Slash & Myles on 'Living The Dream' + new single, writing process, tour plans, tracklist & more.

[TMAC20]

This album keeps getting better the more I listen to it Slow Grind I rated a 4 now it’s a 8 ezy - No bad songs once again - Rock n Roll album of the year - Slash - Myles and the Conspirators are getting better - I LOVE IT 🎸🎸🎸🎸🎸🎸🎸🎩🎩🎩🎩🎩🎩🎩🎩🎩🎩🎩🎩

[Turn_It_Up]

As a lifelong Slash diehard, I'll admit I was ready to HATE on this album. Weird because I thought WOF was a more than solid improvement over AL with some real highlights, but just thought the whole thing with Myles had more than run its course(putting it kindly). Had been listening to his tracks with Beth Hart recently and wanted him to do something different(from Myles) with the precious time he has left in his career. So didn't even care enough about the release to listen to it until this week. Started in the car and skipped through to small bits of each song and, as expected, was completely underwhelmed and depressed.

Then I decided to give the full album a listen yesterday.--and haven't stopped since.  A total 180 for me and still kinda hard to believe. Myles tones it down alot on this and I'm really enjoying him on most of the tracks. Slash brings it as always. That solo on Lost Inside The Girl!

I don't get so many saying there's not the big tracks like on WOF. It is exactly like Slash had described, a shorter, more cohesive album and IMO probably their best. Didn't give it a chance as a single, but even Driving Rain now thoroughly enjoyable.

A couple days ago I wouldn't have bothered seeing them again on tour, but now can't friggin' wait...

 

Edited October 19, 2018 by Turn_It_Up

[MaskingApathy]

On 10/19/2018 at 3:57 PM, Turn_It_Up said:

As a lifelong Slash diehard, I'll admit I was ready to HATE on this album. Weird because I thought WOF was a more than solid improvement over AL with some real highlights, but just thought the whole thing with Myles had more than run its course(putting it kindly). Had been listening to his tracks with Beth Hart recently and wanted him to do something different(from Myles) with the precious time he has left in his career. So didn't even care enough about the release to listen to it until this week. Started in the car and skipped through to small bits of each song and, as expected, was completely underwhelmed and depressed.

Then I decided to give the full album a listen yesterday.--and haven't stopped since.  A total 180 for me and still kinda hard to believe. Myles tones it down alot on this and I'm really enjoying him on most of the tracks. Slash brings it as always. That solo on Lost Inside The Girl!

I don't get so many saying there's not the big tracks like on WOF. It is exactly like Slash had described, a shorter, more cohesive album and IMO probably their best. Didn't give it a chance as a single, but even Driving Rain now thoroughly enjoyable.

A couple days ago I wouldn't have bothered seeing them again on tour, but now can't friggin' wait...

 

Glad you gave it a chance. It's a great album.

[Ralphelmo]

On 20.10.2018 at 12:57 AM, Turn_It_Up said:

 

A couple days ago I wouldn't have bothered seeing them again on tour, but now can't friggin' wait...

 

I'm glad you like it. This album is a grower, I also think it's the best SMKC album, even though WOF sounds better thanks to analog tapes. If I'd rate those albums in 0 to 100 scale, Apocalyptic Love would've been 70/100, World On Fire 80/100 and Living The Dream 81/100. WOF should be cut short with songs like Dirty Girl and Stone Blind, which should've became bonus tracks for LTD. 

[Turn_It_Up]

On 10/21/2018 at 7:13 AM, Ralphelmo said:

I'm glad you like it. This album is a grower, I also think it's the best SMKC album, even though WOF sounds better thanks to analog tapes. If I'd rate those albums in 0 to 100 scale, Apocalyptic Love would've been 70/100, World On Fire 80/100 and Living The Dream 81/100. WOF should be cut short with songs like Dirty Girl and Stone Blind, which should've became bonus tracks for LTD. 

Agreed.

