Flashback Friday

Slash's Snakepit started as a sideproject while Guns'n'Roses were off tour. First album It's Five O'Clock Somewhere kept Slash busy touring until the record label told it was time for the next G'n'R album. Slash himself tells in his autobiography that he wasn't happy about when he was told to stop the tour with Snakepit. The situation with G'n'R was already then pretty badly off the track and that can be heard from this album as well. According to the man himself it is pretty obvious to whom those songs are directed. And he is right about that. If you've done your homework it's clear to you as well.

This album is certainly a breath of fresh air (mostly because it differs so much from G'n'R) but I got to say I like the next Snakepit album Ain't Life Grand even more, maybe because its sound is even heavier than the one on 5 O'Clock and it's more positive. But this album also has it's jewels. Songs like Neither Can I, Dime Store Rock and Doin' Fine shows what it's always been about: playing good music. Simple as that. And even though I'm not a huge fan of this album I love the story behind it's name. Slash was at the airport and wanted to have a drink. Unfortunately bars don't open before 5PM. Luckily the bartender understood the need for that drink and as the story goes he said "It's five o'clock somewhere" and poured Slash a drink.

This is definitely an album that takes more than just one listening before it hits you. It's raw and pure but after listening it through a couple of times you'll probably find your feet tapping and yourself waiting for those magical guitar parts only Slash can play without that much of an effort. I think it should be a crime to make playing guitar look that easy when it really isn't. But since it's the "Slasher" I guess I'll just let this one pass. :D