Although initially written off as merely
Pearl Jam rip-offs,
Stone Temple Pilots certainly spawned their share of imitators, as countless
STP-influenced outfits sprung up on the scene during the mid- to late '90s.
Sponge could easily be classified as one such band, especially with their 1995 hit release
Rotting Pinata, which spawned such MTV/rock radio favorites as "Plowed" and "Molly (Sixteen Candles)." After taking a break during the early part of the early 21st century,
Sponge returned with a vengeance -- releasing two albums in a three-year span, 2003's
For All the Drugs in the World and 2005's
The Man. The latter release sees longtime
Sponge leader/vocalist
Vinnie Dombrowski assume full control, as he also serves as the album's producer. The end result is an album not unlike what you'd expect from
Sponge -- melodic hard rockin' tunes (the album opening title track, "Sh*ttier Day Than Me") broken up with bits of tranquility ("Unlucky" and "All the Drugs in the World").
The Man is certainly not going to be mistaken for a groundbreaking rock record any time soon, but for longtime
Sponge fans,
Dombrowski has done an admirable job keeping the band on the same sonic course as their previous releases.