STP’s debut is straightforward and purified grunge rock - this might be what they’d put next to the encyclopedia entry for Grunge if encyclopedias still existed. I get that grunge might not hit a lot of people the right way - the emotions involved are less subtle human expressions and more of a wordless shout of mixed frustration, determination, anger, and a little bit of swagger all rolled into one. Maybe it’s not the deepest genre in the world, but this is a well-developed example of smart people making heavy rock music without just succumbing to the temptation of hiding behind epic guitar riffs (not that those are missing here). Maybe they do sound like Pearl Jam crossed with Alice In Chains - but such is the way of genres. Look at today’s music, look at 1970’s music, and you’ll find clusters of artists that sound identical to each other from the perspective of outsiders. This is how music devleops, how genres grow; through a bunch of talented bands exploring the depths of the sounds together. True invention isn’t real - iteration is how greatness really gets made. And STP iterates on the greatness of the bands around them with stellar results.

So many of these songs have stayed with us over the years that it’s mind-boggling. Just try to listen to a rock radio station for an hour without hearing “Dead and Bloated” or “Plush”. This music inspires a deep nostalgia for me since grunge (and rock music if you’re a pessimist) has more or less disappeared from popular music. It’s got all the classic elements of the things Millennials are most nostalgic for - it’s from the 90’s, it’s gone, and modern kids would probably hate it. But dang, do I love STP.

Jams

“Dead and Bloated”
“Plush”
“Sex Type Thing”
“Wicked Garden”
“Creep”
“Piece Of Pie”

From the roundup Jamwise #40 - Best Albums of 1992, pt. 2.