VELVET REVOLVER In Talks With Producer RICK RUBIN

[tomass74]

I guess he gave them some songs and he was only into one.. He told them to go jam out and get some more material. They played some shows and gave him some more songs and he was into 3 of them... No wthey are working on more.. I like the way he is pushing them.

[Mikkamakka]

I guess he gave them some songs and he was only into one.. He told them to go jam out and get some more material. They played some shows and gave him some more songs and he was into 3 of them... No wthey are working on more.. I like the way he is pushing them.

How do you know it? 

[tomass74]

They were talking about it on the VR forum... I believe Matt said something about it on camp freddy radio.......

[makane]

It's only a good thing they took someone who dares to say "NO" onboard.
you know, think about it. If VR would've gave Rick "Contraband", how many songs would've he actually liked? one? two or three at tops, and then told them to go back in the studio.
They should have done this with the first record to reduce the "fillers". Good thing they're doing it now.
The negative side is, Rick is very busy atm. and VR have to create alot of new material, which takes alot time on its own. So I doubt theres gonna be any new Velvet Revolver this year.
Thumbs up for the first quarter of 2007?

[Mikkamakka]

It's only a good thing they took someone who dares to say "NO" onboard.
you know, think about it. If VR would've gave Rick "Contraband", how many songs would've he actually liked? one? two or three at tops, and then told them to go back in the studio.

Half of Contraband is magic. The rest is mediocre. I don't know too much about Rubin's 'ears' but as far as I know the albums he produced don't have only A+ songs, but a lot of mediocre or bad stuff, too.

[BluesGNR]

It's only a good thing they took someone who dares to say "NO" onboard.
you know, think about it. If VR would've gave Rick "Contraband", how many songs would've he actually liked? one? two or three at tops, and then told them to go back in the studio.

Half of Contraband is magic. The rest is mediocre. I don't know too much about Rubin's 'ears' but as far as I know the albums he produced don't have only A+ songs, but a lot of mediocre or bad stuff, too.

Yeah, seriously, look at some of the bands that he works with.  They're tone deaf.  If he knows how to say "no," then about 95% of the material on all of those band's albums, collectively, would not have been released.  Maybe he aims to challenge the band to reach their potential, which, in the case of the other bands, is not that great, and he may, in fact, be able to do wonders for VR.  But the fact remains, you'll have 1 or 2 heavy hitters but the rest will be garbage.  Contraband was a long-awaited, much anticipated joke.  If Axl were in that lineup, instead of Scott, then I can see 2 or maybe 3 of those songs ever seeing the light of day.  It's just a matter of great potential lacking any real guidance or leadership.  They need someone that knows what they're doing.  Meaning, someone that can say "no" and then explain why and force the band in a direction that will allow them to reach their potential. 

[nooz]

Rick Ruben is for those ready to address their history. Anger is a motivator but not a communicator.  ONE of the few producers I really wish I had not blown off.

[Falcon]

.. If Axl were in that lineup, instead of Scott, then I can see 2 or maybe 3 of those songs ever seeing the light of day.?

Let 's don''t start this line of discussion please, thanks.

[makane]

It's only a good thing they took someone who dares to say "NO" onboard.
you know, think about it. If VR would've gave Rick "Contraband", how many songs would've he actually liked? one? two or three at tops, and then told them to go back in the studio.

Half of Contraband is magic. The rest is mediocre. I don't know too much about Rubin's 'ears' but as far as I know the albums he produced don't have only A+ songs, but a lot of mediocre or bad stuff, too.

You can only get as much out of a band. Rick knows (and would've known) that Velvet Revolver can do so much better than "Contraband".

[tomass74]

I still stand that "Contraband" although maybe not one of the greatest albums of all time........ KICKS SOME FUCKING ARSE!!!!

Slither
Superhuman
Loving The Alien
You got No right
Suckertrain Blues
Big Machine
DIRTY LITTLE THING

all classics..

[Mikkamakka]

I still stand that "Contraband" although maybe not one of the greatest albums of all time........ KICKS SOME FUCKING ARSE!!!!

Slither
Superhuman
Loving The Alien
You got No right
Suckertrain Blues
Big Machine
DIRTY LITTLE THING

all classics..

