Post your own Contraband review here

[stp4life]

slash is as good as jimmy page and axl destroys robert plant, vocally.lyrically, every possible fucking way

GNR are better than led zepplin hands down, just because led zepplin came out first they win for stupid reasons

Maybe the funniest thing I've read in my 37 yrs on this planet!!!!!

For example, how can you compare Fall to pieces to Stairway to heaven. that's no contest, FTP is thousand times better,

This is the second funniest!

I know this isn't a Led Zeppelin board, but before you start pushing Jimmy Page (and Zeppelin) to the side try listening to some live Zep.  Listen to a Jimmy's incredible 10, 15, 20, minute solos and THEN form an opinion.

[loretian]

What about "Loving The Aliens"?

I like it.. but, to be honest, it's about the only song I like less the more I've listened to it.   It's just kind of boring to me.  But, this is only after one day of owning the album.  I may be of a completely different opinion in the long run.

[coondogg]

After hearing it for the first time, the cd is pretty damn good. Not every song is great, but then again, not many cds are loaded with great songs. Most cds have a couple great songs, couple good ones, and the rest filler. That's exactly what we have here with Contraband. The people that are dissapointed are the ones thinking every song will be a classic. I'm sure this has been said before in one way or another so sorry if this is just a repeat.

[Sucker_boy_blues]

I managed to get the last copy of 'Contraband' in the shop, and I think the word 'con' is quite appropriate. It is a let down. However I think among GNR fans, this was hyped way too much, I think we all had too high expectations. I can only imagine what it's gonna be like when Chinese Democracy finally comes out  . On the other hand this album is really only a whisker ahead of Slash's snakepit, but SS weren't supposed to be a huge band. For months I read the interviews with the band and hearing Slash say "Every one of these songs has something different about them". Well apart from 'Set me free' and the softer ones they all sound like 'Slither'. I also remember Wieland saying "'Fall to pieces' is gonna be our big one!", 'Fall to pieces' is, in my humble opinion, shit. It sounds like creed re-worked 'Don't cry'. It sounds like Bon jovi (not that I've got anything against them). I thought they were going to do something interesting with this power ballad, like 'Sweet child o' mine' or 'Estranged'. It's boring, there's nothing to it. 'Back and forth again' (SS) is infinately better. Personally I think the guys were a) too influenced by Wieland b) too scared to push any boundaries and try anything new. I've got nothing against Kushner but his playing (and some of slash's) sounds like Papa Roach.  The album's drone makes great background music when, for example, writing your own review of it. The only ones you'd really want to listen to and appreciate as an individual song are 'Sucker Train Blues', 'Do it for the kids' and 'Set me free'. The rest is predictable dribble. 7/10 max.

[jarmo]

I never thought a band could sound this good this late in their career!

This band has existed a year, not exactly "late in their career".  


I wasn't expecting much, I never do, so I can't say I'm disappointed. I was expecting a STP sounding album and I guess it does sound more like STP than GN'R.

Some songs I still can't get into, for example "Big Machine" and "Superhuman".

Others are very easy to like, for example "Do It For The Kids".

I also don't understand the big hype about "Fall To Pieces". It's a good ballad, not exactly the classic genre crossing masterpiece it was hyped to be. Right now I prefer "You Got No Right" to it.


I know these guys can do better and I'm sure they'll show that on their next album when they've been a band for a little longer.



/jarmo

[WagMyDog]

I know nobody's in the mood for ONE MORE long review .. but SCREW YOU! I'm gonna do it anyways, because I HAVE to.

I've downloaded the songs. It's not come out here yet, although I'll keep checking the stores, because it's times like these that you gotta support the bands you love by buying their albums, not downloading it. Why? Because they've made the effort and put out an album's worth of good material. (This is all subjective of course, but then again, bad things are usually singled out easily .. like St. Anger for example. Good things meet a little more resistance from either side. There are even some idiots who say they hated UYI now .. but that's how it goes.)

Shall we go songwise? And then I'll give an over-all perspective.

1. SuckerTrain Blues: The song is a great start to the album. Because it isn't the best, and isn't the worst, but is likeable. The vocals are hardly great, but Scott doesn't really have to worry, he get's his part to play. This song is here to let you know that this is a ROCK album. Notice the riffs. Notice the killer drumming. Notice the rather wild solo. Notice the off-beat lyrics.

2. Do It For The Kids: This IS one of the good songs on the album. Damn good vocal intro like someone mentioned. The vocals are a bit clearer, but still sound very dirty. The chorus wakes up that beast within, but soothes him with the melody. The riff is odd. It's not a "rock n' roll" riff, like the usual Slash-esque riffs. Still the song delivers on pure power and a catchy chorus.

