Weiland's vocals have been the tragic victim of major drug obsessions. As a result his voice is almost unrecognisable in comparison to STP's earliest records; his voice has a much regenerated sound. And it's obvious when listening to Contraband that a lot of the vocals are looped, seeming to suggest Weiland can't burst out those vocals consistently. Teamed alongside the old GnR crew, we get Velvet Revolver. Unfortunately VR sound more like a tribute band to either STP or GnR. But the album will still hit at least four times platinum, will have big hits in the charts, will be popular...but for the wrong reasons. For the band members pasts, they will be so popular. Audioslave all over.