Slash - Living The Dream (2018)

With this Guns N' Roses reunion still going strong, it is easy to forget that Slash actually have a fully functioning solo project together with Alter Bridge singer Myles Kennedy and his Conspirators. The project was on a roll when they had to force a hiatus, gaining a respectable slew of fans and a steady flow of radio air time. Now that the guitarist with the sunglasses, nose ring, and top hat turns his focus back to make his fourth solo album, it might be that his old band is still on his mind.

Yes, I might be crazy in saying that "Living The Dream" might be the true follow up to the two "Use Your Illusion" albums that fans have been waiting for so long. Not to say that any of the three previous Slash records (or any other album from his Snakepit or Velvet Revolver) did not have a vein of Guns N' Roses in them, but this records feels a little more wild and raw than what we have previously heard from this constellation. Some songs like "My Antidote" have this attitude to it that is just so confident, which is certainly very reminiscent of good old GNR.

"Living The Dream" is otherwise not much of a surprise if you have followed Slash in recent years. It is catchy ass rock with a lot of sweet guitar riffs and licks all over the place, but not to the degree where it becomes full on guitar wanking, it stays just under the acceptable levels. Take a song like "Sugar Cane" for example, where Slash just cram in a lot of meaty guitar gymnastics in, but it never takes away from the other guys and their effort (especially Myles Kennedy, who is his usual magnificent self), therefore we get a groovy and catchy song that spices up the otherwise sluggish second half. The balance in this album is really on point, from start to finish.

Even if the slower songs on the records help balance it all out, those songs are still the weakest of the records. The main problem is that they are not memorable at all, you forget about them as soon as they are over, which is a big disadvantage in an album that is filled with catchy tracks like "The Call of The Wild" and "Mind Your Manners". Despite Myles' brilliant vocal performance, these songs are mostly luke warm, not adding too much to elevate. Yeah, so do not expect a new "Civil War" or "Don't Cry" in here, or else you will be disappointed.

Fortunately, we got enough rock power in here to last some time, all adding up to one of the more complete Slash records so far, giving "Apocalyptic Love" a true run for its money. This is through and through a really enjoyable record, showing a guy who is doing exactly what the album title says, just enjoying himself and pouring that enjoyment all over us in CD/LP/streaming format. I can't believe I am saying this, but this album has actually made me excited for a possible Guns N' Roses album in the future, because Slash is on a roll.

Songs worthy of recognition: Mind Your Manners, The Call of The Wild, My Antidote, Slow Grind

Rating: 8/10 Sugar Canes

www.slashonline.com/
twitter.com/slash

More reviews of Slash
World On Fire