Here Today... Gone To Hell!

two positive reviews by two french fans: http://www.gunnertemple.net/thepit/index.php?topic=11311.0

one of them wrote that the album is very diverse in style and will have more appeal to the chinese democracy fans than to the snakepit fans

 :beer:


PREVIEW (30 seconds of each song): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=io3dBfq7v_Q

I'm one of these guys. ;)
We have the opportunity to be invited by the record company as "trainee journalists" to listen to the album. Thanks for that ! :peace:

Sorry the review is in french, but in general, the word to resume the album is surprising and disconcerting. It's far from Snakepit and there are a lot of "pop rock" songs on the record. But there are pop songs from trash metal songs...
We heared only one time but 3 songs kicked ass directly: Ghost, Beautiful Dangerous, Starlight (what an awesome voice of Myles Kennedy)
I need to listen it again... :hihi:

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I am not surprised people are impressed with Myles. He has never been in a hugely popular band (Alter Bridge has had moderate success) but he is on the super short list of top rock voices out there today. He has insane vocal range, and is a super talented musician. Jimmy Page was impressed enough with him he had him standing in to do Zepplin vocals when Page/Jones/Bonham were contemplating touring without Plant a few years ago. Needless to say I think the Slash live shows this year with him are going to be amazing.

Google translation:

Review after only one listen: (both reviewers said the album needs several listens)


(First review. I'll translate the other one in a couple of minutes)

1. Ghost (with Ian Astbury & Izzy Stradlin) 3'34
We enter directly into the heart of the matter with a guitar gimmick totally unstoppable which will remain throughout the piece. The rhythm is powerful and ruthlessly efficient. The song comes along and, without exception, the rest sticks perfectly. So, after less than a minute, you know you are dealing with the great Slash. It's very rock'n'roll, and it sounds incredibly good. Although construction is quite simple, the title is full of depth. The solo is quite common, but it will still delight the fans. The album starts really strong.

2. Crucify The Dead (with Ozzy Osbourne) 4'04
Intro arpeggio quite effective. Instrumentally, and despite a slow tempo, this track holds the road well. But Ozzy's voice, which clearly lacks punch, does not take everything up. Suddenly, an atmosphere almost flaccid emerges. And even if the chorus gives a bit of momentum to the whole, we wait for the next track. Ultimately, one wonders if "Crucify The Dead" would not have been better with another vocal arrangements and more sharp.

3. Beautiful Dangerous (with Fergie) 4:35
Whoa, another nugget. The intro trend hip-hop beats quickly disappear and then begins an awesome riff, full of finesse, which sounds like Tom Morello mixed with Industrial sounds. Fergie is fantastic in her role and her voice quickly becomes the engine of the machine. Certainly, after a good rise, the chorus is a little too poppy but it was totally coherent and is ideal for vocal lines of the Black Eyed Peas singer. The bass is very strong and then there is an awesome drum-break which reinforces the depth of the track.

4. Promise (with Chris Cornell) 4'41
It begins with a melodic arpeggio well saturated. It's beautiful, and it sounds rich but not really in the style known of Slash. Chris Cornell is so true to himself that you can't help wondering if this track could not be included on a Soundgarden album. The solo is very good and has really rich textures. Despite all these factors, the song is not a complete achievement.

5. By The Sword (with Andrew Stockdale) 4'50
That one is already known.

6. Gotten (with Adam Levine) 5'05
First ballad that starts with an arpeggio with no real consistency but quite catchy. Even if the voice is impressive, it falls rapidly in the radio friendly ballad.  The violins are subtle but there are there. The song is kind of boring but we are awaken by the nice solo.

7. Doctor Alibi (with Lemmy) 3'07
No surprise: it's simple, it's raw, it's ultra classic and it's direct as a kick between the legs. When Lemmy opens his mouth, it smells like Jack Daniels. The track is cut out for him. The few hints on the pop tunes are not enough to break the chemistry that emerges. To this is added a guitar solo devilishly effective. But ultimately, we regret almost the predictable aspect of this collaboration.

8. Watch This (with Dave Grohl & Duff McKagan) 3'46
Big riffs, big sound, big prod: the introduction is absolutely unstoppable. One understands immediately that Slash, Duff and Dave in the same studio absolutely rock ! Very quickly, the instrumental solos alternate exotic and classic solos. The experimental side is so confusing that you almost forget that the rhythm section is very strong. A transition plan with a solo and an incredible feeling totally dissonant break give depth but ultimately it all seems rather disjointed.

