Rolling Stone’s latest issue has a review of Stone Temple Pilots’ new album. The score is two and a half stars. The review states:
The first Stone Temple Pilots album since Scott Weiland died in 2015 sounds exactly like you’d expect a Stone Temple Pilots album without Scott Weiland to sound. Brother duo guitarist Dean and bassist Robert DeLeo steam-clean the band’s music into shiny, snaky, functional rock, and new vocalist Jeff Gutt’s impersonation of Weiland’s lounge-lizard growl doesn’t distract. But stately heartland closer “Red & Blues” meanders, and “Roll Me Under” fails to hit the Soundgarden-size sweet spot it ambitiously aims for.
Alternative Nation stated in our review:
Overall this is a worthy addition to the STP catalog. It obviously is not STP with Scott Weiland, but it’s everything fans could hope for. Jeff Gutt is definitely the best singer the DeLeo brothers have worked with when it comes to fitting in with their songwriting. While Dave Coutts (Talk Show), Richard Patrick (Army of Anyone), and Chester Bennington (STP with Chester Bennington) were great singers, but Gutt has the best chemistry with them on a songwriting level they’ve had besides Weiland.
There are some truly emotional songs like “Thought She’d Be Mine,” “Finest Hour,” and “The Art of Letting Go” that are definitely the standouts on the album. There are also some fun rockers like “Middle of Nowhere,” “Guilty,” “Never Enough” and “Good Shoes.” Some tracks aren’t on the level of the standouts, but for a band that have been through everything STP has been through, this album is a home run.
