Chinese Democracy [CD] [PA]

Not the best G 'n' R album in the world, not the worst. Strong song-writing throughout, good guitar! Not worth a 22-year wait. Five-to-ten year wait? Maybe...

YES YES I CANT WAIT CHINESE DEMOCRACY STARTS 11/25/08 I AM BUYING 2 COPIES

This music is hard rock type music and is different.

Chinese Democracy something that fans have been waiting for, and something that the Chinese may still be waiting for. In any case I went to Best Buy the only place it seems that you can purchase the album, and picked this up. I have to say the first few minuets were good but I felt rushed through, the music didn't seem to stick with me like previous works, but I was driving so I felt I needed to really sit with the music. When I did this is what I felt: Lyrically I was waiting for more, the lyrics were good but some points in various songs it felt like he was rushing the lyrics to the music. It seemed disjointed at points. I feel like the solos were not as smooth as previous works. Axl although I really enjoy the wailing and the screaming I felt over did it through out the album. I enjoy when he does the variations on his voice and there wasn't much of that here. In the song "Scraped" I feel like that is has the reminiscence of "My World" the short song at the end of UYI 2, and "Riad N' Bedouins" touches on the "Oh, My God" from End of Days with the faster sound & electronic backings. "Sorry" who's that directed at..hmm... Some of the lyrics sound like he stumbles to fit them in. It just sounds like he is talking to someone directly which is fine Tommy Lee did that in most of the M.O.M. The song is very emotional and maybe Axl's grown up but he's a lot nice about telling people off not like "Get In the Ring" "Shotgun Blues". Although I am a loyalist to what was, I do have to say over all i have enjoyed the music by the third listening I am finding it to be a good album that I will listen to often. I have my favorites that seem to give me what I have been waiting for in these past years. I would like to see more continuity in the music it seemed to be a collection of sounds from the past 10 years which makes sense. Some songs had the electronic sound while others the Alternative sound and still there were the ballads. It wasn't as hard hitting as I would have expected but it was good. The cover: Well I guess you could say my standards are high for GNR the artwork was not provocative, artsy, creative, or interesting to me. The front cover nice photo for a soft rock band. Inside it looks like a greatest hits with the photos of band members. The centerfold was ok but I just wasn't excited about 10years of waiting and such simple work. Overall, I would have to say this GNR album is different not in a bad way just in its own way. Axl did some good work here. I still wonder what it would have been like with Izzy's influences could we have seen more thoughtful lyrics and music?

As a sometimes (abet less successful) songwriter and musician, and over the last few years reviewer of several hundred albums – I am left this evening somehow awestruck by what I feel is a timepiece of sorts. Like most avid rock junkies, I have been eagerly anticipating Guns & Roses Chinese Democracy to hit the shelves so we may proclaim it either an Opus of failure or statement of independence. I have also been watching over the years as release dates came and passed without fruition, and listened closely to demos that made half truths of concepts not quite understood by the masses. I am shocked. This is not the G&R of “Appetite” fame, nor the chaotic “Illusion” act that appeared in and out of the melodic clouds with a double album that ended the era of excess the 80’s was musically. In fact it could be successfully argued that this is not Guns & Roses at all – but instead the Collective consciousness of the last forty years of what we call “heavy” music packaged with a tidy bow and presented with the impact of a neutron bomb in Joe Perry’s attic. In my humble opinion, William “Axl” Rose has created with his score of unsuspecting characters not only the perfect reflection of true Rock and Roll as an art form, but what should be the ending of an era. And what an end it is. We have watched the evolution of pop turning to jazz and R&B influences over the last ten years and not without its merits, and apparently Rose has somehow understood this way ahead of the learning curve. Chinese Democracy is as Rose has been quoted for over a decade “…just a record.” - And that is in its self a statement that needed to be made. For after all is said and done - and all the hype, hoopla and A&R exec’s go to bed for the night, all that is left for the next generation is music preserved on media. Proving himself and his cast of players the ultimate chameleons by snaking every important influence post Beatles/Stones nostalgia right up to our current non –melodic “modern rock” era, Rose has blended them into a time capsule that will remain the footprint of the music that defined what will eventually determined to be rock’s Jurassic period. I know that you may question the authority that my statement has implied – but I dare an educated listener to say less upon true active listening. It’s all there – and totally unabashed in its glory and overly precise layering and focus. The simplicity of McCartney’s pianos to the brazen bravado of Iggy Pop, the trippy bombast of Stabbing Westward to the straight to the heart lyrical content of Eric Clapton - even the pioneering of REM & U2’s edgy delays and the iconoclastic cries of Tool’s desperation are documented in one piece of material. In short, C.D. is simply a marvel to behold. Sure the package is not “perfect”. The sound is at times so intense that it takes several listens to actually take it all into perspective - and this is not the simplistic rock of G&R’s earlier efforts. In fact I would dare say that this is a record that is best off without Slash and the “Beast of Burden” Stones-on-Steroids Gunner’s of nearly two decades ago. Such a statement could only be made with taking every influence into perspective, and not just punching to the gut. Perhaps the most important mark of this record is not made solely by the composer, but by the multiple guitarists layered to create the wall of sound once created by Boston and in a lesser sense, trans-genre studio pioneers Steely Dan. Robin Frip and Bucket-Head’s musical genius leave no stone unturned here, and have literally created what will be looked at for decades as how guitar players have truly shaped the art form into what is now. For once – I am unable to rate a single track on its own merits or deficits – and each track has both. Chinese Democracy has done exactly what Rose has underhandedly intended on – defining it’s self as the definitive statement of its era. Rose has smartly reached far beyond the view of the Sunset Strip Scene (Appetite for Destruction) and the lack-luster (perhaps embryonic?) Use Your Illusion this time. And that is the beauty of this album. If Rock has truly died – this is its obituary. And wasn’t life grand.

