I thought (and still think) Core is an essential rock album of the 90s.
I remember sleeping over my girlfriend's house (well, her parents' house, in her bedroom, after being told to leave, but that's a whole nother story) and waking up in the middle of the night to "Sex Type Thing" on MTV and thinking 'Wow this is good, I'll have to remember that band name when I wake up in the morning (awkwardly still here after having been asked to leave)"
Then came "Plush" and they broke huge. I really liked that one too. I had only ever sat at a drum kit once before my 20s (I might have been 12?) The second time I ever did it was at a party when someone was playing "Plush" on guitar next to an empty drum kit. I asked if I could play along, and he said 'sure'. I played a very basic beat mimicking as much as I could remember from the song. People started complimenting me. I told them it was only the 2nd time I'd sat a kit and they were really impressed. It inspired me to pick up the drums in addition to guitar. About 10 years later, I was playing guitar in one band and drums in another one, sometimes playing in both bands at the same venue on the same night. So "Plush" always reminds me of this.
Loved "Crackerman" and liked "Creep". Unfortunately, like some Pearl Jam and Nirvana singles, both "Plush" and "Creep" were beyond overplayed, so I'm still kinda sick of them even decades later. But "Sex" and "Crackerman" are still awesome to me. Same with "Dead & Bloated". "Big Empty" was one of many good songs on the Crow Soundtrack too.
But, as usual, here's where I go against the grain. I hated (and still hate) "Vasoline". Same reaction I had to "Bulls On Parade" by RATM (amazing first album, but then I don't like the lead single of the follow-up). The only song on Purple I liked/still like is "Unglued". I hated "Big Bang Baby". Hated "Sour Girl". Hated "Days Of The Week". Basically, aside from "Unglued", they lost me after "Big Empty" on the Crow Soundtrack. Well, I don't mind "Interstate" or "Tripping" but I don't go out of my way for them.
But there is a silver lining. I like "Roll Me Under" from 2018. Just heard it a few days ago and I still dig it!
Not tryin' to poop on the parade. Just my long and uninteresting history with STP. The good, the bad, and the unpopular opinion! =)