With the recent successes of Rage Against the Machine/Soundgarden hybrid Audioslave and Tool/Smashing Pumpkins m?©lange A Perfect Circle, supergroups are a hot commodity. The latest entry in the amalgamation canon (this time, Stone Temple Pilots plus Guns n' Roses), Velvet Revolver brings its grunge-tinged heavy metal blend to Worcester tonight, touring in support of their new album, "Contraband."
A warning to all those fans of old-school Stone Temple Pilots or Guns n' Roses: Velvet Revolver's "Contraband" is no "Use Your Illusion" (either I or II) or "Core." With the all-star cast that this band boasts and the multi-platinum albums sitting behind it, the issue cannot really be avoided: they can do better.
Velvet Revolver consists of STP vocalist Scott Weiland, the ex-Guns n' Roses trio of guitarist Slash, bassist Duff McCagan and drummer Matt Sorum, and second guitarist Dave Kushner. To be fair, it is great to see that Weiland is still alive and kicking after rehab (yes, again), McCagan has recovered from his exploding liver and Slash is still going at those solos. "Contraband" also provides a quick fix for fans, given that the in-the-works GNR album "Chinese Democracy" is turning out to be more mythical than imminent and STP's last was a best-of album, "Thank You."
"Contraband" gives us a whiff of revitalized hard rock. Most of the tracks are of the head-banging variety, fast and hard-hitting from beginning to end. "Do It For The Kids" kicks off with Weiland screaming "Went too fast I'm out of luck and I don't even give a f**k," accompanied by Kushner's speedy fuzz guitar. Sorum opens "Illegal I Song" with an adrenalized drum roll, and the track continues with fast and furious riffing.
The album is relentless in delivering pounding, throbbing tunes, all beautifully topped off with Slash's classic guitar solos. If solid hard rock reminiscent of 80s hair metal is your cup of tea, then "Contraband" is the album for you.
The punk attitude is still very much intact in Weiland's lyrics. There's a good old rail against the "system" in "Big Machine:" "All tied up to a big machine/I got houses/Got cars/I got a wife/I got kids/Got money in the bank/Get away without borders/I'm a slave, New World Order...," and many a seething indictment on the filth of society, as Weiland chants in "Sucker Train Blues:" "Somebody raped my tapeworm abortion/Come on motherf**kers and deliver the cow/Brain and body melting while there's roaches multiplying/It's the alien infection it's the coming of Christ..."
It's just unfortunate that there's a bit too much formula and not enough volatility. The two token power ballads of the album - "Fall to Pieces" and "You Got No Right" - offer lyrics that are touching in their raw, simple sadness but provide nothing inspiring musically. "Fall to Pieces" immediately calls to mind "Sweet Child O' Mine" but falls short of that tune's former glory, and it's not just Axl Rose's high-pitched yowl that is missing. While "Slither" was chosen as the album's single, any of the other tracks could just as easily have represented the consistent grinding and hammering sound of "Contraband."
Weiland's vocals also lack explosiveness. While his trademark aggressive bark compliments Kushner's rhythm guitar, his voice comes across as a monotonous chant in several of the tracks. For those familiar with old STP favorites like "Purple" or "Tiny Music," it seems like his vocals are not hitting the full range of sound or emotion that he is capable of.
Admittedly, after a few listens, it does catch on. However, while it's great to see these old pros doing what they do so well, there is much fresh ground to be crossed, if only they would step away from their comfort zones. If the professionalism of the musicians makes the CD a bit stale, they make up for it in the live show: Velvet Revolver puts on a famously rambunctious show, in which band members careen around the stage, rocking every bit as hard live as they do on their album.
