Contraband preview!!! (by MTV.com)

[Captain P?l]

I for one am happy words like "contemporary" and "modern" are being used to describe the record.  

I would expect to hear Dave and Slash use some drop D tuning on the guitars, creating  a "thick" sound to correspond with Matt's groove oriented backbeat.  

From what we've heard so far, it looks as though Matt's attitude about keeping things "up to date" has had a positive affect on Slash, steering him away from his sometimes over indulgent UYI era tendencies.  For whatever reason, Slash's guitar work seems extremely focused, no excessive wanking while keeping the energy at high level.

Though I agree with the writer that it will be an uphill battle for the guys, I look very forward watching (and listening) the saga unfold.

 

yeah, everyone will compare to GNR nomatter what.... after all, there are 3 people from GNR there... so i guess some reviewers are taking the whole "Axl isnt there and you sure notice that he is missing"  
if that doesnt happend, it will be the best album in years!  

[Jizzo]

We took 8 people to the smashbox show. And i'm sure alot more are gonna be in on the ditch.

[GunsLova]

All that said, I'm quite disappointed that all through the review, there is not a single song mention that in a way is told to resemble the Guns Days. They talk about Jani's Addiction, SoundGarden, STP, But they never said this song remind u of Guns in UYI or AFD era.

Maybe not a single song, but the following quotes...

"But while Velvet Revolver conjure the ghosts of Stone Temple Pilots and '80s GN'R..."

"...a punchy, aggressive and uncompromising disc that emanates the hunger and vitality of Appetite for Destruction-era GN'R..."

"There are elements of GN'R..."

...in addition to the fact that its Matt Sorum, Duff McKagan, Slash and possibly Izzy themselves ensure there will be some semblance to GNR.

The writer only describes a handful of songs, and if youve read precious articles, you would have seen comparisions such as "Headspace" to "Paradise City" and "Fall To Pieces" to "November Rain".  Personally, I dont care about comparisons to other songs, I care about whether or not the music is good, and every preview/review of this album so far has been enthusiastic and positive.

Also, this isnt GNR, so youll see the obvious elements...Slashs trademark guitar, Duff and Matts arasive rhythm section, and then youll see how it mixes with the new elements - Daves rhythm and Scotts vocals/songwriting for something that is apparently unique and distinctly individual.

That kindda worries me because we might get a record thats basically STP sounding and that it. Most people here might be disappointed in a way. Hoping to hear ......   U know where I'm going with this...

Im assuming you have the same reservations about the new GNR album, should it ever surface?  Its likely to sound even less (a lot less) like Guns N' Roses than VR, are you going to point that out should we ever see a Chinese Democracy album preview?

You answer is quite fair.

As for the second part of your respond, I donno what to tell you, because regardless of what I say, it will come out as me trying to take Sides with the New Guns...To me Axl's involvement on vocals and as a song writer, has always overshadowed others. Because of that, I admit that seeing CD out in the store will be enough to make me happy even though that might change over time if the music sucks. But  as for VR I'm going in without much of a expectation so far....


Anyways lets not talk about Axl or New Guns. I'm glad the VR album is coming out. Yes I have heard You Got No Right. It is a pretty decent song.  Booker I'm very interested to hear the songs that resemble PC and NR.... May 18th is not that far away  

[GunsLova]

I for one am happy words like "contemporary" and "modern" are being used to describe the record.  

I would expect to hear Dave and Slash use some drop D tuning on the guitars, creating  a "thick" sound to correspond with Matt's groove oriented backbeat.  

From what we've heard so far, it looks as though Matt's attitude about keeping things "up to date" has had a positive affect on Slash, steering him away from his sometimes over indulgent UYI era tendencies.  For whatever reason, Slash's guitar work seems extremely focused, no excessive wanking while keeping the energy at high level.

Though I agree with the writer that it will be an uphill battle for the guys, I look very forward watching (and listening) the saga unfold.

 

yeah, everyone will compare to GNR nomatter what.... after all, there are 3 people from GNR there... so i guess some reviewers are taking the whole "Axl isnt there and you sure notice that he is missing"  
if that doesnt happend, it will be the best album in years!  

