On February 7, 2020 – Legendary rock band Stone Temple Pilots released ‘Perdida’. A ten track album that features a more acoustic based approach to songwriting. Each song is a carefully crafted piece of music that includes some of the guitar and melodic flow that fans have come to love from the band. Included is the expert guest musicians that play a wide array of instruments that give the record a full and unexpected sound. There’s also some deeply personal songs that singer, Jeff Gutt holds close.
When we start talking about the production of the album, one of the first things Jeff says is, “Making that record was very therapeutic to get a lot of things out. To share a lot of things with the world that you normally don’t share. It was definitely one of those moments. We were just going to write a few songs and record like a handful of them and put out an EP. But once we got into the studio, we found out that we had a lot more to say. So we kind of just kept going.”
I’ve always hoped that Stone Temple Pilots would put out an acoustic based album at some point and I wondered if this had been in the works or if it just sort of just morphed into one. Jeff Gutt says, “I think the brothers (Rob and Dean DeLeo) wanted to do it for a while. They had been talking about it here and there. Especially, Robert. He had the idea of bringing in extra musicians and really dabbling in different styles and fields and different things like that. And when you listen to it, no two songs sound the same, when it comes to the music.”
As I really started to take a deep into the album I was amazed how easy it was to get through it all. What I mean is, I never felt the urge to skip ahead. I was completely content to be in the space I was in, wherever I was at in the track list. However, I had three songs I immediately made mental notes on. She’s My Queen, Years, and Sunburst. She’s My Queen is my personal highlight of the entire record. This is that musical thing I’m talking about with the DeLeo Brothers. Kretz keeps the song moving with smart percussion choices and Gutt’s vocals soar high, in those choruses. You will also find yourself serenaded by Adrienne “Abe” Byrne’s flute performance. This one will easily find its way into my all time favorite STP songs. Years – I loved the way its chill vibe faded in ala Press Play from ‘Tiny Music and it was a treat hearing Roberts’ vocal on this one.
The last song I mentioned was Sunburst. This track sang to me not only musically but lyrically as well. This was a song I wanted to ask Jeff about in terms of inspiration and his writing process. He surprised me with a story and why this song is one of his favorites and means so much to him, personally. Jeff explains, “Sunburst is definitely one of those. That was a big moment for me when the lyrics clicked and everything worked together. I fell in love with it right away. When the lyrics all came to me, it was definitely a gift from somewhere. :laughs: It kind of wrote itself. I had been up all night trying to write something. When you’re trying and it’s not going well, you kind of put it aside. The sun was coming up and sunbeams were shooting over my building. There’s something to that and being that I was writing a song called Sunburst, it all kind of came together in the moment.”
As with most album releases a band will promote it with a big tour. While they will be on tour with Bush and Live in Australia and then back in the United States for an expansive tour with Nickelback, the band originally planned to tour this record and play it the way it was recorded. Acoustic style with a large cast of musicians performing these songs and even re-imagining classic STP songs from the past. But earlier this year it was announced that Jeff had to have emergency surgery and the tour had to be cancelled.
Jeff is doing better and is healing up and doing all of those fun things that come with surgery. Resting, rehabbing and physical therapy. Jeff says that he hopes the band can re-schedule those shows after the band comes off the road from those huge tours this summer. I’m sure fans of the band would love to see these shows rescheduled. I can tell you personally, that getting to see these songs performed in that setting would be extremely gratifying. Until then, I’ll have Perdida to enjoy!
You can hear my entire conversation with Jeff Gutt by clicking on the link to your favorite place to listen to podcasts or by watching the interview on YouTube. Either way, don’t forget to subscribe!
-Tommy Marz
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