Album Review: "Purple" by Alternative Rock Band Stone Temple Pilots

Purple is the second studio album by American alternative rock band Stone Temple Pilots and more than that, it is an album that I grew up with listening to it in my most formative years.

"Meatplow"

The opening song Meatplow is a song that symbolically that we can stop the meat plow in life that tries to break us down. However, Purple is not a perfect album by any means because the lyrics are sometimes hard to interpret.

"Lounge Fly"

"Lounge Fly" is described as a song that has this psychedelic rock feel to it. The song is actually about a person that’s having a substance abuse problem in their life.

"Interstate Love Song"

"Interstate Love Song" is one of the most popular songs on this album about love and lies. As a man gets on a train and departs for his next destination, he looks back at how the one he loved lied to him. Interstate Love Song is a great candidate for being this album’s #1 hit song.

"Still Remains"

"Still Remains" is a love song as well but with the opposite message. This is a song that is about what happens when love blossoms to its highest frequency. Still it hurts a lot to be lied to in a relationship but also this speaks to the flaws of human beings. Most of us have been lied to and taken advantage of in life.

"Pretty Penny"

The acoustic filled song "Pretty Penny" is a song about a girl’s mother that has passed away and the realization is that they all will miss her. The girl wakes up in the morning and finds out that her mother is no longer sleeping in the bed that she used to sleep in.

"Big Empty"

Big Empty may be one of the weaker songs but the soft, atmospheric feel to it adds a pretty good contrast. The song is about what can happen in life when someone has smoked too much or been on drugs for far too long. Conversations are more difficult to start.

"Unglued"

The song "Unglued" with its speed and catchy feel is the best song in this album and it is basically about someone who is confused in his life and everything that he thinks about becomes unglued. He has the feeling of anxiety coming over him.

"Kitchen ware & Candy Bars."

The album ends with the partially acoustic and electric guitar filled song "Kitchen ware & Candy Bars." The song is about someone who knew where to go in his life because someone showed him how to. Where is he going to end up?

Final Thoughts About Stone Temple Pilots' 1994 Studio Album "Purple"

Overall, Purple is a very solid album containing many standout tracks including Meatplow, Vasoline, Interstate Love Song, Still Remains, Pretty Penny, and of course Unglued which even in 2025 is an outstanding classic.