Guns N’ Roses “Chinese Democracy” Review
“Chinese Democracy” opens with a shrieking Axl Rose whose voice overwhelms a surprisingly sharp rhythm section. The song ignites the near-mythological album, also tossing aside any preconceived notion of what Chinese Democracy should sound like. But at this point in time, any interested listener has had access to various bits and pieces of the album for not simply weeks, but years – questioning not why it has taken 17 years to release a follow up to the brilliant Use Your Illusion albums, but rather why has it taken so much time to release tracks that sound essentially like they did a few years ago?
The dramatics behind Chinese Democracy are more than enough to suggest that there is some sort of credence behind its drastically prolonged release date, the band’s constantly changing lineup and Axl’s own perfectionism barely skimming the surface of the album’s history, but as a listener, a fan even, it’s hard to not initially feel like Chinese Democracy isn’t really worth the wait. Such a feeling first springs up with “Shackler’s Revenge,” which churns out a thumping “Dragula”-like riff before breaking into one of the album’s many solid choruses. Despite the solid composition, there’s an awkwardness in the transition to the next song that results from the puzzle-piece reality of Chinese Democracy; on an individual basis, each song is at the very worst, good, but as a whole, the album is a culmination of parts pieced together over the course of well over a decade. It’s there that the initial feeling of disappointment sets in.
The street glam feel of “Shackler’s Revenge” is followed by the album’s first stand-out, “Better,” but lost in that transition is the previously mentioned feeling of solidarity between the album’s unique parts. Then again, forget 17 years, how is a recording that has taken five years to compile supposed to reflect a consistent focus or artistic goal? In 2003 when the first rough demo of “I.R.S.” began circulating, the song presumably reflected Axl’s focus as a musician in 2003 – is it even possible to suggest that 13 more songs, added over the course of five years, would hold any sort of consistency? In that respect, Chinese Democracy is one of the most unique rock & roll albums ever recorded – not only has Axl had to overcome personal and public expectations of the music, but he’s had to combine nearly two decades worth of rough drafts into something fluid. Despite the awkward transition between “Shackler’s Revenge” and “Better,” when consideration is made for the process behind the transition, it’s amazing that the tracks sound as good together as they do.
photo: George Chin
“Street of Dreams” continues by rining true to the Guns N’ Roses of the past. Like “Catcher in the Rye” does later in the album, “Dreams” finds a balance between a daunting mountain of sound and that horrible armpit of a niche known as a “rock-ballad.” It’s in “Dreams” that Axl becomes a victim of his own creation, because at about a minute and a half into the song, a guitar comes crashing in, attempting to rip it in half, and the resulting feeling is that… well, Slash could have destroyed this song. Though the solo that later materializes easily stands up to anything else on Chinese Democracy, the song unleashes a shadow of past-successes that casts a cloudy feeling of sentimental longing for a band that no longer exists. Here, the idea of living in the moment and appreciating what it is that Guns N’ Roses have turned into becomes secondary to the what-ifs, if only temporarily. But the eventual reality of the situation isn’t that the songs could have been better if performed by the original band members, but rather that they sound just as good now as it probably would have in 1995 – no matter who’s performing them.
There are a few exceptions, “Scraped” in particular, that sound out sightly of place, but as the album continues ahead those sharp transitions become softer and Chinese Democracy starts to sound like something complete. Questioning at first why the album took even a few years to “perfect” becomes superficial as the album rolls on – the key to Chinese Democracy isn’t that it’s a culmination of 17 years, but rather that no song on the album stands as something entirely out of place. Any song could effectively have been released during the past 15 years and it wouldn’t have sounded any better or worse at any point time than it does now. Hearing “I.R.S.” and “Madagascar” two years ago for the first time, I can’t say that I’m any less impressed by them now than I was then. How many albums from any of rock’s giants can the same be said for? Think of the bands that have been releasing mediocre albums since 1993, U2′s Pop or Metallica’s Reload for instance; chances are that time will prove those albums even more dated sounding and stuck in the moment than they sound now. Such a reality is one that I don’t believe Chinese Democracy will have to face.
photo: George Chin
In his review, Chuck Klosterman began by questioning the relevance of even attempting to review the album, “Reviewing Chinese Democracy is not like reviewing music. It’s more like reviewing a unicorn.” Summing up a few words in reflection of the music pales in comparison to the epic release and the history behind it. Putting aside all thought on expectation, what the demos sounded like, why the album has taken so long to release, and if the final product sounds remotely good all becomes secondary to the fact that Chinese Democracy is finally a reality. For what it’s worth though, when considering the obstacles faced prior to its release, it’s nothing short of remarkable how good the album sounds.
Not a huge guns ‘n roses fan,but into velvet revolver,I bought a copy anyway out of curiosity & did like the record.
You nailed it in your review.I will listen to it more.
Really appreciate you checking the review out! It’s definitely worth listening to – I think it’ll be interesting to read more reviews as they come in, as everyone will approach it in a different light considering how closely they’ve been following the saga.
