| PRODUCT DETAILS | | Contraband |  | |
Contraband
The debut release from VELVET REVOLVER features Guns N’ Roses founding members Slash and Duff, as well as Stone Temple Pilots vocalist Scott Weiland. The complete line-up is below... SCOTT WEILAND – Stone Temple Pilots SLASH – Guns N’ Roses, Slash’s Snakepit DUFF – Guns N’ Roses MATT SORUM – Guns N’ Roses, Slash’s Snakepit, The Cult DAVE KUSHNER – Infectious Grooves
Manufacturer: RCA
Price: $3.35
 Contraband
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| User Reviews |  | Recycled and Uninspired GN'R Leftovers
rating: 3
As a longtime Guns N' Roses fan and casual Stone Temple Pilots fan: the two bands that gave birth to "Velvet Revolver" no one wanted this album to be an instant classic more than me, but sadly this is not the case.
The album does have moments of greatness:
The lead single, "Slither" contains a hypnotic bass-line and memorable guitar riff. "Fall to Pieces" is the most genuine and heartfelt track of the album, and "Set Me Free" is the most developed 'rocker' with a sizable attitude in tow.
But besides a few moments of greatness, Contraband feels more like a set of recycled and uninspired GN'R leftovers. The album isn't particularly well mixed which wouldn't be a huge deal if it wasn't already bogged down by a myriad of problems such as it's convoluted structure, lackluster Slash riffs, poorly written lyrics, and an uninspiring vocal performance by Weiland. It's got the same amount as excess as "Appetite For Destruction" but without the direction and the unquenchable, hate-filled vocals by iconic front man Axl Rose anchoring the project together.
And that's where the greatest tragedy of this album lies. It feels like it was written for Axl Rose at the helm. Contraband' doesn't do anything to define the 'Velvet Revolver' sound or take the Guns N' Roses sound to a different level. Weiland's vocal performance leaves much to be desired and the poor mix makes Weiland hard to hear and exposes the weak-to-average performances by Slash, McKagan, and Kushner.
What's missing? A better question would be: what isn't missing? Because 'Contraband' has nothing really to say, no direction and no soul, and to many the most important piece: no Axl Rose. The reason this album sold so well would be because so many of us hoped it to BE Guns N' Roses and because it capitalized on a wave of growing nostalgia thanks to VH1 and Vice City. There will be plenty of people telling you why you should listen to this album, but fact is, you don't. It's commendable that there is a band that plays their own instruments in the post-millennium era, but it doesn't mean that what music those instruments produced is any good.
If you're looking for something to tide you over until "Chinese Democracy" or until that supposed (never going to happen) GN'R reunion, this isn't it. Just because it has three former members of Guns N' Roses, doesn't mean it has the same quality of their former band. 'Contraband' is a lot like greasy fast-food. At first you'll feel great about it, but once everything settles and the euphoric effect wears off, it will leave you with wholly unsatisfied with a blistering headache, wondering why you didn't explore different options.
In short, "Contraband" is a chilling and heart-breaking reminder why supergroups are always a band idea, no matter how fantastic and magical they sound. It's hard for a longtime Slash fan to listen to this album and discover how truly average he's become.
-Alex
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Velvet Revolver - Guns Meet Pilots
rating: 4
Velvet Revolver is the supergroup that featured several former members of Guns And Roses (Slash, Duff Mcagen, and Matt Sorum) along with former Stone Temple Pilots frontman Scott Wieland. The band only lasted two albums, but this first one was quite good producing some great sleazy rock n roll. This is a great one to crank on your car stereo. For the most part the material is strong. Slash throws in a lot of grungy guitar and although it gets slightly nu-metal-ish at times there is enough good old school rock n roll to make Guns and Pilots fans happy I think. The album produced several hit single including "Slither" and "Fall To Pieces". The disc does suffer from a bit of a muddy cluttered mix at times which is somewhat distracting. I have to be in the right mood to listen to this album, but at times it is just what the doctor ordered.
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The best supergroup of the 21st century
rating: 5
Velvet Revolver's 2004 debut 'Contraband' proved that supergroups still were a popular concept. This record is among the finest records of the century, and it's not hard to see why.
With a personnel of Scott Weiland on vocals (Stone Temple Pilots), Slash on lead guitar (Guns N' Roses), Dave Kushner on rhythm guitar (Danzig), Matt Sorum on drums (The Cult), and Duff McKagan on bass (Guns N' Roses), you know this band's going to rock.
And 'Contraband' is just awesome. Songs like 'Sucker Train Blues,' 'Slither' and 'I Fall To Pieces' are among the best songs of the 21st century, and underrated songs like 'Big Machine' and 'Loving The Alien' are pretty great too.
Overall, if you like Guns N' Roses and/or Stone Temple Pilots, you must check out 'Contraband.' It's a superb release from a superb band.
Highly recommended. A classic. ENJOY!!!
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Who else but Velvet Revolver
rating: 5
Velvet Revolver's Contraband album was released June 8, 2004. Upon hitting the shelves, Contraband created a lot of commotion. Of the two released albums (the other one being Libertad), Contraband is certainly the better of the two.
A little history lesson for those of you who do not know. Velvet Revolver's roots are found in 80's metal band "Guns N' Roses". Both Slash (lead guitar) and Duff McKagan (Bass) and Matt Sorum (Drums: who replaced Steven Adler) are all part of the band now known as Velvet Revolver, (originally The Project)
Velvet Revolver's newest additions, Dave Kushner (Suicidal Tendencies, Wasted Youth) and Scott Weiland (Stone Temple Pilots) have completed the band, and created the amazing album Contraband. Contraband debuted at #1 on Billboards top 200 albums.
Now let's take a look inside of the album. The album starts off with their hit "Sucker Train Blues", which gives you a pretty good taste of how the rest of the album goes. In Contraband, you'll find the ballad "Fall To Pieces, Set Me Free (from the Hulk soundtrack) and of course, Slither.
Velvet Revolver pulled it together in their first album Contraband, and I, among many others, expected nothing short of exceptional, and, I'm glad to say, received exactly that. I rated "Contraband" a 5 out of 5 stars because the album exceeded the hype that came before it's release, which is quite rare in the music industry these days.
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Let's not waste talent...
rating: 4
Since Axl W. Rose is such a duchxbag a lot of talented musicians who counted on him during the 90's have moved on. Who did they get? Talented STP singer Wieland. Think about the mix between STP and Gn'r. Some may think of mixing JD and Jager but oddly enough, it works.
As far as copy protection goes? Well if that is your concern, yeah, it is copy protected. Just be warned.
Other than that, it is nice to hear the STP frontman singing to hardcore music and deliver a package that is worthy.
You be the judge, but it is a nice revert to the oldschool that we used to know and love.
Enjoy.
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Contraband
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