Here Today... Gone To Hell!

I hadn't listened to this album in a while, but I did tonight.  It's a pretty damn good album, the only weaknesses are Big Machine and that it's a bit too one dimensional.  As far as straight ahead hard rock albums go, there haven't been many this decade that are this good

I agree, Contraband is a solid rock album from start to finish. Much, much better than Libertad, which is a shame, because Contraband showed so much potential. Would've liked to see them go further in the direction of songs like Superhuman and Illegal I.

YOU like Contraband? I'm surprised. ;)

yeah, in retrospective i actually started paying much more attention to the album, and if you get through all of the initial hype there was surrounding the release of the cd, you can actually find some pretty good musical moments in there.

it wasn't brilliant, but it was damn good and refreshing for the whole scene.

libertad on the other hand, is good, has some cool songs, but i can't stop feeling like it could've been much better.
it's great to see they were experimenting some more and covering a more rock n roll area that wasn't explored in contraband, but it lacks in hit singles. they have good tracks, not that many strong singles, or any single as a matter of fact.

I am shocked you like it, and I agree with all you say.  Big Machine is an awful song, but other than that pretty solid.  I wish the production was better.  Slither still fucking rocks.

It's not a bad album but I thought the guitars sounded like shit on some tracks.  Superhuman and Illegal I come to mind.  Way too muddled. 

It had some great singles, and I liked most of the other tracks, although "Illegal i song" kind of sucks... Overall though, I thought Libertad was the stronger of the two.

hehe I must be the only one who likes Libertad more.  : ok:

yeah contraband is pretty good some days


u could have just read the post above yours to see that you are not the only one thinking that way

ah!  :-[ I was just a bit distracted!

i like libertad better as well

but yeah Contraband didnt really impress me too much at first but after a few months i went back to it and i think it is definately a solid record...doesnt deserve all the shit it gets around here

Libertad was more musical IMO (what did matt say? More Danceable?  :hihi: ) anyway i think that the guys really pushed themselves to think outside the box while recording Libertad

I feel Libertad is better too. More mature than Contraband.

i thought Libertad was kind of cool because it was different...but it was VERY boring...alot of the songs went nowhere and there was far too much Weiland influence.... and the best track "Messages" wasnt even left on the album....

It's not a AFD, Back in Black, Innuendo or British Steel, I mean a "perfect" album, but It's a very good album. definetely, The Best Velvet Revolver record .

Yeah I agree, Libertad to me was just bland and boring.  To me half the songs sounded to me like a bunch of throway STP tracks with Slash solos and most of the rest was pretty nondescript, it just sounded uninspired and lifeless

Whereas Contraband may not have been perfect but it had some real attitude and aggressive, crunchy guitar riffs.  The ballads were also superior, You Got No Right and Loving The Alien were a lot better than Last Fight and Gravedancer.  It seemed like a more focused album, they didn't try to do too much, they just set out to make a good hard rock album with some quality ballads in the mix.  It's a fun album to crank up while you're having some drinks

On the other hand, Libertad had a more varied sound but it seemed half-hearted to me.  It sounded like Slash and Duff and Matt got away from what they're best at doing and let Weiland dictate the direction of the album, and I don't think that's a style that suits them particularly well.  But some people love that album so they obviously didn't disappoint everyone

Contraband was pretty damn good

 NO ! :no:

LoL

That is funny to me. Libertad is a decent rock album, but it's flooded with bland guitars and average music in general.

Aside from Gravedancer, Messages (which wasn't even on the damn album) and She Builds quick Machines the album is very average. Nothing stand out. Contraband was a better cd.


I agree with you, it does get a lot of crap. Hell it had 2 singles that almost cracked the top 50, and that's an acheivment in todays music industry.

Contraband is better than Libertad.

i didnt think so at first but after some months, CB definitely stands the test of time more.

I dunno, I find them pretty equal.

My thoughts exactly.

I still struggle to find what people hear on Libertad to make it better than Contraband.
Libertad is full of unspired riffs and melodies. Contraband at least kicks your ass and has riffs that make me want to play on guitar!

Just gave a proper full spin for Contraband and wow, I don't know if it Scott leaving or just that I havent heard it in a very long time, but it definitely sounded better than I remembered.
I can't believe its been FOUR years since it was released. I remember it like yesterday seeing them in 2004. Time flies.

"Slither" is my favorite song off either although I'll take Libertad beginning to end.

All subjective...

I dont know about beginning to end


Really the only song I skip on CB is Big Machine

On Libertad, I skip Last fight, Spay, For A Brother, American Man, and sometimes Just Sixteen

Big Machines is better live.  I like Contraband alot too; still listen to it on a regular basis.  One has to wonder how much better it might have been (in regards to the guitars) with a different producer.
Libertad is a fine record as well, but as others have stated its got too much of Scott's influence thruout.  There's some quality stuff there, but overall much too "middle of the road" for lack of a better term.