9. I Hold On (with Kid Rock) 4'10
It sounds like great Southern rock that you will enjoy listening in your car. Basic rock riff alternates with parts easy-listening and gospel choirs. Unfortunately, Kid Rock is too soft, not angry enough... The solo just raise the level of this track which is, after all, quite bland.

10. Nothing To Say (with M Shadows) 5'27
What a surprise! We waited for a heavy track but it is in fact an homage to Megadeth, Metallica or even Slayer that we have here. The riffs by Slash make him totally unrecognizable. Even the solo gives the impression of having been recorded by Marty Friedman. The whole thing is sometimes tinged with a neo-metal side. Whether one is a fan or not one must admit that the song is quite cool.

11. Starlight (with Myles Kennedy) 5'35
At first, one wonders if the Keith Richards of the good days has been invited on this track. But the real discovery is the voice of Myles Kennedy, incredibly powerful, warm and pure. The solo, quite similar to the one from "Back And Forth Again" is simple and effective. It's a punchy ballad simply beautiful and one can not help but want to listen to it again immediately.

12. Saint Is A Sinner Too (with Rocco DeLuca) 3'28
Stop looking for aliens ... they are here. "Saint is a Sinner too" is in fact a real UFO which sounds like nothing known. Despite a few mandolin solo and one Flamenco guitar, one is totally confused, so lost almost all logic seems to have disappeared. Without the vocals, it might have been a good film music track or a hidden track.

13. We're All Gonna Die (with Iggy Pop) 4'30
Back to a more familiar territory with a song that is both well written and subtle. It's far from a revolution, but the rich arrangements and catchy chorus contribute to the effectiveness of the track.

Second review:

1. Ghost (Ian Astbury / Izzy Stradlin)
Wow! It starts strong! An intro "mutated in arpeggio saturated", the riff of the song that runs in a loop! A big sound, a chorus pretty basic, there is the superb voice of Ian Astbury, very classic rock 80's in mind, a solo with a good feeling, makes you think of Snakepit '95.
Only flaw in my opinion, we do not hear much Izzy but I think it will better with headphones ....
One of the best tracks on the album in my opinion.

2. Crucify The Dead (Ozzy Osbourne)
What could we expect from a duo Slash / Ozzy? Well it starts with an intro arpeggios on guitars tuned to D, a small solo intro that gives a glaucous tone to the song, Ozzy sings well, you get a chorus with guitars saturated enough typed heavy '80s, a nice little solo is interposed between the chorus and the verse pre chorus raises the pressure, a bridge with a gloom atmosphere which leads to a solo which sounds quite like Zakk Wylde.
Not really convincing, a bit like if Ozzy had been playing guitar parts from Zakk Wylde to Slash .... moderately satisfied after the 1st listen, despite the superb voice of Ozzy!

3. Beautiful Dangerous (Fergie)
We had already heard snippets of this piece in short youtube videos or in interviews but then .... this song is a bomb!
The track begins with an intro with hip hop industrial beats and sensual moans by Fergie (she's so slutty!).
The verse is very heavy, heavy guitars almost nu-metal plated agreement, a big bass purrs, a super pre chorus, a song limit grated at times, a chorus that recalls the famous "take my breath away" but much more glaucous, a nice solo with a lot of feeling that goes fast and everything ends with a fade out.
Major work on the rhythm and Fergie's voice is ultra sensual .... probably one of the best tracks on the album.

4. Promise (Chris Cornell)
A quiet intro, a solo harmonized guitars, pop rock atmosphere, the voice is simply sublime, we are in the world of Chris Cornell.... a great job on vocals, always cool little riffs of Slash who will take delight in imitating a harp at times, a bluesy solo, bridge "poppy" for a song that strongly sounds like a solo song by Chris Cornell. A perfect title for U.S. radios.
Small disappointment because it is too quiet!

5. By The Sword (Andrew Stockdale of Wolfmother)
Everybody knows that one, but it's really great to listen to it on a proper audio system!
Awesome intro riff and killer work on the solo.
Really Led Zep style.

6. Gotten (Adam Levine)
Slowly, the arpeggios of 12 strings guitar (probably!). We just tickle the ears by introducing a jazzy-bluesy mood FM, lulled by the sweet clean voice of Adam Levine of Maroon 5 and the group takes us soar in the spheres of violin wrapped love .... a stratocaster solo (certainly!), a nice instrumental break, very progressive... ideal for radio stations and to seduce girls.... but it's too soft!

