I've never heard any VR... how do they compare to GNR?

[MattyJam]

I've only just recently discovered GNR, and naturally I'm curious about VR.

How do they compare?

[Layne Staley's Sunglasses]

It depends on who you ask...

[Jim Bob]

a few good tunes, but overall pretty underwhelming.

[MattyJam]

Just played a few tracks on Youtube. They sound okay... Can anyone recommend some songs to check out?

[Rage in the Cage]

Just played a few tracks on Youtube. They sound okay... Can anyone recommend some songs to check out?

Slither, Fall to Pieces, Sucker Train Blues, Let it Roll to name a few

[BlowUpYourVideo]

I should probably go back and listen to a few of the songs on Contraband again. I've forgotten quite a few of them. Slither and Big Machine are cool though.

From Libertad, my favourites would probably be The Last Fight, Mary Mary and the hidden track Don't Drop That Dime.

I'm sure at this rate, you're going to be recommended every single song VR have done.

I doubt anyone here is going to say they are better than GNR but don't let that put you off...

[Guitar1281]

Dirty Little Thing
Gravedancer
Come On Come In
and the cover of Aerosmith's No More, No More

just to name a few

[Classic Case]

Just played a few tracks on Youtube. They sound okay... Can anyone recommend some songs to check out?

well they only have 2 releases so its not so complicated and there isnt a lot of songs, Contraband and Libertad are pretty cool records, I think if u like GNR u will like VR.

[GIMH]

They were decent live in 05, actually they were really bloody good, I was just overwhelmed to see Slash/Duff live

I'd give Contraband a whirl, from what I've read in your other posts I reckon you'll like it

[GIMH]

Also (and this may well be one for the Old Gunners section really) but I'd recommend checking out Izzy's stuff. My favourite albums are 117 Degrees, Ride On & River. Duff has a band, Loaded, who did a real good album called Dark days as well.

[mrlee]

there first albums pretty rocking.

the second album is a bit hit and miss. Alot tamer on the rock side of things.

But it is more technical and varied.

[faldor]

there first albums pretty rocking.

the second album is a bit hit and miss. Alot tamer on the rock side of things.

But it is more technical and varied.

Agreed, Contraband was a good album.  Libertad was okay, not much of a progression from Contraband though, at least not for me.  Other VR songs I enjoy that I haven't seen mentioned, "Set Me Free", "Loving the Alien", "Messages", "Gas and a $ Laugh".

[don_vercetti]

Libertad & Contraband;
Compared to AFD era, they have less impressive riffs, less riffs per song, worse/simplistic/less solo's and worse vocals. 
Compaed to CD, they are far less progressive, far more straightforward and to be honest, just more boring. 
Libertad expecially is fairly pedestrian, the whole album plods along at one pace (with a few exceptions e.g just sixteen) but basically VR is kinda cool, but has neither Axl nor Izzy, and suffers for lack of a really good songwriter.   

[seely]

THey're not bad at all in my books, but their first album, conraband, was much better than libertad, which is much more radio-firendly and pedestrian

Songs to check out:

-Slither
-Fall To Pieces
-Dirty Little Thing
-The Last Fight
-Get Out The Door


Have you heard any Slash's Snakepit? Give them a try, they're pretty decent, the first album 'Its 5 o clock somewhere' has quite a GNR vibe to it, just without Axl

[Bridge]

They're good.  But the trick to fully enjoying them is to not compare them to Guns N Roses...

[-Rob-]

I've only just recently discovered GNR, and naturally I'm curious about VR.

How do they compare?

vr has a couple decent songs, but for the most part, it's like comparing a ferrari and a ford focus.

[badobsession_r21]

you got no right is the only really good VR song in my opinion. the rest of their songs are mediocre at best. no comparison to GN'R.

Izzy's and Gilby's albums are far better than the 2 VR albums.  i personally love duff's believe in me and slash's snakepit first album its five o clock somewhere (neither can i ROCKS)

[CheapJon]

you got no right is the only really good VR song in my opinion. the rest of their songs are mediocre at best. no comparison to GN'R.

Izzy's and Gilby's albums are far better than the 2 VR albums.  i personally love duff's believe in me and slash's snakepit first album its five o clock somewhere (neither can i ROCKS)

on the contrary i disagree, YGNR is among the worst songs by VR IMO

haven't heard izzy nor gilby's albums, duffs believe in me is a ok-good album, and i like aint life grand bor then it's five o clock somewhere 

what i'm saying is, check the music out for yourself man, why compare? enjoy music for what it is

[metallex78]

Contraband is a solid rock album, start to finish.
I can still listen to it now 5 years after it came out and enjoy it all the way through.

While it doesn't come anywhere near Slash's brilliant guitar work in GN'R, his direction is much more focused, simpler, and to the point. I also think they were trying to go for a more modern rock direction, so as not be labeled as "80's rockers" trying to make a come back. And I think it works well. It does sound like a mix up of GN'R and STP.
All the singles released were good - The rockers: Slither, Dirty Little Thing, Set Me Free and the ballad: Fall To Pieces. So check them out as a starting point. And the rest of the album is solid throughout.


Libertad sounds ok in parts, and really uninspired and bland in others. I wouldn't bother with that album at all.
So just stick with Contraband.

I also think that Slither is one of the best rock songs to come out from any of the original members since the original line up split.

[Axls Black Cat]

In my opinion they can't compare to GN'R - it's a little hit and miss in terms of their songs. If you want to check them out I'd recommend Slither, Superhuman, Fall to Pieces, No Right and Come On Come In. Not struck on Libertad at all. Contraband was cool.