The big surprise is how much I genuinely dig Myle's vocals on this album. And it's not like I've just gotten use to it--I can't recall the last time I listened to WOF.

I've liked him more on each of the 3 albums, but I actually really do like him a lot on LTD and he seems a great fit for the band. I never felt that way before.

 

[DK6]

On 22/09/2018 at 5:53 PM, DK6 said:

I've listened to this album a few times now and after considering it seriously I feel comfortable referring to it as a pile of crap.

If young slash knew that old slash would be playing this shit music he would spew his guts up.

It sits somewhere between nickleback, matchbox 20 and maroon 5.

When did slash become pop music.

People on this thread "its great - so easy to listen to". Is that what we're after with a slash album?? If you like easy listening then boy have i got the artist foryou - Enya!

Ive been dreaming of a slash/axl album for 25 years and this makes me wonder if I should move on.

1. Call of the wild - dull, boring song that sounds like all their other crap songs. Myles bleats like a goat all over it. Id rather listen to the version of chop suey where all the weird goats do the singing.

2. Serve you right - more of the same. Nothing memorable about it at all. I hate myles weird whispering voice as much his goat bleating.

3. My antidote - after a bad start it actually gets worse! Slash trying to be tom morello for some reason. Am i missing something or have the first 3 songs got the same tempo, chorus, goat bleating and uninspired solo. Struggling to tell the songs apart at this stage.

4. Mind your manners - SMKC version of painting by numbers. Would struggle to dislike it more. 

5. Lost inside the girl - Myles sings this one like he's a magician on a stage in las vegas. Weird whispery voice again. Makes a change from the goat i suppose. Pretty sure myles is actually saying lost inside the grrrrrrl. Corny lyrics and generic guitar.

6. Read between the lines - worst guitar riff slash has ever written. Pretty sure he's actually used it before but its all blending together at this stage. Terrible song. The verses make me cringe so much.

7. Slow grind - trying to pretend this song never happened. Appalling. Vocals hit a new low. I'm almost positive slash has ripped this riff off from himself bout 5 times.

8. The one you loved is gone - beautiful main guitar riff. Vocals are quite nice at the start. Meanders a bit. Solos aren't bad. Finally made it to a song thats semi listenable. What a relief.

9. When i first heard this song as a single i thought it was soft. Thought slash needed to grow some balls. Compared to the other "rock" songs on this album it sounds like lamb of god. Was disappointing as a single but turns out to be one of the better songs.

10. Sugar cane - don't think i can bring myself to talk about this one. Makes me too upset. 

11. The great pretender - this song is trying be something that it doesnt quite become. The something that its trying to be is messages by VR. At least it doesn't sound like all the shit pop music on this album. Misses the mark though. Rubbish verses. 

12. Boulevard of broken hearts - why does slash start with the riff from eye of the tiger? Myles is too much of a pansy for Rocky. This song is trying to be epic. My last bowel movement was more epic than this. This whole song seems incredibly forced - once again much like my last bowel movement.  Lyrics are pathetic.

To say this album is disappointing is like saying that external hemorrhoids are a tad uncomfortable. 

Slash needs to learn the difference between a good friend and a good vocalist.

I'd rather listen to axl if he was going through a techno funk folk opera stage and started singing in italian.

Slash seems to surrounded by band mates too scared to tell him he keeps bringing in the same song ideas.

Slash is my favourite guitarist ever. Has inspired me with my own guitar playing so much. But its getting to the stage where i think we need to stage an intervention. He needs to be saved from himself - and myles. This can't go on.

 

I know this might seem very self indulgent to quote and review my own review but I promised some people on this thread that i would give this album a chance. My first review was very scathing to put it mildly!

I want to be the sort of person who is willing to have an open mind willing to change and be able to admit i was wrong.

So this may not be a full retraction but i honestly have to admit that i am really enjoying quite  few songs now. 

1. Call of the wild - pretty good song. Catchy. Runs along at a good pace. Good solo. Don't like the bridge and wouldn't have it as the first song. 