3. Big Machine: This is one of the 'eh' songs on the album (at least IMO right now). The lyrics are rather juvenile and a little punk. But I listen to song if just for the riff on the chorus. It's killer. This song is missing a good solo though.

4. Illegal I: This song surprised me from the start. Right from Matt's machine-gun drumming, into the again not so RN'R riff. And then those vocals just fit. They're odd, but they fit. The chorus leaves me wanting though. IMO this is something like what My World should have sounded like.

5. Spectacle: Not one of Scott's best on the album. He doesn't perform in either the verses/choruses. SLASH on the other hand, DOES. Solid performances by the rest of the band.

6. Fall to Pieces: Ah... what can I say of this song that hasn't already been said? I can say that I've never heard anything like it. It's a beautiful song in which the whole band seems to perform amazingly. The riff is hauntingly glorious, and the build up to the chorus is just perfect. The bridge fits like a glove. The solo isn't SCOMish ... it's more DCish. A good solo, that is probably fun to play, but lasts just a short while. And it's perfect for the song. More and it would be OTT. The song never falls to pieces.

7. Headspace: This is the first one that grew on me. I didn't like it at first. But my second and third listens proved fruitful. And now I think the verses and chorus are simply mind-fucking. The riff is ... shall I say it? Killer! The solo is overshadowed by the riff.

8. Superhuman: The intro is good, different. The verses are solid. The chorus is cliched at best. And the solo .. where is it?

9. Set Me Free: I won't bother.

10. You Got No Right: This song surpasses all my expectations. I remember when I was downloading this, and it killed me that I had only 25 seconds and no users to D/L from. This song stuck in my head from the moment I heard the bootleg. I can't find anything wrong with this song. I even love those cheesy background vocals on the bridge. And those vocals SHINE through. Scott really does deliver on this one. And Dave does too. Matt and Duff do great jobs. But Slash. Slash. Slash. When that solo kicks in, my aural senses exploded. It was the aural equivalent of an orgasm. This is the SCOM of this album. Beautiful lyrics, beautiful vocals, beautiful solo. What more could I ask for? An outro perhaps Slash? But then again, I demand too much.

11. Slither: I won't bother.

12. Dirty Little thing: Good solid song. I can't say I don't like it. I can't say that I love it. I can say that Slash delivered on the fast solo. Drool over this one.

13. Loving the Alien: I gotta admit, this was the first one I downloaded and I thought I had the wrong song. Because it sounds SO different. Can you believe Scott's vocals in the verses? They're so placid. It didn't seem like him. It didn't seem like anything I've ever heard before. And the prechorus and chorus are really mellow as well. Not quite like FTP or YGNR. I LOVE the in-verse lead bits Slash has on this one. And Dave, great rhythm on accoustic. The bridge is so subdued it's almost picturesque. And it leads into the second best solo on this album.

14. Bodies: Punk Lives.

Overall, I'd say that this album is definitely not GNR. I just hope they didn't try too hard not to be GNR, because maybe they could have come up with some memorable solos for the rockers.

I don't know if this sounds like STP. Some of you say so, so I'll take your word for that.

VR are definitely on the right track. Maybe they haven't delivered the best they can. It's like this is the Slither of their albums. So the Headspace ... the DIFTK ... the FTP ... the LTA ... and dare I say it?  ... the YGNR of their albums is still to come.



*Disclaimer*

I've referred to some GNR songs in this review. But like I said two paragraphs above, this isn't anything like GN'R. This is Velvet Revolver, and if you can't agree to anything, at least admit that they're their own band. Nothing more, nothing less.

[Sucker_boy_blues]

I managed to buy the last copy of 'contraband' in the shop, and found that having the word con in the title is quite appropriate. However, I think there was too much hype among GNR fans, and I think we all had too high expectations (I can only imagine whats going to happen when Chinese Democracy finally comes out). On the other hand, it really isn't that good. This is only a whisker ahead of Slash's snakepit, but SS were never supposed to be a "huge" band. For the past few months I read every article about VR that I could get my mits on, and I remember Slash saying "Every one of these songs has something different them.", well apart from 'Set Me Free' plus some of the softer ones they all sound like 'Slither'. I also remember Wieland saying "Fall to pieces is gonna be our big one!" Fall to pieces is, in my humble opinion, shit. I thought they were going to do something interesting with this huge ballad like Slash and the guys did with 'Sweet child o' mine' and 'estranged'. It sounds like creed re-worked 'Don't cry' or some crappy Poison ballad (actually it sounds quite like 'every rose has its thorn'). Personally, I think 'Back and Forth again' (SS) is infinately better. 'You got no right' hails as king of the ballads on 'Contraband' in my book. And what's up with the guitars, I've got nothing against Kushner but his (and some of Slash's) guitar playing sounds like Papa Roach came in and played the part. However, the albums drone does make good background music when, for example, writing your own review of it. But the only real tracks you could listen to as an individual piece of music are 'Sucker Train Blues', 'Do it for the kids', 'Set me free' and 'You got no right', the rest is predictable dribble. 7 out of 10 max.

