Blaster

Scott Weiland’s wild side has been extensively documented, but the frontman for Stone Temple Pilots and Velvet Revolver is in relatively modest, tuneful form throughout Blaster. His backing group, The Wildabouts, are students of ’70s rock (34-year-old lead guitarist Jeremy Brown died tragically upon the album’s release). This influence shows; there's a T. Rex cover (“20th Century Boy”) and the Marc Bolan–inspired “Way She Moves.” “Modzilla” evokes Blue Öyster Cult’s “Godzilla,” while “Beach Pop” imagines what The Beach Boys might've been like had they arrived a decade later. Even the acoustic-based “Circles” is reminiscent of country-rockers The Pure Prairie League. Fascinating stuff.