You know, the tunes I’ve heard aren’t nearly as bad as I expected, but can’t possibly meet the expectations of fans who’ve been waiting for 17 years for this album to see the light of day. What I would like to see is for Axl to pull a Ryan Adams and put out another record in 6 months, no real hoopla, just get back in the studio and churn another record out (Lord knows he’s probably got enough material for another album)-that’s something I would be interested in-not so much thought and scrutiny, just get the music out there and see if it holds up. Chances are it wouldn’t (at least when compared to his past output) but at least it would represent Axl taking a big risk-finally releasing this record after 17 years of hype isn’t much of a risk, sadly. Chris, do you have any idea about the changing lineup throughout this release-how much the lineup was shuffled from one song to the next. It’s hard to build any true consistency when you have such a revolving door during the recording process. Is Buckethead even still a member of the band? Anyway, thoughtful review (it almost seems like your opinion of the record gets better as you write more about it), and that Klosterman quote has been cracking me up for an hour now. Half of what he says is pretty funny, half of what he thinks is funny isn’t. Great review Chris.
Man, Buckethead came and went fast… but as I was listening to the album, that’s part of the brilliance of the thing. Axl hasn’t just continually surrounded himself with talented musicians, but musicians that could fit the mold – his mold. Buckethead is a freak – the guy is insanely talented… in fact, he’s so good that he can step into Guns N’ Roses and play some fairly stock Spanish guitar without you even thinking twice about it. Part of what you said about how I warmed up to it is that as I kept writing I kept remembering more and more of the back story. On the surface, the album is alright – but when I sarted thinking about how bad it should be… I stopped closing my ears to a lot of what was there, and really fell into it.
the album most definitely is not GOOD, but i’m impressed that it’s not totally awful either, especially from the early tracks that had leaked.
i think it definitely establishes “GNR” as an entirely new band, and while Axl is talented, it also shows just how much those other guys added to those early records.
i think my problem with it, while some of it does “rock”, most of it is so over the top/overblown and ADHD-ish, that there just aren’t many good hooks at all on here.
there’s not a SINGLE song on this thing that would be in GNR’s top 25 songs, and that’s kind of disappointing i guess.
sure there was no way it could have ever lived up to the hype, and it’s certainly not as awful as most of us expected, but i couldn’t honestly give it more than 2.5 stars out of 5.
also, apparently the liner notes are 22 pages long and over 80 people played on the record. Shaq even recorded a vocal for it, but it didn’t make the final cut
but yeah, very good review Chris, i expect the comments on here to be pretty long soon
I think one of the funniest things about that “80 people played on the record” thing is that Sebastian Bach (apparently) isn’t credited in the liner notes. – thanks for the kind words Jeff
that Klosterman quote made me laugh.
this pretty much sums up the review for me, “…the song unleashes a shadow of past-successes that casts a cloudy feeling of sentimental longing for a band that no longer exists.”
I disagree with the poster that said not one song is top 25. Better is easily top 25 for me. I first heard the song a year or so ago and I had hoped it’d be on the final product (if it ever came to light) and that it wouldn’t be reworked. Glad to hear it’s the same.
I may catch some hell for this, but god I think this album sucks. Really, like Nickleback sucks.
that’s just mean.
Gotta say…. I’ve been listening to it on Myspace for 2 days now and it just keeps growing on me. I’m enjoying reading all the reviews as well… from people calling it a disaster to a Masterpiece. I’m a musician and have put out two records and after listening to this you can see how much time and dedication went into this record. I believe this to be a “Game Changer” in the music business. If I had to describe this album in one word it would be “Real”
This album is great. “There Was A Time” is honestly one of the best songs I’ve ever heard in my life, and I thought “Better” would end up being the best piece on the ablum, it doesn’t come close anymore. “Catcher In The Rye”, “Street Of Dreams”, “Prostitute”, and “Sorry” are so great. The only songs I’m not crazy about are “Scraped” and “Shackler’s Revenge”. Great review. I’ll be honest, this does really make me re-consider wanting a Guns reunion. Oh, I REALLY want one, but not as much now. I heard Steven Adler’s clean, and he may replace the drummer, which would be great (The drummer’s ‘meh’ on this album). I’ll be honest, best album in a long, long time, maybe since Pearl Jam’s Ten. This is opinion of course.
I just got the album and I think it’s definitely good. People who say it sucks don’t know anything about music. Appetite, it’s not. But at the same time they were in their twenties at the time, and the edge starts to cloud over time. Axl is an artist, period. I’m glad he’s back and I’ll be there when they come to S.F. 4.5 out of 5
Nice review. Klosterman was right; reviewing this album is no easy task. It’s like trying to work a Rubik’s Cube in that there are so many different sides and facets to the overall album. You might isolate one angle but then another one comes around the corner. That may be it’s success in a way. It’s certainly not a simple album and can’t be panned as such. It’s complicated and I think classic in that sense…from the days of old when you listened to an album over and over until you wore the needle out on your record player. In an industry of disposable trends and heroes, I think Axl may have simply won on the basis that he didn’t lose here. But honestly, after 17 years, there are going to be people disappointed on that fact alone. I mean, we’re not hanging out by the 7-11 drinking cheap beer and chasing high school girls like we were the first time around we took the GnR ride. I give it a ‘B’ in terms of being a classic, monumental effort and for the sheer wall of power that the album brings. I think when the dust settles, it’ll be a classic in time. Not an ‘Appetite’ classic but maybe like a ‘Pinkerton’ classic that has a handful of rabid followers who will defend it to great lengths.
the album is sophisticated rock, Axle is still a genius.