7. Doctor Alibi (Lemmy Kilmeister)
Wow! It's a raw transition with the previous track: a great punk rock style intro,  Lemmy sings like Lemmy, plays like Lemmy, the refrain "Doctor, doctor" is nice and the solo is rock n 'roll and goes at 100 miles per hour!
During the break, we really enjoy the raspy voice of Lemmy.
An interesting title but not transcendent, it's only rock n 'roll baby!

8. Watch This
This is the instrumental track with Duff and Dave Grohl ... what can I say? Wow this is really confusing at the 1st listen!
I was expecting a new "Jizz Da Pit" and although in reality it is the riff from the video of the Guitar Center contest, a little talk box on the intro, it sounds like a "Slither" in slower heavy and syncopated. After that intro, Slash starts a theme similar to James Bond both murky, noisy and grungy, it's pretty hard to describe ... because it's unheard from Slash.
I think I have heard changes tone, a break with the wah wah, hints of a grungy Pink Floyd.
There is a lot of work on rhythms. It really is a surprising track from Slash ...

9. I Hold On (Kid Rock)
Kid Rock is in the place and he feels good! The atmosphere is tinged pop rock rhythm & blues with a classic hard rock intro, a verse in acoustic arpeggio, a great chord progression on the chorus, some parts in slide, a solo long enough nice but nothing more. The song ends gently on the chorus.
There's the presence of a female choir and an organ (Teddy zig-zag?) which gives a harder edge to this old school song.
Good song!

10. Nothing To Say (M Shadows from Avenged Sevenfold)
Having learned that the track was to be originally played with Dave Mustaine (Megadeth), I understand better!
The intro starts in line with a good intro to Megadeth with guitars harmonized with rhythmic thrash metal chained to a verse in to madness! Never heard Slash doing something like that! Wow! The sound is great, the song gathers momentum but still lacks dynamism and aggressiveness in the final. But M Shadows does not scream like in Avenged Sevenfold and that's cool.
There are solos between verses and choruses and it goes at 200 mph! Besides the solo will surprise a lot of people: Slash shreds with the dexterity of a madman!
The song ends a bit like the intro on guitar that sounds like Megadeth.
This is the second track that really surprised me! Never heard from Slash, however, Dave Mustaine might have been better for the title as too linear to me despite all his greatness.

11. Starlight (Myles Kennedy)
Wow! A great intro into the pure spirit of the Rolling Stones, the use of picking with his warm, round and there ... Myles Kennedy sings ..... My God, he sings well! It is the perfect song that will turn into a spirit pop country, a little tradition that was Guns in the heyday of songs like "Used To Love Her", cowboy songs... Rod Jackson's ghost hovers over this song, it's crazy what this reminds me of some time Snakepit II. Although the song is also connected FM because it is a ballad, it's probably THE ballad of the album and one of the greatest track with a solo reminding the Snakepit. A complete success.

12. Saint Is A Sinner Too (Rocco De Luca)
This is a really strange track, surely one of the most strange of the album.
This is a song entirely acoustic guitar with an androgynous voice, arpeggios, hints of Spanish guitar solos including that takes us back to the outro of "Double Talkin 'Jive" or "Obsession Confession".
It's hard to describe, a sort of acoustic masterpiece with Spanish classical guitar and some Led Zep of the great days. Confusing!

13. We're All Gonna Die (Iggy Pop)
A great intro with a dirty Stooges riff, Iggy is Iggy! He's punk, so the song is punk-rock!
Good heavy presence of the bass and rhythm section in general a lot of Slash subtleties on the verses, it reminds me of the songs from the punk heyday of Guns, a nice solo based on a system of questions and answers. The end of the song is awesome! Faithful to what Iggy Pop is, very good voice!



Overall rating: 7/10

Quite surprisingly, this album will probably have more appeal to the Chinese Democracy fans than to the Snakepit's fans. The most positive thing is Myles Kennedy's range, absolutely awesome! I can't wait for the tour!

