YO!!
Hey to all that read this post. I have wanted to write my opinions and describe my feelings in regard to "Chinese Democracy" but, in all honesty, I really had to wait for this thing to sink in...the reality that this Cd actually was in my hands and wanted to fully give it a solid listen through and through. So, I've been enjoying it too damn much and finally want to relay some thoughts on this incredible album. This is something that I have been waiting for since I was in high school and it's very surreal to me to finally have this in my possession. And that it lived up to the hype!!
First off, when I heard the new, spiffy version of
"Chinese Democracy," I wasn't sure if I was gonna dig the double tracking of Axl's voice but, I quickly got used to it and now like it as part of the song. The guitars are awesome and although Brain's drums were replaced, Frank's are still great. The Buckethead solo remains one of my favorite parts! This is a truly kick ass song and should be the new opener in concert! It's new era baby and we can hear "WTTJ" later on during the show. Open with this fucker and tear the roof off!!!
Regarding
"Shackler's Revenge," when I first heard it, I was like 'Uh...wow. Okay?' This took a few listens for me to like. I was expecting a song from them that appears on Rock Band 2 to be more mainstream. And this is quite a different song. At least for GN'R. Although, I like that they wanted to spread their wings further in experimentation and now I think it's a cool song. Many layered nuances that I'm still discovering with each listen. Great contrast to anything else on the album.
What can I add to what has already been said about
"Better?" It's already a GN'R classic and I still love it after my first hearing in May of '06. The lyrics are great and meaningful while the added drum parts are a good fit to this amazing song. Oh! And BBF's guitar slide after the bridge is an awesome touch!! Possibly the best song on an album that doesn't have a bad song.
While I'm not fond of the renaming of "The Blues" and haven't yet gotten used to the unnecessarily added lines at song's end but,
"Street of Dreams" is still a quality song and a new, true gem among GN'R's catalog. I first heard this during the RIR 3 show and still tend to think, if not say out loud, "Ok, nevermind!" because I watched and listened to that show so much!
A really beautiful song and it should be a single down the road.
I immediately liked
"If The World" when it was leaked in the summer and went to see "Body Of Lies" just to experience my all-time favorite band having it's music played in the theater. (During the credits, the couple that was seated next to me and my date, said to each other that it sounded like Axl Rose and I informed them a bit of the impending - at the time - release date for CD.) This song a great departure and is on the other end of the spectrum to anything else on the album and I like how more rock has been added to it. (Btw, I thought the movie was good but, not great.)
"There Was A Time" is still the epic song I know and I'm glad that they retained the choir and the other elements in the opening. The crazy background voice of Axl's during the chorus is new and I think it's a good add on. I still get goosebumps during the sick Buckethead solo, and believe it to be one of the best parts of any GN'R song EVER, especially the 5:17 - 5:25 part.
"Catcher In The Rye" remains the great song it is, with the deeply personal lyrics but, with new flourishes that bring it to wondrous heights, especially the unbelievable drumming and guitars. The solos are amazing and are great additions to the history of GN'R's solos.
I have to tell you.....I love
"Scraped." And while I don't like to use that word to describe something not in relation to a person, I can't stop listening to this great, bad ass song!!!! I really like the groove and beat and Axl's defiant while being positive lyrics make me imagine this as an anthem for the future. I feel even more powerful when I listen to this kick ass song. The words are filled with and sung with such bravado, this is another reminder why this man is one of my heroes. I mean, who else has the balls to sing that he is "unstoppable" and "inconquerable?" That is the hubris and swagger that I love about Axl Rose. He does what he wants, by his own rules and achieves it. I'd like to thank BBF and BH for the amazing solos. The part from 2:18 - 2:22 is pure ecstasy!! I'd really like to hear this become a single and have his words, this beat, those solos, blasted out of car stereos and speakers from around the world!! This song is a true stand-out for me.
I've liked
"Riad N' The Bedouins" since it had the "H" along with "And" in it's title.
Actually, I liked "Riad" when I first heard it. And that was when my best friend heard it off of some file-sharing site and sung the chorus to me over the phone while I was at work.
This is my best friend doing his best Axl impression for me and I thought it was a fantastic song!! I thought it was so cool and made him sing it again, knowing that when I heard the real deal, that I would love it. And I did!! And I have! Years ago, I bought a bootleg Live Cd off of eBay, just so I could hear this thing in full glory. The new and improved "Riad" is a great fuckin' song and I can't even tell you how many times that I've listened to it! I am so happy that this song made the cut. I felt it had a great chance when a studio version was leaked over the summer. I can't fuckin' wait to hear this in concert!!!
