Velvet Revolver — Contraband

Contraband

RCA/BMG

Keith Carman (CHARTattack)

06/08/2004 12:40pm

This is nothing less than what one would expect from the amalgamation of most of GN’R and STP’s Scott Weiland. Do away with the Illusion albums and Axl’s domineering keyboards and overwrought wankiness, throw in Weiland’s sultry crooning and Sid Vicious image… and voila, ‘90s rock with more swagger.

While some of Contraband's tracks are decidedly either GN’R or STP, VR are developing their own sound that should take shape by the next album. Regardless, Contraband is all foot-stomping rock stuffed with at least one chant-along per song to sucker listeners in. Sure it’s pilfering from the same stash of fading cock-rock stars, but this is still better than Nikki Sixx’s Brides Of Destruction debacle.  

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