Maybe Slash isn't so dumb (according to many who rolled their eyes when they heard she was going to be on it) after all to have had Fergie on the album. Both these guys seem to really like the song, and Eddie Trunk said it was his favorite of the ones he heard and that it had a monster hook. Maybe he was telling the truth the past year running around trying to tell everyone Fergie was really a rocker deep down.

thanks for the translation but I don't know if Google translates properly our feeling ! ;D

About the Fergie song, there was a great work on rythm with heavy guitars, heavy bass and Fergie is very "sensual" on that song  :hihi:

A good surprise for me ! ;)

I actually read those reviews as "mixed", especially the first one which seemed to be the better written one. I"m looking forward to a few of these songs like Ian Astbury & Lemmy. I'll even give Fergie a chance to rock out,  but Maroon 5 lead singer? That's way too poppy for me.

Looking forward to hearing the heavier tracks, especially the one that's compared to Megadeth! :o :beer:

yes it's very surprising and the solo is just killer ! : ok:

Thanks !!! I can?t wait to hear the album, especially the Ozzy & Duff/Grohl ones,  :peace:

I am so ready to hear this song with M. Shadows, looks like Slash is going neo-classical, cool!

Yeah this album sounds like its gonna be great!
I cant wait to hear it!




Joe

I don't know if anyone else picked up on this, but iTunes has the Slash album up for pre-order, with a 30 second sample of every single track.
Just listening now and I'm giving my review on the tracks from the 30 second samples... so take it with a grain of salt :hihi:

The first track Ghost, has bits of the VR song Pleasin' (that Brad Cox demo'd with them before Scott joined) from what I could hear. Wasn't that impressed by the sample...

Crucify The Dead, sounds like a recent Ozzy track, with a cool breakdown part. Pretty cool Sabbath heavy riffing too.

Beautiful Dangerous, sounds much better here in clear audio, and the rhythm Slash is playing during the verses sounds great. Possibly the best/catchiest rocker on the CD!

Back From Cali, sounds like AC/DC just like Slash has described. It doesn't sound that heavy, well, just AC/DC heavy. Cool vocals, and a cool Acca Dacca style riff.

Promise, a more laidback tune and Chris sounds great, but it doesn't sound anything like a Slash song, more like Audioslave or something.

By The Sword, we've all heard this, still sounds good to me!

Gotten, is typical Maroon 5 balladry, with Slash gentle riffing. Don't like the singing, so I'll probably skip this track when I listen to the CD.

Doctor Alibi, alright, this is what I was hoping for more of, great Slash rocking riff, pounding drums. Sounds like a classic Motorhead tune!

Watch This, now I gotta hear more of this, Dave is going off on the drum kit, and Slash is playing some tasty riffs and solos!

I Hold On, sounds like a southern fried Kid Rock made-for-radio track. Sounds pretty cool though.

Nothing To Say, is Slash playing metal!!! It even has a chugging palm muted riffing! M. Shadows sounds like Axl when he sings in the lower register as well. I wanna hear more of this!

Starlight, classic Slash balladry style, and Myles sings great too.

Saint Is A Sinner Too, weird singing, and nice Spanish flavoured acoustic guitar in the background. Sounds strange at first, but I wanna hear more.

We're All Gonna Die, mid tempo rocker, and Iggy's vocals sound cool too.

Chains and Shackles, on this song Slash returns to the same palm-muted chugging metal riff style of Nothing To Say, and Nick Oliveri's screams/shouts the vocals. Even heard a bit of swearing in there. Has a bit of Queens Of the Stone Age trippyness to it, but is very heavy as well!

And last was the Paradise City cover, which I don't like, and all of you have probably heard, so I won't bother reviewing it.

Certainly an interesting mix of songs that's for sure, and I haven't even heard the best part on all the tracks yet - the solos!

Can i listen to these songs without downloading anything?   

Im in work so i cant download or install anything on this PC!  I really wanna listen so badly!

Sounds like such a variety of music for one CD.  Metal, Punk, pop, blues, spanish guitars  :drool:

I'm previewing through iTunes, but someone posted this link on another board, not sure if it will work without iTunes.

http://itunes.apple.com/au/preorder/slash/id361277665

No  :(

ill have to wait a few more hours i think. thanks for the miny review though!

Thanks to Fat-Drunk over at the gnrevolution forum:

http://itunes.apple.com/au/preorder/slash/id361277665 (Australia)
http://itunes.apple.com/us/preorder/slash/id362046305 (US)

No worries dude. As I said, take it with a grain of salt, I based my review off 30 second clips.
But there's definitely an interesting mix of tracks there.

thanks for the links and reviews metallex78

listened to them all once now, I guess nothing to say was my favorite, the songs (judged by those 30 sec clips) were weaker then i had hoped for :-\

it sounds awesome! much better than expected!  :)

I learned a long time ago.. never listen to those samples.. u just don't hear the song how it should be heard and it ruins everything.

interesting samples !  ;D

Just wait to hear the whole songs and don't judge them on 30 seconds only ! ;)

I agree. Especially for bands like Muse. You can't hear any 30-second section of most of their songs to come up with an educated opinion of them.

