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THE REVIEW
Ok, ok, just reading the name Velvet Revolver, and especially going to the end of the booklet to read the band members, would have made the unsuspecting buyer, attracted by the super marketing undertaken by the distributors, shiver. Justified, it seems to me, and this is what I'm trying to talk to you about.
First of all, to be able to explain to you well what Contraband is, I need to explain who Velvet Revolver is: a super band in the style of Audioslave, channeling the diaspora of the best of '80s-90s "Vintage" rock. Are Guns and Roses and Stone Temple Pilots enough for you as names? Indeed, the band boasts members like the resurgent Slash (coming off two rather embarrassing recording experiences) and the good old Matt Sorum directly from Stone. Starting with these premises, Contraband is categorized as "either must or flop," filled by other all-star bands.
But after listening to the CD, well, I believe there are no longer any doubts about the scope of the operation and the quality of the music, 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. Skipping forward through the songs, you increasingly smell the absolute masterpiece, or something close to it, moving through furious anti-system anthems ("Big Machine") and overwhelming pearls of hardness with riffs that require a forced lobotomy to get them out of your head ("Slither").
Technically, the not-so-young Velvet Revolver performs excellently in every respect, with a lead guitar that dazzles (even without, however, striving or pulling too much, as even good old Slash admitted) and a voice that melts granite, supported by lyrics ranging from emotional to superficially hardcore-style, leaving nothing lacking, even for the most demanding listener.
If 90% of critics called it the best rock album of 2004, there's certainly a reason.
Recommended.
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Summary by Bot
Velvet Revolver’s Contraband brings together legendary rock musicians to deliver one of 2004’s best hard rock albums. The album features memorable tracks like "Fall to Pieces" and "Slither," combining technical brilliance with emotional depth. Praised by critics, it represents a successful supergroup effort reminiscent of vintage rock’s golden era.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 f.factor
Finally, a real singer at the front: Weiland performs admirably even with a repertoire that is not quite typical of his past.
Velvet Revolver and their Contraband... one of the best things heard in the Rock’n Roll scene in recent months.
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.
