Here Today... Gone To Hell!

Just wondering, anyone who didn't like CB really digging libertad.. I for one have heard only 3 tunes besides the singlea nd love them all.. I am hearing more potential so far.. Rock solid.. it would be cool to see someone who was so anti vr/cb be pro Libertad.. Enjoy holding it and hearing it, and happy 4th, off to work.. :beer: and of course the store later..

Well I for one really enjoyed the hell out of Contraband, so it's actually made my anticipation for Libertad much more so, to the point that I'm worried about being let down (my general feelings on the lead single). I refuse to download the leaks until I have it later on today. I'm very excited but can see being let down.

Well hopes are always high.. After hearing 3 of the new tunes I was quite happy, solid vocals, good guitars, bass as well.. Songs you can really rock out too.. I don't wanna hear anymore myself, I'll wait till after work and enjoy it while I'm chilling 4th of july, tk, off to the gym then work then the store.. :beer:

I dont like Contraband that much, but its better than Libertad.

Jim Bob, I haven't heard anything but the lead single. If I'm not big into SBQM, should I just expect more of the same? I'm picking it up this morning when I get out (I haven't slept in days).

really dude, everyone was like the songs sound the same or i'ts too generic, or whatever.. I hear diversity in the new album, talking guitar different types of solos, flowing beats that are catchy.. It's hard to believe people can dislike so much.. I mean hey if you're not into scott weiland then that's cool cause he sings every song.. It's like people who don't like bruce(maiden) queenryche or axl's high voice.. Either like or don't..

Let It Roll is my favorite tune on the album.   

Messages is some of Slash's best playing since the Illusion albums but unfortunately it wasn't included on the album.

My problem is most of the songs have potential but they just fail to meet expectations for one reason or another.    Shes Mine is a good example.   It starts out kicking ass but as soon as the chrous starts I can't stand it.     Too much filler on the album.   A few good tunes, Let It Roll is awesome and Just 16 is decent at least musically.

i never liked contraband, but libertad is a cool record imo. i don`t think it`s that great, but it`s definitely a cool album to listen to... : ok:

Contraband had two really great songs... everyone know which I?m talking about... but as a whole, I prefer Libertad which is a stronger record. I am more likely to listen to Libertad much more than I ever did of Contraband... I simply love it.  : ok:

No the new album overall is not good, musically it is great . The singing and the lyrics kill whatever it did have.

I'm not a big VR fan, but I have to say contraband is much better then this album.

It appears there are a few good songs on thsi one, but in the end it looksl ike a few good songs overshadowed with garbage.

i enjoyed both  ;D and like Contraband, the songs play soo much better live

Mike!?!??!  Where the fuck have you been?  Glad you are back.

The new album fucking rocks, and Jim Bob, go to Itunes, guess what, Messages and Psycho Killer are on the Album.  Now that is killer.  16 songs, one video, Digital book, all for 11.99!!!!!

I didn't care for contraband that much, I sorta had to force myself into liking it because I was such a fan of the members in the band.  Libertad is just a great album, if it gets the exposure, it could pick up a lot of new fans.

I saw zero publicity for libertad so I doubt it'll do well.. I don't know if the current single was the choice to draw interest.. I mean I fucking hate the fact I have to see the video on at 4am before work.... When CB came out they were all over rock shows and shit, some hype.. I mean I haven't payed much attention of late so I dunno if they've done much to promote.. Just as a casual person I saw nothing really, maybe rolling stone that's about it.. How have the reviews been.?

Smoking guns I've just been sick of forums, kind of better when you live life and one day it just happens(music)

Well, I honestly don't feel that "She Builds Quick Machines" is anywhere near as good as either "Set Me Free" (which benefited from a cool Slash opening riff) and "Slither" (which had that great Duff bass line opening the song and slow, building tension following suit).  I think this may hurt the initial reaction to Libertad which is a shame considering I feel it is a stronger, more cohesive effort than Contraband, though stylistically I preferred Contraband.

Ali

I think a lot of people who this album would have appealed to might not check it out because they didn't like Contraband.  And I think a lot of people who liked Contraband quite a bit might be let down with this one. 

I liked CB quite a bit, not a great album, they played it too safe, but a good straight ahead rocking album that is for the most part consistent from beginning to end with some scattered filler, and a few outstanding songs.  I was hoping they would take a few more risks here.  They may have more variety of sounds but they didn't really take any risks, they still played it safe these time around, and meanwhile the album has very little of the in your face attitude that made Contraband work, and at the same time the ballads on Contraband were also superior

I have  the album but have only heard a few songs, kind of baby sitting right now and the stereo is inside.. Lt it roll sounds amazing, the band sounds so tight.. Let it roll, american man, pills, out the door.. Those r the only ones I have heard and I think they kick serious ass, punk n rock, the vocals are really strong., Scot sounds great clean.. :beer:

So far I like Contraband a lot more, but I've only given Libertad 1 full listen (on my second right now).  I'll get back to you in a week. ;-)

It's done the opposite for me, I loved Contraband and still do, but I'm not quite convinced by Libertad.
And it's frustrating me because I really dig pretty much everything Slash has put out and played on, but I'm just not digging Libertad.

I say bring on a Slash solo album already! : ok:

My friend Danny who is a big stp and gnr fan (more so stp) didn't really show much interest in VR when they first came out but today he called me telling me that he just picked up the new album at his work and thought it was "really fucking sweet". So i guess you could say the new album really changed his opinion about VR.

I am getting the same reaction.  Saying "Now that is rock n roll."

I certainly like it better than most of the major label crap (and indie super-crap for that matter).  I liked Contraband.  I like Libertad.  Neither is groundbreaking.  Both fail to live up to my expectations of ex-GNR members.  But they're still both better than most of the shit on modern "rock" radio.