I'm starting to thing that what you just mentioned is exactly the reason why they are not talking much about Guns. The comparison will be there regardless. So they are trying to avoid it by mentioning it as little as possible

[Falcon]

I for one am happy words like "contemporary" and "modern" are being used to describe the record.  

I would expect to hear Dave and Slash use some drop D tuning on the guitars, creating  a "thick" sound to correspond with Matt's groove oriented backbeat.  

From what we've heard so far, it looks as though Matt's attitude about keeping things "up to date" has had a positive affect on Slash, steering him away from his sometimes over indulgent UYI era tendencies.  For whatever reason, Slash's guitar work seems extremely focused, no excessive wanking while keeping the energy at high level.

Though I agree with the writer that it will be an uphill battle for the guys, I look very forward watching (and listening) the saga unfold.

 

yeah, everyone will compare to GNR nomatter what.... after all, there are 3 people from GNR there... so i guess some reviewers are taking the whole "Axl isnt there and you sure notice that he is missing"  
if that doesnt happend, it will be the best album in years!  

I'm starting to thing that what you just mentioned is exactly the reason why they are not talking much about Guns. The comparison will be there regardless. So they are trying to avoid it by mentioning it as little as possible

Concerning VR, I've always thought Slash, Duff and to a much lesser degree, Matt's associations with GNR to be a roadblock
in gaining credibility within the landscape of all things modern rock.  They've done their best to deflect their past and try to gain an identity on their own, an identity that reflects what they are,
a new band.

[the dirt]

I hope you guys are right concerning the modern/contemporary issue

[John Daniels]

what i dont understand is that people are calling snakepit for slash's solo album....

If I remember right. Slash did a solo album with Snakepit while he was still in GNR (?) bringing his own material to play with the musicians he chose...or was there other guys doing also songs to Snakepit?

[sandman]

IMO contemporary is a very positive thing.

the album is gonna sound similar to gnr and stp. but to me, contemporary means it will have a freshness to it - and songs will sound unique.

when AFD came out, that was considered contemporary. they had many influences (zeppelin, ny dolls, etc.), AND they sort of looked and sounded like some hard rock bands of the 80's (just a thousand times better), but you couldn't really label them. AFD was new and fresh sounding.

[Butch Français]

I believe about 1 out of every 10 seniors in my school is having a ditch day because of the record. It started out as just a few people but its growing.

Are you serious??  How lucky you are to go to a high school like that!  

didn't you?
I thought all high schools were like that, I had an incredibly high absence...

[Captain P?l]

what i dont understand is that people are calling snakepit for slash's solo album....

If I remember right. Slash did a solo album with Snakepit while he was still in GNR (?) bringing his own material to play with the musicians he chose...or was there other guys doing also songs to Snakepit?

not sure what you are talking about, but i though i heard that slash was gonna make a complete solo album once... singing and playing bass on it.. not sure about the drums though.... but i though that was after the 2nd versions of snakepit. there isnt one snakepitpit song (on the first album anywho) that slash is listed as the only song writer.... i stronlgy disbelieve that he wrote the words to the songs.... maybe he helped on them, but he wasnt the main lyric writer...

[Booker Floyd]

so i guess some reviewers are taking the whole "Axl isnt there and you sure notice that he is missing"  

I havent seen anyone do that...

Axl isnt even mentioned once in this article...

[Doc Emmett Brown]

I believe about 1 out of every 10 seniors in my school is having a ditch day because of the record. It started out as just a few people but its growing.

Are you serious??  How lucky you are to go to a high school like that!  

didn't you?
I thought all high schools were like that, I had an incredibly high absence...

Kiedis, I knew many people like you in high school  

Jizzo is really lucky that he has flesh & blood type friends that are GNR/VR fans.  

The only GNR/VR fans I can talk to are you guys - virtual friends!  To me, you only exist on my computer!  

But that will all change once VR and GNR get the ball rolling again!

[starchild_666]

to me this article doesn't sound too aptimistic... sounds like a standart all-star rock album...

[Izzy]

Once again...  