[gypsy eyes]

It's starting to grow on me, if I'd have to make a review now it wouldn't be that negative anymore... but still!
I think that Scott ruins most of it

But it's getting better... I sleep with it now lol so I got it in my head all day then im singing songs noone ever heard of again and everyone in my school looks at me funny

hey hey news: VR is now being played at stripclubs too well at lest at one I had to beg em to get rid of the britney crap but they played Slither...twice!!! and I danced on it actually a pretty good song to dance on... but a bit short, I still prefere GnR

goes for the record too... VR isn't bad but I liked Slash's work better in Guns... or in the Snakepit

[Booker Floyd]

Good review, WMD.

The bridge on "LTA" ("I never noticed...how lovely were the aliens?") is gorgeous.    

I shook off the live version and gave "YGNR" a few more listens...and it hit me just like the live version had.  I think I still prefer the more stark live one (dying to hear a pro-quality recording on this one), but Im feeling the studio one about the same.  These are some of the best vocals Scotts ever done.

I think the vocals on "STB" are some of the albums best...And the lyrics are the best among the rockers.  I really like the creepy, surreal imagery.  References to guns, insects, amputation, vermin, Jesus, Satan, angels and aliens make for an interesting song.  

And Ive had the chorus for "Spectacle" as much as any song on there.

[Miz]

Ok, I think the songs are ok.  And I have totally changed my mind about Matt.  His drumming...and Duffs bass (althogh it's sometimes hard to distinguish from Dave's guitar) are awesome on this album.  They fit perfectly.  Unfortuantly none of the songs are outstanding.  Almost all of them, except a couple of them are let down by the lyrics.  I don't hate Scott as much as I thought I did...I think his melodies are kick ass, but his phrasing is a bit dodgy in places and his lyrics suck.

But the main problem with this album is the mix.  Josh Abraham should be shot.  Dave's guitar is waaaaay to bass heavy, and too loud, and Slash's solos do not cut through at all.  They are way too low in the mix.  Slash is too quiet, and Dave's guitar doesn't seem to have enough definition.

Apart from the mixing (which is only marginally better than St Anger) the album is pretty cool.  Not incredible, but I think it'll grow on me.


I can't get over how crap the mix is...

[Doc Emmett Brown]

I'll try to keep this short.

This album was like an onion.  When I first listened, I sobbed.  I could not hear Slash the first time around.  It all sounded like 1 big nasty grunge song with some ballads thrown in the pudding.

Upon further listening, I started liking it more, maybe because I was getting used to Weiland.

The first song I really liked was Do It For The Kids.  Scott's vocal melodies are catchy and I felt I understood his fragmented lyrics.  Most of the time I was not feeling his lyrics at all.  

The music of Illegal I has this old-style murder mystery riff to it - kinda cool, IMO.

My biggest complaint with Fall to Pieces is that he repeats the chorus too many times.  He doesnt complete his thoughts - finish the stanza Scott!  Take your time!  But other than that, I like this song very much.

You Got No Right and Loving the Alien are both amazing, and I wish the tracklisting places FTP with these songs because once I'm in a ballad mood, I like staying that way.

In conclusion, the album does get better with every listen, but my initial reaction had me thinking 'Will someone tell me what the fuck is going on!'

[Doc Emmett Brown]

I think the vocals on "STB" are some of the albums best...And the lyrics are the best among the rockers.  I really like the creepy, surreal imagery.  References to guns, insects, amputation, vermin, Jesus, Satan, angels and aliens make for an interesting song.  

Each to his own, I guess.  I felt he just threw out a bunch of disconnected images without bothering to create something coherent.  It's a collage of ideas, but when you stand back and view it - what do you see?  I see nothing.   Maybe he did it on purpose, but it puts me off.

WagMyDog sez:

Overall, I'd say that this album is definitely not GNR. I just hope they didn't try too hard not to be GNR, because maybe they could have come up with some memorable solos for the rockers.

