Slash's New CD RULEZ!

Discussion
1

The slash CD is GREAT!!!
There are only a couple duds on the cd but that has more to do with the singers than the music.
As said before, my wife is in dire need of a new stereo in her car! When I first played it, it was in her car and I couldn’t hear any of Slash’s guitar on any of the tracks and I dismissed it as a pop album and a cash grab at his loyal fan base but OH NO! It’s fantastic! I put it just below the first snake pit album.

Ghost – Kind of a generic vocal track, guitar work is ok but not slash’s best efforts. The vocals sound kind of like the singer from “the Cult” could be dropping vocals in some spots. Probably my least favorite track on the album

Crucify- The Ozzy Track. My first assessment pretty much stands. sounds like a normal generic Ozzy track; although, the guitar work is pretty good. Much better than first listen.

Beautiful Dangerous- Fergies track. I love it! Primarily because she doesn’t sound like Fergie at all, she sounds like the chick from Garbage! This could probably pass for a Garbage track but with better solos and song structure!

Back from Cali- Sounds reminiscent of a snake pit song. I wouldn’t be surprised if it was a left over from the second snake pit album. Vocals are pretty decent pretty straight ahead rock song. Nothing fantastic nothing horrific.

Promise- This is where the album begins to shine for me! This is the Chris Cornell track and let me say I loathe Chris Cornell. But I listened to this track probably 5-6 times before I decided to check and see who it was singing, the vocals were so good! And I was shocked to see it was Cornell!!! Now that I know it’s Cornell I hear him completely but before that I had no idea. His voice has the slightest bit of Falsetto to it and a whole bunch of rasp and it goes well with Slash’s guitar! Fantastic track hopefully they make this a single!

By The Sword- The first single from this CD. Another fantastic song, where the vocals and the Music Merge beautifully. Andrew Stockdale (I don’t know what band he is from) is on Vocals and it’s a kind of a bluesy sound with an atmosphere of Kings and Queens (from Aerosmith) but it’s not as loud (I guess is the word) as Kings and Queens. The melody that goes through it is great and really catchy. The vocals are fantastic, the acoustic guitar that starts off the Song is fantastic! The solo is driven by bends and the wah peddle. While the song is probably moderately fast the solos are pretty slow and airy but they kick ass. Excellent song!

Gotten- Another Kick ass Song! The funny thing about this song is that the lyrics are HORRID! But it has more to do with the way the guy sings them (Adam Levine)and his voice! He has such a nerdy geeky voice but it so completely goes with the guitar work. This is clearly the Albums Ballad… the arpeggios that slash plays through this song are so lullaby-ish that you don’t really care what the singer is saying it has more to do with his voice going with the harmonies! Great track!

Doctor Alibi- The lemmy track! Fun little tune! The kind of Track you figure would hear sitting in a bar. To me it has a ZZ top feel… I completely like Lemmy’s vocals though, he has this whiskey drenched growl to his vocals and it again goes completely with the music.

Watch This – Has Duff and Dave Grohl playing… lots of trills from Slash in the opening solo. The song has a “Use Your Illusion I” vibe going with it with the way the solos are constructed. Although, it’s not as slick or as poppy (I guess the words would be) as “Illusion I.” There are no vocals, it’s a completely instrumental track. It really comes off like one big solo in the middle of a song. Since this is what I adore slash for… I love it!

Hold On – This song starts out like an interpretation of “running with the devil” but quickly turns in the opposite direction. Kid Rock sings this tune (actually sings, not just white trash raps over it) Kid rock has a decent singing voice (Who knew? apparently slash did!). I could hear Kid rock fronting a new incarnation of a snake pit album if Slash so chose! I guess it’s kind of a southern rock ballad (I guess…) It’s more of a slow stomp, I guess hard to describe. Not really a ballad not really a fast hard rock tune. Good track, still!

Nothing To Say- Songs starts off like an interpretation of Iron Gland from AIC but like “Hold On” takes a 180 degree turn. The riff that runs through the verses (kicks in around 1 minute) is ridiculously cool! He scribbles (best way to describe it) the string something fierce! He plays the string faster than I can lalalala it! It’s got a dirty sound to it too! Sadly the only decent thing in this song is that dirty riff. The vocals suck the lyrics suck which kind of brings the music down. Funny the song is called nothing to say because kinda how I feel about it!

