Is the world ready for ‘Chinese Democracy?’

[4thosebout2rock]

"By Tony Sclafani

msnbc.com

updated 8:05 p.m. ET Nov. 13, 2008

Seventeen years. That’s how long it’s been since the release of the “Use Your Illusion” albums, the last new offering of original songs by the once-dominant hard rock band Guns N’ Roses. Come Nov. 23, a reconfigured edition of the group will release the long-awaited “Chinese Democracy” album.

 

A lot has happened since the two “Illusions” sets dropped on Sept. 17, 1991. Back then, Miley Cyrus hadn’t been born, Beyoncé was 10 and Fall Out Boy’s Pete Wentz was 12. Not only weren’t Britney, Christina and Justin not pop stars yet, they weren’t even members of the New Mickey Mouse Club yet.

 

By 1993, the original Guns was going out with a whimper. They put out a middling CD of cover songs and soon fell apart, leaving singer Axl Rose the lone original member. Rose then cloistered himself in studios, recording and reworking songs, like a tattooed, modern-day Brian Wilson, who could never get the Beach Boys’ “Smile” album just right."

 

So whats your thoughts on this? Do GNR still have potentiol?

For me i think not. And not sure if il even buy this album.

 

[LINK] http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/27681908/

 

 

[Groovy]

The demons that leaked in June were great, I've already pre ordered on itunes.

[Canoxa]

We had what, thirteen years, to brace ourselves. The question is, will the world be able to separate the old and current formations of GnR as different entities? If we can answer a sure yes, I don't see why there would be any fuss with the album.

[Digital Murders]

The songs that they've been playing on the radio have been a huge let down.

 

For an album that's had almost two decades worth of work done on it, I would've have thought Axl had Jesus make an appearance or while listening I would simultaneously have an orgasm...or something.

 

No, it just sounds like guitars, drums and a grown man whaling.

 

[Lt. Dan]

I recognize that it will not be anything like old GnR, and from the leaks I've heard it will sound more like Nine Inch Nails featuring Axl Rose and Bumblefoot. But also from the leaks I've heard, it won't be too bad of an album.

[mark-2007]

I haven't heard any of the new material. An advert's just came on the telly at half-time of the England match, and it was quite a good advert. Got my attention. Didn't know it was out so soon. Might check it out if/when it hits bargain bins near me.

[Zyo]

I am curious to hear this, but I certainly don't expect it to be great. I will just be trying to get over the hype and the "15 years in the making" and try and judge it on its own merits.

 

 

The question is, will the world be able to separate the old and current formations of GnR as different entities?

I don't see these guys as GnR. Axl needs to get over it, call himself the Axl Rose band or something, but anything with Guns N Roses on the cover will always sell. Financially he is doing the smart thing, but for credibility, no-one should accept this band as Guns N Roses.

Other bands are getting by on this, Megadeth and W.A.S.P to name a few, and I don't like it.

 

But on another note, Axl has already had a mountain to climb with this record and I do wish him well.

[Iminicus]

I wish Axl would f*ck off. He has ruined the name of GnR over the last 17 years. Anyone who buys this over hyped crap is just reaffirming to Axl, that he is still relevant and a musician, which he is neither.

[BigNekkidSnake]

I am curious to hear this, but I certainly don't expect it to be great. I will just be trying to get over the hype and the "15 years in the making" and try and judge it on its own merits.

 

 

The question is, will the world be able to separate the old and current formations of GnR as different entities?

I don't see these guys as GnR. Axl needs to get over it, call himself the Axl Rose band or something, but anything with Guns N Roses on the cover will always sell. Financially he is doing the smart thing, but for credibility, no-one should accept this band as Guns N Roses.

Other bands are getting by on this, Megadeth and W.A.S.P to name a few, and I don't like it.

 

But on another note, Axl has already had a mountain to climb with this record and I do wish him well.

Oh yeah he's probably gonna get major cash for this but in no way is it the same band. I can see alot of people trading this cd in.

[Jay]

Wait that was today?

 

Eh.

[Rhoda]

It's his ego that's getting in the way of me enjoying this album. He's gone into hiding until after the release because he anticipates it to be "huge". What a prick.