I had similar suspicions.  In fact, the Slither solo now appears be to one of the best on the album because Slash seems rather muted in other songs.  

[D]

imnot turning this into a zepp vs gnr cause i know it is way off topic here but i have to rebutal stp4life

give me estranged over every single led zepplin song ever made that includes stairway to heaven

zepplin may be legends but they arent to me, everytime they come on i turn the channel or radio knob

whole lotta love or paradise city? hmmm thats a no brainer give me any GNR song over any zepplin song

but thats just me i could be wrong

back on topic


its cool reading reviews from a first listen to a few days later

isnt it weird and bizarre how u can absolutely hate a song or an entire cd but for some reason after a few listens its like the song clears up and becomes awesome

thats usually the difference in a great cd and an ok cd

usually an ok cd is pop friendly and its easy to digest first time around but quickly gets old and u burn out on it

a great cd takes effort and patience and sometimes even intelligence to love and understand thats the kind of music i like, i like music that takes effort to understand and appreciate *which is why i guess im such a huge prince fan*and this type of music is the kind u still pop into your cd player 10 20 years later, there will never be a time i dont lisen to GNR,or prince or bon jovi, 20 years from now ill have appetite and the illusions,prince's emancipation,bon jovi cds in my cd player, cause they are timeless, but they sometimes take effort to appreciate

contraband will be awesome because u know why?

i will listen to it till it becomes awesome!

[Miz]

slash is as good as jimmy page and axl destroys robert plant, vocally.lyrically, every possible fucking way

GNR are better than led zepplin hands down, just because led zepplin came out first they win for stupid reasons

Maybe the funniest thing I've read in my 37 yrs on this planet!!!!!

For example, how can you compare Fall to pieces to Stairway to heaven. that's no contest, FTP is thousand times better,

This is the second funniest!

I know this isn't a Led Zeppelin board, but before you start pushing Jimmy Page (and Zeppelin) to the side try listening to some live Zep.  Listen to a Jimmy's incredible 10, 15, 20, minute solos and THEN form an opinion.

I don't want to turn this into a big off topic argument but...

I've heard page's sloppy solos.  I've heard page's shitty tone.  It doens't mean I don't love him as a guitarist, because I do.  But the man is nowhere near as good technically as Slash.  Slash's playing is so much neater than Page's it's untrue.  Whether you think the Stairway solo is better than the SCOM solo is subjective, but who is the better guitar player is not.

And Axl's lyrics are infinitely better than Plant's.  Plant's lyrics sucked.  Flat out sucked.  Plant sang about such crap.  Some of the stuff on the first few albums made sense.  Then he started singing about vikings and shit...

And listen to Plant on the live DVD from towards the end of their career.  Listening?  He's lost the top range of his voice.  He's singing everything an octave lower.  Now, I don't see 40yr old Axl losing his range after years and years of abusing his vocal chords.  He's still got his range.

So...no.

[metallex78]

Ok, I've had the album for nearly a week now, and my initial impression of Contraband has changed quite dramatically.
From thinking it was just a solid rock album with a few gems and a few bland songs, now I don't think there's a weak song on there at all, I'd even go as far as saying it's already my album of the year for 2004.

Sucker Train Blues
Probably the closest we'll get to a UYI style rocker from these guys. Scott's vocals in the verses annoyed me at first, but they match the frantic speed of the music. And the chorus is one of the first melodic gems on the album "and when I want to... I will find you..." Very cool. Slash's ripping solo, which is assisted by a whammy bar, sounds awesome too. It announces that Contraband is definitely NOT another half-assed Snakepit album.

Do It For The Kids
F**king awesome. Like I stated in my earlier review, Scott's intro vocals sound as if they were processed by NIN frontman Trent Reznor himself. This is of course before the walls of thick, riffy guitars kick in. More big grooves follw into the chorus with it's almost Cult-like melodies and harmonies.

Big Machine
Cool almost Ramones like clap-along drum and bass intro. I probably like this song the least on the album, as the chorus lyrics are a bit bland compared to the other songs, but I still can't get the chorus riff out of my head and the band still sound in top form. They are definitely not returning to their classic GN'R style and Slash plays a solo that is a departure from his past as well.

Illegal I Song
I love this Jane's Addiction style song. So heavy and groovy!
From the machine gun intro drumming to the weird/modern rock main riff, this really showcases the bands diverse talents. Scott does his best Perry Farrell while Slash plays another solo that is a departure from his past style. Closer to Tom Morello than Jimmy Page.