Starlight- Miles Kennedy sings this, my wife’s favorite track. kinda of in the vein of “Gotten” (but without the pretty arpeggios) Not really into the Vocalist but his voice goes with the music and his voice in the chorus is fantastic (actually has a bad company feel to it), plus the lyrics aren’t too bad either. Very solid track! The solo is Genius(At roughly 3:40)

Saint Is A Sinner-Lovely arpeggios I adore the solo at roughly 1:40, it has a Spanish feel to it. A slower song but I wouldn’t necessarily call it a ballad . I love the chorus (“a saint is a sinner toooooooooo!” ) Lovely song! Rocca Delucca sings this track and he has a great voice as well once again (the song has a scorpions vibe to it, especially when the singer croons the chorus), matches the music played for him beautifully! Very solid track ( have no idea where this singer is from either)

Were All Gonna Die- Igg Pop’s track! Another great tune, I kinda liken it to a party tune! You know, you got a house party raging and somebody kicks this track on and now the cops get called! Iggy Pop sounds great the lyrics are funny and just a fun tune and a great way to end the cd. The song switches gears from fast to slow it’s mostly fast but it slows down in parts. Great tune!

SO those that are interested in slash, I think Emseeye you were wondering, … this is definitely a solid effort by Slash I completely recommend it!
And Void, Slash hasn’t lost a thing in his old age!
Late,
grmpysmrf

2

I don’t have much interest in this though I may pick up the Fergie track if it does sound like a harder rockin’ Garbage. However, despite my lack of interest, your passion for it is inspiring!

3

I don’t have much interest in this though I may pick up the Fergie track if it does sound like a harder rockin’ Garbage. However, despite my lack of interest, your passion for it is inspiring!

Thanks, that’s nice of you to say.
Late,
grmpysmrf

4

…wait for it…

…wait for it…

[Jaws theme song]

5

Although I generally shy away from LA musicians and bands in general your review has made me curious and I promise to at least check out some of it via whatever free means possible.

I sincerely hope you’re not just making this up as you like guitar players who wear funny hats because this makes at least two I can think of.

6

I sincerely hope you’re not just making this up as you like guitar players who wear funny hats because this makes at least two I can think of.

LOL. I’ll check you tube and see if it is loaded up yet if not I may load a track or two for those who are interested.

As far as me “making this Up” it’s true to me. It is Rock. I’m not going to tell you it isn’t, but as far as the stuff I posted, it’s absolutely legit as far as my ear is concerned!

Slash’s page has all of them and they sound better than the youtube versions. scroll down to the bottom of the page. and it’s the digital player on the right.
http://slashonline.com/products.php
Late,
grmpysmrf

7

Listening to the Fergie track now. Garbage (the band) it 'aint. Still haven’t decided if “garbage” (the noun) is more accurate.

I kind of like her Nelly Furtado-ish chick psuedo-rapping on the pre-chorus, but the chorus is shitty IMO.

8

I obviously disagree. She totally sounds like the garbage chick. Although, I will give you that she doesn’t on the chorus parts, but the verses absolutely she does! as far her “rapping” she is just singing fast. I wouldn’t call that “rapping” as far as the choruses being “garbage the noun” I believe you just posted something in another thread about hyperbole…?
Oh well, I don’t love everything Manson does so I guess we are even! I know I’m pretty much alone here with my slash love. I’ll let it go!
Late,
grmpysmrf

9

I can see what you’re saying about the verse vocals. Her voice is different, but he delivery is definitely Garbage-y. The track itself is alright in the verses but I gotta say it reminds me too much of hair metal (which is probably a great thing for Slash fans but the style’s not my thing).

Another note, I do find the various limited editions pretty funny. $5k for a limited edition that comes with a signed guitar? Looks like Slash has borrowed a page from Al’s book. Maybe next time out he’ll add the whole “take acid together and eat at PF Chang’s” route Josh Froese took.

10

The Fergie track is garbage the noun, I agree.

The rest of the tracks, even if some are better than others, sound incredibly tired to me.

11

I obviously disagree. She totally sounds like the garbage chick. Although, I will give you that she doesn’t on the chorus parts, but the verses absolutely she does! as far her “rapping” she is just singing fast. I wouldn’t call that “rapping” as far as the choruses being “garbage the noun” I believe you just posted something in another thread about hyperbole…?
Oh well, I don’t love everything Manson does so I guess we are even! I know I’m pretty much alone here with my slash love. I’ll let it go!
Late,
grmpysmrf

Oh by “shitty” in regards to the chorus I just meant I don’t like the hook, the guitar line, the drums, the way it’s produced (over compressed) etc. I didn’t mean it’s “horrible”.