[Jay]

Yeah like people haven't wanted to hurt him before this was released.

[Lost-Fender]

I just listened to several songs from the album. I thought it was okay, nothing special. It doesn't sound like Guns N' Roses, more like "the Axl Rose Project" or something.

[MaroonZ28]

Heard a song off the album this morning on the radio while I was sitting in my car. Had to turn it off. Axl still sounds like a dying cat, the music is bland, and the only good aspects of the band are gone.

[Guglielminpietro]

I was quite surprised, I expected it to be awful but it was quite listenable. A tad too long at around an hour and a quarter, but it had some good moments. I really don't think it should have been released under the Guns n Roses moniker though, since Axl is the only remaining member. I think he should have just released it as Axl Rose. Still it's worth a listen though.

 

[Rhoda]

Axl Rose grew up in Indiana in a troubled family environment. His love of music was fostered by singing in church, participating in school chorus and studying piano, but his numerous run-ins with the police and activities as a teenager led to his leaving home at a young age. After moving to Los Angeles in 1982, Rose fronted various local bands, eventually forming Guns N' Roses with former L.A. Guns bandmate Tracii Guns.

As lead singer for Guns N' Roses, Rose enjoyed tremendous success, recognition, record and concert ticket sales in the late 1980s and early 1990s before dropping out of the public eye for several years. In 2001, he resurfaced with a new line-up of Guns N' Roses, and has since played periodic concert tours.

The only original member still part of the band's line-up, Rose still places high in numerous polls as one of hard rock's all-time greatest frontmen, but is also infamous for his onstage antics and high-profile disputes with former bandmates and others in the entertainment business.

 

You may have noticed I've spent the past three paragraphs not talking about Chinese Democracy in the slightest, and that's what it feels like when I listen to this album; it doesn't seem to go anywhere. I feel cheated by the closing "Prostitute", which seems to stop mid-sentence, mocking people who have waited my life-span for this album. I also don't like how he's his own backing singer, which just screams pretentiousness to me. Albeit, it's a mindless record, so there's a lot of headbanging and headscratching to be done.

 

Maybe I'm a bit harsh, but it seems like we've waited far too long for this album. The hype has slain the product in my opinion. A few songs that made me go "oh, okay, this is catchy" but I'm biased in the sense that those were the ones Buckethead played for.

Edited November 26, 2008 by Masterkraft

[the all seeing eye]

Chinese Democracy = epic fail

Edited December 11, 2008 by the all seeing eye

[Rhoda]

The way you wrote "epic fail" = epic fail.

[the all seeing eye]

The way you wrote "epic fail" = epic fail.

lol, sorry

[Simon.]

The title track Chinese Democracy is a pretty poor in my opinion, I think it's a pretty mediocre track.

 

I think it's a pretty awesome album. This I Love and Better are probably my favourites from the album judging by the playcount, other notables are Shackler's Revenge, There Was A Time and Catcher In The Rye.

 

The Better music video will be released soon, according to Axl on GnR fan forums, I'll be interested to see what the video is about (that's if it has a story).

[Slamman]

I was just looking at a YouTube video that claims it shows a large selection of Slash's guitars he's collected. That maybe more interesting then the new album! haha

Joking aside, I know Slash is VERY tight lipped about the album

[NinjaWJ]

i agree, Guns n ROses dosent sound the same anymore

[pizza guy]

It's not the old G n R, but it doesn't need to be, I got this for Crimbo today and absolutely love it, keep listening to the track 'Madagascar'.

[Exkabewbikadid]

 

keep listening to the track 'Madagascar'.

Yeah, I like the retro-ish horn section in that song, although I'm not sure why the MLK speech excerpts are there.

 

I've given this a couple of listens over that past few days and I think it's a good solid record. I don't see why everyone thinks this is so radically different from the old GNR. There's even a good bit of piano in it like the old records.

[Slamman]

Well, anyone following Axl knows he has played with Elton John on stage and spun off into some 70s classics as intros and parts tacked on to GNR originals.

I think he'll have that music appreciation no matter what he does, like Kid Rock and his Detroit roots, he is trying to bridge a gap that has resistance, offering a modern hip hop flare to his country rock / Motor City appreciations.