Nickelback, no prob. A 30-sec clip will tell you all you need to know about their songs.

A couple from YouTube but they don't sound the best...

Ozzy
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2dvpIog8c6w

Ian Astbury
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AupgzEeiloM

Curiosity got the best of me.......I wanted to listen to the samples but they do not come up on my itunes. I can only sample By The Sword, so I'm confused as to how anybody is able to sample them.

you cant sample albums on itunes till they come out..

That's what I thought too, but it's already letting me sample all the tracks.

The Cornell one sounds fucking brilliant. And so does the Fergie one.

That's probably because you've selected the wrong country. Just scroll to the bottom and click on change country or something like that and choose Australia. Then go look for the album again and this time you'll be able to preview all of the tracks.

ahh nice...damn Americans. :hihi:


holy shit you guys have just changed my life.  There are so many rare/live tracks on the other countries store for other bands that America doesnt have.  This is AWESOME!  I cant believe I never tried this before.

to me the vocal melodies of the chorus of beautiful dangerous have similarities to lady gagas paparazzi

the part where gagas song goes "i'm your biggest fan i'll follow you until you...." if gaga would sing it at the top of her lungs that is

can somebody else hear it too?

(this is not me slamming the song, i like some lady gaga songs :hihi:)

It could be. I hear the pre-chorus part to Berlin's Take My Breath Away.

The M Shadows song sounds like it completely out of Slash's comfort zone.  That is bordering on thrash metal.  I am very happy with this.

i really like the fergie song..  i'm going to get killed for this.. but it sounds a lot like paradise city..   i think its agem.  100 times better than the paradise city cover that she did.  chains and shackles sounded the most speed metal to me. 

what country has the alice cooper song as a bounus track?  i agree with changing the country on itunes being  a real eye opener

Damn, this album sounds awesome based off the 30 Second clips.  Try the UK for the alice cooper song.

Nevermind, i bet the UK doesn't have it because Classic Rock has the exclusive.

For those who want to listen at YouTube, most of the songs have been added at the link below, and it looks like he's still adding them...

The audio is not the best but...

http://www.youtube.com/user/Zozodian#p/u/0/cuKyE6Jc0qw

Thank god for you its been driving me crazy what that melody is and it is FOR SURE basically Berlin haha

Loving the Myles Kennedy tracks. Slash is also playing on Myles solo album that is coming out I don't know when. If the tour goes well for them, they really should consider making music together again in the future as he has that huge voice that just goes so well with Slash's guitar.

Also, the Fergie song sounded like shit live, but based on the clip of the studio cut it absolutely sounds like something that could make it on Top 40 radio.

Overall most enthused about the range of diversity on the album. That is the beauty of a solo record, as almost none of these from what I've heard sound like songs I could have ever seen VR releasing as stylistically some of them are a little out there. That's a good thing though.

Here is a youtube link to all the songs in one. It is a good clean rip, much better than some of the other individual ones that were floating around.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=io3dBfq7v_Q

shame the Nick Oliveiri track didn't make the record love it! and would've been great if he got someone to sing on the instrumental

Awesome!!  :beer:

Very interesting preview. "Ghost", "Doctor Alibi", "I Hold On", "Starlight", etc. sound promising. "Nothing To Say" and "Chains and Shackles" are the most surprising. I guess this record is going to be more "Pop Rock" than "Rock", but since the focus is on the vocalists, I guess that's to be expected. Overall it sounds like it's going to be a solid album. The problem with VR or Snakepit was that if you didn't like the musical sound and vocalist, it was difficult to get into the material, but with this album, there's going to be something for everyone.


I guess I was right. It is the main riff of "Doctor Alibi", which is funny because it sounds just like the Ramones track! Maybe they paid to use it?

This album sounds a lot better then i thought!  such a variety of styles on there.  Anyone that thought Slash was just a "Blues player" will be proved wrong.

1:  Ghost I like this, the guitars sound cool!  it seems like a "Grower".  Not blown away but sounds like a cool track.