12

Another note, I do find the various limited editions pretty funny. $5k for a limited edition that comes with a signed guitar? Looks like Slash has borrowed a page from Al’s book…

Actually, if memory serves, that whole line of guitars is limited, and limited by Gibson and not Slash. 5 G’s for a Gibson Signature Les Paul is actually pretty standard, especially when a normal Gibson Les Paul can run up to 3 grand. (actually it’s pretty good considering when the Snake Pit Les paul came out it was 20 Gs, as was Jimmy Page’s and Steve Vai’s; they all came out at the same time in '95). I just see it as Slash saying, “hey if you buy one of of my signature guitars I’ll throw in my album.” Not really an Angie Cash grab at all.

For those that this style of music isn’t your taste, sorry 'bout that, I’ll try and let the thread die.
Late,
grmpysmrf

13

hey grumpy - that is Ian Astbury on that first track.

14

Well, let’s see…had a listen. No it doesn’t ‘rule’. Sorry.

Problem is, it’s so tame, so what the general record buying public wants. Most of the songs are so pedestrian I can imagine them being belted out by some 16 year old straight out of a Gap commercial on American Idol.

He doesn’t really go out on a limb or take any chances and the production sucks - it’s so limp wristed. No, I’m not saying it has to be ‘experimental’ or anything, but this Slash for Pete’s Sake!!! Slash!! The Guns N Roses guy!! When I think of Slash I think of wild nights spent boning Playboy models in crusty hotel rooms and downing superhuman amounts of illicit substances. I think of Harley Davidsons and switchblades. I want to hear balls to the wall ROCK dripping with bourbon - not sappy elevator muzak that all the family can (and probably will) enjoy. What’s gone wrong?

And yet there on the front cover you see see the phrase ‘Rock N F’n Roll’ underneath some widdly diddly cartoon skull and crossbones. ROCK’N’ FUCKEN ROLL!!! This is not rock n fucken roll! Funhouse by The Stooges is ROCK N FUCKEN ROLL! Ya dig? Sheesh! Rock is supposed to be exciting and dangerous - not poured over by a team of corporate production men like this one seems to have been. Every single note seems to have been manipulated and perfected to a point until the very essence of what is supposed to be rock’n’roll has been squeezed out.

And what’s with the artwork? BORING! And what the fuck happened to Ozzy? What is this shit? I’d expect to hear the Backstreet Boys howling shitty ballads like that, not the one time frontman of Black Sabbath. His output nowadays is about as ‘heavy’ as spending an afternoon sipping tea wit the Queen. If you are going to use the godfather of heavy metal on yr solo album, at least give him something to do.

And does Dave Grohl HAVE to appear on every friggen’ album under the sun?

On the positive side (yes there is one) I do kinda like Ian Astbury’s contribution. It’s ok. Ditto Andrew Stockdale’s (He is the singer with Australian rock band Wolfmother, Grmpy). I can sit and listen to it and sorta get lost in it.

So that’s my take. As if you weren’t expecting it but whatever. I tried to like it if that means anything.

15

Wow, peligro didn’t like it… didn’t see that coming. I probably could’ve written your rant for you, talk about predictable and stale… get some new snob rants,

Slacklove

Yes I believe that is ashbury I don’t have all of the singers down except for the obvious ones fergie cornell ozzy iggy
Late,
Grmpysmrf

16

Wow, peligro didn’t like it… didn’t see that coming. I probably could’ve written your rant for you, talk about predictable and stale… get some new snob rants,

I don’t think I was being ‘snobby’ at all. As I said I tried to like it. You are not listening to what I was saying. Some GnR stuff is actually pleasurable. I wanted to hear a great ROCK album. IF I was being snobby I would have laughed at it without even bothering to listen to it. I think what I wrote was very upfront and honest. Problem is I don’t think you want to hear criticism of the music you like as if you are somehow embarrassed by having top admit to liking this stuff. You shouldn’t be. You’d just think with all that talent to use they’d come up with something a little less predictable and stale. It was so bland and corporate sounding. I never figured someone like Slash would stand for that.

I’m not digging on you for liking this ort of thing but at least concede that some of my points had merit.

It was not a tirade.

17

People get so attached to the music they like they see it as part of their own personal identity.

Hence the backlash at criticism.

You’ll find that on every forum not just here. In fact, I’d say this forum is tame compared to others I’ve posted on. You can be flamed alive for criticising bands on some forums, no matter how thought provoking your criticism may be.

18

First, I don’t care if anyone on the board likes it or not. I like it, some expressed interest in my thoughts about it, My first thoughts I had on it were completely off, so I thought I would repost with a more accurate assessment…which I did. Had nobody asked, I probably would not have posted a review.

I know it’s not most here’s cup of tea, I don’t care, this is seriously my pleasure. I can’t tell you what it is, maybe it’s really a man crush,(as fat tits suggests) maybe he plays shit I dig into on a subconscious level, hell maybe uses subliminals and my mind’s ear can hear it loud and clear. I don’t know, what I do know is that generally whatever this guy belts out on guitar I absolutely adore.

ok, I’m gonna point by point this not to change your mind, cause I’m not gonna do that, (don’t even want to) but there are specifics that I wonder about with you.

