Guns n' Roses chinese democracy
Discussion
S7Paul said:
Reviewed in Kerrang this week. Summary of the review:-
Sounds dated - tracks written in the 1990s showing their age.
Varied, complex, but not epic.
They liked 'There Was a Time' and 'Madagascar'.
Sounds overcooked, and though it is "occasionally impressive, not once does it manage to sound exciting".
Overall rating 2/5
Probably not the review Axl wanted after 15 years.
Yeah but lets be honest Axl and Kerrang have never had what you would call a good relationship have they?Sounds dated - tracks written in the 1990s showing their age.
Varied, complex, but not epic.
They liked 'There Was a Time' and 'Madagascar'.
Sounds overcooked, and though it is "occasionally impressive, not once does it manage to sound exciting".
Overall rating 2/5
Probably not the review Axl wanted after 15 years.
Edited by JaymzDead on Friday 28th November 12:17
Chris71 said:
I'm geeting the impression I might be the only one who actually prefers Use Your Illusion to Appetite For Destruction. 
Don't get me wrong, Sweet Child, Nightrain and Paradise City are just about my favourite GnR songs, but as an overall album I prefer Use Your Illusion.
(Just don't mention The Spaghetti Incident )
The Spaghetti Incident The Spaghetti Incident The Spaghetti Incident The Spaghetti Incident The Spaghetti Incident The Spaghetti Incident The Spaghetti Incident The Spaghetti Incident The Spaghetti Incident The Spaghetti Incident Don't get me wrong, Sweet Child, Nightrain and Paradise City are just about my favourite GnR songs, but as an overall album I prefer Use Your Illusion.
(Just don't mention The Spaghetti Incident )
I'm kinda split. I'm a fan of the same Appetite for Destruction songs but there are more songs on the Use Your Illusion albums i like.
However that said, IMO there are too many mediocre songs on each of the Use Your Illusion albums to warrant two separate albums IMO.
That said, 'Civil War' , 'You Could be Mine' , 'November Rain' and 'Don't you Cry' (Particularly Alternative lyrics version) are epic songs.
Fire99 said:
That said, 'Civil War' , 'You Could be Mine' , 'November Rain' and 'Don't you Cry' (Particularly Alternative lyrics version) are epic songs.
November Rain is possibly my favourite GnR track. One of the tracks on Chineses Democracy almost sounds like a parody of it to start with.
I still maintain the new album isn't that bad though. Pretty generic - like a whole album of 'album tracks' - but not too bad. As I said before, let's hope it providees the catalyst for something better.
Listened to this album a few times today and it's really growing on me. Maybe it's cos I was expecting it to be s
t and it's not.
I'm not sure the 17 years argument is really relevant, is it? Has Axl been bunkered down in a studio constantly for the past 17 years? Or did he spend a few years getting over the meltdown as GnR imploded, more time having legal wrangles with Geffen, artists on the album and studios?
You can try and compare it with Appetite if you like, but there's not much that compares favourably with one of the greatest rock albums of all time. Illusion might have been decent if someone hadn't humoured Axl and chopped it down to one album rather than 2. At the moment I don't think that this is any worse than Illusion.
It's certainly better than 90% of the guff that hits the radio and tv these days.
That said, I liked the first snakepit album too, so maybe I'm just wrong.
t and it's not.I'm not sure the 17 years argument is really relevant, is it? Has Axl been bunkered down in a studio constantly for the past 17 years? Or did he spend a few years getting over the meltdown as GnR imploded, more time having legal wrangles with Geffen, artists on the album and studios?
You can try and compare it with Appetite if you like, but there's not much that compares favourably with one of the greatest rock albums of all time. Illusion might have been decent if someone hadn't humoured Axl and chopped it down to one album rather than 2. At the moment I don't think that this is any worse than Illusion.
It's certainly better than 90% of the guff that hits the radio and tv these days.
That said, I liked the first snakepit album too, so maybe I'm just wrong.
I gave Chinese Democracy a good listen for the first time last night. My verdict is - pretty damn good 
I was half expecting it to be poor or mediocre, but i have to say i was mightily impressed. Even the OH liked it!
It's tuneful, melodic, some good lyrics and some fine songs. Axl's vocals are very good too (if you like that kind of thing). Altogether i am very impressed indeed.
I was half expecting it to be poor or mediocre, but i have to say i was mightily impressed. Even the OH liked it!