I agree!    But I'd add Set Me Free to the list.

[Naupis]

I still stand that "Contraband" although maybe not one of the greatest albums of all time........ KICKS SOME FUCKING ARSE!!!!

I agree, and I would also stand by that Contraband was never meant to be a career record for the guys. It was admittedly done somewhat quickly to get it out and get out on the road and start touring and building a name for themselves.

I use Libertad as much more of a measuring stick for the band than Contraband, as they are obviously going about this project very differently than they did Contraband.

For a new band that had to build name recognition in the market place at an age (most of the guys over 40) when most rockers are being pushed aside, I would say Contraband can be viewed as nothing but a rousing success. I bet you would be hard pressed to find a single member of the band who would be disappointed in all they have achieved thus far in a relatively short period of time.

[makane]

I still stand that "Contraband" although maybe not one of the greatest albums of all time........ KICKS SOME FUCKING ARSE!!!!

Slither
Superhuman
Loving The Alien
You got No right
Suckertrain Blues
Big Machine
DIRTY LITTLE THING

all classics..

Ah classics? Please...
Superhuman, Big machine & Dirty Little Thing? Those are still pretty low compared on all the music these guys have done before.
LTA, YGNR and SB are pretty mediocore/good and Slither is great.
Hopefully on "Libertad" they stay atleast on the mediocore/great category, please no more of "Illegal I Song(s)"

[Mikkamakka]

I still stand that "Contraband" although maybe not one of the greatest albums of all time........ KICKS SOME FUCKING ARSE!!!!

Slither
Superhuman
Loving The Alien
You got No right
Suckertrain Blues
Big Machine
DIRTY LITTLE THING

all classics..

Ah classics? Please...
Superhuman, Big machine & Dirty Little Thing? Those are still pretty low compared on all the music these guys have done before.
LTA, YGNR and SB are pretty mediocore/good and Slither is great.
Hopefully on "Libertad" they stay atleast on the mediocore/great category, please no more of "Illegal I Song(s)"

You're a bit mean when it comes to VR/Contraband. I could list a lot of GN'R songs that far below the VR tracks Tomass and I mentioned. But tastes differ.

[jarmo]

You're a bit mean when it comes to VR/Contraband. I could list a lot of GN'R songs that far below the VR tracks Tomass and I mentioned. But tastes differ.

Yeah, and you probably like some Snakepit songs better than GN'R too. It's a matter of personal taste as you pointed out.

I don't think VR have any classics. Yet.... Classics is a word I don't like to use about songs released two years ago.

Contraband is a good album, but personally I got bored with it after a while. The band is entertaining live and the songs work in a live setting. But the album got boring.


I hope they can do something a bit more intresting this time around.



/jarmo

[makane]

I still stand that "Contraband" although maybe not one of the greatest albums of all time........ KICKS SOME FUCKING ARSE!!!!

Slither
Superhuman
Loving The Alien
You got No right
Suckertrain Blues
Big Machine
DIRTY LITTLE THING

all classics..

Ah classics? Please...
Superhuman, Big machine & Dirty Little Thing? Those are still pretty low compared on all the music these guys have done before.
LTA, YGNR and SB are pretty mediocore/good and Slither is great.
Hopefully on "Libertad" they stay atleast on the mediocore/great category, please no more of "Illegal I Song(s)"

You're a bit mean when it comes to VR/Contraband. I could list a lot of GN'R songs that far below the VR tracks Tomass and I mentioned. But tastes differ.

Im just being objective. I dont want to imagine something that's just not there.

Yeah, there are alot of low points in the GN'R/Snakepit/Solo category, but overall the avarage quality of output "Contraband" falls way down.

Even both the snakepit albums were alot better effort than "Contraband" , and "Neurotic Outsiders"/Duff's solo probably? falling in the middle.
So it's a bit weird that they couldn't even reach the "Snakepit quality".

Something has to go really wrong when you've got years of material and songs like "Big Machine" and "Illegal I Song" get chosen?

beating da' dead horse.

[Mikkamakka]

Im just being objective. I dont want to imagine something that's just not there.

