Post your own Contraband review here

[duga]

There's a lot of people on here complaining about the production. My question is.......is it possible that the MTV steam audio could be a poorer quality then what we will get on the CD??

Its actually likely...

The actual CD will sound different than a streaming RealAudio.

This is only 64 Kbps. 192 Kbps is comparable to CD-quality IMHO.

[D]

i think im gonna have to let this one grow on me

there arent any songs but slither i want to hear again after first listen, the songs lyric and melody wise are trash in my opinion

i was gonna buy this cd june 8th but now i think ill wait a while my desire to buy this has drastically declined

if axl is taking his time to avoid songs like on vr's contraband i applaud him, this is what happens when make an album in a rush the songs ive heard scott doesnt have even one memorable line of lyric, not one

[gezm]

Fall To Pieces is the best song ive heard

[Stupid Head]

Weiland sounds too overproduced a lot of the time. Usually during the chorus'.

Music sounds really good though. Matt sounds better than ever, very surprising.

Does Scott's scream before the solo of Suckertrain Blues sound EXACTLY like Axl to anyone else?

[D]

ok disreguard every post ive made


ive listened to each song bout 2 times now and yeah they are growing like a mothefucker

suckertrain blues i didnt listen to it all the way the first time, on 2nd listen it fucking ROCKS!!!!

yeah im buying this next week

this isnt easy listening easy digestible shit, this takes time to grow

i mean i didnt like every illusion song when i first bought them, hell there hasnt been any cd ive loved on the first listen to every song

Princes last cd it took me bout 5 or 6 listens to like every song
so yeah this cd is fucking class!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Lineker10]

ok disreguard every post ive made


ive listened to each song bout 2 times now and yeah they are growing like a mothefucker

suckertrain blues i didnt listen to it all the way the first time, on 2nd listen it fucking ROCKS!!!!

yeah im buying this next week

this isnt easy listening easy digestible shit, this takes time to grow

i mean i didnt like every illusion song when i first bought them, hell there hasnt been any cd ive loved on the first listen to every song

Princes last cd it took me bout 5 or 6 listens to like every song
so yeah this cd is fucking class!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I agree - ive just been listening to it a few more times and this CD rocks! Im glad it grew on me! The CD versions will be even better!

[starchild_666]

ok disreguard every post ive made


ive listened to each song bout 2 times now and yeah they are growing like a mothefucker

suckertrain blues i didnt listen to it all the way the first time, on 2nd listen it fucking ROCKS!!!!

yeah im buying this next week

this isnt easy listening easy digestible shit, this takes time to grow

i mean i didnt like every illusion song when i first bought them, hell there hasnt been any cd ive loved on the first listen to every song

Princes last cd it took me bout 5 or 6 listens to like every song
so yeah this cd is fucking class!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I agree - ive just been listening to it a few more times and this CD rocks! Im glad it grew on me! The CD versions will be even better!

yeah after few listens this album is a killer! Couldn't wish anything better!  

[metallex78]

Shame on me, I couldn't hold out until next week!:no:

Oh well, I haven't heard all of the album yet, I just went to the VH1 site and listened to the studio versions of the songs I already know and a couple I know a little. I listened to Sucker Train Blues, Headspace, You Got Know Right, Set Me Free and Slither.

Here are my first impressions:

Sucker Train Blues
I'd heard snippets of the intro and main riff from the Making of Slither video, so I kinda knew what to expect, but after listening to the full version, I now have a different opinion of the song.

Starts with a slow build up, getting me all excited for what I'm highly anticipating to come next... then BAM, walls of guitars and drums blasting at you and I'm in fucking heaven!!!
And then Scotts vocals come in.... and completely ruin the song!

I've listened to it a couple of times since and his vocals aren't that bad, I guess I was expecting something different to go with this UYI style rocker. I actually like his harmonies on there now.
Slash's solo is short but cool, he hasn't shredded like this since his GN'R days. Welcome back to the jungle baby!

Another thing I've noticed, is that this actually reminds me of the song that Slash, Duff & Matt jam on in Matt's drumming instructional video that came out a few years ago...

Headspace
I gave in last week and downloaded a live version of this from Toronto, so I'd heard it already in bad live bootleg quality. This song is a real grower, it's really funky and I can't compare it to anything the GN'R guys have done before.
This almost sounds like something off Jane's Addictions latest album, and thats a good thing!
Another cool Slash solo and Scotts vocals sound really cool too.