Yeah, it makes a lot of sense to assume that Contraband will sound exactly like a solo side-project done 9-10 years ago, especially one whose weakness was mainly a weak lead singer.

And isnt Aint Life Grand, Slashs most recent full-length, one of your favorites?  Wouldnt it makes at least a little more sense to compare this new album to that.

And youre right, Axl was thrilled to see Slash go.  I mean just look at how Guns N' Roses popularity has sky-rocketed since then.  

And while were discussing ridiculous statements, I find it odd that would make remarks about somebodys anticipation for this album when you said that, based on less than a handful of songs, Chinese Democracy will no doubt surpass anything the old band has done and that "Madagascar" alone ensures that it will be the best record of the last 10 years...

Yeah, youre definitely among the last to comment on ones overzealousness.

I always enjoy your posts Booker, and i am impressed u have been following what i write so closely

Though i feel u r perhaps reading what u what to see in my posts rather than what i say....

My post spoke positively off 'Contraband' and expressed my anticipation for the album, i just admitted to having a small doubt that it would be like 'its 5 o'clock somewhere' but emphasised i was optimistic that wouldn't be the case.

I don't recall making any disparaging remarks about a person anticipating the album, anything i said would have been meant light heartedly. U will be in no doubt when i am actually making a disparaging remark.

And yes i believe based on Madagascar, the blues, Chinese Democracy and OMG that Chinese Democracy the album will surpass anything GNR have done to date (except 14 years). I think the new material is exceptional. If this is, as Axl claims, not even going to be the singles the album will be superb.

You disagree. Fair enough, i too have been reading ur posts and ur...ahem....dislike of the new band has not gone un noticed.

Finally, i am sure Contraband will be an excellent album and will natually be buying it on release date and making it to any tour dates.

That i am a bigger GNR fan than VR fan doesn't mean i dislike VR.

[darkmonth]

And yes i believe based on Madagascar, the blues, Chinese Democracy and OMG that Chinese Democracy the album will surpass anything GNR have done to date (except 14 years).

LOL.  Ok.  Sure.  Well, as much as I like some of the new material a lot... NONE of it comes close to being better than GnR's best material.  Not close.  And you chose 14 Years as the best example of GnR too... Holy cack.  Do you actually own any other songs or did you download 14 Years and burn it to CD and call it your GnR collection?

hehe...

[starchild_666]

And yes i believe based on Madagascar, the blues, Chinese Democracy and OMG that Chinese Democracy the album will surpass anything GNR have done to date (except 14 years).

LOL.  Ok.  Sure.  Well, as much as I like some of the new material a lot... NONE of it comes close to being better than GnR's best material.  Not close.  And you chose 14 Years as the best example of GnR too... Holy cack.  Do you actually own any other songs or did you download 14 Years and burn it to CD and call it your GnR collection?

hehe...

Yeah 14 years isn't close to being best GNR material...  

[Izzy]

And yes i believe based on Madagascar, the blues, Chinese Democracy and OMG that Chinese Democracy the album will surpass anything GNR have done to date (except 14 years).

LOL.  Ok.  Sure.  Well, as much as I like some of the new material a lot... NONE of it comes close to being better than GnR's best material.  Not close.  And you chose 14 Years as the best example of GnR too... Holy cack.  Do you actually own any other songs or did you download 14 Years and burn it to CD and call it your GnR collection?

hehe...

Yeah 14 years isn't close to being best GNR material...  

In YOUR opinion

Music is opinion. Your trying to say that if i like those songs i am wrong? What kind of a Nazi are u?

If someone dislikes GNR are they wrong?

Man, u people worry me, u treat music like fact and show a baffling intolerance.

I like those songs. U don't. Neither is wrong.

[Butch Français]

I believe about 1 out of every 10 seniors in my school is having a ditch day because of the record. It started out as just a few people but its growing.

Are you serious??  How lucky you are to go to a high school like that!  

didn't you?
I thought all high schools were like that, I had an incredibly high absence...

Kiedis, I knew many people like you in high school  

heey now, don't you go putting me in some category because of one thing I did!

we could only have 15% absence before we flunked so I wasn't away THAT much, didn't flunk anything!