I don’t think I was being ‘snobby’ at all. As I said I tried to like it. You are not listening to what I was saying.

I’m listening, and it was the same tired complaints that you always have for anything you don’t like. I would imagine you had made your mind up not to like it long before the album idea was even conceived.

Although, I do doff my hat to you if you really did listen to all of it. Can’t fault you for not liking it then, it’s just an opinion…and yours at that. You’re a hard guy to please, musically. and I know how musically diverse we are that it was probably a pretty hard exercise for you to sit through all of it. and if you indeed did listen to all of it, Brownie points to you.

Some GnR stuff is actually pleasurable.

Oh do tell. I would love to read what GnR you consider decent. what if anything is “pushing the musical limits” on a GnR record? It’s all just great sounding music, but none of it, by the standards that you have shown represent you, would even come close to passing your smell test.

I wanted to hear a great ROCK album. IF I was being snobby I would have laughed at it without even bothering to listen to it.

your post was your normal music snob self. Shocked you posted so much really. it reads like your annoyed having to write it.

I think what I wrote was very upfront and honest.

perhaps for you it was “upfront and Honest” but it just seemed snide over all. I give Void more credit for not liking it(again not that I care). He just came right out and said I don’t like the hooks, I don’t like the melody, the vocals suck etc etc… that to me seems more upfront and honest than anything you have written.

Problem is I don’t think you want to hear criticism of the music you like

Well, as Olsen points out nobody wants to hear criticism of the stuff they like, but that’s not really what irks me about your post. It was a foregone conclusion, for me, that you wouldn’t like it and that you would post your dissatisfaction with it on the thread. I think what bothers me about it is that what you included in your post was pretty much exactly what I figured you would post.

No bullshit, I even contemplated creating a rough outline of the gripes you would have about it and see how they would match up with what you would actually post. Just from what I remember listing in my mind, you pretty much hit all of them.

as if you are somehow embarrassed by having top admit to liking this stuff.

Are you nuts?!?! You’re writing that to a guy who had Slash as his avatar and a silly little signature that I copied that said “Slash rules” for probably a good year?? does that sound like embarrassment? I had no problem with that! Why would I now?

You shouldn’t be.

I’m not.

You’d just think with all that talent to use they’d come up with something a little less predictable and stale.

Here is really what I’m wondering, what exactly makes it predictable and stale to you? What he’s playing or the fact that he has Verse chorus Verse Chorus Solo? Because That structure doesn’t matter to me, it’s his riffs and solos that I listen too that make that structure fine by me.

see, for me I can use predictable and stale to describe country music because it’s always the same subject matter, there is always that same annoying slide guitar (pedal steel), and the off key, country boya, somber, deep voice singing.

What about Slash’s record is predictable in anyway, all of his riffs are different and catchy and are in no way the same, the way the pedal steel is with country. You get my question?

It was so bland and corporate sounding.

What exactly is that? what exactly is corporate about it to you? To me, sounds like music that could be on a GnR record if Axl were singing it. I don’t see the difference.

I’m not digging on you for liking this ort of thing but at least concede that some of my points had merit.

I can’t do it, just because this is your normal complaint form you have just filled in the name of the new band/artist/whatever.

Yes there are songs that are better than others but not for the reasons you have listed. I find it funny that you like astbury’s song because I feel like his vocals are not that great an bring down Slash’s playing. So what is it that you like about that song.

We agree about the stockdale song it is easy to get lost in that song. Solos, again, are great, his riffs are fantastic his rhythms are great, and Stockdale just punctuates all of that

olsen

I think I take criticism very well. I respectfully disagreed with void. But, I think for the most part, your assessment is right on. But I don’t think it really applies to me in this situation, though. I know, I’m pretty much alone here in my Slash love, no biggee. I think I was just a little disappointed in Peligro’s assessment, even though as I said, I knew it was coming, but Peligro’s “points” were so predictable I was just annoyed. I mean you can go back to any band/artist that he doesn’t like and it will all be the same…“doesn’t challenge themselves” “doesn’t push themselves artistically”, “blah blah”
I guess I feel about about Peligro’s critiques the way peligro feels about most main stream music.
Late,
grmpysmrf

19

Hi Guys! What’s going on in here?

20

Its not the verse-chorus-verse-chorus-solo-chorus structure that makes this album stale. This was never an issue for rock music for the last 40+ years. Its about the hunger, the passion, that whole indescribable quality that makes good rock music good and commercial/corporate rock music so obvious.