Could Contraband signal a revival of rock? We need it.

[79mcgrath]

Is it me or has hit music been pretty boring lately? I love that VR's Contraband is sellling so well -- it proves that there are a lot of people like me out there dying for a revival of rock music on the charts.

Here's an article that cheered me up a bit. ( http://flynnfiles.com ) It compares Contraband to The Knack's My Sharona 25 years ago.  He shows that the pop charts of '79 look like the charts of '04 -- mostly non-rock songs except for My Sharona, which awakened the charts to rock again after boring pop and disco dominated for too long.  

The article claims that "Listeners are starved for rock music. Velvet Revolver?s sales success sends a message to the market to correct itself. Demand for rock music exceeds supply."

This is obvious to me and to any other rock fan. But can VR's success change things? History tells us that maybe it can. "Twenty-five years ago, another seemingly run-of-the-mill band playing rock music served as the catalyst for a huge change in the music industry."

Do you feel the same? Am I being too optimistic?

The charts are too boring. We need rock to make another come back, and VR could do it, if we judge by their sales. I hope the record companies agree.

What do you think?

[Cowboy Buddha]

I think that we need to change the music what people are listening to.  The Rap/Pop shit sucks the new rock sucks (most of it).  I hope it's just a start of Rock N' Roll Coming back.  

[Mr Cowbell ?]

With there cd selling less then half it did in its first week CHANGING rock might be a little bit off

[younggunner]

Rock needs a bunch of young bands that have balls. All of these "rock" bands are pussies and do eveything in an organized way. Its boring and predicatble.

Plus the music sux. Nothing unique and rocking. Im always finding myself buying albums that have been around for awhile.

Ive been listening to a lot of Monster Magnet lately. Now thats a fukin rock band. BUt they have been around for awhil enow.

Teen/pop/rap has dominated the industry for almost 10 yrs now.
MTV has killed the rock star and the video star. You hardly see any rock videos. ANd when they play videos its all rap and shit. ANd they hardly play those either. Its all these shows. Put the shows on MTV2. Videos should be on where they originated, MTV.

But Rock is too blame too. You have all these phony wanna be punk bands running around like blink, GC, NFG and all that shit. Its disgusting. ITs whiny and gay.

Man if I was blessed with any musical talent, I would have put together a rock band that would tear shit up. BUt im not so I just play baseball lol...im done with this ramble....adios

[Booker Floyd]

With there cd selling less then half it did in its first week CHANGING rock might be a little bit off

Like somebody said in another post, half of quarter-of-a-million aint that bad, especially when a lot of peoples guess for first-week sales were in the 1xx,000 arena anyway...

[Mr Cowbell ?]

With there cd selling less then half it did in its first week CHANGING rock might be a little bit off

Like somebody said in another post, half of quarter-of-a-million aint that bad, especially when a lot of peoples guess for first-week sales were in the 1xx,000 arena anyway...

Now Booker I know you love your VR, but if their cd falls another 40-50% next week its not even gonna be in the top five maybe even the top ten. Look at the beastie boys. Personally they suck. They are old. And they denounced there best album "License to Ill" and they almost hit 400,000 in their first week. VR has sold a little less then them in their first two weeks. If they plan on "changing rock" they are gonna have to get some new plublicity.

May it be ...
FTP released as a single w/ a video.....
A Big Fall Tour Announced with a co headliner @ arenas
Scott getting in the news... (use your imagination)

Something along that lines will need to happen soon to keep VR up where they belong. I want to see their album CB have the longevity of Audioslaves album in which it can produce 5 singles.

[GNROSAS]

Contraband will flop. In UK is in 35 position from 11. From the 1st listen of contaband i wanted to listen to their second album. (if they will manage to make one.)

Personally i believe in no way Contraband will revive Rock N roll. Better albums didn't manage to do that.

Hopefully their 2nd album will achieve sth better.

To their Credit VR are great Live. Playing live is their major strength
so by announching a big tour and play in big festivals maybe will help promote theis sales worldwide.

[Falcon]

History shows that bands who changed musical landscapes
usually are in their early to mid twenties and bring with them their own generation along with their younger brothers and sisters.  IE, impressionable teens.

VR has done fantastic and should continue to thrive but I think asking them to be any beacon for a return to rock might be a bit too much.  The band that will revive rock probably hasn't even got together yet, let alone recorded a record.

As for Contraband "flopping", it's not likely, in the US at least.  Too much positive buzz along with 5 guys who seem to want to go the distance and tour their ass off.    

