Velvet Revolver

As with Contraband, the first Velvet Revolver CD, Libertad is an amalgam of its influences: some good (Guns N' Roses), others less so (Stone Temple Pilots). Still, the unregenerate retro-ness of the project — and of Slash's axing in general — will leave those with a taste for cock rock...

By Michael Roberts

July 26, 2007

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As with Contraband, the first Velvet Revolver CD, Libertad is an amalgam of its influences: some good (Guns N' Roses), others less so (Stone Temple Pilots). Still, the unregenerate retro-ness of the project — and of Slash's axing in general — will leave those with a taste for cock rock at least temporarily sated.

The best songs bookend the disc: "Let It Roll," the opener, is an appropriately succinct scorcher, while "Don't Drop a Dime," a hidden track, is "Dead Flowers" country by way of the Betty Ford Center. In between, Scott Weiland pours on plenty of STP, and if the slickness doesn't prove fatal on "She Mine," it clogs up "The Last Flight" and a dreadful cover of ELO's "Can't Get It Out of My Head." As for "Pills, Demons & Etc.," yet another of Weiland's gonna-stay-clean proclamations, the tune's nothing special until Slash's solo, after which it goes back to being nothing special again.

This last bit of guitar wankery goes on for just eighteen seconds. Still, it feels mighty nice while it lasts.

Michael Roberts began his career with Westword in 1990 as music editor. In 1999, he took on a new role, full-time media reporter, as author of a column called The Message. In 2008, he became the lead writer for Westword's news blog, The Latest Word, a position he held until January 2023. Michael continues to freelance for Westword, covering everything from business to sports and the media; he also contributes to Jazziz, a national music magazine. He holds a bachelor's degree from what is now Colorado Mesa University and master's degrees from the University of California, Los Angeles, and Northwestern University.

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