Yeah, there are alot of low points in the GN'R/Snakepit/Solo category, but overall the avarage quality of output "Contraband" falls way down.

Even both the snakepit albums were alot better effort than "Contraband" , and "Neurotic Outsiders"/Duff's solo probably? falling in the middle.
So it's a bit weird that they couldn't even reach the "Snakepit quality".

Something has to go really wrong when you've got years of material and songs like "Big Machine" and "Illegal I Song" get chosen?

beating da' dead horse.

You can't be objective. Your first sentence is the biggest contradiction a man can say.

The Snakepit/VR/solo cathegory has a lot of low points? It's your opinion and not the objectivity. My opinion is that the first Snakepit record is better than anything Guns released except AFD. IMO ALG could have been a great GN'R record, too, on the same level with UYI II and Lies. It's my opinion. Yours is very different.

However I agree that both Snakepit albums are better than Contraband, which is still a good album. The reason in my opinion is that Scott nixed every great rock 'n' roll ideas and Dave is more of a metal/punk guitarist than a rock 'n' roller. So Slash was in minority and they did these punkish songs (mostly the first half of the album). But YGNR and Slither are classic songs (I mean the quality not the time), and LTA, Set Me Free, Superhuman are great ones while DLT and Suckertrain are good songs. Some other tunes could have been much better (Headspace comes to my mind first).

I really hope that however produces the album turns them into a more song-oriented direction and make enough room for the almighty Slash. Although I doubt that they could release a great rock 'n' roll record with Scott (who seems to be uninterested in doing that), but a groove-oriented rock album (like Lenny Kravitz's) with some Bowie and psychedelic feel would be great, too.

[slashisvr]

You're a bit mean when it comes to VR/Contraband. I could list a lot of GN'R songs that far below the VR tracks Tomass and I mentioned. But tastes differ.

Yeah, and you probably like some Snakepit songs better than GN'R too. It's a matter of personal taste as you pointed out.

I don't think VR have any classics. Yet.... Classics is a word I don't like to use about songs released two years ago.

Contraband is a good album, but personally I got bored with it after a while. The band is entertaining live and the songs work in a live setting. But the album got boring.


I hope they can do something a bit more intresting this time around.



/jarmo

yeah, ya can only listen to one album like that for so long, i am a VR fan, but i must admit, they need something more intresting next time round, like i can still listen to AFD all day and ive been listening to it since i can remeber, but CB you can only do for so long

[requiem156]

Im just being objective. I dont want to imagine something that's just not there.

Yeah, there are alot of low points in the GN'R/Snakepit/Solo category, but overall the avarage quality of output "Contraband" falls way down.

Even both the snakepit albums were alot better effort than "Contraband" , and "Neurotic Outsiders"/Duff's solo probably? falling in the middle.
So it's a bit weird that they couldn't even reach the "Snakepit quality".

Something has to go really wrong when you've got years of material and songs like "Big Machine" and "Illegal I Song" get chosen?

beating da' dead horse.

You can't be objective. Your first sentence is the biggest contradiction a man can say.

The Snakepit/VR/solo cathegory has a lot of low points? It's your opinion and not the objectivity. My opinion is that the first Snakepit record is better than anything Guns released except AFD. IMO ALG could have been a great GN'R record, too, on the same level with UYI II and Lies. It's my opinion. Yours is very different.

Yes - his makes sense. It's Five O'Clock Somewhere doesn't even touch the best stuff on UYI by several miles. That may be an opinion, but it's an informed opinion. The Snakepit stuff is fun with lots of cool guitar playing, but the songwriting lacks diversity.

[Dead Flower]

but it's an informed opinion

Sheesh. What makes his opinion "informed", but not Mikkamakka's?

Anyway, I much prefer Contraband over the Snakepit albums. Probably for the same reasons Mikkamakka doesn't - ie. Scott bringing an alt-rock/punk vibe to certain songs and Dave's more contemporary textures and rhythm. I also admire the way Slash adapted to this slight change in style.

I also think Contraband is a better and more consistent album than UYI2.

Along with 'Absolution' by Muse, it's easily my favourite album that's been released in recent years.