To put things in perspective, I don’t seem to recall many people complaining about Guns N Roses adding Dizzy Reed, Matt Sorum and Gilby Clarke to the band back around Use Your Illusion. Traci Guns was the first guitarist, hence the name. So I don’t quite understand what it is people are complaining about when they say it’s not GnR. Nobody cries that Adler wasn’t in the band back then, and Sorum/Clarke et al were more or less session musicians that toured with the others.
Furthermore, Use Your Illusion I isn’t all that it’s cracked up to be. If one removes November Rain from the track listing, it becomes rather mediocre with lots of filler (two songs in a row with the word “Garden” in them?). Use Your Illusion II was a much more interesting, straight forward album with better songs (though it had a few head scratching moments as well–Get Into the Ring, My World).
That being said, I believe Chinese Democracy is somewhere between II and Appetite. On Chinese Democracy, it sounds like an energized band that isn’t constrained to a particular sound and free to experiment. When one listens to UYI I&II, it’s hard not think of how exhaustive Slash’s guitar sounds at the end–like a pianist playing an entire concert in the same key. It’s one thing to have a signature sound where one says “Yep, that’s so and so”, but it’s entirely different when said sound becomes restrictive to the creative process. Besides, I’d bet dollars to donuts Slash couldn’t play half the licks on this album–he’s simply not a technically proficient guitarist.
To the songs themselves, my personal favorite is Prostitute. Though I’m not keen on how it starts, it hits its chorus with force, yet knows when to taper off, only to crescend back with more.
There Was a Time is a song that just builds and builds and builds. One of the complaints I’ve always had about the UYI albums were how over-produced they were, much like Oasis Be Here Now album; it’s like they had to throw everything but the kitchen sink into the production, to the point I’m happy to say there must not have been any kazoo’s in the studio (thank goodness).
While Chinese Democracy suffers from over-production as well, it never feels that way. The songs unfold with various layers, making it an album that enriches on repeated listenings.
In the end, it’s time and time alone that will judge this album, not the critics. While we can sit here and ask ourselves “how did this take 17 years to make”, the real question is, how will this album be reviewed 17 years from now. Only time will tell…
Pooltop: I like your statement about this being on par with Pinkerton in terms of cult status. Time will tell.
Marcus: Great point about the “session” musicians. Also, I agree with your statement that the band sounds energized… if Axl sounded tired and worn out, this would be a completely different album.
it is a masterpiece at first i hated it but couldn t stop listening here and there ,now i m addiccted !
and thats with the second half of the album i m in love with ,not better or shackler revenge..
thank god axl did this one alone .
i hope there really is 4 albums.
Another thing I think is refreshing about this album is how diverse it is. Of all the albums I’ve heard this year, this is one that is all over the place and that is a good thing in my opinion.
I believe EW reviewed AC/DC’s Black Ice and criticized the songs for all sounding alike. Oasis had a pretty good release with Dig Out Your Soul, however, it was very percussion/bass driven. Even Extreme, who had their first album of new material in 13 years (hey! That’s almost as long as Axl!) managed to sound a little uninspired and less Extreme than they normally are.
And then there’s Metallica, who put out a good Death Magnet, yet sound like they’re still stuck on the same path they were with Saint Anger. Minus the lead cut, and, uh-hem, the third re-working of unforgiven, the album stayed pretty true to formula.
That’s what’s great about Chinese Democracy–there is no formula other than big and bombastic.
‘Chinese Democracy’ is basically what I expected from Axl. He said he was getting into industrial during the UYI sessions, thus the reason we had to deal with ‘my world’ on the end of UYI2, and he now gets to do his ballads and some mid-tempo songs with beats in it.
He should’ve sang at a lower register on all the songs (like he does on a couple), because he sounds really thin when he tries to hit the high notes. I don’t blame him for that, he’s in his 40s now, but he would’ve made the songs sound better if he would’ve sang them lower. The production doesn’t help either by putting the vocals so far up into the mix.
The 4 heavy songs are metallic, industrial riffage not unlike ‘Oh My God,’ but also not as good as that song either. I’m guessing, Axl put these songs on here to appease the rockers, and he probably only wrote the lyrics and left the music to Buckethead…because they have that ‘avant-garde, nobody listens to this shit except for the guitar wankery’ vibe to them. They are not terrible, but they are not at all interesting either.
The ballads range from good UYI-styled songs such as ‘The Blues,’ ‘Madagascar,’ and ‘Catcher In The Rye’ to pure and total shit, i.e ‘If This World’ and ‘Sorry.’