2:  Crucify the dead This one sounds really cool.  Great to hear Ozzy's voice!  I love the sound of the guitar solo at the very end of the preview.

3:  Beautiful Dangerous  I was worried when i heard the live version, but this sounds 100 times better.  its poppy and very catchy.  Can't wait to  hear the whole thing.  Will most likely be a single.

4:  Back from Cali Sounds like a cool rock song.  cant say much more based on the clip.

5:  Promise  Sounds ok, not loving it all that much though.   :-\

6:  By the Sword You all know this one.  Andrew's voice is amazing.  Sounds a bit like Zeppellin.  Awesome song.  Not too sure how anyone could fault this.

7:  Gotten  Slash haters will have a field day with one.  Adam's voice is quite gay.  The guitar playing is actually very nice.  a little emotional!  Different for Slash.

8:  Doctor Alibi An instant favourite.  Sounds better than by the sword so far.  Bone crushing riffs and a great rock track.

9:  Watch this Dave  Sounds like a cool piece of music.  Nice soloing!!!  Although im kinda waiting for the song to take off, it doesnt happen in the 30 seconds.

10: I hold on Pleasantly surprised.  Very Aerosmith, should have gotten Steven Tyler to sing this.  Sounds really really good though.

11:  Nothing to say  Wow!  Slash playing thrash metal, and quite good at that!  very surprisingly cool.

12:  Starlight  Sounds like back and fourth again alright.  The 30 seconds is a real "teaser".  It cuts out just as its taken off.  sounds like a nice ballad.

13: Saint is a Sinner  Sounds like a nice piece.  Again,very different.

14: We're all gonna die  "We're all gonna die, so lets get high"!!! Brilliant. love this one.  Love Slash's playing on this.

15:  Chains and Shackles  This sounds out there. lol.  sounds cool if you like thrash metal.  more bone crushing riffs.

Cool album based on the previews.  8 or 9/10.  i can see why its getting compared to CD.  There is such a variety.  it really will have something for everyone. 

Mixed bag for me.  The Album starts off really strong with some good hard rockers- but when it get's to "Gotten" with Adam levine- which is GAY AS FUCKING HELL! the album gets too ballady. Nor do I like the screamo vocals of "Chains & ShacKles"  & of course the remake of PC with Cypress Hill & Fergie is Torture!



Bottom line:

A few excellent tracks: Ghost, By The Sword, Crucify The Dead,Dr. Alibi :beer:

Good Tracks: Beautiful Dangerous, Back From Cali, We're all gonna Die, Promise, Nothing too say,Watch This Dave

Bloody Awful:  :no: PC, Gotten! I hold ON, Chains & Shackles,Starlight, Saint is a Sinner



6/10 (Songs) -off previews, but I will buy the album & give it several listens bfore making final Judgement : ok:

No preview yet of "Baby Can't Drive".

Doctor Alibi sounds great. I just love the riff. I don't mind the ballads but the Levine track is weird. ("Love Will Keep Us Alive" anyone?) I also don't like the Nick Oliveiri vocals. Not the kind of music I listen to.
We haven't even heard the solos on each track. ;)

I was just reading the comments here and the reviews so far have been mixed.

SLASH: Audio Samples Of Entire New Album Available - Mar. 17, 2010

http://www.roadrunnerrecords.com/blabbermouth.net/news.aspx?mode=Article&newsitemID=136860

http://www.metalsucks.net/2010/03/17/snap-judgments-of-slashs-new-album-based-on-thirty-second-song-samples/

SNAP JUDGMENTS OF SLASH?S NEW ALBUM BASED ON THIRTY SECOND SONG SAMPLES
Wednesday, March 17th, 2010 at 10:00am by Axl Rosenberg

So the Australian branch of iTunes has apparently uploaded thirty-second clips of all the songs from Slash?s forthcoming, self-titled solo album, and, of course, someone has uploaded all of those clips to YouTube. Gotta love the internet! So I thought we?d play one of our favorite games here at MetalSucks. It?s called ?Let?s make premature judgments based on not very much actual music at all.? Listen to the clips in the video below, and then get my thoughts after the jump.
   
1. ?Ghost,? featuring Ian Astbuty and Izzy Stradlin ? This sounds pretty cool actually. Astbury is obviously a great singer. I was just listening to Use Your Illusion I the other day and thinking ?Gee, this album would be that much cooler if Izzy?s guitars weren?t drowned out in the mix.? Presumably, they won?t be here.
   
