The best albums by Slash
Slash is an artist who can often picture before you can hear. You think of the large top hat, the cigarette hanging out of the corner of his mouth, leather jacket, trousers, tattoos, all in all, the epitome of a rock star. However, we have an ample number of musicians who look the part but don’t sound it. The question is, is Slash good enough to look so extravagant and deliver a sound that backs up his exterior? The short answer: yes.
The moment Guns N’ Roses’ debut album, Appetite for Destruction, starts playing, you can tell that you’re in for something special. It’s the fourth fret on the G-string and an open B-string that gives you that iconic opening sound. The first thing that a lot of the world heard of Slash was a real statement of intent for all those who had tuned in.
His great guitar work didn’t stop there, though, as Slash continued to prove himself to be one of the greatest musicians of all time. Regardless of what genre or style of music he was working with, he could provide great melody, riffs and solos that complemented the song wonderfully. This exists outside of Guns N’ Roses as well, as other bands he was in, as well as excellent solo projects, are all worth a listen.
That being said, when someone has a back catalogue as extensive as Slash’s, it can be tricky knowing what you should and shouldn’t be listening to. Here is your definitive guide to Slash and all of his albums from the early days up until now.
A definitive guide to Slash’s best albums
The album with Slash’s best riffs – ‘Apocalyptic Love’
Release Date: May 22nd 2012 | Producer: Eric Valentine | Label: Dik Hayd International
While a lot of people might say that Slash’s earlier work was better than that which he released later in his career, with the albums he recorded with Myles Kennedy, he was free to make music without compromise. This meant guitar-oriented hard rock songs that focus primarily on killer riffs. Some of his best come on the album Apocalyptic Love, which remains an underrated gem in the guitarist’s back catalogue.
Songs such as ‘You’re A Lie’ and ‘One Last Thrill’ completely embody some of the very best of Slash’s guitar playing. The standout moment on the record, however, is on the song ‘Anastasia’. The track begins with steady acoustic plucking before going into a guitar line that doesn’t sound like anything from this planet. How one man sits down and writes something as unrelentingly badass as this, I’ll never know, but I’m glad it exists all the same.
Defining track: ‘Anastasia’
The album with Slash’s best solos – ‘Use Your Illusion I’
Release Date: September 17th 1991 | Producer: Mike Clink | Label: Geffen
While the lack of compromise on some of his later albums might have led to some great riffs, the need to compromise on Guns N’ Records meant that Slash needed to adapt his guitar playing depending on what style of song was being written. This versatility really shows how good of a soloist Slash is, as regardless of whether he was playing something fast and aggressive or slow and moving, he never struggled to deliver the goods.
When you look through Use Your Illusion I, the mixture of songs is truly staggering. You have something slow and serene on tracks such as ‘Don’t Cry’ and ‘November Rain’, but then on the other side of the coin, you have songs such as ‘Coma’ and ‘Double Talking Jive’. Regardless of what was presented in front of him, Slash delivered a face-melting solo, and this album really reflects his brilliance.
Defining track: ‘November Rain’
Slash’s greatest album – ‘Appetite for Destruction’
Release Date: July 21st 1987 | Producer: Mike Clink | Label: Geffen
There were five members in Guns N’ Roses, all of whom contributed a great deal to what the band did; however, it was tough for fans to look past Axl Rose and Slash. It’s easy to see why, as with Axl Rose, you had a hot-headed frontman with a voice like thunder. Meanwhile, Slash wasted no time in establishing himself as one of the greatest guitarists in the world.
From the running 4-0-4-0 that you hear at the beginning of ‘Welcome To The Jungle’ all the way to the sliding solo on ‘Rocket Queen’, Appetite For Destruction remains Slash’s greatest work as a whole. The riffs, the solos, the rhythm, the bounce, the aggression, everything comes together on this album and gives people insight into who would eventually become one of the best guitar players in the world.
Defining track: ‘Paradise City’
Slash’s most versatile album – ‘Slash’
Release Date: March 31st 2010 | Producer: Eric Valentine, Kid Rock, Big Chris Flores | Label: EMI, Universal, Roadrunner, Song Music
When Slash left Guns N’ Roses, many people wondered what he might do. Many thought he would start another band, which he did, both with Slash’s Snakepit and Velvet Revolver; however, he also embraced his newfound freedom and used it to put together a self-titled record in 2010. The album saw him work with a number of different artists, which led to the most diverse record he ever put together.
You might assume he only worked with rock singers, but when I say he embraced his freedom, I really mean it. Sure, some predictable names popped up, such as Myles Kennedy, Andrew Stockdale, Lemmy, Iggy Pop and Ozzy Osbourne; however, also making an appearance were superstars in separate genres. Pop stars such as Fergie and Andrew Levin are featured on he record, as are the rap group Cypress Hill. If you ever need proof that Slash is one of the most versatile guitarists and songwriters around, look no further than this album.
Defining track: ‘Beautiful Dangerous’
Slash’s most underrated album – ‘It’s Five O’ Clock Somewhere’
Release Date: February 14th 1995 | Producer: Mike Clink | Label: Geffen
Maybe it’s because this album came out too soon after his split with Guns N’ Roses, while people were still questioning what had happened and if they would ever work it out, but for some reason, It’s Five O’ Clock Somewhere just didn’t get the traction it deserved. A lot of people don’t even know that the album exists, which is a shame, because it’s a great blend of bleak country and rock music.
Slash’s Snakepit was an impromptu supergroup which consisted of Matt Sorum, Gilby Clarke, Mike Inez and Eric Dover. With such a strong repertoire, putting the album together, it’s not a huge surprise that it’s a great listen, but it remains that not enough people know that it exists.
Defining track: ‘Neither Can I’