2. Serve you right - i really like this song. Great chorus, solo and the outro is one of the best parts of the album.

3. My antidote - don't love the scratching stuff but the solo is amazing. Cool chorus. I like it.

4. Mind your manners - love the degegegegegege into the solo and i like the solo. Catchy chorus. Not a bad song. Simple but fun.

5. Lost inside the girl - beautiful song. Best chorus on the album and amazing solo. Great outro. Very cool song.

6. Read between the lines - i still hate it. 

7. Slow grind - i hate this one one even more.

8. The one you loved is gone - i might be a big soft sook but i love this song. Its beautful. Best ballad they've ever done in my opinion.

9. Driving rain - i really like this song. Great main riff. Should open the album i reckon. 

10. Sugar cane. - terrible, terrible song. 

11. The great pretender - good song. Like the melody line and solo. 

12. Boulevard of broken hearts - sounds like a song muse would write. I like it. Not one of my favourites but i do actually like the song.

In summary - overall i really like the album. Made a spotify playlist without the 3 songs i hate and i'm much happier.

My first review came after i'd been listening to a lot of pantera and lamb of god so it sounded a bit soft. Slash has come up with some really good stuff here.

Myles will never be my favourite singer but once you get into the music he sits a bit deeper in the song and i can handle it then.

I have my confidence back that slash working with Axl will really produce some amazing stuff. Its got me very excited.

I feel a lot better now that i've retracted my previous review - i got q bit carried away. Living the dream is not GNR but its better than nothing - and more than that it's actually pretty cool. Just dont hope for it to be GNR - its a different beast entirely!

[Gibbo]

 

[Tom-Ass]

Just heard "Driving Rain" on 107.3 FM WAAF at lunch. 

[wasted]

This section should be called

“All Things Considered - The Official Slash Area”

[MidnightToker]

5 hours ago, wasted said:

This section should be called

“All Things Considered - The Official Slash Area”

No, it should be called "Myles Kennedy featuring Slash" 

[wasted]

5 hours ago, MidnightToker said:

No, it should be called "Myles Kennedy featuring Slash" 

Myles has a solo album out. 

[Tom-Ass]

22 hours ago, MidnightToker said:

No, it should be called "Myles Kennedy featuring Slash" 

or "Myles Kennedy.. Wasting Slash's music"

[Nosaj Thing]

Just listening to the album for the first time.

So far, I like Serve You Right.

[Free Bird]

2 hours ago, Nosaj Thing said:

Just listening to the album for the first time.

So far, I like Serve You Right.

I still don't get how Myles used this melody for the chorus. It just doesn't work. IMO the song makes a 180 degree turn during the chorus compared to the verses and it changes the atmosphere of the track completely. The outro is awesome and with a different chorus this song could have been one of the best Slash songs ever IMO.

Edited November 21, 2018 by Free Bird

[Tom-Ass]

17 hours ago, Free Bird said:

I still don't get how Myles used this melody for the chorus. It just doesn't work. IMO the song makes a 180 degree turn during the chorus compared to the verses and it changes the atmosphere of the track completely. The outro is awesome and with a different chorus this song could have been one of the best Slash songs ever IMO.

Yeah.. I really tried on this one.. I think it was you that made me give it another shot.. Myles just kind of ruins it.. Close but no cigar..

[Tom-Ass]

The album failed another test.. Call Of The Wild came on my shuffle this morning at the gym and I could hardly make it through it.  Sometimes when a song pops up that you only have a little familiarity with you can kind of get into it a lottle more and don't have to listen to the whole album.  There was no "woah this song is actually pretty cool moment". I could hardly make it through the song.. It has literally zero redeeming qualities.. Even the riff is pretty weak... Not typical of Slash. 

[ZoSoRose]

On November 21, 2018 at 12:04 AM, Free Bird said:

I still don't get how Myles used this melody for the chorus. It just doesn't work. IMO the song makes a 180 degree turn during the chorus compared to the verses and it changes the atmosphere of the track completely. The outro is awesome and with a different chorus this song could have been one of the best Slash songs ever IMO.