The mid-tempo songs ‘Better,’ ‘I.R.S.,’ and ‘There Was A Time’ are decent. Songs like this were nowhere to be found during the classic lineup albums.
Axl used to be a lyrical genius, but getting off the streets seems to have killed that as it has with many bands, i.e. Metallica.
When Axl sings like he’s the victim in ‘Sorry’ or makes a chorus that says:
“Gonna call the President
Gonna call myself a Private Eye
Gonna need the IRS
Gonna get the FBI”
when singing about a girl who left him who he ‘gave his heart too’. I just can’t help but cringe.
In the song ‘Street Of Dreams, Axl says ‘But that’s not stardust on my feet,’ sadly I didn’t have any angeldust to keep me from laughing at these lyrics.
This album and Velvet Revolver prove that Izzy Stradlin was truly the heart of the old Guns N Roses. He wrote the riffs that made those songs (as well as the only two decent Velvet Revolver songs ‘Do It For The Kids’ and ‘Slither’), and he is definitely missed on this album.
I give it 3 out of 5 stars because of the 3 decent ballads and the fact that it has some great guitar wankery.
not bad at all buckethead’s guitar riffs kick ass
Amazing record. It’s not GnR anymore, but it’s something new and incredible for this shlty music industry. Best RnR record in ages. I loved original Guns and VR. Axl’s taken it to the next level.
I think most people will find this album to be pretty damn good as long as they listen to it like they haven’t been waiting 17 years to hear it. That’s the key to appreciating it. I think the solos are great (especially on “There was a time”). I do miss Slash’s shredding but the past is the past. Overall, I’d have to say the album is solid and worth purchase. I’m not concerned with the “17 year wait” because honestly, I wasn’t waiting in the first place. Now lets see if Alice In Chains can make a great album without Layne Staley.
I guess it’s good for record industry schlock. It’s definitely not like the Guns N Roses of Appetite For Destruction days which started playing to raw, back-to-basics, gutter rock to destroy the overdone, overproduced hair metal of the 80s.
Axl is the guy that sued (along with Slash and Duff) to block Greatest Hits from coming out because it ‘would dimish the bands street cred with the flawed song choice’ (which was primarily the bands radio hits). This album is nothing like Guns N Roses, and this overproduced mess will definitely diminish his street cred with the hardcore fans who stood beside this band for playing raw, punk-inspired rock n’roll that laid waste of all the overproduced schlock that was their way. This album just proves that he’s a pompous, narcissistic, delusional, headcase that lost touch with his roots long ago.
To Marcus P. Smithers:
you wrote:
Besides, I’d bet dollars to donuts Slash couldn’t play half the licks on this album–he’s simply not a technically proficient guitarist.
Slash is an excellenet guitarist and is extremely technically proficient, he is one of the few successful mainstream guitarists that complaint cannot be levelled against. You obviously don’t play the guitar, and are just trotting out second hand formulaic criticism that you neither understand nor are qualified to make. You are a phony.
It’s not a terrible album, nor an exceptional album. It’s just above average mainstream rock. There is nothing played on the album that’s extraordinary or original. The guitar solos are good, but they aren’t ground-breaking. The drumming could be handled by Matt Sorum which isn’t saying much. The only thing that makes this album sound ‘technical’ is the layers or overdubbing. I want technical music not a technical studio creation. Radiohead’s albums are much more complex then this. To claim that there is complexity when it’s just a bunch of overdubs and layers is ludicrous, the band members themselves are playing very simple and basic things. It’s better then top 40 radio rock, but that’s about all. If anybody thinks this is a great rock n’ roll album, you need to stop watching MTV, VH1, and Clearchannel radio and start searching for real music. You can only say this is great if it’s compared to Nickelback and all the clones of the grunge-era on the radio today.
Just listened to the CD.
What are you people smokin? This is a nasty mess.
I consider myself a huge GNR fan and an even bigger fan of Axl himself. With all due respect to him, I just can’t get in to this type of music. There’s not a single song that I feel I can rock out to like I could in every other album the band has put out there (including the spaghetti incident?). The music on this album switches tempos and changes keys too frequently. I can’t keep up with it. Axl’s voice seems digitally enhanced to a point where it sounds computer generated. Does anyone else hear what I hear?
yes, i was blasted on another site for mentioning Axl’s vocals not being up to par and digitally enhanced, but i completely agree!
to ‘Jim’
you wrote:”I consider myself a huge GNR fan and an even bigger fan of Axl himself. With all due respect to him, I just can’t get in to this type of music. There’s not a single song that I feel I can rock out to”
I.R.S.???
The album blows chunks. For a person to grow up on Appetite For Destruction and now have to listen to this over produced dribble makes my ears bleed.
I’m stoked at the freshness of this Album. I think Axl has got a big set of balls releasing something like this and has issued a “come and get me” to all the idiot wankers who are just itching to shit all over any concept he cares to lay bare for the world. Thanks God that there are people like Axl to break through to totally monotonous bollocks that is the current music industry… I mean seriously when did Indie translate to “Every fucking band in the world that play a guitar but aren’t metal”
Listen to this as if it is a new band you’ve never heard of… I think you’ll be interested at the very least, if not pleasantly surprised.