2. ?Crucify the Dead,? featuring Ozzy Osbourne ? At least there are no guitar squeals, right?
   
3. ?Beautiful Dangerous,? featuring Fergie ? This sounds pretty cheesy to me, not least of all begins Fergie sounds like her active goal was to channel ?Walk this Way w/ Run DMC?-era Steven Tyler. But maybe I?m just naturally prejudiced against former meth addicts who make terrible music. I dunno.
   
4. ?Back from Cali?,? featuring Myles Kennedy ? Not bad. Slash fans had better get used to this song ? if Kennedy is gonna be the singer for Slash?s solo band, he?s gonna play it every night.
   
5. ?Promise,? featuring Chris Cornell - This is one of the songs of I?ve been most excited to hear from this record, because the thought of a Cornell/Slash team-up just makes my inner thirteen year old?s cock explode all over the wall. But doesn?t it sound a little too Audioslave-ish? That kind of bouncy, staccato riff makes me think of ?Like a Stone.? Which isn?t the worst song I?ve ever heard or anything, I?m just hoping for more from these two.
   
6. ?By the Sword,? featuring Andrew Stockdale ? We?ve already heard this one.
   
7. ?Gotten,? featuring Adam Levine ? I knew Adam Levine?s sister in college. We used to refer to her as ?Tan Lines.? You figure it out.
   
8. ?Doctor Alibi,? featuring Lemmy ? As though Lemmy would ever be involved with something that isn?t cool. This sounds like a keeper.
   
9. ?Watch This,? featuring Dave Grohl and Duff McKagan ? Is this an instrumental, or were none of the vocals included in this clip? Either way, it sounds like the heaviest thing Slash has done since ?Coma.? Awesome.
 
10. ?I Hold On,? featuring Kid Rock ? Typical country-rock stuff that Kid Suck has been doing as of late. I don?t hate it quite as much as I know I ought to, but I could live without it. It might be improved by the presence of a vocalist who doesn?t make me hate life.
 
11. ?Nothing to Say,? featuring M. Shadows ? It sounds just like Avenged Sevenfold. That doesn?t bother me, but I know it will bother a lot of you.
 
12. ?Starlight,? featuring Myles Kennedy ? See track 4.
 
13. ?Saint is a Sinner Too,? featuring Rocco DeLuca ? Okay, I?m not hip and I honestly have no idea who the fuck Rocco DeLuca is. Looking at his picture on the web, it appears that I want to punch him in the mouth. That being said, the song doesn?t sound bad.
 
14. ?We?re All Gonna Die,? featuring Iggy Pop ? Between Iggy and the song title, I was expecting something much more raw and punky. Shoulda known better, I s?pose. Still, doesn?t sound awful.
 
15. ?Chains and Shackles,? featuring Nick Oliveri ? A lot of people have said that when Nick Oliveri left Queens of the Stone Age, he took the metal with him, and this would seem to prove it. It sounds awesome. Too bad it?s an iTunes-only bonus track, and not one for the American iTunes, neither. Luckily, it?s 2010 and someone should upload it to the internet within about fifteen seconds of its release, so we should all be able to get it anyway. Why the fuck did the Adam Levine song make the cut but not this? ?Cause Levine?s name moves more records? What a load of horse shit.
 
16. ?Paradise Shitty,? featuring Fergie and Cypress Hill ? We?ve already heard this one, too.

So there ya have it. I?m not sure if this album is gonna end up being good or just not a total clusterfuck, but either way, I?m now feeling confident that, at the very least, it won?t make me hate Slash. Which is nice.

The album comes out April 6 on EMI, and is now available for pre-order from iTunes and Amazon. The iTunes pre-order gives you an immediate download of ?Die by the Sword,? which is nice. Although I don?t understand why anyone would ever pre-order from iTunes ? I mean, it?s not like they?re gonna sell out of digital copies, right?

-AR

To me it didn't really sound like 'usual' Izzy on Ghost, but Slash mentioned to me that it's really Izzy's guitar blasting through the left speaker. I expected a bit more difference between guitar sounds between Slash and Izzy, wondered what kind of gear he used. I don't know.. doesn't really sounded like Izzy's style imo. But the sample sounds really cool.

Anyways, most samples sound pretty damn cool.. but I want to hear the full songs first several times before judging.