[younggunner]

VR has done fantastic and should continue to thrive but I think asking them to be any beacon for a return to rock might be a bit too much.  The band that will revive rock probably hasn't even got together yet, let alone recorded a record.

Agreed, but a lot of that expectation comes from the band itself. All we have heard about before the album, was how "dangerous and sleezy" it was and how there bringing real rock back. Well the material on the album although good for the most part doesnt have that kind of impact.

As you mentioned the only way rock will become the number 1 genre again is by having a bunch of young bands doing something of relevance. And since the early to mid 90's no rock band has done anything with such force.

As for CB slumping a little. Its a combination of things. The initial hype and gnr/stp and rock fans in general carried its initial sales. NOw the album and its single will have to attract new or skeptical fans. Like someone said Audioslave was able to get a shitload of singles out of that album. Same with Linkin PArk. Time will tell with VR.  
They have nothing to worry about in terms of being a live act, but Im not sure if they will be able to maintain their success with the album. Its just a descent rock album. Nothing more nothing less. SO in terms of taking over the rock world, its unlikely.

[GNRisAFD]

The drop in sales (of Contraband) is a very bad sign for the album, it pretty much means that the next single is going to have to catch on like wild fire if they are to even stay within the public eye.

I agree with those who say this band's main attraction is its live performances.

The only thing that can save rock n roll is a GNR reunion, there is no other way.

[dave-gnfnr2k]

The drop in sales (of Contraband) is a very bad sign for the album, it pretty much means that the next single is going to have to catch on like wild fire if they are to even stay within the public eye.

I agree with those who say this band's main attraction is its live performances.

The only thing that can save rock n roll is a GNR reunion, there is no other way.

Axl has not release his album yet, so axl can still bring something fresh to rock music. He just has to relese the album so we can find out

[Falcon]

The drop in sales (of Contraband) is a very bad sign for the album, it pretty much means that the next single is going to have to catch on like wild fire if they are to even stay within the public eye.

I agree with those who say this band's main attraction is its live performances.

The only thing that can save rock n roll is a GNR reunion, there is no other way.

The drop in sales was expected, no one in their right mind should think they'd come and duplicate first week sales with a powerhouse like the Beasties coming out the same week.  

An educated guess would think RCA is doing cartwheels about now, with the early success of the record and tour, the album may very well may be paid for already.

They'll have no problem staying in the public eye as long as they continue to be the road dogs they seem to be.  Off to Europe for a bit then back in the states to coincide with the release of a second single appears to be the plan
and who's to argue?

They've done everything else perfect so far...

[GNROSAS]

To me Contraband from 11th position in first week to drop on 35 on the 2nd week in UK is a big Flop!!!! I don't know where people find so much success (unless they mean only USA). It's not that difficult to make number 1 first week considering the RCA promotion and the history of VR. Only the fans from GNR/STP buying the 3 different covers would make it number one. To me success is wht will happwn in the following 2 months in charts worldwide and it doesn't look good.

i know that in states is number three but in most europe GNR GHs is outselling contraband. So far no UK dates are booked (although dates are booked in most europe) and i wonder if this delay has to do with the big drop in the sales.

I can not see FTP as a major breakthrough. time will tell

[Mr Cowbell ?]

See VR needs to hit the rest of the world to CHANGE ROCK. A Europe tour followed by another US leg would help and FTP being released will also help

[Falcon]

To me Contraband from 11th position in first week to drop on 35 on the 2nd week in UK is a big Flop!!!!

I'm doubting chart position in the UK is a concern for RCA at the moment.  Their money has long been recouped in sold distribution rights

I don't know where people find so much success (unless they mean only USA). It's not that difficult to make number 1 first week considering the RCA promotion and the history of VR. Only the fans from GNR/STP buying the 3 different covers would make it number one. To me success is wht will happwn in the following 2 months in charts worldwide and it doesn't look good.

The US market is where money is made, everywhere else is beyond secondary.  To drop from 11 to 35 in the UK might mean 5,000 records sold in a week in the UK, stateside is an entirely different animal.

i know that in states is number three but in most europe GNR GHs is outselling contraband. So far no UK dates are booked (although dates are booked in most europe) and i wonder if this delay has to do with the big drop in the sales.

See above...

[younggunner]

Im sure Vr and RcA will do well financially but who cares? DOes that really determine if this band is good or popular? The album only cost like 500.000 to make and and a few million for promotion.

its more of how it does sales wise over the long haul. ANd how many singles they can get out of the album.