OK…..All Appetite fans, take one giant step back. Go back to your collection, and grab Use Your Illusion 1 and listen to it. THAT’S Axel Rose. And so is this. “GnR” will NEVER be “Appetite for Destruction” again….EVER. The group on the album cover MIGHT SAY Guns & Roses, but we all know it isn’t. It’s just Axel Rose. I AM an Axel Rose fan. I have liked everything that he has been a part of, including this.
In the words of Axel himself….”And to all those opposed..hrmpf WELL!”
Am currently working on my second listen-through of GN’R's newest, “Chinese Democracy”. First impressions? Not bad, but it is not Guns N’ Roses, sorry. The tracks tend to stray too far from each other in general style and the entirety is far too overproduced. The appeal, the niche if you will, that made GN’R what they were in the early days was their irreverence, their punk attitude in the face of the glitz and lipstick they were inundated with by being given birth in the 80s glam cesspool that was Hollywood at the time. The songs – taken individually – are actually quite good, overall. But it is not the Guns N’ Roses that served as the soundtrack to my own rebellions and lifestyle way back when. Is that a good thing? Perhaps, perhaps not. Most of the target demographic was either not born or barely born or not even a sparkle in anyone’s eyes when I was going to clubs and seeing GN’R play with bands like Jetboy, TSOL, and others. This is my first impression, however; a much more fully realized review to be spewed out later this week…..but I will say this: It is worth a listen to find out what the fuck Axl has been doing for the past 17 goddamn years…..
i think this album is perfect….anyway do you know anything about music…axl a very big musician…
Listen to ‘Electric Arguments’ by The Fireman. Paul McCartney released the best album this week. ‘Electric Arguments’ uses tons of layers on songs, and it actually adds to the songs, and it’s sound is BIG as fuck.
If you think what’s on radio and mtv is rock n’ roll, then i can see how you will find Chinese Democracy to be ‘fresh.’ If you search for fresh music and rock n’ roll, you’ll find much better elsewhere, and you won’t give a shit that Axl ever put out an album named Chinese Democracy.
Those of use waiting for the perfect album will wait forever. Although, Axl really kicks ass in his new record. I love it and can’t stop listening to it. It’s freaking great tunes. Is it the Bill and Ted album/song that will bring world peace – I doubt it. But, the songs really, REALLY GOOD.
blah blah blah…i guess, i picked copy, because what i here is shit.
i guess i picked up a bad copy*
I think the album is unique. Its different & recorded to profection, thats why people hate & but purchase the damm record. Thank UUUUUUUUUUUU!!!!
I think the album is unique. Its different & recorded to profection, thats why people hate & but purchase the damm record. Thank UUUUUUUUUUUU!!!!
This album completely sucked donkey balls. There’s no way to give this a proper review because it was just that awful. Not one song stands out as memorable, even headliners like Chinese Democracy and Better are ‘meh’ at best and just rehashed 1993 crapola. I’m extremely underwhelmed and will be trap shooting with this disc tomorrow as there is no other tangible use for it other than toilet paper.
This could possibly be the most disappointing release I have ever heard.
Is it me or does Axl sound like Sam Kinison on a few of these songs?
Axl sounds like The Count from the Muppets in “Street of Dreams”! Go back and listen. This album is horrid!!!! Deleting from hard drive.
why oh why does the world want another Appetite from GnR?? The same album again?? Can’t people grow up and more on like everything HAS to. One week on I think it’s a GREAT album. It mightn’t be cool to say that here with all you ‘experts’ but that’s what I think about it. Classic album.
just listening to it now, it puts me in mind of how the chili peppers got john frusciante back after all his bothers, and in one way i think ‘yay! he’s back!’ but on the other hand nothing they’ve not put out anything that quite equals what was on bloodsugar for quality. it’s pretty cool tho’, and i’ll take it on it’s individual merits
aint there alot of nasty bitches in this world.? Alot of negative comments from people who probably arent very talented themselves. Or prove me wrong…. submit YOUR bands link here so we can compare your music to Axls…. go on, dare ya!
Great record btw!
Good one, Stiv! LMAO!!!
The new GnR album is solid. & Axl sounds better live than he ever did in the 80′s and 90′s. But that’s just my humble opinion.
~cheers
your humble opinion is bullshit. i saw them live in 2006, and his voice cracks almost every fucking line.
why don’t you submit your bands stuff, Stiv? it could be that your band sucks so bad that it makes you think this is good.
I hated this cd the first time I heard it, for some reason I listend a couple more times and now I Really like it alot. Not a great but a good one. I do however feel the Bass Playing brings nothing to the table
if you loved GNR back in day then this album does not disappoint.
Thats the whole point about the album its different! All the music these days is the same, & thats why music critics hate. thank UUUUUUUUUUUUUU
I just want the old band back together. I miss Slash and the boys. I don’t need another Appetite or a “Use your illusion”, but I can’t get into these songs knowing there is are different musicians on every song. I want to lose myself in this music, like I used in the 80′s and 90′s but I can’t!!!!!!