How many groundbreaking albums have you heard this year?

I just don't understand about these negative posts in this forum!

This album fuckin rocks!! I'm not sure but is people waiting something different, something universal shit..I don't know
What I know is that this is like one of the best rock albums that has been released for a while

I like this album better than Contraband and I think more people, that are not so rockers, will find this album too...because, as Scott said, this is more danceable  :hihi: what does that even mean... ;D

But overall..great rock album, going to buy it tomorrow.

None.  Year Zero was pretty good, and Amorphis is set to release something this year that could be good.  Hell, how many groundbreaking albums have I heard in the last decade?  Not many.  But that's my point.  In an era of absolutely shitty music, we have an inclination to over-value bands that release something that does some arm waving in the direction of past glories.  They simply seem better than they are, because their contemporaries are musically weak.  But, again, I'm not saying VR are bad...just that they're capable of making stronger music than they have, thus far.     



And that kind of illustrates the point I'm making...nothing good (that reaches a large audience) has been released for a while, as far as rock n' roll goes.  So, we're inclined to anoint VR as rock n' roll saviors.

Sad to say no.  I was very disappointed in Contraband, and Libertad leaves me cold.  Sounds like they're phoning it in.  They are capable of much more than this.  It's a bore.

But you have to consider the climate it was released in.  Is Libertad better than most of the crap that's out there in mainstream rock right now?  Yes.  Compared to high quality rock albums of the past, it's extremely mediocre

Well - i've never really posted anything on VR, if so it was a long time ago. ?When Contraband came out I was a bit bias because I felt as though I was routing for the bad guys and being a trader to the AXL and GN'R - I know it's stupid, but it's how I felt - I never really gave it a chance. ?That being said, I found myself singing Set Me Free, Slither and Fall to pieces even though I was trying not to. ?I started to download the new album but decided to go out and buy it the first day it came out and I have listened to it with unbias ears and hoping that I would like it. ?Here are my thoughts - ?I listen to the whole album 2-3 times, once in total while at the gym and it was a good album. ?I didn't really dislike any of the songs and it kept me wanting to listen. ?I will say that I have not found a song that grabbed me and kept me singing the chorus as Slither and fall to pieces did instantly. ?I did find myself singing a contraband song while listening to the new album which leads me to believe the songs are similar in rythum.

All of that being said - it's a good, not great album. ?I will keep it in regular rotation on my ipod and will probably play it from begining to end a few more times. I really liked the sound of the album. ?I will also try to relisten to contraband again to see if I like it.

In other news, I just bought tickets to their show in MA for 08/14 to see if I like the band live. ?I'm really trying to view this band as a band and not ex-gnr member wich seems to cloud my judgment. ?

I disliked Contraband and I dislike Libertad. The melodies are simply not there, the tone is bland and it makes me happier with each listen that Slash is no longer in Guns N' Roses.

Jarmo, look at one of your trolls bringing up Guns n Roses......  Notice how nobody got mad.

You can't look at like that anymore. Last year FL was national champs in football.  04 Auburn or USC would have killed FL.  Heck, Last years Auburn beat them, but, in regard to last year, they were the best team.  You can only really be compared to those around you at the same time.  How many new albums can beat the old classics?  There is a reason they are classics.  Its so hard now.  But I agree, its the best rock album release in a while.  You couldn't say that about Contraband.  You can say that about this.  I think if this was release in 1997, it would be good then too.  So for the past 10 years, its a pretty damn good album.

Hey, hey, hey.  I'm a Gator alum so watch it, pal!  :)

But, in all seriousness, sports and music are different because sports have distinct, separated seasons, whereas music doesn't have that.  You can play an album anytime after it's released, and then play another album that may be more recent immediately after that.  You can't take a team from the 80's and have them play a team from the 90's, though.

Ali

Good point!

War Eagle!  Should be a good game this year between us!

Well you could in a video game.

Good points, but I'm not convinced. 

It's like saying that Bud Light is the best beer and, when I point out the thousands of beers that are vastly superior, arguing that they can't be compared because Bud Light as a "light" beer.   

i LOVED contraband...this album is pretty forgetable for the most part....especially the first 3 songs....i have to listen to it more....it just sounds weaker.....like the guitars just sound weaker....contrabands guitars were kind of like a kick in the balls like GNR...this is def more like a STP record...

I disagree.  The analogy doesn't work.  In sports the goals are different than music.  The name of the game is winning championships, your goal is to be the best in a given year.  It doesn't really matter if your team isn't as good as the champion from 10 years ago because you aren't playing them, you're only playing the opponents available to you

In music, it's totally different.  Music is not a competetive sport.  It's an artform.  It's not measured in wins and losses or championships, it's a lot more abstract than that.  It's nice to get an album of fresh material, always.  But the problem is that if an album is only good compared to "the rest of the crap out there" then the novelty wears off.

A more apt analogy would be food.  If you're hungry, and you're given the choice between a Big Mac meal and a tiny bowl of plain rice, the Big Mac meal will look amazing by comparison.  Compare that Big Mac meal to a filet mignon from your favorite steakhouse and it doesn't look so good anymore.  That's what Libertad is, it's a Big Mac meal surrounded by stuff ranging from dog shit to plain rice.  But when you start comparing it to the filet mignons of the music world it suddenly doesn't look so good

STOP!  You're making me hungry!

Mmm...dog shit and rice.

^^^^That was hilarious! ?I like that. ?You are right, it was a bad analogy. ?But in regards to music awards I may be a little more correct. ?The Big Mac line is funny!