Chicago Sun-Times review

[jarmo]

* { VELVET REVOLVER, "CONTRABAND" (RCA)


The best thing that can be said about the debut effort from the bloated rock supergroup Velvet Revolver is that it's probably better than the long-promised "Chinese Democracy" from the floundering, Axl Rose-led Guns N' Roses. But given that we're unlikely to ever actually hear that mythical album, this isn't saying much.

It's hard to believe that veteran Guns N' Roses guitarist Slash, bassist Duff McKagan and latter-day drummer Matt Sorum could actually find a more egotistical and messed-up singer than Rose, but with former Stone Temple Pilots frontman Scott Weiland, they got their (shell of a) man. The problem with this overproduced, thoroughly generic, but otherwise unremarkable piece of hard-rock product is that the secret weapons of the famous combos that give this project its pedigree are missing in action.

If former Guns N' Roses guitarist and Indiana homeboy Izzy Stradlin or the powerhouse sibling team of Stone Temple Pilots' DeLeo brothers had a hand in the songwriting, Velvet Revolver might have been worth hearing. Instead, we get hollow, instantly forgettable ditties such as "Sucker Train Blues" and "Dirty Little Thing," sad reminders of former glories that are now a distant echo of the past.

Jim DeRogatis

http://www.suntimes.com/output/rock/sho-sunday-spins06.html



/jarmo

[Naupis]

Its like De ja vue with Dave or something, I knew before I opened this it was a negative review. I am beginning to think Jarmo wants this band to fail as bad as Dave as I have seen him post nothing but the bad reviews. There are some good ones out there too.

[Mattgnr]

* { VELVET REVOLVER, "CONTRABAND" (RCA)


The best thing that can be said about the debut effort from the bloated rock supergroup Velvet Revolver is that it's probably better than the long-promised "Chinese Democracy" from the floundering, Axl Rose-led Guns N' Roses. But given that we're unlikely to ever actually hear that mythical album, this isn't saying much.

It's hard to believe that veteran Guns N' Roses guitarist Slash, bassist Duff McKagan and latter-day drummer Matt Sorum could actually find a more egotistical and messed-up singer than Rose, but with former Stone Temple Pilots frontman Scott Weiland, they got their (shell of a) man. The problem with this overproduced, thoroughly generic, but otherwise unremarkable piece of hard-rock product is that the secret weapons of the famous combos that give this project its pedigree are missing in action.

If former Guns N' Roses guitarist and Indiana homeboy Izzy Stradlin or the powerhouse sibling team of Stone Temple Pilots' DeLeo brothers had a hand in the songwriting, Velvet Revolver might have been worth hearing. Instead, we get hollow, instantly forgettable ditties such as "Sucker Train Blues" and "Dirty Little Thing," sad reminders of former glories that are now a distant echo of the past.

Jim DeRogatis

http://www.suntimes.com/output/rock/sho-sunday-spins06.html



/jarmo

That's a terible review, something tells me this guys dislikes both Axl and Slash's bands!

Oh well it will be his loss in the long run

[DRUNK]

The first paragrapg is disgusting.  Everyone knows that CD HAS to come out eventually, no matter what.  And there is no way in hell that he could say Contraband "will probably be better than CD" if he has heard ANY new GNR song.  

I agree with the rest of the review though.

[jarmo]

Its like De ja vue with Dave or something, I knew before I opened this it was a negative review. I am beginning to think Jarmo wants this band to fail as bad as Dave as I have seen him post nothing but the bad reviews. There are some good ones out there too.

Seems like out of the reviews I got e-mailed to me, the Billboard one has already been posted and this one hadn't.

Any idea why?



/jarmo

[Mattgnr]

The first paragrapg is disgusting.  Everyone knows that CD HAS to come out eventually, no matter what.  And there is no way in hell that he could say Contraband "will probably be better than CD" if he has heard ANY new GNR song.  

I agree with the rest of the review though.

What a surprise, 'agreeing' with the rest of the review  

[Naupis]

CD doesn't HAVE to come out.....Axl will payback the recording company before he allows them to release something without his permission. He is anal like that and I am sure has the money to do so. You need to get real, short of some new pyschological drug to bring him back to reality, we are not seeing that album.

[Mattgnr]

Its like De ja vue with Dave or something, I knew before I opened this it was a negative review. I am beginning to think Jarmo wants this band to fail as bad as Dave as I have seen him post nothing but the bad reviews. There are some good ones out there too.

Seems like out of the reviews I got e-mailed to me, the Billboard one has already been posted and this one hadn't.

Any idea why?



/jarmo

Controversial - perhaps like most GNR boards, etc, the negative reviews are sometimes overlooked, relative to the better ones  

[Booker Floyd]

DeRogatis is probably my least favorite music reviewer.  Hes the stereotypical nerdy, relentlessly negative critic - a highly annoying combination of a Pitchfork reviewer without the pompous vocabulary and Jay Sherman minus the comic charm.

