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THE REVIEW
Supergroup with 3 former Guns'n'Roses members (Slash, Duff McKagan, and Matt Sorum), Scott Weiland, former voice of Stone Temple Pilots, and Dave Kushner - I admit, I don't know who he is.
The first impression given by the opener Sucker Train Blues is that of being in front of the GnR with, finally, a real singer at the front: Weiland performs admirably even with a repertoire that is not quite typical of his past (see also Do It For The Kids and the roaring Big Machine).
As the album progresses, the new adventure companions get into the grunge vibe, allowing the use of vocal arrangements from the typical STP/Alice In Chains school for the good Scott (Headspace, Superhuman). There's also a beautiful ballad like You Got No Right, then it flies straight to the closing with the Slither/Dirty Little Thing duo (which recalls the Sex Type Thing from the first STP album) and, again, the slow and melodic Loving The Alien.
Naturally, the novelty effect of albums like this is close to zero, and if we really want to find another flaw, it lies in the failure to homogenize the two starting genres - street and grunge - in the different compositions, as the album's tracks tend to belong quite distinctly to one genre or the other.
However, the average quality of the work is of a high profile, and ultimately we can consider VELVET REVOLVER and their Contraband as one of the best things heard in the Rock'n Roll scene in recent months, demonstrating that class, when it exists, doesn't always evaporate under the tropical sun of some billionaire's villa...
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Summary by Bot
Velvet Revolver’s debut album Contraband features a powerful blend of rock and grunge, led by Scott Weiland’s strong vocals and the iconic presence of former Guns N' Roses members. The album transitions between gritty street rock and grunge styles but sometimes lacks seamless cohesion. Nevertheless, Contraband stands out as a high-quality and compelling rock release, showcasing the band’s musical class and energy.Tracklist Lyrics Videos
Velvet Revolver
Velvet Revolver is an American hard rock supergroup formed in 2002 by former Guns N' Roses members Slash, Duff McKagan, and Matt Sorum with Scott Weiland (ex–Stone Temple Pilots) and Dave Kushner. They released two studio albums, Contraband (2004) and Libertad (2007). Their single Slither won the 2005 Grammy Award for Best Hard Rock Performance.10 Reviews
Other reviews
By Vic Sorriso1
Slash rock has been dead for at least 15 years????
You Velvet Revolver aren’t transgressive today, you’re just scum adding to the scum.
By Laskar_nec
Just hearing the simply superb opening track, "Fall to Pieces," technically excellent, with a feeling that hasn’t been heard in hard rock for quite some time.
If 90% of critics called it the best rock album of 2004, there’s certainly a reason.
By Axl Rose L.A.
A good album, not extraordinary but nonetheless crafted by artists with a great deal of experience behind them and now among the best in the world.
In my opinion, these VR only need a bit of originality that could distinguish them from other supergroups of the genre.
