Vocalist Scott Weiland, ex-Stone Temple Pilots and guitarist Dave Kushner previously with Dave Navarro’s band Spread complete the quintet.

Lyrics from album opener ‘Sucker Train Blues’ suggest a pin-and-dictionary approach to songwriting. How else to explain: “Somebody raped my tapeworm abortion, come on motherfuckers and deliver the cow”? Following track ‘Do It For The Kids’ sounds very much like Guns ‘N’ Roses if it wasn’t for the vocalist.

Stone Temple Pilots, minor hit ‘Interstate Love Song‘ aside, didn’t really register this side of the pond, as opposed to G ‘N’ R who were gloriously naff. Weiland seems to be going through some kind of mid-life crisis, if his contribution to the sleeve notes is anything to go by. “To Mary, the only woman for me”, he dedicates. “It’s been a rough yet wonderful journey that God has lead us through and laid out before us, but I am so incredibly grateful for where we are standing today.” Seeing as this rocker’s found religion, it’s quite possible the Mary he’s addressing here is Mary Magdalene.

Weiland continues the religious imagery in the press notes. “We’re all looking for a rebirth here”, he intones. It’s a forlorn hope. This Hollywood supergroup isn’t quite the reunion Guns ‘N’ Roses fans had in mind. Standout track ‘Dirty Little Thing’ is a slice of fantastically filthy rawk, but obligatory slowie ‘Loving The Alien’ is no ‘November Rain’. Likewise Weiland is no Axl Rose. That’s the fundamental flaw of Contraband. Listening to its 14 tracks, it’s easier to pinpoint what Velvet Revolver aren’t rather than what they are. Looks like Weiland will be suffering from an identity crisis next.
(2½/5)

Release Date: 07 June 2004