Velvet Revolver is nothing if not the sum of its parts. Consisting of three ex Guns n' Roses members, one well versed rhythm guitarist, and the former singer of Stone Temple Pilots, fans should expect nothing less than pure rock and roll from the band. With their latest album, Libertad, they deliver much less heavy rock than one might expect, but give their audience plenty of enticing riffs to chew on.

The new disc is much more of a blend of influences than their debut offering, which was written primarily before Scott Weiland, of Stone Temple Pilots fame, was recruited as lead singer. His influence is much more pronounced on Libertad, with mixed results. The album offers a more diverse selection of styles than the more driven Contraband, the band's first CD. Some of these experiments work, and some seem lacking, but every song is worth listening to for the guitar solo if nothing else.

Any fan of rock will quickly recognize the name of Slash, former lead guitar player for Guns n' Roses in their heyday. With his work on Libertad, he proves simultaneously where the talent lay in Guns n' Roses and also that he is a long way from hanging up his signature top hat and riding off into the sunset. While never being a particularly innovative guitarist, he takes everything that has already been discovered and improves it. Without digressing into a lengthy discussion of guitar theory, simply stated he is one of the best living rock guitarists for his simple adherence to the classic feel of rock guitar.

Some songs falter and suffer in particular from Velvet Revolver's tendency to jarringly shift the mood of their songs unnecessarily. On more than one occasion, Slash will finish a screamingly heavy guitar solo just to transition into a peppy and out of place chorus. However, the solos are all excellent, and are well complimented by Velvet Revolver's trademark ability to bring the level of a song down only to launch into a wailing guitar solo. While this style is predictable, it is nevertheless satisfying and never quite grows tiresome.

The album is worth the price for Slash alone. While the rest of the band are all talented musicians, the fact is that Slash will inevitably overshadow almost anyone he is paired with. A few nagging tendencies drag the grade of the overall album to a solid B, Slash's work as always deserves an A and should be enjoyed and air-guitared along to by any fan of pure, no-nonsense rock and roll.