Band:	Slash's Snakepit
Album:	It's Five O'Clock Somewhere
Style:	Hard rock, Blues rock
Release date:	February 1995

01. Neither Can I
02. Dime Store Rock
03. Beggars & Hangers-On
04. Good To Be Alive
05. What Do You Want To Be
06. Monkey Chow
07. Soma City Ward
08. Jizz Da Pit
09. Lower
10. Take It Away
11. Doin' Fine
12. Be The Ball
13. I Hate Everybody (But You)
14. Back And Forth Again

Before Velvet Revolver and his own solo career, Slash created his own band Slash's Snakepit as an outlet for his own ideas; It's Five O' Clock Somewhere came towards the end of his tenure in Guns N' Roses as the band ground to inertia. An album that is best remembered for what it is rather than what is contained within, Slash's first steps outside of the Guns machine were his first tentative steps to leaving said band.

The band take you through a blend of blues rock from some of the biggest names in music (especially at the time). The skills of those involved are undeniable, three (then) members of Guns N' Roses, Alice In Chains bass player Mike Inez with Dover up front make for hell of a collection of talent.

Starting off on the wrong foot with "Neither Can I", It's Five O' Clock Somewhere is an album that grows into itself by the album's end if you hang on long enough. The sequencing of this album is one of its main weaknesses, with the aforementioned "Neither Can I" starting the album off way too slow, whereas it would have been suited towards the end of the album; a poor choice to kick off proceedings.

The first half of the album suffers from songs that are mostly too long and drag themselves out beyond where they should have ended, with the likes of "Beggars & Hangers-On" and "What Do You Want To Be" outstaying their welcomes. The second half of the album from "Jizz Da Pit" (there's one mosh pit I'll pass on) on sees the band rectify this problem, and the songs sound concise and well packaged. Songs like "Be The Ball" and "I Hate Everybody (But You)" see the album off in style.

What the band do well is just playing straight-up blues-inspired rock 'n' roll, with tracks like "Soma City Ward" and "Be The Ball" grabbing you in with Slash's guitar work and the band holding you in their pockets until the song ends. Songs like "Monkey Chow" hook you in with a jumpy bouncy rhythm that will keep your ears glued to the speakers.

What the album mostly lacks though is the killer blow; sure, each song is great and will keep you returning to hear it again, but for as memorable and quality as some of the songs are, it lacks that cherry on top that would elevate the experience. Slash's Snakepit is a king without a crown, an undoubtly great album but one that blurs into the crowd without that stand-out element.

It's Five O' Clock Somewhere is a solid album of rock and roll by some of the best players in the business; it is a shame that it has been largely relegated to a mere footnote in the history of those involved. For an album that essentially is just the members spinning their wheels until their full-time bands got moving, it's better than many full-times do at their best: highly recommended for rock fans out there.