If you can forget the time elapse and that this is supposed to be GNR or even Axl Rose for that matter, ths has to be one of the best albums made since Axl started on the project. Up there with Sublime. Every song is worth listening to many times over. Street of Dreams, Catcher, Sorry, Madagascar, Better are my favorites and I really like Shackler, Chinese Dem, There Was a Time, Scraped, Riad, If the World. I just named 11 of the 14 songs and the other three are listenable, one of which, IRS, seems to be a favorite of many other people. The album does take a few playings to really sink into, but then you realize that this is rich, diverese, mulitfaceted ROCK AND ROLL that does not fit easily into any one rock genre box. Your favorite act could be Elton John, Journey, U2, Pink Floyd, Judas Priest, the Beatles, etc and you can still love this record. I am guessing that the people who will hate it are either 1) the GNR Appetite Only fans or 2) those that give the record only a quick skip-thru so they can say they listened to it and conclude what they wanted to in the beginning, that this is all we get after 17 years (yes just great music, but then the record would have had to cure AIDS and CANCER to satisfy you and in the end it is just music). If the record gets enough circulation trust me, these people will admit they were wrong a year from now and applaud because they are followers and their predisposition to be negative about the record will change given time, public opinion, and accidentally hearing the record played in the background while they are drinking wine and smelling their own farts in San Francisco. Music needed this and I hope enough people get the opportunity to hear it.
Right on man, love the South Park reference, hillarious. Two problems though. Group 1 will always hate this record no matter what and Group 2 is 99% of the USA. That leaves the music a serious uphill battle because of the remaining less than 1 percent, only a sliver will ever hear one song. This would have been a HUGE commercial success in late 80s to early 90s, but I am skeptical about 2008-9. However, I agree it is a masterwork if you forget the baggage.
Iam a true fan of Axl, Slash, and Gunners music. Saw em live back in 93′ here in Australia. This new cd was well worth the wait. Love it. Who the hell sings tough ROCK songs better than Axl currently?, I can think of Maynard from tool or James from Metallica only. It’s all we got in a music world full of young men wearing to much makeup and stealing to many riffs. To those who didn’t believe in Axl. Never write of a champion in sport or music.
Pretty good for an axl solo project. Everybody needs to forget about the band that gave you “Appetite” They wont be back..”Time just fades the pages in my book of memories”
Guns N’ Roses is my favorite band of all time. So it’s up to you if you want to consider that fact before I give my opinion of this album.
On my first listen, I liked a couple songs, thought a few were junk, and almost laughed at some of Axl’s new vocal styles.
On my second listen, the songs I liked on my first listen, I began to feel love for, and the songs that were junk to me the first time around were now revealing their cool-mysterious hooks, and some of Axl’s new vocal styles that were funny to me at first were now interesting.
On my third listen, I fell in LOVE with about 85% of the album. I felt that the song “Sorry” could have been produced a lot better to do the song justice. It’s produced as a humorous rock-ballad, but it has such a cool hook and feel that it’s like a waste to produce it that way.
On my fourth listen through today (my 20th listen), I call this album a masterpiece.
Yes, if I produced it, there are still a few things I would have changed, but on the other hand, maybe those things I don’t like are actually making the album be as cool as it is.
Even though GNR is my favorite band of all time, I can admit that on every one of their albums, there are definitely a few songs that I don’t like and that I can straight-out say are not good songs or just fillers. Now I’m not saying that Chinese Democracy is their best album, but I can say that it’s the first album they’ve made where I truly enjoy listening to every single song. This album is like a relationship. You have to get to know it better over time and learn to trust it, and if you do that, you will be rewarded with it’s honesty. You will then develop a strong passion for it and want to spend every second of the day with it. Axl Rose, whether he knows it or not, is an absolute musical genius. I hope people give this album a few listens through and experience similar experiences to mine. My favorite 3 tracks are “This I Love”, “Street Of Dreams”, and “There Was A Time”. I can’t wait for what Axl has up his sleeve for his next album. I do still have faith that the original GNR will reunite, but either way I know I’ll be happy because Axl will keep the GNR legacy special no matter who the band members are.
-Brian Judah
http://www.brianjudah.com
This album has potential to break constraints that music industry put music as art. To open eyes of other musicians.
Hopefully more and more people will realize that as time pass.
Time works for this album.
When I initially listened to Chinese Democracy I was a little disappointed. However, I gave it a chance and after listening to it a few more times I’m a big fan of the CD.
I especially like “There was a time”. Though the song opens a little weak, it really builds momentum and, in my opinion, ends up being one of the best GNR tunes ever.
Though the album lacks the raw recklessness of GNR of old, it’s definitely one of the better, if not the best, R&R albums in quite awhile.
Walking through the shop I saw Chinese Democracy staring back at me from the shelves… I’d heard so much about it, but I had no money. Thankfully, a friend at school lent it to me, and I ripped it all to my computer before even listening to it, I was that confident it would be good.
Oh man, was I right.