It has been roughly 13 years since recording for this porject began, and Guns 'N Roses ceased to exist shortly thereafter. On this first solo album by W Axl Rose, strangely marked "Guns 'N Roses," a very ambitious array of music is tackled. In much the same way that both "Use Your Illusion" albums showed ambition beyond the amazing accomplishment of their first groundbreaking, and greatest, album, "Chinese Democracy" moves this into the solo realm for Axl. As with most solo projects, this album features an enormous array of players, and the current Axl Rose solo band, still billed as Guns 'N Roses, is up to around 10 or 11 members. This allows expansion into keyboard and guitar layering far greater than was possible, or necessary, in Guns 'N Roses. The songwriting is solid, as one would hope, after having had 13 years to hone this down to the best material. Rose's voice is astoundingly wide-ranged, more than on previous efforts. This helps to beg the question "Is this really what you'll get live?" Or could the most astounding notes have been sung 13 years ago? Or is, perhaps, studio trickery involved? The delivery and power at even higher pitches brings skepticism on my part. It seems contrary to what is physically possible, although he hasn't had to tour much for 13 years, so that could be helpful in voice preservation. The guitar playing throughout is spot on, with moments that have a very bluesy feel (as Slash would have added on a real Guns 'N Roses album) to all out shredding (taking it out of the realm of Slash, who has great chops but is not really a true shredder in the purest sense). The opening track, which is the title song, along with the 2nd track "Shackler's revenge," and the track "Better," are the standout cuts to me (after 2 or 3 listens). Though, once again, the album as a whole is a solid effort. If compared to the work by Guns 'N Roses ("Appetite for Destruction," or "Use Your Illusions I & II") it is definitely a lesser work, but those are high benchmarks. As an album on it's own, it's a worthwhile listen, even if it doesn't spend the lion's share of it's time in your CD player. It is what it is, and it's good. Not great. Recommendation is truly a "Maybe." Read the specifics to decide if it applies as a Yes or No for YOU.

01. Chinese Democracy - Lyrically and musically disappointing. Axl tried for a Nirvana-style songs and failed. This song is slightly better than mediocre 02. Scraped - One of the new unheard songs on the album 03. Shackler's Revenge - Another disappointing track. Inane lyrics, annoying vocal effects. I think the guitar solos are avant-garde enough to be called "interesting." 04. Street Of Dreams - New song? Or is it "The Blues" with a new title. If it is "The Blues," I hope that they reverted to the 2002 arrangement. 05. If The World - I love this song. Not what you'd expect from GN'R, but that's one of the reasons that this album will succeed/fail. 06. Better - Better is the last 18 years of hard rock crammed into 1 song. Genius. One of the best tracks in this collection. 07. This I Love - Another unheard song. I can't wait to hear it. Supposedly a ballad that Axl has been working on since before 'Use Your Illusion' came out. Allegedly part of the "Don't Cry," "November Rain," "Estranged" song cycle. 08. There Was A Time - A great song with a great guitar solo and great lyrics. Sounds like old GN'R. 09. Riad N' The Bedovins - Another rocker in the style of old GN'R. This song is good but not great. 10. Sorry - Haven't heard this one yet either, but Bas says "it sounds like doom metal." 11. I.R.S. - Already a classic. Another rocker in the old GN'R style. Great lyrics. Love it. Love it. Love it. 12. Catcher - Classic Rock at it's finest. This one encompasses the last 34 years of rock in style and scope. JD Salinger, Mark David Chapman, John Lennon, Brian May, Axl Rose ... 13. Madagascar - EPIC. This song was played by GN'R at the 2002 VMAs. It's been played live at every show GN'R has played since 1994. There are demo versions floating around, but folks that have not heard this song yet are going to be blown away! 14. Pr0stitute - Better and Pr0stitute are my 2 favorite songs here. I cannot get enough of this song. "Ask yourself why I would choose to pr0stitute myself to live with fortune and shame." this lyric explains why this album will never ever ever ever be released. (****)

1. Chi Dem - great catchy song "B" 2. Shackler's - great video game song, definitely different "B-" 3. Better - Top notch song "A+" 4. Street of Dreams - One of the best songs on the album "A+" 5. If the world - great new sound "B" 6. There was a time - another top notch song "A" 7. Catcher In The Rye - ok song, 1st impression is album filler "C" 8. Scraped - More album filler, waste of plastic "D-" 9. Riad - the one song on the album I actually will not listen to again, very disappointing song...or maybe I just can't open Axl's head to find the hidden meanings. "D" 10. Sorry - Would be great without the profanity "B" 11. IRS - I have not made heads or tail of yet, not a classic though "C" 12. Madagascar - this song is actually better in one of the leaked versions. In the leaked version there is a pause between "I" and "won't" that makes a difference to me. It should be "I.....won't be told " instead of "I won't be told". This is the one spot on the album that shows too much tinkering and editing. "C+-" ....would have been "A+" with less editing and no profanity 13. This I love - slow love song , beautiful song, maybe one of my new favorites "A" 14. Prost_itute*... - Not a bad song. As good as anything on the radio today, but not very special at the same time. I would have put a better song at the end of the album to close it out. "B" *best buy will not allow me to spell out the song name because they consider it profanity, go figure. My Summary: I love a few of the songs and would love clean radio versions of a couple others as well. This album has filler just like almost every other CD ever made. The filler is the worst part of the album. After this long, every song should be able to stand alone. Having said this, remember that it is still a very solid album just not quite the perfection we all think is possible from this artist.