[Review] Velvet Revolver: Libertad

I obtained Velvet Revolver's sophomore album with a sense of anticipation.  Their debut album Contraband was proof that key players from two distinct and successful rock bands (Guns N' Roses, STP) could come together and make a good hard rock album in the present-day climate.  Though they were a little bit rough around the edges, they had some sweet, catchy songs, Slash was as compelling as ever, and Scott Weiland (formerly of Stone Temple Pilots) still could bring the vocal noise.  I assumed they would start to discover their own sound and gel as a band their next time out. 

The problem with Libertad is that it's actually a sidestep, at best, to Contraband.  It's not that Slash, Duff and Matt suddenly forgot how to play their instruments, or that Weiland lost his voice.  It's that the songs just aren't that good.  Though all are well-assembled and decently delivered, not a single one of the 17-odd tracks on this album grabbed me.  By track 10, I was still waiting for that one song that would be so interesting that it would pull me into everything else.  That song never came. 

There's nothing here with the viciousness of "Slither," the growl of "Superhuman," the poignancy and bluesy notes of "Fall To Pieces" -- hell, even the catchiness of "Sucker Train Blues."  I waited, and waited, for some of those high, long-held blues-influenced Gibson notes Slash is so famous for holding.  They weren't there...and when they popped up for a second, they were downplayed. 

I blame two parties for this: producer Brendan O'Brien and Weiland.  O'Brien has done a lot of work for Aerosmith.  He also did all the production work for STP -- a band in which the rhythm section eclipsed the guitars in both power and quality.  Perhaps this is why this latest effort sounds like Weiland had way too much input into song arrangements and sound...and as much as I like Weiland and defend STP, the guy isn't known for his songwriting ability by himself.  

Libertad sounds much more like an STP/Weiland album than it sounds like a Velvet Revolver or GNR album, minus the songwriting and unique rhythms that made STP listenable.  In effect, the result is a collection of competent-yet-mediocre hard rock songs.  Even the best musicians can have trouble saving dull songwriting, and this album is proof.  Plus, no matter how boring some of GNR's songs were when stripped down, they were always salvaged by Slash and Axl.  No dice here. 

Unless Velvet Revolver figures out how to channel the sounds that made them special in their prior incantations into VR projects, they might keep settling for sacrifice fly balls instead of knocking it out of the park.    

links: digg this    del.icio.us    technorati    reddit