In my opinion, this sounds better than anything off of Appetite or Illusion. I’m probably going to be flamed for that, but Axl has gone from being a shabby garage singer, he is now a true musical innovator IMO. All of the tracks are amazing, they all have an epic feel and hark towards more modern artists. They sound like refined metal tracks, and while I hate bands like Killswitch Engage and Disturbed, Axl took the good qualities of them and applied them with grace to Chinese Democracy. It’s an epic track, and for the first time in my life I can actually enjoy every song on the album. They’re all single quality. The only artist that ever did that for me was Michael Jackson, on his Thriller-Bad-Dangerous albums. I would definitely recommend this to anyone who is not just a GNR fan, but likes modern metal. They’ll get a kick out of this for sure.
guns n roses isnt the same without slash……
this album is bullshit..
and i love guns n roses
that’s right andrea. guns n roses isnt the same, but they are definitely not worse. if anything, they’re actually. these new guitarists can play what and how Slash played in their sleep and a ton more creativity as well. this album is not bullshit. it’s actually unbelievable. give it a few listens through.
***IGNORE REVIEW ABOVE – GRAMMAR ERROR***
that’s right andrea. guns n roses isnt the same, but they are definitely not worse. if anything, they’re actually better. these new guitarists can play what and how Slash played in their sleep and a ton more creativity as well. this album is not bullshit. it’s actually unbelievable. give it a few listens through.
Just got this CD for Christmas and I like it a lot, first listen through, I really liked “Better”, now going through it the 2nd time, I getting into “This I love”.
My .02
I agree with majority or reviewers, this album is revive of the albums that shocked the rock world 17 years ago, but now they just sound old.
And as said above Slash is missing so much, no matter how many guitarists GnR employ, Slash was so unique.
Nevertheless its worth giving a try, but the magic is gone.
people need to understand there will be no other appetite for destruction.
when gnr lies came out ppl thought gnr lost their edge. same for use your illusions I and II. and now ppl talk lie those albums are masterpieces.
i think in time chinese democracy will be seen as their third best current album right behind appetite for destruction and use your illusions II.
I didn’t need to be told of the greatness of the Beatles, Led Zeppelin, Nirvana. I knew it from listening to the music. I’ve listened to it more than almost anyone. I’ve also listed to Chinese Democracy more than 99.9% of the owners of the album. I believe it is a masterpiece. Every song is excellent and unique, but they also all complement each other to make Chinese Democracy one of the best albums ever made.
Music reflects the times we’re living in and it is very obvious that this album reflects the aura of our troubled times.
this album is like a person with many characteristics versus previous or other albums which were the manifestation of an attitude.
Chinese Democracy is like a human being expressing himself on several levels.
forget how it was recorded, that’s not the point. forget how many years it took, that’s not the point either.
the average human consumes an entire lifetime trying to find himself and in most cases dies without knowing who he is…
this album is more existential in its expression, the sad melodies, the memories, the confusion, the disappointments…etc.
Chinese Democracy is not easy to grasp, its tunes are not simple. the whole theme is a mood, a phase and certainly not intended for just about anyone. it is not mainstream music…
listen to it with an open mind and try to ‘feel’ it rather than dissect it and understand it.
Axl is an artist, and this album is like one of his paintings. If it doesn’t sink in now, there will come a time when it will… when you’re ready.
Chinese Democracy. the title itself gives you clues to what lies inside. a paradox.
This album did take a long ass time, but i feel its great to hear that voice again, put aside the old band and look at what it is.. today no one does guitar solos, this album was full of em, he did it his way, which every guns n roses fan knows is how Axl works. genius i say, cant stop playing it hope theres more to come!
Also very revealing! check out their website with an open letter from Axl!
Hady kicks ass! GNR Forever!
Finally picked up this CD yesterday because I was waiting for the right time to get it. I had to have time to hear it and I had a road trip by myself. After so many years I wanted to make sure I didn’t have any distractions for the first listen.
After one cycle through, it is what I thought it would be. A culmination of all the ideas and talent that Axl is.
This offering is a journey that is not for the run of the mill GnR fan from the Appetite days. More so than not, if you only liked Apetite then you will not like this. I don’t really listen to Apetite anymore, just Illusions 1&2.
I remember my first run with Illusions and how I could not believe they topped Apetite. Well, same can be said for Chinese Democracy.
After many cycles, I came to this thought: the original members of GnR I don’t think could have done this one with Axl which is why he did it himself.
I would love to see the orignal members reunite but if I had to give up the quality and artistic style of Chinese Democracy for the next offering I would say no.
My friend asked me just a few minutes ago what I thought about the CD and I said- EPIC!!
Guns N Roses just launched their official Canadian merch store and I just bought some awesome new shirts. Chinese Democracy was awesome and I can’t wait to see them come to Toronto on tour soon. You can check out the new store by clicking my username.