[Top-Hatted One]

touring the UK after October will definitely help the sales and after FTP is released

[tomass74]

Great album, I know alot of people that have it and like it.  Anyone who says it's a flop is just out of their mind.  The album is a success like it or not.  The fact they are playing alot of different songs on the radio rather than just the single is great. Thgis album may not break records but the music industry is hurting right now and this album is doing great relative to that. Contraband will have legs. This album isnt going to change rock but is definately refreshing and I am pumped to have it.

[Doc Emmett Brown]

The fact they are playing alot of different songs on the radio rather than just the single is great.

That's awesome - what songs are they playing?  I've only heard Slither so far.

I really hope they choose YGNR as a single - it's my favorite on the album.

I think that Contraband will revive the idea of releasing an album that has depth...what I mean is that there are a variety of songs on it, and you can listen to it in different moods.  

[SunKing278]

The drop in sales (of Contraband) is a very bad sign for the album, it pretty much means that the next single is going to have to catch on like wild fire if they are to even stay within the public eye.

I think "Fall to Pieces" is going to be that hot single.  It's already getting play at WAAF here in Boston and some other stations across the country, two months prior to its probable release as a single.  It's a simple yet powerful ballad, oozing mass appeal.  How many years has it been now since a truly killer rock power ballad has dominated the charts?  The real attraction here is Slash, who lightens the song up with his familiar uplifting licks.  I believe we'll end up seeing four or five radio hits off the record over the next year and more, and that Contraband will sell consistently for a good while.

As for the 53% sales drop, I'm willing to wager the Beastie Boys record will drop by AT LEAST that in its second week.

[matt88]

Nah they're to old.

They haven't brought anything new to the music world. And they really can't either. But hopefully some young rockers will be encouraged by their success and more rock(decent rock) will come our way hopefully.

[Booker Floyd]

Im sure Vr and RcA will do well financially but who cares? DOes that really determine if this band is good or popular?

Pretty much.

Slithers #1 on the Mainstream Rock chart for the 3rd week in a row.  Its also #1 on the Modern Rock chart.  Theyre selling out every show they play.  They were #1 on the Billboard Top 200, and a week later still in the top 3.  The album is getting mostly good reviews.  So I dont think "being good" or popularity is a problem right now...

[Rebecca Duff Rose]

We certainly are blessed with Contraband!!!!!!  

I thank VR sooooooooo much!  

For a new Rock Revolution!

You guys are the whizz!  

[younggunner]

Pretty much.

Not really. I said it will do well financially. And they will do fine touring wise. BUt in the grand scheme of things, music wise it doesnt give you an accurate assessment of the success of the album.

If the the total projects costs lets just say like 4 million{cost to make cd/promotion,etc} just for arguments sake.
Lets say they break even or go well past that early on during the first few months. But what if the album sales drop after that. Does that mean it was a success music wise?

My point is just because the band/album does well financially, initially, doesnt mean it will do well over the long haul.

If CB gets a shitload of singles out of the album and people are still buying the album 6 months to a yr from now then fine, no doubt, its a success.

BUt you have to gauge it when the smoke clears. The hype, the name, the promo, stp/gnr fans carried the album sales for the first few weeks. After that its all on the album and the singles to sell to the skeptical/questionalble/reg rock fan or whoever.

[Booker Floyd]

Pretty much.

Not really. I said it will do well financially.

Yes, and thats what record companies care about.

[the dirt]

Pretty much.

Not really. I said it will do well financially.

Yes, and thats what record companies care about.

Sure that's what rec companies care about...

But the question is wheather Contraband could be a signal of the revival of rock. I say I'ts possible.

And to actually spur on a movement does not reflect on the quality of the disc in many cases. It's a matter of drawing interest, and gaining a level of interest that hasn't been seen in a while.

[Falcon]

Pretty much.

Not really. I said it will do well financially.

Yes, and thats what record companies care about.

Exactly.

That's all that record companies care about.

An artist doesn't sell records out of the gate, funds are pulled and touring stops.  

Doesn't look like we have to worry about that here....

[younggunner]

Yes, and thats what record companies care about.

Whos disputing that

Again Im talking about the music/popularity side

[Booker Floyd]

Yes, and thats what record companies care about.

Whos disputing that

Again Im talking about the music/popularity side

Theyre getting good reviews, both for the tour and the album, and "Slither" is topping all of the main rock charts, not to mention doing well on the MTV countdowns.  So wheres the uncertainty on their popularity?

[younggunner]

So wheres the uncertainty on their popularity?

There is no uncertainty of thier popular right now. Ive adressed that already.

I said when the smoke clears thats when we can gauge what the album has really accomplished. If sales keep up, obiviously not like it opened but if it does well and remains in the charts and they can get 4 or 5 singles out of the album, then yes the album did well.

