Okay, VR is GNR with STP's voice, and an extra guitarist from several small bands. I had mixed expectations about this album. But, I wasn't disappointed, but neither very thrilled, when I heard it. I guess you can say VR is the best thing that happened to rock in these days, but that's simply because these guys' previous bands rocked several years ago, and now they returned and brought back their sound, with only a little bit freshness..see, they're good, but it's just that you've kinda heard it before, that's why it isn't groundbreaking in any sense. Velvet Revolver is Stone Temple Pilots with more solos! Scott Weiland is great, but doesn't come close to his work with STP (especially on their first three albums), but the work on STP's No. 4 and Shagri-La dee Da, kind of reminds of VR, Fall To Pieces is very GNR-like guitar and melody-wise, and Slither the other hit, is more STP in every sense. Weiland's lyrics are now more aggressive and he swears a lot, but aside of that the themes are mostly about his history as a hardcore heroinist and about the problems in a relationship, the only songs having a bit more innovation and that aren't clearly so personal, are "Do It For The Kids", which is truly a stylish rock song! one of those fresher sounding tracks on the album, and so is "Illegal i Song" but the rest is just a bit stale, the hits 'Fall to pieces' 'slither' and 'dirty little thing' are neat, but they're just a bit too obvious and "old". The range of Weiland's voice isn't nearly as big as it used to be (I guess now he could sing "I'm half the man I used to be..., get it?" Slash obviously still knows how to play solos (other parts of the songs and which also Dave Kushner play are kind of boring!), but he isn't better or worse than with GNR, he's exactly the same. Obviously these guys aren't in the need of money, and they love to play, so that's what counts. But this deserves 4 stars from me, because of being lightyears ahead of these newer crappy bands (Good Charlotte, 3 Doors Down...), and for having the real attitude, style and passion, and for atleast bringing a little bit of freshness into these days' stale rock scene!