I hope Im not the only one that thinks Axl has lost the edge in his voice. I love the guy, but in many songs it sounds like a 12 year old girl screaming; kind of embarrasing to listen to. I’ll agree, though, that the song Chinese democracy is a lot better recorded than played live. I don’t have a problem with the guitar playing or drums, mixing, whatever,its ok, nothing amazing about it, I just think these songs could have been written in a day, rehearsed and recorded within a week of practice. I was expecting a lot more, better lyrics, better vocals. Axl needs Izzy to write him some good songs if the next album will be worth listening to. And Axl, sometimes its better just to start over than to try and make shitty songs work. Revolver’s in, Guns are out. cheers
after listening to it a couple of times this album as really grown on me, its fantastic, as good as the Use Your Illusion albums, Better, Irs a prostitute are world class songs, very good
I had many of the same feelings when I first listened to the Album that other people had, I didnt like a lot of songs, But after listening to the album a bunch of times, I am hooked. I love so many of the songs, I really like “Catcher In The Rye”, first listen I kind of pasted it by, but the songs makes you crave it after a while. The Lyrics and music are just incredible. I think if you were to make a song like “Catcher in The Rye” this would be it.
One of the best songs I have heard in a long time. And The Lyrics just fall into place. Really a great song.
ACDC is ACDC, their last album was your typical AC/DC, but this Guns N Roses after some listens is a masterpiece if you understand it. This album has a ton of great songs, and a lot of lyrics are real incredible in all the songs. “There was A Time” another real incredible song, if you only skimmed the new Album, you missed a lot, give it some listens.
It sounds different then what you might expect. But 17 years is also a lot of time for an artist to experiment and grow as an artist. There are more great songs left in AXL
it is nice to see GNR back. It was too long time since “Use Your Illusion”. This album is not that good, but still shows that Axel is back on the track.
Come on axel! you could have done a lot better than that this album sucks, I just like “Soory, Better, and This I Love”. You should have kept the old GUNS AND ROSES, like slash was great on guitar, and izzy also. but know you just screwed things up. I Used to be a GUNS AND ROSES fan but now I’m disappointed.
ALL OF YOU THAT DONT LIKE THIS ALBUM ARE THE ONES LISTENIG TO ALL THE CRAP MUSIC,THEY PLAY THESE DAYS I MEAN WHATEVER HAPPENED TO ROCK,ITS LIKE ALL THE NEW BANDS ARE TRYING TO SEE WHO HAS THE GAYIST SOUNDING VOCALIST ITS HORRENDOS,ANYWAY BACK TO THE NEW GNR I AGREE IT GETS BETTER WITH EVERY LISTEN,REAL MUSIC REQUIRES A LITTLE EFFORT BY THE LISTENER TO FULLY APPRECIATE.IT IS A MASTERPIECE 5 OUT OF 5STARS.
The first time I listened to this album I was disappointed and i’ve been a fan for over 20 years. I dug it out again a few weeks ago and gave it another whirl and it was better. I’ve listened to it about 12 times since then trying to understand and take it all in. Here’s what it comes down to, this album has a few decent songs with catchy hooks but nothing awesome like what us fans would expect. We ask too much from one man and that is why we are unhappy. It took 5 talented musicians to put those earlier albums together. They complement each other and its why they made great music. This albumn is a display of one man trying to capture what took 5 to do and using whatever means necessary. Its sad knowing someone tortured theirself for 17 years over 14 songs. In the end when you listen to this album you learn that you can’t replace great musicians with mediocre ones. The heart is in the lyrics and vocals but not in the playing. This is not gn’r, its just Axl. I may not love it, but i’ll still listen and hope for more.
I was very happy to see he shed away from his appetite era not that it wasn’t great, because it was a great album as was the illusion albums which are some of my all time favorites. But Chinese Democracy blew me away. Its refreshingly different, as it been criticized for. Axle is changing for the times and proves to us that he is one of the most influential musicians/songwriters or our time.
I’m mystifield by some of the comments here. I suspect a lot of people were expecting a album that sounded just like classic nineties G n’R. But we’re 20 years on from that era and musicians grow and develop. I think Axl has experimented and produced an album that in the main is top drawer and one that grows on you with every listen. Yes, it would be great to have Slash and Duff back etc but I think that’s from a sentimental point of view, certainly the musicians that have played on the album can’t be faulted. One thing that can’t be doubted is that Axl still has the most unique voice in rock and I for one can’t wait to see him live in Manchester, snarling and showing the young pretenders that he is still the man.
I have to say, I bought the CD the day it came out, and was not a big fan. The CD has been in my player in my car since that day. Everytime it came to the GnR CD I would skip it. Well I have to not say what a big mistake on my part. For the past 2 weeks I have not stopped listening to it. This CD is Definately my Favorite. The more I listen to it the more I like it and find more lyric and mucis in it thats keeps me right on listening to it…….Definately a GREAT CD!!!!!!!!!!!!!
since the beginning its song leaked on the internet?I really interested to listen? what is axl have done in his solo GNR and I found that no one of it can related with old GNR songs? It is clear that all of it is his EGO and it is not GNR at all? if you need changes for GNR? find other band? but I don?t need GNR to be changes because what it is point at all? we all wait the old GNR kinds but clearly not this Chin Dem?