New Music Review - Slash

First, let me get this out of the way:  Best Buy, you are a failure.  From your ever-shrinking music section to your pricey video game and movie selections, you are a big let-down and you deserve anything and everything that happens to you as people stop filtering into your stores and instead make their purchases online.  I continue to shop at your store out of some sick sense of brand loyalty and because your release-week CD pricing usually couldn’t be beat.  That was until I went to pick up Slash’s new release Apocalyptic Love.  Not only was I greeted with a “Deluxe Edition” including two bonus tracks, a DVD, which, while a decent DVD in it’s own right is way too short to command an additional $10, and a coupon for a free t-shirt, but that was all that I was greeted with.  I admit, I went after work, so there was a chance that all that was left could have been the Deluxe Edition, but the shelves were packed full and all that was there was that version of the disc.  Now, I am not above purchasing a deluxe edition, I have done it in the past and I will probably do it again, but to have that forced upon me as the only choice is pretty lame to say the least.  Not only that, but upon entering my code on the website for the “free” t-shirt, I was met with the charge of an extra six dollars and change for shipping.  So, in essence, to get the full experience promised to me at the point of purchase I had to throw down $27. 

Anyway, it’s a good thing that I like Slash and have been a big fan of everything he has put out (G’n’R, Velvet Revolver, the much underappreciated Slash’s Snakepit, as well as his solo stuff).  This CD does not disappoint on the musical front, it is vintage Slash, and anyone that has enjoyed his musical contributions in the past will be impressed with the quality and consistency of the entire record. 

That is probably the most impressive thing about Slash, his consistency.  This is no young kid out here trying to make a mark.  At this point Slash is a seasoned veteran and, according to many, one of the best guitarists of all time.  While I don’t know if I would go that far, and I don’t know if Slash would either, honestly, because that would be some pretty impressive company to keep, I will say that Slash is the most consistent guitarist I have ever had the pleasure of listening to.  This is no more evident than in his first official solo album that paired him with everyone from Fergie to Ozzy.  Each song was consistent because not only did Slash pick a solid rhythm section (a trend that continues with this album) but his guitar playing on every track is solid to excellent.  That’s the best part, there is no sub-par track to just quickly skip over, or resist the urge to buy online (if that’s your thing).  Purchase/download the whole album and listen to it all, you won’t be disappointed.  You can always expect a great solo and a tune that you can tap your foot along to provided by a group of guys that know their craft and know it well.  And really in the current rock landscape, can you ask for much more?  One of the things that Slash really excels at is the cleanliness of his guitar work.  Now this may not be a bonus for everyone depending on your preferences, but everyone can appreciate the time and effort that Slash obviously puts into his craft.  To have a similar quality of sound for twenty-five years (yes, Appetite for Destruction is twenty-five years old) is just a testament to how well Slash prepares as well as the band that he surrounds himself with that can appropriately take advantage of that sound.

The one gripe that I have with the record is Myles Kennedy, the vocalist.  I don’t mind his vocals, and in fact I enjoyed them in the limited amount that they were on Slash’s first solo outing.  Hell, I even liked them on the live album Made in Stoke.  But after an entire album of his vocals on original songs they can get a little whiny.  He seems to stay up in the higher octaves a little too much for my taste.  However, the more that I listen to the album the more I am getting used to his vocals.  It is a sound that grows on you and the quality of the musicianship in the background definitely helps to offset any problems I have with the vocals.

Overall, I can’t help but thoroughly enjoy this album.  Even with the minor issue I had with the singing, Slash more than makes up for it with another expertly crafted quality album.  I hope he makes his way to Central New York in the near future because while the albums are great, seeing Slash live is an experience that no one should pass up.