The hype, the promotion, the name, and the stp/gnr fan carried will and has carried the album inittially. But when the smoke clears the album will have to carry its own weight.

[Oddy]

they've created a good album, but its not gonna change the rock n roll world. All it is is just a good rock n roll album and thats all. i love the album though.

and VR can't be the revival of rock, they're just paving the way for unknown bands.

bands like one that i'll form sometime next year, start doin some gigs, word will spread, and the rest is history  

[jarmo]

Theyre getting good reviews, both for the tour and the album, and "Slither" is topping all of the main rock charts, not to mention doing well on the MTV countdowns.  So wheres the uncertainty on their popularity?

Look at the European album charts and you'll see.

Maybe that'll change when they tour over here, but right now VR is like STP (huge in USA, not so big in Europe).

I'm certainly not seeing a rock revival over here because of "Contraband".



/jarmo

[Hoosier]

i think thers has been a flirt with a "rock revival" for the last few years. lets make a list of bands doing (or have done) a modern rock n roll album.

velvet revolver
nickelback
van halen
audioslave
tesla

those bands alone are good enough for some sort of revival. what would happen if all the bands released their nest album in the same month? all (expect for VH so far) have had a hit single, so its not impossible for a new movement of some sort.

the thing  is, we ned a NEW band, someone fresh. and all it takes from them is one song. example: smells like teen spirit

[Falcon]

i think thers has been a flirt with a "rock revival" for the last few years. lets make a list of bands doing (or have done) a modern rock n roll album.

velvet revolver
nickelback
van halen
audioslave
tesla

No offense but...Tesla???

How 'bout we trade Tesla and VH for Courtney Love and Marilyn Manson..

Add the Foos to the list

[SLCPUNK]

I don't think there will ever be a "return" of rock like it used to be. Music is run based on numbers now. What makes the most money is what is popular, not what is the best product.

I keep seeing these "rock" bands on Letterman and Leno, and I keep waiting for them to rock. They suck. I mean...the suck!!! I usually will watch an entire performance and wonder...who actually likes this shit? I can't figure out who.

Rock making a big comeback? I doubt it though.

[Oddy]

don't worry, you can count on me to bring rock back.


oh i will, you can count on it.




i'll bring rock back to couple of drunks in a pub

[TyRod Tulip]

I heard FTP on WBCN early today.  I almost hit a tree when it came on.  After the song, the deejay said that they were getting a ton of calls requesting FTP.  He apologized and said they can't play it as often as they'de like because it has yet to be released (I'm not sure why that matters?)

Anyway, if this is any indication, then the release of FTP could have a pretty big impact.  I doubt we will see a change in music that we can call a "revival of rock and roll", but I think the album has 5 singles in it easy, and will be around for a while I think.

I'm sure RCA is glad they got VR in the fold.

-TyRod-

[Hoosier]

yea i think Fall to Peices is going to carry this album. its not a "rock changing song" but it should be one of the biggest hits of this year.

and just to add on about Tesla. i bought their new album 'Into the Now' for one song and my opinion on it now is that it is BETTER than CB. i play CB about every day and love it but Tesla has made an album that is very similar to Velvet Revolver, just some better (and harder/heavier) songs.

[Mr Cowbell ?]

i think thers has been a flirt with a "rock revival" for the last few years. lets make a list of bands doing (or have done) a modern rock n roll album.

velvet revolver
nickelback
van halen
audioslave
tesla

Nickelback is not a rock revival their first album was not bad. Now all there songs sound the same. THey have their guitars so much distorted or through into a Drop D sound you can't hear nice clean chords or you cant hear any riffs. VH is old and making the same kinds of Songs, they arent gonna return rock. They are gonna fill arenas with fans who want to HEAR THE OLD HITS. Telsa's new single was ok, nothing too exciting.

Both Audioslave and VR are good bands with some nice rock sound to them.  But I think it will take more then one band to change things. Like stated above. VR is gonna have to influence other bands to write and play ROCK. Not drop d distortion.  

Maybe add bands like Foo Fighters or THe Darkness to bands who play good ROCK. Marylin is ok too.

[Mattman]

Velvet Revolver ain't gonna save rock 'n' roll all by themselves.  They're too old to become the new band for a new generation.  A band that saves rock 'n' roll will be either like The Beatles and Nirvana, who led blitzkrieg revolutions in rock that totally changed the musical landscape in a short amount of time, or it will be like the post-punk period in which a large number of new rock bands slowly brought the music back to the fore.  Personally, I think that right now we already ARE experiencing a rock 'n' roll revival, but it's of the second, slower type.  What we've seen are a whole bunch of bands that are slowly bringing back what we like to think of as "real" rock 'n' roll.  None of them has become the next Nirvana and made a huge change, but together they're making a bit of a difference.