You Got No Right
OH MY FUCKING GOD!!!!
I grew to really like the Smashbox live performance of this song, but god damn, the studio version of this song absolutely kills!
From Scott's frail cry out to his wife leaving him to Slash's amazing solo, this is my new Estranged!
I'd give the album 10/10 for this song alone.

Set Me Free
Not that different to the original except the bass and drums seem to be more prominent. Matt's drumming really kicks you in the guts, and Scott adds some more vocals to the end of the song. I like this version better than the Hulk version (which I love), it's more punchy and in-yer-face.

Slither
The same version as appears on the single I bought, and still a great rocker.

That's all I'm listening to for now, I'm gonna hold out to hear the rest next week and I hope the rest of the album is as good as the ones above!

[duga]

My opinions so far:

Best rockers: Sucker train blues, Do it for the kids and Illegal I.

Best ballad: You got no right.

Biggest dissapointment: Falling to pieces.

Haven't bothered to listen to the lyrics so far.

[starchild_666]

My opinions so far:

Best rockers: Sucker train blues, Do it for the kids and Illegal I.

Best ballad: You got no right.

Biggest dissapointment: Falling to pieces.

Haven't bothered to listen to the lyrics so far.

now I understand why some people don't like this album... if anyone can call FTP a dissapointment they are fuckin' deaf..

[TyRod Tulip]

I've now listened to the album 6 or 7 times all the way through (in my car, at work and at home).  The first 1 or 2 times through, I formed opinions that matched many of the reviews here.  But, just like the UYI albums, the more you listen to this album, the better it becomes.  It woked that way for SMF and Slither as well for me when they were released.

This album may be lacking in production, but it is one hell of a debut album.  Not everyone can debut with an AFD, but this album doesn't disappoint.

The rockers grow on you with each listen, and the ballads (which I hate generally) are way above average.  Even the last track (a live track that isn't on the MTV site) is very good.

It is true that the ex-GNR members steal the show here, but Weiland does make contributions that are undeniable.  And can anyone doubt that during the live performances he steals the show.  During the Boston show you couldn't take your eyes off of him.

I have made copies of this album for my wife and 3 of my friends, and without exception, they all agree that this album grows on you with each listen.

This is a great band and this is a damn good effort for their first album.  After 6 or so listens I'd rate it an 8.5/10.  But who knows, in a couple weeks that will probably be a 9/10.

I hope you all enjoy this album as I have been.

-TyRod-

[Naupis]

The reason some people are calling FTp a disappoiintment is because if this were Axl's band we would have had strings, orchestra's, grand piano's and a ton more production in that song than we do now. I think thats what people were expecting from teh song, and instead it is just kind of straight forward with the rift. I would have maybe liked some of that, but the song stands well on its own, and that stuffs not those guys styles anyway, so I guess I applaud them for not throwing it in just for the hell of it. There is part of me that would love to have seen what Axl could do with the skeleton of that song, but I guess this is where I need to start to realize they really are two different bands, and leave it at that. I hope that at least helps answer the question of why some people on this board are disappointed in the song.

[dave-gnfnr2k]

IF VR would have not rushed out this album and took a few more months maybe it could have been better, maybe they could have written better lyrics but they didnt.

[starchild_666]

The reason some people are calling FTp a disappoiintment is because if this were Axl's band we would have had strings, orchestra's, grand piano's and a ton more production in that song than we do now. I think thats what people were expecting from teh song, and instead it is just kind of straight forward with the rift. I would have maybe liked some of that, but the song stands well on its own, and that stuffs not those guys styles anyway, so I guess I applaud them for not throwing it in just for the hell of it. There is part of me that would love to have seen what Axl could do with the skeleton of that song, but I guess this is where I need to start to realize they really are two different bands, and leave it at that. I hope that at least helps answer the question of why some people on this board are disappointed in the song.

to be straight - most people are dissapointed not to hear Axl's fucked up vocal on this album, 2 keyboards, drum loops...  

[jarmo]

understand why some people don't like this album... if anyone can call FTP a dissapointment they are fuckin' deaf..

Maybe the people who think this is the best album in ten years are the deaf ones?  

The lyrics to FTP aren't anything special IMHO.


/jarmo

[dave-gnfnr2k]

The reason some people are calling FTp a disappoiintment is because if this were Axl's band we would have had strings, orchestra's, grand piano's and a ton more production in that song than we do now. I think thats what people were expecting from teh song, and instead it is just kind of straight forward with the rift. I would have maybe liked some of that, but the song stands well on its own, and that stuffs not those guys styles anyway, so I guess I applaud them for not throwing it in just for the hell of it. There is part of me that would love to have seen what Axl could do with the skeleton of that song, but I guess this is where I need to start to realize they really are two different bands, and leave it at that. I hope that at least helps answer the question of why some people on this board are disappointed in the song.

why are you comparing this to Axl? People like you bash me for it all the time when I do it, but I guess we can compare the two now.