That's one of my favorites :yes:.

the more I hear of this, the more I'm looking forward to it

Sounds fantastic so far. Only ones I'm not too sure about based on the clips are the songs with Adam Levine and Lemmy... and that's just because I'm not a fan of either of their voices.

what are u people smoking

Ghost is fucking awesome. sounds like something from Appetite.

I haven't listened to any samples yet. Actually I haven't listened to anything from this album yet (apart from the PC cover......). I'm gonna hold off until I get the CD and let it all be new to me. :yes:


*tries to resist listening to any samples until April*

I'm surprised no-one else has picked up on the riff in the track Ghost that was taken straight from the VR demo Pleasin with Brad Cox, that was recorded before Scott joined.

Dude, it's like holding on to your virginity till after marriage. What good is that going to do? ;D


I've never heard the demo, but it's to be expected that riffs that didn't make the cut for VR / GN'R will be reused.

Scott turned down most/all of the music they did before he got there that sounded to GNRish, not surprising he would use the riff for a song that Izzy plays on then.

I don't think so, Slash said that most of the material was written while he was touring with Velvet Revolver.

Maybe most of the stuff is recently written, but that riff that Slash plays under the chorus part in Ghost is straight from a VR demo I have that surfaced before Scott joined.

I've got that demo too, but it's not the same song. Only thing that is similar is that Izzy is playing chords while Slash is playing that happy sounding lick. So same setup but not the same stuff.

im really excited by these sample's!  Its really annoying how some people are prejudice just cos they hate Fergie or Adam or kid Rock.  Give the album an honest listen guys  :)

i always knew this album would be a "Mixed bag" though.  There is so much variety on there that not many people will like everything.

Promise is the only song that i didn't really like at all so far.

I was surprised by how good Kid Rock's voice was sounding in the sample for his song. He sounded like Steven Tyler. If nothing else Slash should be given an award for making Kid Rock sound good. :rofl:
Beautiful Dangerous is an awesome song. Can not wait for that one. And Chris Cornell being one of my all-time favourite vocalists, I love what I've heard of Promise, too.

I agree, sounded cool to me!

I didn't say it was the same song, I said parts of it were the same. Just surprised no-one else picked up on it.

before the petty jealosies and the wives getting to involved in the business of the band; scott turning down most/all of the music they did because it sounded to GnRish is probably the biggest mistake the band made IMO...................I know I was looking forward to VR because I love the GnR sound

Exactly my feelings as well.

Would you rather hear the DeLeo brothers play "Nightrain," or hear Slash and Duff do "Vaseline"?

Neither sounds appealing.

it's not like the current incarnation of GnR sounds anything like the version of GnR scott was referring to anyway

after hearing the full version of ghost you wonder what VR could have been if Scott didnt turn down th music; what a waiste of potential; good job scott :-X

Review on full songs ive heard so far.  Slash is in awesome more so far!!!

Ghost This is a great start to the album.  Love Slash and Izzys guitars together and i like Ian's vocals on this.  Its not my favourite but i do really like it and will be listening more and more.  Reminds me of the AFD guitar sound we've been missing!

Crucify the dead Ive only listened once.  Im a big fan of Ozzy but i wasnt blown away by this, maybe cos the other songs are just SO strong though.  Ill listen more and hopefully it will grow on me.  Surprised it was going to be the lead single.

Beautiful Danergous  The live version we heard wasnt that great but the studio version sounds awesome.  Catchy as hell and right now im loving Slash's solo's.  The outro solo is cool.  its a shame we cant hear Fergie's vocals.  If you hate Fergie though, you might not like it as much as me.  Could be a single and quite radio friendly.

By the Sword Still loving this!!!  Love Andrews vocals and Slash's playing.  Love the part were it gets heavy, that will be a cool moment for the live shows. Solo is sweet, gathers such momentum.  Great song.  Sounds like Zeppelin.

Watch this Dave  Kick ass instrumental.  Musicians will love this especially. epic soloing over heavy drop D riffs!  Hopefully this will give Myles a nice 4 minute break during the live shows.   :hihi:

I hold on Only listened once, sounded real promising even though reviewers werent so kind to it.  sounds a bit like Aerosmith to me.  Good song that will hopefully get better with more listens.

Starlight  I was blown away by this.  Nice ballad, cool solo, Myles vocals are brilliant and its stuck in my head already after 2 listens.

I know scott knew what kind of band he was in but he did not want to adapt for them.
Its a two way street scotty boy and you fucked it all up!!!!








Joe