Slash - Deluxe Edition [CD+DVD]

I'm always a bit nervous when a musician releases an album with a mixture of "mates" as vocalists as sometimes the album can lack cohesion. I was first inspired to check out this album watching Slash live at 2010's Download Festival with Miles Kennedy (and guest star Lemmy) singing most of the album. I was not disapointed. The album starts well with an amazing riff on Ghost and continues throughout the album.

The album is very well produced and mixed with top notch production value. There is a real mix of songs and it is obvious that Slash has put real thought into matching the song to the vocalist. This makes for an album that is a joy to listen to and you'll find you will happily listen to the entire album without breaking sweat.

Highlights for me are Beatiful Dangerous with Fergie (this girl should go solo...now), Doctor Alibi with Lemmy (this would get an arena jumping), Ghost with Ian Astbury and Crucify the Dead with the legendary Ozzy

I did not have too much hope for this release as most of these type of releases where famous guitarist/musician release an album with their friends on it usually disappoint! However this is one that does not disappoint and is a lot braver than most of these type of albums are. After all when people heard that Fergie was going to be on one of the tracks there was talk that Slash was losing it and was doing anything to stay in the limelight, which in turn could turn the die hard fans off.

After listening to the album all fears disappeared as Slash delivers one of the best albums of 2010 so far. He has enlisted rock n'roll's(and pops) finest and a quick roll call of names will wet the appetite, just look at these names, Ozzy, Chris Cornell, Alice Cooper, Lemmy, Dave Grohl, Myles Kennedy, Iggy Pop and do these guys sound familiar Duff, Izzy Stradlin', Steven Adler. Yes thats right all the original members of Guns N' Roses with the exception of Axl appear on the album. Of course thats not all as the main band consists off Josh freese(nine inch nails & a perfect circle) on drums and Chris Chaney(janes addiction) on bass.

So he has the people but what about the actual songs? No need to worry as they deliver, starting off with Ghost that has Ian Astbury(the cult) on vocals and features a killer riff and shows what a great vocalist Astbury is. Chris Cornell sings on the brilliant Promise a song that is so good that you just might forgive him for Scream! Watch This shows what a great rhythm section Dave Grohl and Duff McKagan make! Myles Kennedys performance is probably being closely watched as it is he who will perform vocal duties when Slash tours the album and it's safe to say he doesn't dissapoint, of the two tracks he sings on Back From Cali is probably the better of the two. The big surprise comes from Fergie as she totally rocks on the track Beautiful Dangerous, so much in fack you end up wishing she would do more stuff like this and totally justifies Slash's faith in her.

With this deluxe edition of the album you now get 3 songs tagged onto the end of the album, they are 3 acoustic tracks all sung by Myles Kennedy and feature a GN'R classic in Sweet Child O' Mine, a Velvet Revolver favorite in Fall To Pieces as well as Myles own version of Back From Cali. Even though these versions are good they are not as good as the original versions. You also get a DVD which includes loads of stuff including all 3 videos from Slash's debut album, they include Back From Cali, By The Sword and the unedited controversial video for Beautiful Dangerous with Fergie. There is also a making of the album documentary which is very interesting as it shows how all the different singers prepared for their tracks on the album and what different approaches they have. Also included is a couple of tracks slash did for MTV Classic in the US with Myles Kennedy on vocals including a Slash's Snakepit song Mean Bone.

With this record Slash has delivered a record that rocks out big time and at the end of the day thats all Slash ever wants to do. This album is well worth getting especially if you haven't already got one of the many other editions, Still probably the 2disc 1 dvd set would still shade it over this edition as it features a separate disc of songs that were released on other Countries editions of the album even though for this price it's hard to go wrong with this release.

I've had this album for some time, borrowed it from friend but as soon as i saw this edition i had to buy it. The album is amazing has a great selection of tracks which span all genre's, and the dvd extras are good too.
The making of the album documentary is short but really good, alongside the interview with slash discussing the track listing, gives a great insight to each song and what he aimed to do.

Highly recommend this album