Libertad (album)

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Libertad
Libertad cover
Studio album by Velvet Revolver
Released June 30, 2007
Recorded December 11, 2006 - February 22, 2007
Genre Hard rock, Heavy metal
Length 51:56
Label RCA Records
Producer Brendan O'Brien
Professional reviews
Velvet Revolver chronology
Melody and the Tyranny
(2007)		 Libertad
(2007)
Singles from Libertad
  1. "She Builds Quick Machines"
    Released: May 21, 2007
  2. "The Last Fight"
    Released: August 20, 2007
  3. "Get Out the Door"
    Released: 2007

Libertad is the second studio album released by American supergroup Velvet Revolver. The album was released in the US on July 3, 2007. The name is Spanish (Castillan) and translates to "liberty" or "freedom" in English. According to a 2007 interview with Rolling Stone, along with the Stone Temple Pilots album Core, Libertad is the only album lead singer Scott Weiland has written sober.

Libertad was the last album to feature Weiland on vocals before he was fired by the remaining members of Velvet Revolver in April 2008.

Contents

[edit] Release and promotion

Velvet Revolver originally announced their plans for a second album in late 2005, when lead singer Scott Weiland said that the band was planning on recording a concept album. Although it is not certain how concrete the concept album plans were [1], they were eventually scrapped and the band began to work with famed producer Rick Rubin. However, the bandmembers felt that Rubin was not a good fit for the band and thus parted ways with him. In December 2006, Velvet Revolver began working with producer Brendan O'Brien, who had previously produced albums for Stone Temple Pilots, Weiland's former band. As Scott Weiland commented in Kerrang! magazine, "We were really excited about six months ago, when we first began writing. Then we really kind of flat-lined for a while, We didn't know which way we were going. Once Brendan (O'Brien) came on board, it was kind of like a shot in the arm. It was a new energy." Recording began on December 11 and continued through December, January, and February. The process was documented by a series of video blogs, or "Vlogs", available on the band's website.

On June 26, 2007, Velvet Revolver released a sneak peek of Libertad in its entirety.

The album debuted at number five on the U.S. Billboard 200, selling 92,000 copies in its first week; as of October 12, 2007, it has sold 222,000 copies and has fallen off the charts.[2] The album is certified Gold in New Zealand. Upon its release, Libertad has received good reviews and was said to possibly be "THE rock record of the summer" according to the Associated Press.

Libertad is an Enhanced-CD which includes a 10-minute video documentary called "Re-Evolution: The Making of Libertad" (Directed by Rocco Guarino). A deluxe "BestBuy" edition was also released which includes a DVD containing a 30-minute documentary called "Tierra Roja, Sangre Roja" (Directed by Rocco Guarino), that documented the band's journey across South America.

To promote the album, Velvet Revolver embarked on a South American tour with Aerosmith. The final performance saw 70,000 fans in attendance. Shortly thereafter, VR embarked on a North American club tour, revealing several new songs. The band also played major music festivals such as the Download Festival. On August 2007, they began a North American arena tour with Alice in Chains, and later tour Europe and Asia.

Songs from the album were featured at X Games XIII as being the official background music to the event. The track "Let It Roll" is also used as the official theme song for the 2007 WWE Diva Search. The song "American Man" has also been used in promotional ads for the popular drama Prison Break.

[edit] Cover

The album's cover features a stylized 10 pesos coin from Chile produced from 1976 to 1991. The coin is an allegory to the Coup d'etat in Chile in 1973. [3]

It was actually later stated by Slash in an interview in September 2007 by 102.1 The Edge in Dallas that the image came from a friend's necklace. Slash reported that he had no idea what the significance of the image was until a concert in Brazil. However it also resembles a Led Zeppelin logo,a band Slash is very fond of.

[edit] Track listing

All songs written by Scott Weiland, Slash, Dave Kushner, Duff McKagan and Matt Sorum except where noted.

  1. "Let It Roll" - 2:32
  2. "She Mine" - 3:24
  3. "Get Out the Door" - 3:14
  4. "She Builds Quick Machines" - 4:01
  5. "The Last Fight" - 4:03
  6. "Pills, Demons & Etc." - 2:54
  7. "American Man" - 3:56
  8. "Mary Mary" - 4:34
  9. "Just Sixteen" - 3:59
  10. "Can't Get It Out of My Head" (Jeff Lynne) - 3:58
  11. "For a Brother" - 3:26
  12. "Spay" - 3:06
  13. "Gravedancer" - 8:42 (actual track time 4:32)
    • Contains a hidden track named "Don't Drop That Dime" (3:59) starting at 04:43.
  14. "Gas and a Dollar Laugh" (Japanese Bonus Track)
  15. "Messages" (iTunes Bonus Track)
  16. "Psycho Killer" (iTunes Bonus Track)

[edit] Personnel

[edit] Singles

Year Title Chart positions Album
U.S. Hot 100 U.S. Modern Rock U.S. Mainstream Rock UK Singles Chart
2007 "She Builds Quick Machines" 14 2 Libertad
2007 "The Last Fight" 16 Libertad
2008 "Get Out the Door" 34 Libertad

[edit] B-Sides

[edit] Sources

  1. ^ YouTube - Pt2. Metal Hammer in conversation with Duff McKagan
  2. ^ Katie Hasty, T.I. Is Top Dog Again On The Billboard 200, Billboard.com, July 11, 2007.
  3. ^ VR Reveals Artwork but Pushes Back Release (English). gnrdaily.com (2007-05-10). Retrieved on 2007-05-10.
v • d • e
Velvet Revolver
Slash • Dave Kushner • Duff McKagan • Matt Sorum
Scott Weiland
Albums
Contraband • Libertad
EPs
Singles
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