Velvet Revolver - Contraband

Velvet Revolver, a band I've noticed generates strong opinions within the rock community.

I just got both albums in the mail yesterday, although I had downloaded them before. I quite enjoy Guns N Roses and Slash's solo project, Snakepit, so I'm unsure why I diden't express too much interest up until now... I assume based on distaste for the band on several metal boards I frequent.


Contraband, With Bonus CD (2004)

1. "Sucker Train Blues" – 4:27
2. "Do It for the Kids" – 3:55
3. "Big Machine" – 4:25
4. "Illegal i Song" – 4:17
5. "Spectacle" – 3:41
6. "Fall to Pieces" – 4:30
7. "Headspace" – 3:42
8. "Superhuman" – 4:15
9. "Set Me Free" – 4:07
10. "You Got No Right" – 5:33
11. "Slither" – 4:08
12. "Dirty Little Thing" – 3:57
13. "Loving the Alien" – 5:48

1. "Surrender"– 4:25
2. "No More No More" – 5:39
3. "Negative Creep"– 6:49
4. "Slither" [music video] – 4:11
5. "Fall to Pieces" [music video] – 4:34



I have to admit, the first track on this album drew me in the second I heard it. I listened to this album a few times at work last night, and of course comparing it to Guns N Roses is inevitable. I assume theirs Soundgarden comparisons, but I have to admit i'm not a huge fan.

I have to say I enjoy this album a bit more then the Use Your Illusion albums, but not nearly as Appetite For Destruction. On many of these tracks, I could picture Axl Rose singing on them, frontman Scott Weiland hints at the deeper Axl vocals at times, ala It's So Easy, especially in Sucker Train Blues and Set Me Free. Otherwise, I'd have to say Scott doesn't have near as much charisma as Axl does, but I still find his vocals good, it fits with the music well.

The music, definatley some great rock here. Again, the Guns N Roses comparisons are inevitable, seeing as most of the band is on this album. So is Velvet Revolver just Guns N Roses without Axl? ... Not exactly. A few songs hint at the grungy sound, and there are some punk tones all throughout.... the leads however, of course scream SLASH IS PLAYING THIS!

I was able to import the Australia Tour Edition and grab a trio of cover songs, Surrender, No More No More and Negative Creep... by Cheap Trick, Aerosmith and Nirvana respectivley. I LOVE the Cheap Trick cover, its great... the rest are a bit lack luster.

Overall, I consider this album above average... I would of scaled back two or three songs, but otherwise... I imagine i'll be playing it frequently

Most Played - Sucker Train Blues, Do It For The Kids, Set Me Free, Surrender

When Contraband first came out, I was a huge GN'R fanboy, so I ate it up. But over time, I've realised that it's just not that great an album. Some of the songs and riffs are fantastic, but I really really dislike Scott's vocals. I can't get in to them. So many great singers auditioned for VR, like Seb Bach and Rod Jackson (sung on Snakepit's Ain't Life Grand) and they pick Weiland. It isn't right.

I think I'll stick with Snakepit.

Smindas wrote:

When Contraband first came out, I was a huge GN'R fanboy, so I ate it up. But over time, I've realised that it's just not that great an album. Some of the songs and riffs are fantastic, but I really really dislike Scott's vocals. I can't get in to them. So many great singers auditioned for VR, like Seb Bach and Rod Jackson (sung on Snakepit's Ain't Life Grand) and they pick Weiland. It isn't right.

I think I'll stick with Snakepit.

His voice doesn't bother me in the slightest.

It's hard to describe what I dislike about his voice. There's a strange quality to it that bugs me. I do quite like his lower vocals though, they do have a slick It's-So-Easy vibe to them (I believe they used to cover that song a lot live). It's just when things get a bit higher, I don't like his voice. But it's just my personal prefence, really.

Smindas wrote:

It's hard to describe what I dislike about his voice. There's a strange quality to it that bugs me. I do quite like his lower vocals though, they do have a slick It's-So-Easy vibe to them (I believe they used to cover that song a lot live). It's just when things get a bit higher, I don't like his voice. But it's just my personal prefence, really.

Yeah they did, I had one on my computer for awhile and thought it was pretty good.

i only have the second album and i was disappointed with it to be honest

Im a HUGE Velvet Revolver fan

When GNR was big always liked Slash and Duff so the best parts of GNR are in VR and Im also a big fan of Weiland so for me this was like OHhhhhh yeah!!!!!

I love the first album "Do it for the Kids" is my fav song

I like Libertad but I gotta say Contraband is the better album, though I would like to get the bonus stuff. I do have a single I got that has Negative Creep, Love that song both the cover and original

Contraband definately has a rawness to it that seems to be missing in (most) modern rock bands. Particularly, I can't enough of the riff from "Superhuman"; now there's classic-rock-inspired craft.

If you haven't already, you should check out the new album Libertad. It's not as direct as contraband. Honestly, I think they really found their sound on Libertad. It sounds like more of a band effort, as opposed to the Slash/Duff dominated Contraband.

Velvet is a pretty good band. I don't think they are the best or even near it, but I liked that album

With that lineup, this band should sound a lot better than they do IMO.

Slither is probably my 4th or 5th favorite song ever

i had the newest album and to be honest i found it pretty dull as ditch water

I like Velvet Revolver...I'm a Weiland fan anyway, and Axl always kept me from listening to GnR, so it's nice to hear Slash with what I consider to be a good singer...

TheGooch wrote:

i had the newest album and to be honest i found it pretty dull as ditch water

I thought Libertad was way better than Contraband. Their new material had way more of the pure rock'n'roll sound that Slash is known for. It seemed as though Weiland had finally found himself a niche in the band, too; when I saw them in September he seemed to be all about the rock'n'roll mentality. But, now he's gone and returning to STP.

I think Alice Cooper would make an awesome replacement.

Hmm...the copy I have has a white cover.

Despite being incredibly excited at the idea of Weiland working with some core GNR members, Contraband was a huge disappoint me. It was just generic modern hard rock to me. Libertad is very good though and brought a lot more of a STP sound to the band, which I enjoyed.

Contraband Id give a 11/10
Libertad 8/10

Their take on the song Psycho Killers is by far one of my fave VR covers

Fall to Pieces is a catchy song.