Whether supergroup or Betty Ford's all-star team, one thing is certain, if you go see Velvet Revolver [ tickets ] live--and they show up--you're probably going to see one of the best rock shows of the year.

And their album is a kick in the chest, too.

Unsung member David Kushner (Electric Love Hogs, Dave Navarro) lays much of the guitar bedding, while Slash weaves his thick, six-string signature on one solo after another--most notably on the power ballad "Fall to Pieces" and rocking single "Slither."

But while some seem to be offended at comparisons to Guns N' Roses' "Appetite for Destruction"--the energy of "Spectacle" is certainly in the same ballpark--several of the songs, like "Do It for the Kids," "Dirty Little Thing" and "Big Machine," sound like pure Stone Temple Pilots. Even "Headspace" quotes "Wicked Garden."

Ex-Gunners Duff McKagan (bass) and Matt Sorum (drums) lay the foundation throughout, and Scott Weiland's voice has a new lease on life. When he's on, the former STP frontman has one of the best--and most recognizable--voices in music.

If you're in the market for a Jack-swigging, ballsy rock album (the kind that never really goes out of style), this won't disappoint.