Lunedì 9 Lug 2007, 17:38

Artist: Velvet Revolver
Album: Libertad
Release: 2007

When Velvet Revolver released their debut album Contraband back in 2004 it became an instant succes. The supergroup made out of Guns N Roses and Stone Temple Pilots remains landed on no. 1 on the Billboard charts. Now after 3 years it`s time for the second album named Libertad.

Let It Roll
"Can`t burn her out of my head, Drink her off of my mind"
Libertad kicks off with a typical Slash type of riff, a simple but effective song and also one of the harder songs on this record. Just pure straight forward rock n` roll.

She Mine
"I call it love insanity, I call it my reality"
The second song on the album is something new, you can not compare it with any songs that are on Contraband. Especially the production, it very "light", no dubbed guitars. Slash & Dave work nicely together during the verses of this song with own diffrent guitarparts that sound good together. The song also contains a short & dirty slash style solo at the end.

Get Out The Door
"Like Transformers girl there`s more than meets the eye"
This music for this song is mosty written by Dave Kushner, the rhythm guitarist and as Scott Weiland calls him the secret weopon of Velvet Revolver. It`s a groovy rock song with some rocking riffs and a catchy chorus. Slash is also using some weirdy effects but it all sounds right.

She Builds Quick Machines
"I`ll smash right through your spotlight"
SBQM is the fist single from Libertad and it somehow reminds of Rocket Queen from GNR, especially during the verses where Duff McKagan plays a great rocking basspart. Lyrics are really weird but Scott sings it amazing and again a nice catchy chorus and a Slash solo.

The Last Fight
"This fight could be the last fight, No giving no winning"
This is the first ballad of the album and it will probably also the second single. It`s a strong song but by my opinion it`s not the best ballad of the album. If you listen to the album for the first time by now you will realize that VR has chosen for a diffrent approach than on Contraband.. the overall production is "light", the songs really have space to breath and there`s more diffrent things to hear during the songs.

Pills, Demons & Etc.
"You got your demons and you got your fancy wine"
Pills, Demons & Etc. is a rocker with again a catchy chorus. Slash is using his wah-wah almost throughout the song and it sounds great.

American Man
"The soul worn off my skin"
This is I think the weakest song on the album. The verses are boring and the chorus too. Matt Sorum is smashing on his drums like a madman during the chorus but it`s not enough to make it as good as the rest of Libertad.

Mary Mary
"When we close the door we're never out of time"
Mary is the wife of Scott Weiland so this song must be about her :) as they have or had a very troubled relationship. This is song is like many songs on Libertad. It`s not hard but also not on the soft side but somewhere inbetween.

Just Sixteen
"Head in his lap goin' up and down up and down. Oh no, cop lights"
Songs like these show what Velvet Revolver really can. Just Sixteen has it all. great guitar riffs and a rocking solo. Catchy chorus, awesome lyrics and Scott on top of his game singing it. One of the best songs on the album.

Can't Get It Out Of My Head
"In my dreams the world keep going round and round"
It seems like VR likes to do covers, cause this is a cover from ELO. Compared to the original version of Can't Get It Out Of My Head the VR version sounds more heavier because of the guitars. All in all it`s a good cover, I actually like it more than the original.

For A Brother
"Where do I go, The home I know is closed"
A song along the lines of "She Mine" & "Mary Mary" with again some nice riffs.

Spay
"Pray on your abandoned knee to f**ked up pleasures"
Spay somehow doesn`t sound interesting to me. I think because I already heard it in other songs on Libertad but than better. Altough if you listen to the whole cd from start to finish you will rock along with this track like any other.

Gravedancer
"She's a pretty good dancer, She dances on my grave"
The last track of the album is a ballad and a great one. The Intro reminds of Fall To Pieces but after the intro the song becomes really a great rockballad, with slash playing around with wah-wah on the background during the verses and a beautiful solo at the end.

Bonus & Hidden Tracks

Don't Drop That Dime
"Don`t shoot that gun at me tonight"
Don`t Drop That Dime is the hidden track on Libertad that starts right after "Gravedancer" it`s a great and a funny song. It`s an acoustic and almost a pure country song with Weiland singing it like a real country singer. A great suprise and the end of a great album!

Messages
"Tell my son I wish I never yelled at him yesterday"
Messages is without a doubt one of the best songs recorded for Libertad. I really don`t understand how it`s just a bonus track on iTunes because this song is just awesome! It should be on the album. Some of the greatest Slash guitarmelodies I`ve heard in years are on this song and the lyrics are sad & dramatic but again… beautiful! This song is easily the best ballad and it`s in my top 3 Libertad songs.

Gas And A Dollar Laugh
"Dance, dance little hooker, shake it"
Gas And A Dollar Laugh is the Japanse bonus track on Libertad. It`s typical Libertad rock song with again a catchy chorus: "Dance, dance little hooker, shake it" :)

Psycho Killer
"I can’t sleep because my bed’s on fire, Don’t touch me I’m a real live wire"
Another cover, this time from Talking Heads. And I must say it`s a great cover. Starts of with bass & drums and becomes a real rock song. This one will be very nice to hear it live. Scott also does a good job singing this classic! This is a track from the Melody And The Tyranny EP and is also available as iTunes bonus track.

…come to the point:

For me personally when I heard Libertad for the first time I didn`t know what to think. I didn`t know if I liked it more or less than Contraband, but after a few spins it really had me. Libertad is really an amazing record and much better than Contraband. The band sounds more like a unity. It`s not as hard as Contraband but the songs are well written and they really get stuck in your head. Also I think Scott has improved a lot on Libertad, his voice now really fits the music and he has written some great lyrics & vocal melodies. The production of the record is "light" no guitar overdubs, but it all sound so good.. This band has really grown and if they go on God knows what they may come up with next time! If you love rock n` fuckin` roll.. You will love Velvet Revolver!

Rating 92/100

————————

http://www.blackbulletmusic.com/img/libertad.jpg

Libertad Tracklist:
01 - Let It Roll
02 - She Mine
03 - Get Out The Door
04 - She Builds Quick Machines
05 - Last Fight
06 - Pills, Demons & Etc.
07 - American Man
08 - Mary Mary
09 - Just Sixteen
10 - Can't Get It Out Of My Head
11 - For A Brother
12 - Spay
13 - Gravedancer

Bonus & Hidden Tracks

14 - Don't Drop That Dime (hidden track after "Gravedancer")
15 - Messages (iTunes Bonus Track)
16 - Gas and a Dollar Laugh (Japanese Bonus Track)
17 - Psycho Killer (iTunes Bonus Track / Melody and the Tyranny EP)