Spectacle
Starts with a riff similar to Metallica's "Fuel" but with a more country like twang, but when the vocals kick in it ends up sounding more like a Queens of the Stone Age song. More killer hooks and harmonies. It has a real sense of urgency about it like QOTSA's "Go With The Flow". The solo, while not being particularly fancy, has a real singalong quality to it and is probably one of my favourites on the album. Motherf**ker yeah!!!

Fall to Pieces
Beautiful melodic Slash guitar riff, beautiful soulful Slash solo, Scott's yearning lyrics about heartbreak and despair. Some of it almost goes into borderline cheese, but these guys pull it off convincingly.

Headspace
I f**king love this song! "Don't let any of those f**kers in my headspace" says it all. I almost liken this to something Audioslave could've written. Heavy guitars, heavy drums and a big ass funky groove.

Superhuman
Riff starts out like Sweet Child put through a blender and spat out 2004 style. Rest of the band chimes into the riff and grooves along while Scott does his most impressive Layne Staley stylings to date. More Alice In Chains referrences shine through with the backing "boop boop" vocals towards the end of the song (like AIC's "Again").

Set Me Free
In this remixed version the verses seem to have a little more breathing space for the vocals, and the bass and drums are more in your face overall. An improved mix of an already kickass song.

You Got No Right
I won't go into to detail, I simply love this song too much to describe it. It's my new Estranged.

Slither
No need for description here, we've all heard it by now, but it's still an album highlight.

Dirty Little thing
Matt's thumping drums are the highlight of this song (as they are on the entire album), and Slash's riff is straight out of the book of Rock 'n' Roll 101. Like a couple of other songs on the album, I think Scott's chorus vocals really turn this straight-out rocker into something much more and Slash's solo in the song is probably the best on the entire album.

Loving the Alien
Weird sampled riff sounds like Radiohead meets Pink Floyd. Really surprising and really beautiful. More gorgeous melodic Slash guitar and Scott's "Lovely were the Aliens" line really is lovely.

Negative Creep (Slither single)
I really wish they included this on the album, as it matches the same urgency and raw delivery as the rest of the heavy rockers.
The entire band absolutley goes off. Duff's description was right - death metal indeed.

Bodies (Live) (Slither single)
Much like Negative Creep, it has so much swagger and f**k you attitude. I'd love to hear a studio cut of this someday.

[Walapino]

SSSSSSSSHHHHHHHHHHYYYYYYYYYYEEEEEEEEAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHH my parents returned from europe and sure oh sure they got me CONTRABAND and ITS ROCKING MY COCK LIKE NO TOMMOROW!!!!  
Except Spectacle which sucks a cock the rest simply ROCKS!!!!  

[Eduardo]

I don't want to turn this into a big off topic argument but...

But the man is nowhere near as good technically as Slash.  Slash's playing is so much neater than Page's it's untrue

Whether you think the Stairway solo is better than the SCOM solo is subjective, but who is the better guitar player is not.

No hes not. Page paved the way to Slash and hundreds of other guitar players. That doesnt mean hes better off course. But Page has much more knowledge than slash, when it comes to improvisation, scales, speed and especially alternative tunings, which Page is a master, and Slash knows jack shit.

About Stairway to Heaven solo, its not only better than SCOM (which is awesome) but its the best solo ever.

 

[Oddy]

i have to agree with eduardo.

to me slash isn't even on the same page.  

page has done so much for rock n roll, and many might disagree but he has a lot of timeless riffs, probably more than Slash. Page knew all the damn theory too, fingerpicking (Not Slashes one finger picking on patience! hahah), pedal/lap steel guitars, the whole violin bow thing, and although he was sloppy he was damn creative even though he had limited technique. And also i heard he was quite the genius as a producer.

robert plant's vocals/lyrics is a different story though........i understand that cuz you either love him or hate him. I actually prefer plants lyrics in some cases.......but generally axl has the better voice (though it wasn't consistent)

i'll start a gnr vs led zep in the bad obsession thread.

[gypsy eyes]

i'll start a gnr vs led zep in the bad obsession thread.

thank you, so can we get back on topic here??!!!

[Oddy]

hahahha i have no idea how a contraband review thread even turned into a gnr vs led zep.


to try and get back on topic (i've already posted my review)

where are long songs these days? I was hoping for atleast a 7 or 8min song on Contraband. Hmmm i guess that cant be too radio friendly.

And it doesn't even have to be a ballad......it could be an 8min full rocker...........or 10mins..........like achilles last stand by led zeppelin..........maybe slash could handle something like that but hes no jimmy page.

 

ok i was just kidding.......i'll keep it in the other thread.