The future for rock is not as bleak as many of you guys think it is.  I can see a few developments right now that make me more hopeful than I used to be:

1) There's a whole bunch of new bands that, together, are culminatively reviving the presence of old-fashioned rock 'n' roll on the charts.  The Strokes, The Darkness, Jet, The White Stripes.  None of them are absolutely huge, but they're still there, and their impact is being felt.

2) Older bands (of this generation) are coming into a period of new creative highs much as bands like The Who and The Rolling Stones did in the early 70s.  Blink-182 has just put out a new, darker, more mature album in which they experiment with different sounds.  Green Day is making a "punk rock opera", which has never been done before.  The Red Hot Chili Peppers have gone from practitioners of randy punk funk to a melodic yet hard rock band influenced by the Beach Boys and The Beatles.  It all marks a new period of creative growth.

3) The rise of the supergroup.  Audioslave, Queens of the Stone Age, Velvet Revolver.  They're all there, and while none of them has changed the world (name me one supergroup that has), they're all making some pretty rockin' tunes that have revived otherwise boring rock radio.

Velvet Revolver are simply adding more to the foundation of something which is already happening, which is a general rock revival spearheaded by a whole bunch of different bands that don't have a whole lot in common, but speak to the larger re-emergence of guitar rock.  Contraband doesn't need to save rock 'n' roll all by itself...it can help other bands bring it back.  And that's what it's doing.

[younggunner]

Rock doesnt have any presence. Where are the ego maniac frontman? WHere are the drunk guitarists? There are none. Everything is proper and civilized.

Theres no over the top band. There is some good music but nothing great or unique. Everything seems planned and oraganized.

Rock needs a band that doesnt care about what people think. Rock needs a new Axl ROse.

YEa Axl was selfish and crazy but thats what made him and gnr appealing. Rock doesnt have a frontman anymnore.

[Falcon]

Rock doesnt have any presence. Where are the ego maniac frontman?

See Marilyn Manson

WHere are the drunk guitarists? There are none.

Did you catch Slash at the Weenie Roast?

Theres no over the top band.

Again, Manson

 Rock doesnt have a frontman anymnore.

Dave Wyndorf, Manson, Kid Rock, James Hetfield, Bret Scallions,
Brody Dalle, John Lydon, Courtney Love, Scott Weiland, Anthony Kiedis, Liam Gallagher, Justin Hawkins, Steve Tyler, Mick Jaggar,
Al Jourgensen...

Just a few...

[Mr Cowbell ?]

Rock doesnt have any presence. Where are the ego maniac frontman?

See Marilyn Manson

WHere are the drunk guitarists? There are none.

Did you catch Slash at the Weenie Roast?

Theres no over the top band.

Again, Manson

 Rock doesnt have a frontman anymnore.

Dave Wyndorf, Manson, Kid Rock, James Hetfield, Bret Scallions,
Brody Dalle, John Lydon, Courtney Love, Scott Weiland, Anthony Kiedis, Liam Gallagher, Justin Hawkins, Steve Tyler, Mick Jaggar,
Al Jourgensen...

Just a few...

I think a true frontman doesnt play an instrument in concert. Sure they will add an extra guitar here or play on a few songs but I think a true frontman's job is to A) Sing and B) dance and get the crowd going.

When I think of true frontman I think of Rob Helford, Roger Daltry, Axl Rose, Chris Cornell, Bruce Dickenson, It seems nowadays the singer plays an extra guitar and sings. Where as the frontmen back in the day had a gimmick or charecter and would pump you up. I think Manson is a good frontman, but its hard to be the Frontman when you are a soloist. If Manson was in a band that wasnt named Marilyn Manson then he would be a GREAT frontman.

[Mr Cowbell ?]

Dave Wyndorf, Manson, Kid Rock, James Hetfield, Bret Scallions,
Brody Dalle, John Lydon, Courtney Love, Scott Weiland, Anthony Kiedis, Liam Gallagher, Justin Hawkins, Steve Tyler, Mick Jaggar,
Al Jourgensen...

Just a few...

I would consider Hetfield a frontman.

Although  Scott Weiland, Liam Gallagher, Steve Tyler are great examples.

A true frontman is in a Band but his charecter can carry the whole band.

Courtney Love, Kid Rock, & Manson would be great frontman, but since they go by there name as the name of the band its almost a solo effect. There cant be a frontman from a solo effort.