I'm Not Dead And I'm Not For Sale

Tiny Music... Songs From The Vatican Gift Shop
Stone Temple Pilots (1996)
If you're a regular reader of this blog, you've probably noticed that this is the first post that I've published in 2026.  I haven't given up on the blog.  Hell, I've invested twenty six years in this, so I can't stop now.  I've just been a little busier than usual over the past few months, and most of my down time has been spent either working on my basement arcade, watching movies, or sleeping.  There are quite a few posts saved in queue that I still have to finish and publish, so there will be quite a few backdated posts appearing over the next few weeks.  Having said that, I couldn't put off the opportunity to acknowledge one of my favorite albums of the 90's.

Tiny Music was released thirty years ago today.  I was already a big fan of Stone Temple Pilots at the time, so I picked this up at Gallery Of Sound within a few days of it hitting the shelves and have listened to it from front to back countless times in the years that followed.  Every track is incredible.  My favorites are Big Bang Baby, Lady Picture Show, Adhesive, and Seven Caged Tigers, and this song which is in my top favorite STP songs from any album:

Trippin’ On A Hole In A Paper Heart
Stone Temple Pilots (1996)

Don't cut out my paper heart

I ain't dyin' anyway

Take a look at Eiffel towers

Never trust them dirty liars

Sippin' lemon yellow booze

Old Lead Belly sings the blues

All dressed up on wedding day

Keep on trippin' anyway

I am, I am, I said I'm not myself

I'm not dead, and I'm not for sale

So keep your bankroll lottery

Eat your salad day, deathbed motorcade

Fake the heat and scratch the itch

Skinned-up knees and salty lips

I'll breathe your life, Vicks vapor life

And when you binge, I purge alike

Let go, it's harder holdin' on

One more trip and I'll be gone

So keep your head up, keep it on

Just a whisper, I'll be gone

Take a breath and make it big

It's the last you'll ever get

Mmm, break your neck with diamond noose

It's the last you'll ever choose

I am, I am, I said I'm not myself

I'm not dead, and I'm not for sale

Hold me closer, closer, let me go

Let me be, just let me be

I am, I am, I said I'm not myself

I'm not dead, and I'm not for sale

So keep your bankroll lottery

Eat your salad day, deathbed motorcade