VELVET REVOLVER'S CONTRABAND sounds like any other album put out by any other crappy alternative band out there right now.  Then again why wouldn't they?  Sure Slash, Duff and Matt from Guns N' Roses are back together- but you'd never know it.  Slash keeps his presence pretty hidden, none of his riffs or solos shine like they did when he was in GN'R. The band sounds like a cross between the Foo Fighters and one of the MANY Pearl Jam rip offs like Nickelback or Puddle of Mudd.  (note that those bands merely RIP OFF Pearl Jam.. they're nowhere nearly as good as them)