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Velvet Revolver Contraband. - RCA/BMG
Velvet Revolver Contraband

15/06/2004 11:09 AM
Larry McShane, Associated Press ScreamingMedia

RCA/BMG

Crawling from the generally self-imposed wreckage of their ex-bands, the lead singer of Stone Temple Pilots and a trio of Guns N' Roses survivors join forces for this turn-the-volume-up-to-11 collaboration.

The album starts with the howl of a police siren - as good a way as any to launch things, considering the rap sheet of ex-Stp frontman Scott Weiland.

Velvet Revolver singer Scott Weiland (L) and guitarist Slash perform. Photo Ethan Miller - Reuters
The singer tears into the opening track, 'Sucker Train Blues,' as guitarist Slash, bassist Duff McKagan and drummer Matt Sorum provide the backing histrionics (Guitarist Dave Kushner of the Cult rounds out the quintet).

"Hands are shaking, got your finger on the trigger," Weiland sings, and the boys are into familiar musical terrain on the 13-track CD.

The single 'Slither' begins as a suitably slinky track before cranking into a rocker reminiscent of Stp, but accented by Slash's frenzied guitar - a radio-friendly track likely to earn tons of airplay.

And the album closes with one of its three ballads: 'Loving the Alien,' featuring Weiland's voice at its most emotive, singing rather than battling to overcome the band.

The album has everything you'd expect of this assemblage: a parental advisory, Slash's driving guitar solos, the pounding rhythm section of Duff and Sorum.

But that's part of the problem, isn't it? There's really nothing too unexpected on Contraband.