The snarky dig at Guitar Player readers was uncalled for. Most of the artists that they feature are more concerned with making good music rather than being hip enough for useless music critics to adore. And Slash has been featured in that magazine.

I don't think it was a dig. I think you're taking offense at something that was never meant to be offensive.

I could be wrong, but I thought it meant that the playing is more technically proficient than soulful. In this album's instance it's proficient to a degree that mostly guitar aficionados will be impressed. Kind of like they're playing to impress themselves rather than speak to the song or the listener.