It's a miracle that in this day and age - where the modern rock landscape has been reduced to wimps, posers, infuriating radio saturation, and talentless MTV-crowd hacks - Velvet Revolver has managed to put out an album of surging, rollicking, genuine good-old rock and roll. A fusion of two great rock bands of the last 20 years, Guns N' Roses and Stone Temple Pilots, Velvet Revolver encompasses all that is sorely lacking from today's "rock" - passion, emotion, energy, and kick-ass guitar solos - not to mention actual talent. Scott Weilland is a great vocalist, and he fits perfectly with Slash (who is in top form here, belting out memorable solos at every turn) and the rest of the group. The music on Contraband alternates between fast-paced energetic rockers like "Slither", "Do It For the Kids", "Spectacle", and "Set Me Free" - some of the best rock songs I've heard in years - and slow, heartfelt ballads like "Fall to Pieces", "You Got No Right", and "Loving the Alien". These songs showcase Velvet Revolver's emotional side, and prove that they can write great music at both fast and slow tempos. The album tears out of the gate with "Sucker Train Blues", a turbocharged, catchy rocker, and never lets up. The only track I don't care for is "Dirty Little Thing", and even that would kick the ass of anything on MTV or the Top 40 nowadays. Bottom line: Contraband is a fantastic, high-spirited effort and a welcome return to the high-energy rock of yesteryear. If you, like me, have become fed up with today's worthless mainstream rock garbage like Nickelback, Hoobastank, and Jet, do yourself a favor and pick up Contraband - you won't be disappointed.