STONE TEMPLE PILOTS - Purple LP (180gram vinyl)

Label: Interscope

Stone Temple Pilot's 1992 debut played perfectly into the swell of grunge that had been building up in the mainstream at the time. Core featured relentlessly pounding guitars, a heavy bottom and an enigmatic singer whose vocal style was enveloped in an unseen pain. Commercial anthems like "Plush," "Creep," "Sex Type Thing" and "Wicked Garden" propelled the album to 8x platinum status and the band into the rock 'n' roll limelight. STP then built off of the success of Core with its 6× Platinum follow-up Purple in 1994 which debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard 200 and yielded the three Top Ten singles "Vasoline," "Interstate Love Song" and "Big Empty." Produced by Brendan O'Brien, the stylized 11-song set is awash in big hooks and charming melodies and finds the band also incorporating elements of psychedelia while distinguishing themselves from their alternative-rock counterparts for good in the process.