- Critic score
- Publication
- By date
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MojoA perpetual guilty pleasure. [Jun 2004, p.107]
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It is a rare, fine thing: the sound of the perfect A&R sales pitch turning into a real band.
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Q MagazineAstonishingly good. [Jul 2004, p.127]
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"Contraband" is "Appetite For Destruction" for grown-ups.
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Mostly, it sounds like no more and a little less than one might expect (or hope for) from such a union: Scott Weiland singing over some relatively crunchy Slash guitar templates.
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Entertainment WeeklyEven at its sharpest, Contraband feels secondhand, and much of it is also hobbled by a disconnect between singer and band. [4 June 2004, p.79]
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Contraband is a pretty good record of unpretentious rock and roll that suffers from inevitable comparison with the best efforts of its parent bands.
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BlenderA showcase for Weiland's vocals. [#27, p.148]
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With Contraband, Velvet Revolver has pulled off something tidy, fashioning music that manages both hedonism and maturity.
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Now there was nothing wrong with Stone Temple Pilots, but anyone whod hoped for GunsnRoses mark II (or III) will be very seriously disappointed. Weilands dry, powerful voice cancels out the music, like light cancels out dark, or Owen Wilson cancels out Ben Stiller.
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In a time when The Darkness is successfully parodying cock-rock, members of Velvet Revolver are still earnestly carrying the torch. Whether you think thats noble or laughable will probably determine your opinion of this album.
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Velvet Revolver sounds like a hungover bar band playing catch-up, wading through tired blues licks and meaningless grunge imagery.
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SpinThis is a troubling record. There are some stellar moments, but it's mostly just troubling. [Jul 2004, p.105]
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New Musical Express (NME)A bit like playing Russian roulette in reverse: you spin the disc and pray in vain for something to stick in your brain. [19 Jun 2004, p.56]
Awards & Rankings
User score distribution:
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Positive: 91 out of 113
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Mixed: 9 out of 113
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Negative: 13 out of 113
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May 26, 2012
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SlashH.Jun 29, 2007Great Rock n Roll record!
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rockfanJun 26, 2007These guys (along with The Villains) will save real rock and roll from posers like those pop-punk babies.