VELVET REVOLVER
Reviewed by R. Scott Bolton
The problem with supergroups is that - when they finally get around to releasing something - you expect it to be a supersomething. You expect more from a group of superstars than you do from a group of unknowns. And the line-up of Velvet Revolver is far from unknown.
That's the situation with Velvet Revolver and their debut, "Contraband." The CD rocks well enough. Fans of the members' former bands - especially Guns N'Roses and Stone Temple Pilots - will find lots to like here. Most of the tracks are a little less hard than GNR fans might expect and probably a little edgier than STP. Virtually every song features sharp, nearly irresistible riffs, rolling rhythms and verses and choruses that are melodic and catchy. It's particularly great to hear Slash back in top form.
Like many other CDs, "Contraband" is at its best when it's working hard. The ballads here, although tolerable, just don't have any oomph, especially "Loving the Alien," which - as the last track on the CD - seems to go on forever. The harder tracks, especially "Sucker Train Blues," "Superhuman," "Illegal i Song," "Slither" and "Dirty Little Thing," are the easily the best tracks on the CD. "Big Machine" has the rock'n'roll pop vibe that Cheap Trick has claimed as their own for decades while the aforementioned "Illegal i Song" almost crossfades into nu-metal territory.
Production-wise, "Contraband" is a little bland. While I wouldn't go as far as to say the songs sound flat, the production is sometimes muddied enough to dampen an otherwise dynamic song.
Bottom line: "Contraband" is a good album but not a great one. Still, fans of any of the group members' previous work will no doubt find plenty to like here.
Velvet Revolver: Scott Weiland - vocals; Slash - guitar; Duff - bass; Matt Sorum - drums; Dave Kushner - guitars.
For more information, check out http://www.velvetrevolver.com.
Rating Guide:
A classic. This record will kick your ass.
Killer. Not a classic but it will rock your world.
So-so. You've heard better.
Pretty bad. Might make a nice coaster.
Self explanatory. Just the sight of the cover makes you wanna hurl.
Copyright © 2004 by R. Scott Bolton. All
rights reserved.
Revised: 11 Nov 2008 01:44:54 -0600
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