It's tuneful, melodic, some good lyrics and some fine songs. Axl's vocals are very good too (if you like that kind of thing). Altogether i am very impressed indeed.
minimatt1967 said:
I've listened to it 2 maybe 3 times now its not a bad album, fine to have on in the car. Is it me or do some of the tracks sound a little bit like Faith No More in places?
I think the album has alots of twists and turns so it wouldn't surprise me. On some of the Rock Forums there are comments that some of it tips its hat to 'Promised Land' era Queensryche.I'm hearing rumours from some avenues of big things early 2009 and Sebastian Bach (of Skid Row fame for those not into that kinda thing) has commented that there are 4 albums worth or material so i'm hoping Axl gets off his backside and this is just the start of a very long awaited resurgence.
Even if you're not sure its an authentic 'Guns' album i think its hard to deny Axl is a truely gifted (if slightly over the rainbow) songwriter.
Fire99 said:
minimatt1967 said:
I've listened to it 2 maybe 3 times now its not a bad album, fine to have on in the car. Is it me or do some of the tracks sound a little bit like Faith No More in places?
I think the album has alots of twists and turns so it wouldn't surprise me. On some of the Rock Forums there are comments that some of it tips its hat to 'Promised Land' era Queensryche.I'm hearing rumours from some avenues of big things early 2009 and Sebastian Bach (of Skid Row fame for those not into that kinda thing) has commented that there are 4 albums worth or material so i'm hoping Axl gets off his backside and this is just the start of a very long awaited resurgence.
Even if you're not sure its an authentic 'Guns' album i think its hard to deny Axl is a truely gifted (if slightly over the rainbow) songwriter.
g
Yugguy said:
Christ, 4 albums, 17 years between each? That'd make Axl about 110 years old or something by the time the last one comes out.
"Welcome to the hospice, we got dodgy hips."
We like our potatoes mashed, coz we can't handle chips, "Welcome to the hospice, we got dodgy hips."
ooooh, there's countdown on TV,
we smell a bit of wee,
We don't need no money honey, we all have a different disease
In the hospice, Welcome to the hospice...
jagdpanther said:
To me it doesnt sound massively dated, but it does sound like that unique GNR sound and that's fine by me
It’s not a great album, but I think it’s quite good.In some respects I think it’s suffered from the same fate as some other bands, e.g. Pearl Jam, Oasis – the first album blows things out of the water, and everything after that just doesn’t quite recapture the same magic.
Podie said:
jagdpanther said:
To me it doesnt sound massively dated, but it does sound like that unique GNR sound and that's fine by me
It’s not a great album, but I think it’s quite good.In some respects I think it’s suffered from the same fate as some other bands, e.g. Pearl Jam, Oasis – the first album blows things out of the water, and everything after that just doesn’t quite recapture the same magic.
I think it's just one of those things where the band members are just right, their age and stage of their lives is just right and a good ol dose of luck.
And i have to admit if the classic Guns n Roses line-up reformed there would be no guarantee that an Epic album would follow.
Look at Deep Purple in the 80's. When the 'classic' mk2 line-up reformed, ok 'Perfect Strangers' was excellent but it wasn't breathtaking. And by the time 'House of Blue Light' appeared, it was all pretty much over again.
It's been 20 years since Appetite for Destruction and i think we'll just have to appreciate it for how great it was..
crofty1984 said:
Yugguy said:
Christ, 4 albums, 17 years between each? That'd make Axl about 110 years old or something by the time the last one comes out.
"Welcome to the hospice, we got dodgy hips."
We like our potatoes mashed, coz we can't handle chips, "Welcome to the hospice, we got dodgy hips."
ooooh, there's countdown on TV,
we smell a bit of wee,
We don't need no money honey, we all have a different disease
In the hospice, Welcome to the hospice...
We all came here to die, we all came here to die,
In the Hospice, Welcome to the Hospice.
You can check in at 65 if your still alive,
But you're never gonna leave,
Welcome to the Hospice.
I preferred Use Your Illusion (II especially) to Appetite, songs like Estranged, Breakdown, 14 Years, Civil War and Don't Cry were far more up my street than the Appetite ones (except Paradise City ofc), and must say I am loving the new album. OK it does sound about 10 years old, but then music was better back then anyway. Better is one of those tunes that won't get out of my head, and Axl's voice is still good at raising the hairs on the back of my neck.
I'd give it 8/10.
I'd give it 8/10.
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