To anyone still pining for an original GN'R line-up reunion,
"Sorry" should be a wake-up call. A hauntingly beautiful song and reminder that the past might stay that way forever. I could be wrong but, I believe this is directed towards Slash and no one else. I think it speaks volumes on what Axl has been feeling regarding that situation with him over the years. The Buckethead solo is truly amazing but, I have a feeling we won't this song hear this Live.
"I.R.S." is still the catchy rocker that I heard years ago but, with some added touches including the great guitar work by BBF! BH's solo is sick as ever and I find myself singing the chorus long after a listen. A great song on this disc!
I'm glad that I got to hear the finished version of
"Madagascar," the real epic we've all talked about since RIR 3. I like the movie clips, as they express his feelings more than just in his own words. I can't wait to hear this in concert again.
The song
"This I Love" is both beautiful and painful. I feel such strong empathy for this man and what he has had to endure all the while thinking to myself, 'It's really sad that he had to go through this and I'm sorry that we get to reap the benefits of his deep pain.' I mean, great song(s) or not, he's the one that's been put through the paces and I can honestly state that I would give up all of these songs, this entire damn album, if it meant he wouldn't have to have gone through it. If the clock could be turned back and things been different for him. This is the impact this song has had on me.
With that, I believe the Finck solo is a classic and adds to the song immensely, in addition to the exquisite orchestra from Beltrami. This is song is so hurtful, it might never be played in concert and if that's the case, I respect that decision. I'm sure recording it was hard enough. Axl, thank you for this album but especially this song.
The song
"Prostitute" was rumored to be a rocker-type but, it matters not because it's an incredible song. Extremely powerful, it blew me away immediately when I heard it this summer. Heartfelt while having a great beat and amazing guitars, it's lyrics speak an apology, explanation and a desire to start anew. Definitely want to experience this song in person!
[ Now, if it wasn't already obviously, I really enjoy this album. Although, I do have some faults with it and some issues related to it. The renaming of "The Blues" and the added lines at song's end, as I wrote earlier. My biggest complaint is with the booklet lyrics. I truly don't understand the slipshod nature in printing and why it wasn't reviewed with a fine tooth comb to make sure, after ALL of this time, that it would be printed WORD FOR WORD?!?!? This should be corrected in a future pressings and maybe have an new booklet distributed for free via gunsnroses.com, for everyone that bought it originally.
Robin Finck is gone. And fuck him. It seems to me that he conspired behind Axl's back to jump ship once CD was turned over to the label, which was in March, since he rejoined NIN in April. Wow, what a coincidence! He leaves without telling anyone in the band, knowing full well that it's too late to record over any of his work. I believe this was unprofessional to put it mildly. To be totally blunt, he's a conniving piece of shit.
I wholeheartedly support the call for the return of Buckethead. This is in NO WAY a shot across the bow of Ron Thal. He is an extremely talented guitarist and full fledged member of this great band. His warmth towards the fans is genuine and refreshing. I believe that if BH came back to the fold, they would compliment each other very well. Buckethead is featured prominently on CD and should at least have an opportunity to return and play these fantastic songs for millions of fans.
In regard to the promotion, or lack thereof, Best Buy seemed to drop the ball on promoting it in store. I saw 2 posters and the cardboard 4-sided rack and that's it. It was fuckin' pathetic. The STORE MANAGER told me himself, that he didn't know that they were selling it exclusively. That's fuckin' scary to hear. They should've had giant banners and been playing cuts of it over the loudspeakers. It should've looked like GN'R won the Super Bowl or something!! I mean, an all out, balls out promotion, topping what Walmart did for AC/DC. Did you
see that display? That was sick and I really don't like AC/DC.
Now, I can't speculate too much as to why Axl hasn't done promotion as of yet. I read on here recently that since it's very personal to him, he doesn't want to talk about it and let the music speak for itself. Quite possible. Undoubtedly, if he were to be interviewed anywhere, he'd be interrogated about Slash and how long the album took to make and the cost. (Personally, I didn't spend a dime on making this album, so he could've spent double the amount and I wouldn't give a damn. It's not my money and it didn't come from taxpayers, so who gives a fuck?!? Also, it's more than 1 album's worth of material for the cost, so the uneducated need to be enlightened.) His lack of appearances could be his way of saying Fuck You to Geffen. Maybe they raked him over (or tried to) or he disagreed with them in some nature and he doesn't give a shit if they lose money.
]This album to me is a weight off of my chest, so I can't even imagine how Axl feels. I'm so happy that I lived long enough to see it come to fruition and that it exceeded my expectations. It's an absolutely, unequivocally, amazing piece of work! It really happened and I thank everyone involved. The chapter of my life, the one spent waiting for this album to materialize, is finally and truly closed. I sincerely hope that the next one doesn't take as long.
Axl, THANK YOU for who you are and what you do. GUNS N' ROSES HAVE RETURNED!!! GN'R FOREVER!!
MATT
