He had it, he blew it, he’s back. Scott Weiland is making something of a Mickey Rourke statement with Happy In Galoshes, determined to put his lost and ludicrous days behind him (we’re referring to Velvet Revolver, not the booze and coke binges). The STP singer’s second solo album in ten years bristles with Protestant work ethic (the deluxe version weighing in as a 19-song double disc) and last chance saloon spleen.
Unfortunately the pedestrian melodies sometimes let the side down. The material assembled on Happy In Galoshes sounds and smells like songs, but often falls short of that elusive songness, the mysterious element that transforms dots on a page and notes on a scale into something that makes the hair stand up on your nape.
When Scott’s not playing the seasoned hard rock vet with a catholic bent (‘Missing Cleveland’, ‘Blister On My Soul’), he’s being Bowie (‘Paralysis’, an Oakenfold-assisted xerox of ‘Fame’). He’s best when he’s not trying too hard, on the vaguely country rock of ‘Tangled Up In Your Mind’, the Queen-y/Coyneian melancholia of ‘She Sold Her System’, or even the Josh Homme homage ‘Beautiful Day’.
By far the best thing here is a mellow and reflective piece of borderline tropicalia entitled ‘Killing Me Sweetly’, where Weiland sounds like he’s singing from the soul rather than playing a role. In fact, Disc 2, where he discards most of the rock trappings in favour of country-western and acoustica (‘Hyper-Fuzz-Funny-Car’, ‘Somethings Must Go This Way’) and even a cover of The Smiths’ Reel Around The Fountain’, provides far better indication of where the man’s true vocation lies.
Happy In Galoshes is at best a gutsy and intermittently inspired effort from a mid-league player striving to rise above his station.

Key Track: 'Killing Me Sweetly'