Album review: SLASH – Living The Dream

SLASH - Living The Dream

Roadrunner [Release date 21.09.18]

For me, things have gone consistently ‘downhill’ since Slash released his eponymous debut with a plethora of guest vocalists back in 2010.  Every track on that album was an absolute peach.

Since then he’s stuck with Myles Kennedy (and The Conspirators) – no bad choice – and we’ve had Apocalyptic Love (2012), World On Fire (2014), and now Living The Dream.

The last two releases were both OK albums, a clutch of standout tracks on each, very few, if any runts, but in the main bog standard guitar loaded rock ‘n’ roll that you rather feel Slash could, most likely, knock out in his sleep.

And so it is with Living The Dream.  Same template, same result – maybe three top notch numbers – ‘Serve You Right’, ‘Driving Rain’, and ‘Sugar Cane’, and while the rest are good, not sufficiently so that they would demand long term set list inclusion, or merit ‘best of’ status.

It’s all, sad to say, rather predictable.  Albeit with all Slash’s trademarks licks and flicks.

Whether he just had a stack of great songs backed up for his debut, or whether working with different singers raised his game, we’ll probably never know.  But for someone who’s supposedly achieved ‘icon’ status, I’d expect more.

At the very least it would be good to see him pushing the envelope, or trying something just a little different.  But hey, if it ain’t broke, and it pays the bills, why bother?  ***1/2

Review by Pete Whalley


Featured Artist: JOSH TAERK

Since early 2020 Josh has been entertaining us with exclusive monthly live sessions, streamed via Facebook.

Next session: Sunday 19 January


Check out videos here: https://www.facebook.com/getreadytorockradio



David Randall presents a weekly show on Get Ready to ROCK! Radio, Sundays at 22:00 GMT, repeated on Mondays and Fridays), when he invites listeners to ‘Assume The Position’. The show signposts forthcoming gigs and tours and latest additions at getreadytorock.com. First broadcast on 1 December 2024.

UK Blues Broadcaster of the Year (2020 and 2021 Finalist) Pete Feenstra presents his weekly Rock & Blues Show on Tuesday at 19:00 GMT as part of a five hour blues rock marathon “Tuesday is Bluesday at GRTR!”. The show is repeated on Wednesdays at 22:00, Fridays at 20:00). This show was first broadcast 3 December 2024.

How to Listen Live?

Click the programming image at the top of the page (top right of page if using desktop)

Listen via Windows Media Player. Click or tap here and “open file”
Listen via other media player (eg. VLC) Click or tap here and “open file”

Get Ready to ROCK! Radio is also in iTunes under Internet Radio/Classic Rock
Listen in via the Tunein app and search for “Get Ready to ROCK!” and save as favourite.

More information and links at our radio website where you can listen again to shows via the presenter pages: getreadytorockradio.com


Power Plays w/c 9 December 2024

In this sequence we play ‘The Best of 2024′ GRTR! reviewer selections

Featured Albums w/c 9 December 2024

09:00-12:00 The Best of 2024 (Melodic Rock)
12:00-13:00 The Best of 2003-2024 (Melodic Hard Rock)
14:00-16:00 The Best of 2024 (Singer Songwriter)



Popular (last 10 days)


This entry was posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS. Bookmark the permalink.

Leave a Reply