[Booker Floyd]

Its like De ja vue with Dave or something, I knew before I opened this it was a negative review.

Funny, I had the same hunch...

Then I opened it up to see Jim DeRogatis' name and knew exactly what to expect.

[younggunner]

DeRogatis is probably my least favorite music reviewer.  Hes the stereotypical nerdy, relentlessly negative critic - a highly annoying combination of a Pitchfork reviewer without the pompous vocabulary and Jay Sherman minus the comic charm.

If your serious...shut the fuck up

Funny, I had the same hunch...

Its the same hunch I get when I see you post a review or a post for that matter

[jarmo]

Its like De ja vue with Dave or something, I knew before I opened this it was a negative review.

Funny, I had the same hunch...

So tell me Booker. Should I stop posting what I'm being sent just because it might not be positive?

Should we have rules stating negative reviews aren't allowed?


You two obviously have no clue what you're talking about. Check the main site for once. In 2002 I posted links to GN'R reviews that weren't exactly positive. Were you complaining about those as well?

I don't think that it's my "job" to kiss the past or present band members asses like you seem to think.

I get sent links to reviews by e-mail, maybe I should add a "Make Booker happy" filter so nothing negative is ever posted.  


I can't believe how childish some people are.  





/jarmo

[younggunner]

No Jarmo you got it all wrong...you should do background checks on the author of the articles and then run i tby Booker to see if they meet his standards

[Booker Floyd]

So tell me Booker. Should I stop posting what I'm being sent just because it might not be positive?

Should we have rules stating negative reviews aren't allowed?


You two obviously have no clue what you're talking about. Check the main site for once. In 2002 I posted links to GN'R reviews that weren't exactly positive. Were you complaining about those as well?

I don't think that it's my "job" to kiss the past or present band members asses like you seem to think.

I get sent links to reviews by e-mail, maybe I should add a "Make Booker happy" filter so nothing negative is ever posted.  


I can't believe how childish some people are.  

Little sensitive today?

Post whatever youd like, be it negative reviews, latently negative 'observations', positive reviews, etc.  I really dont care.  I didnt say anything other than I knew what this review would be like.  Coincidentally, I was right.  

Predicting the kind of review youre going to post is childish?    You lost me on that one.

If your serious...shut the fuck up

...

Yes, Im serious.  Its an opinion Ive had for the past 5 years since I first paid attention to a DeRogatis review.  Now why would youtell me to "shut the fuck up" (an insult Im sure Jarmo will warn you about... )?

[jarmo]

Ever thought that maybe I get to post the negative shit because you and some others decide not to?


Maybe you don't want me to post negative reviews, because then you can keep saying only Axl fans and Maxin (or Blender or whatever it was) dislike the album?  

 


Comparing me to Dave is childish.

Just like a stupid insults.


/jarmo

[Booker Floyd]

Maybe you don't want me to post negative reviews, because then you can keep saying only Axl fans and Maxin (or Blender or whatever it was) dislike the album?  

 

Right...

I never said I didnt want to see negative reviews.  I dont care what you post.  Id like to see anything pertaining to the band, negative or positive, posted.  It just so happens that I know which ones you will post.  I apologize if my intuition is unsettling to you.

[jarmo]

It just so happens that I know which ones you will post

Care to enlighten me which ones those are?

I don't wanna make the mistake of posting something you don't expect since it might surprise you.

FYI, I post what I find and hasn't been posted before.  



/jarmo

[darkmonth]

who cares... jeez, this review means shit... it's one persons view on something.   Plus... lol... it's the Chicago-Sun... who gives a fuck?  Do you enjoy the album?  Well then... enjoy it.

VR wont be affected by this review.

[Booker Floyd]

who cares... jeez, this review means shit... it's one persons view on something.   Plus... lol... it's the Chicago-Sun... who gives a fuck?  

Its unfair to discredit the Chicago-Sun Times...after all, theyre Roger Eberts flagship paper and hes of the best critics to ever live.  

[Doc Emmett Brown]

If former Guns N' Roses guitarist and Indiana homeboy Izzy Stradlin or the powerhouse sibling team of Stone Temple Pilots' DeLeo brothers had a hand in the songwriting, Velvet Revolver might have been worth hearing.

Is this reviewer known to be a GNR or STP fan?  Has he made positive reviews of either band in the past?  It doesnt sound like it, and yet he throws this last bit in...why?  Most likely to get people wishing for something else - it's always easier to bitch when comparing to something that doesnt exist!  

Booker, you likened him to Pitchfork.  I recall their review of GH from the GH reviews thread... *shudder*.  There's few instances where the Internet has made me homicidal, but that's one of them.