Legendary guitar hero Saul "Slash" Hudson (Guns 'N Roses, Velvet Revolver) released his debut album at the end of march of this year, an album composed with a little help from his friends and former band mates. Though it was his first solo project, it was not complete without the help of some of his former Appetite for Destruction era Guns 'N Roses band mates, as well as a diverse cast of music legends.
Slash and Friends
Guitar legends not known for a singing voice often face an obstacle when putting out a solo album. To solve this dilemma, Slash turned to not one, but a variety of well known vocalists and musicians.
From Iggy Pop to Kid Rock, Ozzy to Fergie, Slash features a diverse range of acclaimed musical stars. Among the cast are former Gun's 'N Roses band mates Izzy Stradlin, Duff McKagan, and Steven Adler. (For those keeping track the only member missing from the Appetite for Destruction lineup is Axl Rose.)
While keeping true to his hard rock roots, Slash is able to experiment with a variety of rock genres ranging from Punk Rock to Hip Hop. The one thing that each song holds in common, however, is a powerful guitar rhythm delivered with precision.
As one would expect, the track We're All Gonna Die, which features Iggy Pop, has a distinct punk-rock flavor. Whats unique to this Iggy track, however, is Slash's wailing guitar in perfect harmony with the vocalist's voice.
Similarly, Slash's guitar riffs and solos fit seamlessly next to Ozzy Osbourne's vocals in Crucify The Dead, sounding like a track straight from Ozzy's early days with Black Sabbath.
Proving itself a success by receiving endless air play is the album's first single By The Sword, featuring Andrew Stockdale, lead singer and guitarist of Wolfmother. The song's success is due in large part to its head-banging beat, catchy guitar riff and powerful guitar solos, sounding arguably better than anything Stockdale has been able to produce with his usual group.
Any hard rock fan absolutely must check out the nearly four minute instrument jam executed by Slash on guitar, Dave Grohl (Nirvana, Foo Fighters, Them Crooked Vultures) on drums and Duff McKegan (Guns 'N Roses, Velvet Revolver, Jane's Addiction) on Bass. The song is called Watch This, not only because those words can be heard just before a thunderous jam breaks out, but also because it displays some of the best musical talent in the world.
Overall the album is loud, rhythmic, and can be appreciated by anyone who enjoys a solid rock album. Samples of the new album can be heard on Slash's myspace page.
Track List
- Ghost (featuring Ian Astbury)
- Crucify the Dead (featuring Ozzy Osbourne)
- Beautiful Dangerous (featuring Fergie)
- Back From Cali (Featuring Myles Kennedy)
- Promise (featuring Chris Cornell)
- By The Sword (featuring Andrew Stockdale)
- Gotten (featuring Adam Levine)
- Doctor Alibi (featuring Lemmy Kilmister)
- Watch This (featuring Dave Grohl and Duff McKagan)
- I Hold On (featuring Kid Rock)
- Nothing to Say (featuring M. Shadows)
- Starlight (featuring Myles Kennedy)
- Saint is a Sinner Too (featuring Rocco DeLuca)
- We're All Gonna Die (featuring Iggy Pop)
Jared Lindzon - Jared Lindzon is a MA in Journalism Graduate from the University of Western Ontario. He has been published in The National Post, BlogTO, ...
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