If this was Axls band the lyrics would be light years ahead of VRs lyrics.
VR lyrics are terrible cept for a few songs that are just good.

Its really sad that slash said he wanted to play AFD rock and that is why he left Axl yet he is playing alternative music now.

[Naupis]

I was not comparing, merely pointing out that as fans of Guns N' Roses, that is the type of production, orchestration we have come to expect from songs a band deems to be epic. I think we can all safely agree that lyrics aside, the composition of this song(paino's, orchestras,more studio production) would be drastically different with Axl doing as opposed to Scott. That is not comparing, just pointing out why some people may view it as a disappointment since VR didn't do that and that is the sort of thing we have come to expect on an epic song. You can manipulate that into whatever you want to to help this don't compare shit, but I am just attempting to answer the question of why people are disappointed. The lyrics are scott's heart felt lyrics that I am sure people will listen to and relate with, they are not the reason this song does not meet up to par. If it had all of the other stuff in it I mentioned, people would not be so down on it. Like I said, turn it around whatever way you want but lyrics aside we all know what at least 50% of this board would recommend doing to that song, so I was just pointing out the obvious.

[metallex78]

The reason some people are calling FTp a disappoiintment is because if this were Axl's band we would have had strings, orchestra's, grand piano's and a ton more production in that song than we do now. I think thats what people were expecting from teh song, and instead it is just kind of straight forward with the rift. I would have maybe liked some of that, but the song stands well on its own, and that stuffs not those guys styles anyway, so I guess I applaud them for not throwing it in just for the hell of it. There is part of me that would love to have seen what Axl could do with the skeleton of that song, but I guess this is where I need to start to realize they really are two different bands, and leave it at that. I hope that at least helps answer the question of why some people on this board are disappointed in the song.

why are you comparing this to Axl? People like you bash me for it all the time when I do it, but I guess we can compare the two now.

If this was Axls band the lyrics would be light years ahead of VRs lyrics.
VR lyrics are terrible cept for a few songs that are just good.

Its really sad that slash said he wanted to play AFD rock and that is why he left Axl yet he is playing alternative music now.

Man, can't you comment about VR without taking dig at them?
Ok you don't like the songs that much, but it's getting tiring listening to you.

Naupis's comparisons to Axl are done in a civil way, whereas everytime you compare VR to Axl you do so saying Slash is shit, or Slash is a liar or something else derogatory. Can't you or Jarmo see the difference in that???

And I'd argue about a few songs being just "good". Granted I haven't heard the whole album yet, but I think the studio version of You Got No Right is outstanding. It's up there with the likes of Estranged in my books.

[starchild_666]

The reason some people are calling FTp a disappoiintment is because if this were Axl's band we would have had strings, orchestra's, grand piano's and a ton more production in that song than we do now. I think thats what people were expecting from teh song, and instead it is just kind of straight forward with the rift. I would have maybe liked some of that, but the song stands well on its own, and that stuffs not those guys styles anyway, so I guess I applaud them for not throwing it in just for the hell of it. There is part of me that would love to have seen what Axl could do with the skeleton of that song, but I guess this is where I need to start to realize they really are two different bands, and leave it at that. I hope that at least helps answer the question of why some people on this board are disappointed in the song.

why are you comparing this to Axl? People like you bash me for it all the time when I do it, but I guess we can compare the two now.

If this was Axls band the lyrics would be light years ahead of VRs lyrics.
VR lyrics are terrible cept for a few songs that are just good.

Its really sad that slash said he wanted to play AFD rock and that is why he left Axl yet he is playing alternative music now.

so you don't like the VR style... that's the case... yeah I don't like hip-hop and I can't say anything good about it too... so now I understand you  

[jarmo]

Naupis's comparisons to Axl are done in a civil way, whereas everytime you compare VR to Axl you do so saying Slash is shit, or Slash is a liar or something else derogatory. Can't you or Jarmo see the difference in that???

If he thinks Slash is doing alternative music, it's up to him.

Another guy says that if FTP was a GN'R song, it would have strings on it. Don't Cry didn't, so how can he be so sure?

What's the difference between "Axl would add strings to the song" and "Slash is doing alternative music"?



/jarmo