Slash Album Review
Slash Album Review
Words by Michael Dickinson
Here it is. The album that fans of the man in the hat with the axe have been waiting for. When Slash’s laid-back autobiography crept on to our bookshelves back in 2007 it announced with no small modesty that there would soon come an opus featuring many of his iconic friends. While Slash’s work has always got me giddy as a school girl, from Guns N’ Roses to Velvet Revolver, I have always had a fondness for his collaborative efforts. ‘Give in to Me’ with Michael Jackson is probably one his best, most underrated songs. ‘I Ain’t No Nice Guy’, a Motorhead song which he appeared on with Ozzy is one of Lemmy’s most considered and cruelly overlooked.
However when I heard that this crazy idea was finally being released I was unsure. Slash is an old-style guitar virtuoso playing in an age where the solo’s have been replaced with breakdowns. In the past guitarist/non-singers like Jeff Beck have released albums with a whole cast list of singers and the results have been pretty meh. Looking at the list of names on show here I became quite worried (Fergie? Adam Levine?) Was this album going to become a case of a man guy who’s trying to keep up to date with what all those crazy kids in the discos listen to. Damn the kids I say! Let’s do this.
Ghost (featuring. Ian Astbury)
As the lead singer of ‘The Cult’ Astbury and Slash go way back as it was The Cult who first took GN’R out on the road with them. Astbury’s voice sounds more ravaged than it used to but it still sounds great. A catchy backing riff and chorus are the main things to remember about the song. It’s not a great opener to be fair. It has everything you’d expect. Slash noodles away in the background before going off on one whilst the rest of the band sit back and let him do his thing.
Crucify the Dead (featuring. Ozzy Osbourne)
These two men have had a good history so I was looking forward to this track. The track starts off nice and slow harking back to “I Ain’t No Nice Guy”, Ozzy is Ozzy and Slash’s solo is less bombastic and more soulful this time. But it’s not coming to get for me. This just sounds like an average track you would find on an Ozzy album, not the nut shattering collabo I was expecting. It’s a slower paced track than ‘Ghost’ but maybe they should have just gone for it instead.
Beautiful Dangerous (featuring. Fergie)
After two “all right” but not great songs we get to the one with Fergie. Oh dear.
Hang about this song isn’t half bad. In fact it’s really good. Starting off with a dirty little riff, Fergie shows off her rock skills. This is easily one of the best things I’ve ever heard her sing. This is also the first song where Slash really complements the singer rather than just standing around hammering away with no real regard to the songs melody. This sounds as though it’s been crafted to get heads nodding and feet on the dance floor but it doesn’t come across as cheap or radio friendly.
Back From Cali (featuring. Myles Kennedy)
The first track on the album for Kennedy, who will be taking vocals for the entire project when it tours this summer. Back From Cali is the first track that sounds like it could have been written specifically for Velvet Revolver (even though ‘Ghost’ WAS actually written for them). Kennedy has great range and there is nothing wrong with the song, but like the earlier tracks lacks that edge.
Promise (featuring. Chris Cornell)
Slash’s little flourishes are also starting to come together nicely, driving the song rather than interrupting them. The track has a good epic feel to it. Cornell’s voice seems to get smokier and heavier as he gets older (hopefully at some point he will sound like Al Pacino) but by gum can he hit those notes.
By the Sword (featuring. Andrew Stockdale of Wolfmother)
Ah, one of Slash’s new friends. I’m personally still unconvinced by Wolfmother but Stockdale really impresses here. The opening guitar work brought up the image of a desert town from any number of Italian westerns and the raspy vocals strengthen the image further. I have to say there are times when Stockdale sounds not too dissimilar to *whisper* Axel Rose. Slash then caps it off with a suitably mammoth solo.
Gotten (featuring Adam Levine)
Starts of nicely with some of Slash’s more laid back playing but as soon as Levine kicks in I felt like I was listening to a Maroon 5 song. Although the more the track progresses the more his voice seems a good fit. Slash has molded the song to suit the singers style and for the first time on the album throws some strings in for good measure. Rather than making the song more twee though it lifts it in a lovely way.
Doctor Alibi (featuring. Lemmy Kilmister)
Ha-ha. From Levine to Lemmy in seconds, one of the reasons this album deserves respect. Instantly this is a different affair. This is a Motorhead song in all but name. The lyrics are virtually autobiographical from Lemmy, telling a doctor that he isn’t about to let the notion of death get in the way of his good time. Slash really lets rip here too. If you love Motorhead this could be your favourite, if not it may be a bit boring.
Watch This (featuring. Dave Grohl and Duff McKagan)
Here’s the song I couldn’t wait to here when I first heard about it. And I’m very happy that it is as awesome as I hoped. Switching between an A-Class jam session and chilled out noodle, it’s never anything but compelling. Slash really shows off why he’s one of the best, playing some of his very best stuff. Grohl reminds us yet again that he is an awesome drummer and McKagan is always welcome on my stereo, the dude can play.
I Hold On (featuring. Kid Rock)
Not a huge Kid Rock fan. But this song has a classic, hair rock sound to it, I could have been listening to Kansas or Lynrd Skynrd. Everything from the lyrics to the gospel singers cries out retro. But once again it works nicely.
Nothing to Say (featuring. M.Shadows of Avenged Sevenfold)
As the track gets going you could mistake it for an Iron Maiden ditty. Musically Slash seems to be channeling the metal Gods. Saying that though this also sounds like one of the freshest offerings on the album and Slash uses that opportunity to switch up his style a bit which is nice of him. M. Shadows voice works perfectly with the sound.
Starlight (featuring. Myles Kennedy)
I’ve been trying to hold it back but this song does sound like it could have come off ‘Use Your Illusion’. Good thing for me that I like it. This is a close as the album has got to a ballad but Kennedy’s voice is so likable and the chorus so singable that it could become your guilty pleasure of the album. For it has mine.
Saint is a Sinner Too (featuring. Rocco DeLuca)
I know nothing of DeLuca but after this track I will be investigating him further. I always enjoy tracks that bring up religious imagery about death and the devil. I don’t know why I think it makes thinks “cool”. Musically the song sees Slash at his most reserved, sounding the whole way through like the closing bars of GN’Rs ‘Double Talking Jive’.
We’re All Gonne Die (featuring. Iggy Pop)
Although lyrically and musically this is one of the simplest songs on the album Iggy makes it work. He’s a man who’s always had the great ability to take something average and inject it with the attitude that only he posses.
Bonus Track
Baby Can’t Drive (featuring. Alice Cooper and Nicole Scherzinger)
You can kind of see why this was only included as a bonus track. Cooper and Scherzinger have great synergy and Slash brings out his 80s style play for a track that feels very retro.
I really appreciate it if you’ve made it this far, so I’ll be brief. This album could have sucked something rotten. But Slash has managed to keep true to his style and brings some new flavours in without sounding like he’s pandering to new trends. It’s a surprise that it is the newer names who shine whilst some of the icons fizzle out somewhat. That being said I would seriously recommend picking this up
