EDIT: 11/25/08 – I take back everything I say in this post. This album rules. I had to listen to it like 20 times, but now I love it.
I just finished listening to Guns N’ Roses newest album, Chinese Democracy.
For years…for over a decade, GnR fans have been awaiting the release of the elusive Chinese Democracyalbum. After alienating/firing all of the original members of the original Guns n’ Roses including the irreplaceable Slash and Duff McKagan, Axl started working on the GnR album that he said would end all Guns n’ Roses albums.
Did it work? Did it happen?
I don’t think so.
The opening song, ‘Chinese Democracy’ is awesome. The very first thing you hear is Axl’s signature shriek as the music starts to build. As a first single, I think it will really make GnR fans say, “Holy shit! Guns N’ Roses is still awesome!” Then, they will hear the next song, ‘Shackler’s Revenge’ and be weirded out. It’s a good song, and I’m not saying that bands can’t evolve and change their sound, but Industrial GnR? Ugh. It’s like mixing Coca-Cola with Orange Juice. I like both, but I don’t want them together. I don’t want Industrial rock blasting over Axl Rose.
Then there are a few piano ballads. I know the piano was a huge part of the Use Your Illusionalbums, and I understand that Axl loves playing that particular instrument. But at least on the Use Your Illusion albums, the piano was complimented by shredding guitars and heavy bass lines. On Chinese Democracy, there are some Electronica beats mixed into piano fellating that would make Elton John’s jams sound Heavy Metal. Ugh.
If this album were not released under the band name Guns N’ Roses and instead released as The Axl Rose Band, it would make a lot more sense.
I give this album a B- (and that is being generous)
There are some very good songs on the album. If you feel the need to get the whole album, you can get it on iTunes for $9.99. Or, if you just want the really good songs, here they are:
“Chinese Democracy”
“If the World”
“Catcher in the Rye”
“I.R.S”
“Madagascar”
That’s all you really need to hear. Again, the album is not bad, and I can’t complain since I kind of just ended up with a free copy of it a few days before it was released. Still, if you are a hardcore (or even casual) fan of GnR, don’t expect great things.
That being said, I am going to go listen to Use Your Illusion I and Appetite for Destruction – REAL Guns N’ Roses albums.
I will probly buy it. Dont know why, but I probly will. I have one question: Are the guitar solos good?
Les: The guitar solos are pretty good. At times they even sound Slash-like.
I thought it was Slash?
No way, man. The only original GnR member in the new incarnation of the band is Axl.
Thats not GNR….Thats the ‘Axel Rose Band’…better known as “Hockey Jerseys and Cornrows on a White Guy make you look like a complete Douche Bag Band”
That is a true story.
The Global Times, China’s Communist-run newspaper, published an article this morning declaring in no uncertain terms that Axl Rose’s long-awaited release was not only unwelcome in the mainland, but more or less an attack on the nation.
Featuring the catchy title “American band releases album venomously attacking China,” the newspaper said the album was an attempt by the western world to “grasp and control the world using democracy as a pawn.”
dammit, they think Axl speaks for the entirety of Western Civilization.