Myles has problems with this with SMKC. Sometimes I get used to it (No More Heroes) and sometimes it disappoints me (Serve You Right, Lost Inside the Girl). I say this as a fan of Myles, but I wouldn't mind this album/tour being the finale of the band. I got a lot of enjoyment out of them- they released 3 fun but not revolutionary albums and were a blast to see live. Since 2011 I have seen them like 6 times or something, its enough for me. I wouldn't mind seeing Slash move on. I don't see Slash finding another solo band or doing something all new, and I almost don't care if he does or doesn't with GNR being a thing again. I hope Axl wants to move forward because that is our sole holdup

[Gibson87]

I think the track order killed the album a little. The songs are all listenable with a few of them being standouts but there's too much filler towards the end. Needs to be spread out a little

Edited January 6, 2019 by Gibson_Guy87

[DieselDaisy]

World On Fire is very good. I had forgotten how good it was - I only listened to it fleetingly when first released. Full of big pop singable choruses, power ballads, and Slash's riffs and solos. I think the band were finding their style with that album, a sort of synthesis of Kennedy's more easy-listening style and the usual Slash bluesy hard rock.

I have to say that the new one isn't as good as this. 

Edited February 8, 2019 by DieselDaisy
Spelling!

[moreblack]

 

On 2/2/2019 at 11:13 PM, DieselDaisy said:

I have to say that the new one isn't as good as this. 

But the gap is minimal, because there's still some outstanding moments on Living The Dream

[Tom-Ass]

On 2/3/2019 at 12:13 AM, DieselDaisy said:

World On Fire is very good. I had forgotten how good it was - I only listened to it fleetly when first released. Full of big pop singable choruses, power ballads, and Slash's riffs and solos. I think the band were finding their style with that album, a sort of synthesis of Kennedy's more easy-listening style and the usual Slash bluesy hard rock.

I have to say that the new one isn't as good as this. 

WOF is are superior to LTD for sure... Not even close in my opinion.

[DieselDaisy]

13 minutes ago, Tom-Ass said:

WOF is are superior to LTD for sure... Not even close in my opinion.

I'd agree. I actually feel the band really click into place on that album. It might actually be developing into my favourite of Slash's. 

[DieselDaisy]

You just know when everything clicks into place and World on Fire has that. World on Fire goes into some interesting areas melodically and it accommodates Kennedy's pop-orientated singing. You cannot just have Myles Kennedy doing Steven Tyler impressions over Slash's usual blues hard rock stuff. He has a more ''easy'' rock-pop sensibility and you hear this on ''The Dissent'' most of all. But it all fits together. At least three solos on here are up there with Slash's very finest. I also really like the production. Terrific album. 

And I wouldn't shorten it actually. I quite like the fact it is sprawling, and I don't really think there are many obvious ''duds'' I'd wish to remove. 

[The Dissident]

Just listened to the entire album start to finish for the first time, I had heard the singles and Call of the Wild, the album is great start to finish. Highlights are as follows:
Call of the Wild; The One You Loved is Gone; Driving Rain; Boulevard of Broken Hearts. Wouldn't rate a single song at 7/10 or lower

[DieselDaisy]

I am now reassessing Apocalyptic Love. It is a fun album. ''Anastasia'' is a thorough masterpiece and ''No More Heroes'' and to a lesser extent ''Standing in the Sun'' are good also. The rest largely comprises of Snakepit style 'fist in the air' rockers. There is nothing offensively bad here, in fact there is a lot to enjoy and Slash is outstanding throughout but I think the band really found their style more with World On Fire. 

I could have done without Myles' Johnny Rotten impression (''One Last Thrill''). Myles may be many things and I am a fan of his but he is about as punk rock as Duff McKagan in a Gucci store. Also for some reason I always laugh at, ''this is the last time//Oh, oh''.