It could have been a disaster, but thank goodness it isn't.  Scott Weiland, the charismatic lead singer of Stone Temple Pilots, teams up with exiled members of Guns N' Roses to form a supergroup whose debut album surpasses all reasonable expectations.  "Contraband" is a stick of rock and roll dynamite that explodes with untamed aggression.  From the moment you hear the opening groove "Sucker Train Blues," you know you're in for a joyride like no other.  The music seesaws from the best of G N' R and STP, and you can feel the presence of both groups on each and every track.  "Big Machine," "Illegal i Song," "Spectacle," and "You Got No Right" are all standouts.  Slash's guitar is still a commanding force, and Weiland's voice, which ranges from a shrill whine to a baritone growl, is still in great form.  The power ballad is a dreaded rock and roll cliche, but even the slow jam "Fall to Pieces" ain't half bad.  While the latest incarnation of Guns N' Roses has spent Lord-knows-how-long recording their may-or-may-not-be-released "Chinese Democracy" LP, Velvet Revolver has put out one of this year's most pleasant surprises.