, and Beatles-ish harmonies and melodies to create a terrific album.



One thing that strikes the listener is that lead singer Scott Weiland sounds notably different on "Tiny Music" than he did on its predecessors. The baritone growl of "Core" and "Purple" has been replaced by a much higher pitched, more melodic voice. Not that one is better than the other, it's just different.



"Press Play" an instrumental sets the mood for the album. The album starts out strong with poppy grunge "Pop Loves Suicide." The similarly poppy grunge "Tumble in the Rough" keeps up the momentum and could have easily have been made a single. The glammy "Big Bang Baby" was one of the album's biggest hits and remains one of the band finest, catchiest songs. "Lady Picture Show" shows the band paying homage to "Sgt. Pepper" era Beatles and was another hit off the album. The soft and melodic "And So I Know" is an interesting break and sets the album up for its other centerpiece "Trippin' on a Hole in a Paper Heart," a defiant, no-holds-bar rocker that is another one of the bands finest, most memorable songs. The avant-garde "Art School Girl" shows the band branching out and exploring new terrain. Although the songs lyrics make no sense, it's still an interesting listen. The leisurely, morose "Adhesive" is a welcome change of pace. Its cool saxophone solos are a nice touch to the song, and to the album overall. The album winds down with the subdued "Ride the Cliché," "Daisy" (instrumental) and "Seven Caged Tigers."



"Tiny Music...Songs from the Vatican Gift Shop" is an eclectic, invigorating album that combines many styles in a melting pot and never looses momentum. Although this album is adventures, the mix of styles and genres works together perfectly. "Tiny Music" is undoubtedly one of the finest rock albums from the 1990s.



"

An underrated and diverse effort from STP

howzat | 01/13/2006

(4 out of 5 stars)

"Tiny Music...Songs From The Vatican Gift Shop (1996.), the Stone Temple Pilots' third studio album



The 1990's was an age of great success for alternative rock bands. The Stone Temple Pilots were one band which had such success and achieved great fame with their first two releases, 1992's 'Core' and 1994's 'Purple'. Both albums, with pretty much a grunge styled angle to them sold phenominally well. No doubt about it, early on the band did a lot of borrowing from their peers, such as Pearl Jam but the band ultimately found their sound with their masterpiece 'Purple'. However, like many a band before them and after them, following up a legendary album is no easy task, to put it lightly. So, when 1996 rolled around, so came STP's newly anticipated release. So what did it have in store for the fans?



'Tiny Music' without doubt shows a much more developed band putting out some pretty diverse music. Even though this is not my favourite STP album, as that honour will always go to 'Purple', it is definitely a creative peak for the band. STP, with 'Tiny Music' finally assured the world they were no one album wonders and could develop like other great bands. They also were able to totally shake off the 'grunge copycat' tag fully with this album - afterall, just look at the difference between STP and Pearl Jam's music in 1996. Like other reviewers have pointed out too, PJ's 1996 masterpiece 'No Code' is a mile away from 'Tiny Music'. Both are diverse efforts but show two bands who once sounded similar moving in completely different directions. STP try out all sorts of different styles in this 12 track outing. The work comes fully equipped with rocking tunes, country styled instumentals, bossanovas and even a bit of jazz fusion! Some songs work better than others but there are no poor tracks on this work; it's great. In fact, my only real complaint, a similar one I have of which with the band's next album 'No.4', is that there isn't enough of this great music. At 41 minutes the albums run time does fall on the short side. However, these complaints aside, you have to give the band enormous credit for breaking their original mold and developing. Individually, the 4 members are playing on top form. Scott Weiland gives plenty of moody but energetic performances, showing his development as a vocalist and the deLeo brothers faultlessly tackle different guitar/bass styles on the work. 'Tiny Music' is an album full of surprises; I just wish it had the god damn tracklisting printed on the CD back (a problem found also with 'Purple').



So, what about the 12 songs on this album? 'Press Play' is a clever and interesting start. The opener is a 1 minute fade in of sorts, with a quirky, funky synthesizer part driving the song. It sounds more like a song you'd hear being played in a hotel reception! Next though, the album full begins to mean business with 'Pop's Love Suicide'. This a catchy rock song with the classic STP riff sound to it. Similarly, 'Tumble In The Rough' keeps the album rocking. A stunted guitar start builds into another song with a catchy riff to it; more good vocals from Weiland on this one. 'Big Bang Baby' was the big hit off the album and it's not hard to see why. It's catchy rolling riff with 'Nothing for free' chorus makes this one a winner. Scott Weiland's gravelly vocals coupled with some almost glam styled guitar work are a great combination on this song. Things then slow down for the more balladic 'Lady Picture Show' where Weiland gives a more controlled vocal performance over some great riffs and funky chorus. Then, 'And So I Know' follows. A refreshingly surprising track - the song has an almost jazzy/bossanova beat. It's a great song and is awesome to relax to with it's gentle and light feel.



'Tripping On A Hole' then picks up the pace of the album again. Snarling guitars, call and response vocals and another catchy chorus makes this song a solid effort. Then follows for me what is the best track on the album in 'Art School Girl'. A great guitar riff with a cool beat and bassline gives the song a superb start. The sudden turn of aggression in the choruses of the song is a clever change. Then, we have the slow but epic 'Adhesive'. Scott Weiland get's reflective and looks at fame on this song. The grand guitar chords and chorus and the jazz saxophone interlude makes this song a real diverse work. 'Ride The Cliche' is a return to more melodic rock and classic STP trademark music. But...just to throw you, a slow country styled instrumental in 'Daisy' follows. Again a great track to chill out to with plenty of slide guitar. 'Seven Caged Tigers' then provides the finishing track to the album and what an awesome closing song it is. More catchy guitar riffs, especially in the chorus and another deep, inspired vocal performance from Weiland feature in this song. The oriental sounding fade out at the end of the track marks an interesting end to an interesting but very well executed album.



STP are no joke. Beyond the attacks they sometimes get for being grunge 'rip offs' in their really early work lies a band which produced more than their fair share of original music during their time. 'Tiny Music...', STP's most diverse work, is proof of this. It's just a shame that this is perhaps the band's most underrated work in their catalogue. Any fan of alternative 90's rock should pick up this album or any music fan in general in all truth. This catchy, likable work is full of surprises and shouldn't disappoint.



MY RATING: 8.5/10"