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28 of 30 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Off to a great start, November 19, 2006
As a massive fan of Stone Temple Pilots I was eager to hear the DeLeo brother's new project, their first album since Stone Temple Pilots underrated swan-song "Shangri-LA DEE DA" (2001). But without Scott Weiland could they make a memorable album? The DeLeo's 1997 Talk Show project (which featured singer Dave Coutts) was good, but hardly up-to-par with STP.
While the DeLeo brother's may have written STP's classic songs and brought the killer riffs and grooves to the table, it was singer Scott Weiland who molded the songs and brought much creativity to eclecticism to the band. STP was more than just one man; it was the chemistry of the DeLeo brothers and Weiland that made Stone Temple Pilots one of the best rock bands from the 1990s.
Without Weiland, the DeLeo brothers have some big shoes to fill...enter Richard Patrick, founder and frontman of Filter, who first hit it big in 1995 with the semi-metal/industrial "Hey Man Nice Shot." Initially written off by some as a second rate Nine Inch Nails (which Patrick was once the lead live guitarist of) Filter proved to be more than a run-of-the-mill, mid-90s one-hit-wonder. Their 1999 hit "Take a Picture" proved to be one of the most memorable singles of the decade, proving Filter to have real staying power.
Robert (bass) and Dean (guitar) DeLeo hooking up with Patrick, all veterans of the 90s grunge and post-grunge era seems like a logical fit. But to be honest, often times super-groups are disappointing (Audioslave anyone?). Fortunately, the fruits of this Stone Temple Pilots/Filter combination are mostly impressive. The DeLeo brothers, Patrick, as well as drummer Ray Luzier (The David Lee Roth band) along with producer Bob Ezrin have made an impressive debut.
Army of Anyone's self-titled debut kicks things off with the hard rocking "Doesn't Seem to Matter," which sounds like vintage Stone Temple Pilots. Patrick's smooth but powerful vocals are well suited for this brand of 90s hard-rock, and one doesn't miss Weiland too to much. The dark and melodic "Goodbye" is another Stone Temple Pilots sounding hard-rocker which is even better than the opening track. The spacey "Generation" offers a change of pace while keeping the momentum going. The album slows down for the glum "A Better Place" followed by "Non Stop," another rocker. Both are good, although a little generic. The stunning "Disappear" one of the album's highlights is somewhat reminiscent of Filter's "Take a Picture." The equally superb Pink Floyd/Bowie-esque "Stop Look and Listen" sounds a bit like Stone Temple Pilots' "Bi-Polar Bear." "Ain't Enough" is another good, if not great middle-of-the-road 90s rocker, that keeps the album moving along. Filter fans will like "Father Figure" which wouldn't have sounded out of place on "Short Bus" (1995). The moody and atmospheric "Leave It" could have been a contender for "Shangri-LA DEE DA." The ending, with its cool psychedelic effects is a high point for the album. The superb melancholy "This Wasn't Supposed to Happen" makes for the perfect closer.
Despite a little filler, Army of Anyone is an excellent debut album. While some of the songs sound a little retro, they are still quite good. But most the songs stay away from merely rehashing the tried-and-true. The DeLeo brothers and Patrick have pushed the envelope and evolved, and when this album sounds good, it sounds VERY good. This is more than just a "super group" that looks good on paper; this band really works. Fans hungry for a good guitar-rock oriented album wont be let down by Dean Deleo's solid playing. Producer Bob Ezrin's dark but crisp production is exactly what these songs call for. Fans of STP, Filter and rock in general should definitely check this album out.
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14 of 16 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Easy Listening -- In A Sense..., November 14, 2006
When you put 90's alternative-rock heavyweights Robert & Dean DeLeo (of Stone Temple Pilots) together with an instantly recognizable voice from a charismatic frontman in Richard Patrick (of Filter), obviously you will yield interesting results. Even if Army Of Anyone's debut (as produced by Bob Ezrin) treads familiar territory, one cannot deny it's power and instant likeability. For those mourning the long-gone glory days of Stone Temple Pilots and Filter, Army Of Anyone offers a glimmer of hope.
Sounds Like: Exactly what you had expected.
The Good:
- Who doesn't like the DeLeo brothers? These guys are just awesome and always turn out awesome melodies and hooks.
- Patrick's voice hasn't weakened with age, and the songwriting has only improved.
- With the first listen, you'll know if you like it or not.
The Bad:
- It sounds too much at times as if Richard Patrick singing over leftover Stone Temple Pilots material.
Hits: "It Doesn't Seem To Matter," "Disappear," "Goodbye," "Ain't Enough," "Leave It" and "A Better Place" -- which serves as the genesis of the band -- all perfectly fuse the Filter and STP sounds together. "Father Figure," however, sounds like another beast (and serves as my personal favorite).
Misses: "Non-Stop" is just annoying.
Future: Radio will love Army Of Anyone, and so will just about anyone who followed these guys in the previous decade. It's just a hard album not to like.
Personally: Army Of Anyone don't "do it for me" like Velvet Revolver and (especially) Audioslave do, but their debut is an excellent start and something everyone should look into.
Best Listened To When: You yearn for something that sounds like Stone Temple Pilots, but isn't just a rip-off -- like so many bands these days.
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6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Just What I Wanted... If You Miss the DeLeo Bros, Buy It., February 23, 2007
If you're considering this album, you're either an STP fan or a Filter fan looking for those sounds you miss. Good news STP fans: all the classic guitar/bass interplay and chord changes are there from the DeLeos--this could easily have been an STP or even Talk Show album.
It takes some getting used to, hearing Patrick's voice instead of Weiland, but that doesn't last long. He sounds great; he sounds, like... well, him.
Filter fans seeking that industrial, mechanized sound might be disappointed but perhaps not, since Filter was moving in a more melodic, arragned direction anyway.
There are some absolutely killer songs here. The production is fantastic (not as dirty as Brendan O'Brien's). The drummer absolutely smokes. This CD is worth it for the first five songs alone.
So if, like me, you missed the guitar/bass heroics of the DeLeo brothers, this is your prayer answered.
Out of the three "supergroups" of late, this is easily the best.
Audioslave: totally disappointing
Velvet Revolver: 1/3 of that record is good
Army of Anyone: winnah!
Phew. It's nice to hear some inventive guitar playing again.
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