Throwback Thursday: "It's Five O'clock Somewhere", by Slash's Snakepit

By 1995 Guns N' Roses had long since taken over the world and grown into this huge, grand production involved in big business. Lead guitarist Slash was getting rather disillusioned with the whole situation, so he decided he needed a break. This lead him and GN'R rhythm guitarist Gilby Clarke and drummer Matt Sorum to form Slash's Snakepit with vocalist Eric Dover and bassist Mike Inez. This was a band that encompasses all of the raw, straight to business, back to basics edge of rock n' roll that he had been craving for some time. That year the band released their debut record It's Five O'Clock Somewhere.

It's Five O'Clock Somewhere definitely brings back that raw, edgy, guitar driven sound in a way similar, yet somewhat different to what GN'R had been doing in their early days. There is very little if any keyboard. What little there is is barely audible and is only there to add a little extra punch to what the guitars are already doing or act as an intro in one song. Dover while having a rough attitude driven vocal style sounded NOTHING like Axl Rose, which in the long run helped the band.

"Neither Can I" is one hell of a cool way to start a record. It has this swinging, bluesy swagger to it that makes you just want to sway and tap your foot. The harmonica especially gives it some real punch aside from the vocals and the pounding riffs. It starts off kind of soft and foreboding and gradually turns into something loud and rocking - all while managing to maintain that old school bluesy vibe.

One track from this album that I feel does not get talked about anywhere near as much as it should is "Jizz da Pit". It's not very long, but it is one hell of a cool ripping and running instrumental. This is just the band jamming, but they sound like they are having a hell of a lot of fun doing so. It sounds like when separated from Axl Rose's nonsense Slash was able to finally have some fun making music again. Definitely a fun tune.

Unfortunately, Slash's Snakepit disbanded shortly after It's Five O'Clock Somewhere was released because Geffen Records wanted Slash to go back to Guns N' Roses in order to make new music. There was another album with the same band name put out in 2000, but it was an entirely different group aside from Slash. Regardless, this is definitely a record worth picking up if you're a fan of Slash's raw bluesy brand of rock n' roll with balls.

It's Five O'Clock Somewhere, by Slash's Snakepit receives 3.75 out of 5 stars.

Track List:

1. Neither Can I
2. Dime Store Rock
3. Beggars & Hangers-On
4. Good to Be Alive
5. What Do You Want to Be
6. Monkey Chow
7. Soma City Ward
8. Jizz da Pit
9. Lower
10. Take It Away
11. Doin' Fine
12. Be the Ball
13. I Hate Everybody (But You)
14. Back and Forth Again

Buy the album on Amazon:

https://www.amazon.com/Five-OClock-Somewhere-Slashs-Snakepit/dp/B000W1ZF8Y/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1525381654&sr=8-1&keywords=Slash%27s+Snakepit