[Your Fan Reviews] CHINESE DEMOCRACY THE ALBUM

[b]

Post only well-written, sensible, original reviews here.

If you want, try to have this above your review

Grade : XX/20
Favourite song : silkworms

Do not discuss / react to the reviews here, use the "general debate" thread to discuss the record in general.


Thank you,

[rage]

Grade: 19/20

fave song: sorry

got my copy yesterday, here is a review i put together



after all this time, all the false hopes, unfinished leaks and speculation as to what did and didnt make the cut, it was there, sitting in I-tunes, the full retail album. my finger hovered, poised over the play button. i was about to listen to the album i had waited for so long to hear.  i cracked open a beer, relaxed and pressed play....


Chinese democracy:
it's a cheap trick. it starts off quiet, so you increase the volume, and wait and wait........and then then it kicks you in the balls!. built around a heavily compressed riff, the album opener barrages your ears with a wall of sound. unlike some, i like the additions ron made on this song, the sleazy slide riff works really well in context of the track.  after a little over 4 minutes, it is done. you take a deep breath, trying to process what you just heard, and then.....

Shacklers Revenge:
it starts with a high pitched industrial riff, then melts into a grinding bass heavy melody. "this isnt bad" i think to myself.... then the chorus arrives, and for the second time in ten mins, you get kicked once again in the balls! its immense, driving, memorable, i think to myself " already it was worth the wait....

Better:
probably the most commercially viable track on the album. starts off a lot like the previous leak, but the few small additions make all the difference. the little guitar fills and bulked up guitars are complemented by a brilliant drum track, which really drives the song along. i also love the robin solo, its ace!

Street of dreams
the first chance for a breather. i love this song, it builds like all good songs should to an impressive and rich ending, which really shows that axl still has what it takes to belt out a good tune.

If the world
the finished version of this track makes it much more enjoyable than the last leak. the drum production is incredible, and although such a mish mash of styles shouldnt work, somehow it does. does it sound like gnr? no. is it a good song? yes! moving on then....

There was a time
i was worried about this song. for me it got worse as each progressive leak was heard, so with caution i listen. nice drums at the beginning...and soon enough all of my worries melt. it too is poweful, immense, and the ending...wow. at this point of the listening, my favorite track on the album.

Catcher n the rye
i loved the previous leak, although i agree with the removal of may's solo. brian has such a distinctive tone, it wouldnt really sound consistent with the rest of the disk. as for the changes made to the track, im all in favour! the last 2 mins of the song are truly epic. thumbs up from me!


Scraped
a surprisingly catchy rocker, although if im honest the intro sounds a little uneccesary and i think the track would have sounded better without it. catchy track  and a good song to show that this incarnation of the band know how to write a decent rock tune.

riad n the bedouins
in theory, this song should be everything i like. it's loud, it's raw, and yet, i find myself a little underwhelmed by it. after hearing all the talk of rons solo, this was the first time i heard it, and it didnt really work for me. i dont think its the solo as such, more so the guitar tone, it sounds like a cheap guitar put through a shitty amp, which isnt what an album such as this needs. for me, this one is simply a filler. maybe it will grow on me?

sorry
If riad underwhelmed, this track took me to the opposite end of the spectrum. i fucking love this song! to me it is the best track on the album, it is powerful, emotive, once again, the production is flawless. i cant say enough good things about it. it simply struck something in me from the first listen. the highlight of the album for me.

I.R.S
well, i had my concerns about this track since i heard the first leak. i never really liked it, although i had hopes that the final album version would blow me away. so why to me does it still sound like a half assed unfinished demo? horrible lyrics, underwhelming production. only positive is that axl sings with real venom, and im sure some will disagree, but for me at least, this is the wakest song on the album by a long way. shouldnt have made the cut.

Madagascar:
there has been much debate about the vocals on this one. my take is that they were done like this deliberately. they are raw, filled with emotion. i like! this track for me didnt need too much done with it from the last leak, and luckilly the few additions made do improve the song. one of my favorite songs on the album.

This i love
wow, this is another one of those goosebump moments. the final part of the november rain / estranged trilogy is truly a tragic work. it is stripped back, no frills vintage axl. fuck, you can tell he means this shit that he is singing about. and the solo...hands down the best one on the entire album. another song which i can barely find the words to say how good it is. ( i reccomend listening to nov rain, estranged and this in sequence, it makes a hell of a story)

Prostitute
what a journey, the last remaining question is how to conclude such an epic album? with what turned out to be my joint second favorite track. this song is superb. it builds, and delivers on what you think is the heavy bit, then breaks again into an even more intense experience. it has it all, soaring vocals, flawless guitar works, dramatic strings, it gives the triumphant sendoff to an album which many say could never possibly deliver, that could never live up to the hype, yet guess what?

it fucking well did : - )

[Kusksu]

Chinese Democracy:
Great intro, maybe a bit too long but still good. Good hard rocking song, although lacks a chorus. Great song but far from the best on the album. 17/20

Shacklers Revenge:
I Love the Intro! Catchy Chorus and good singing by Axl overall. On Any other album it would prob be one of the best 5 songs...not on this one thou. 17.5/20

Better:
AMAZING! Hopefully will be the first single. Great lyrics...well great everything. 20/20

Street of Dreams:
I was never a big fan of the vocals on the leak, and they havent changed much but its still pretty breathtaking. 18/20

If The World:
I love the final versioN! Went from being my least fav to one of my fav! 18.5/20

TWAT:
Great solo, good lyrics, but weak chorus. 18/20

CITR:
The Demo was better in my opinion, but Axls singing still blows you away, with some of his best lyrics ever! 18/20

Scraped:
GREAT HARD ROCKING SONG! FUn Lyrics, But again weak chorus....  17.5/20

RIAD:
The new intro is pretty amazing, fun song, heavy and catchy chorus. VERY UNDERRATED. 18/20

Sorry:
BEST SONG ON THE ALBUm!!!! SO DIFFERENT!! AMAZING LYRICS....AMAZING EVERYTHING REALLY!!! 1000000/20

IRS:
Improved a lot over the leak, sounds more full now. Good chorus. And the part where axl sings "You think i'm doing this all for my health..." Is Perfect! 19/20

Maddy:
Good CHorus, maybe the best on the album. A bit too much of those quotes thou. 18/20

This I Love;
This i Love! 20/20

Prostitute:
Best lYRICS on the album??????? Powerful song, perfect way to end the album. 20/20

Grade: 19.5/20
Best Song: Sorry.

[RickRoses]

Grade: 19.5/20
Best Song: Scraped & This I Love

Chinese Democracy:
Kickass way to open an album, the suspense builds, then the guitar kicks you in the face,Axl's scream comes in, almost as a way of saying "Fuck you world, I'm back, and im gonna take over the fucking planet!" Love the new vocals, love the new guitar and the kickass drums! kickass song, good first single.

Shacklers Revenge:
Love the vocals and the general feel of the track, but something doesnt click. one of the weaker tracks in my opinion.

Better:
Always loved this song, the new guitar parts sound kickass, and i knew it'd be a great single. I wish they'd waited till the summer to release it as a single though, i think it would've been bigger. Sounds fuckin great though, love it!

Street Of Dreams:
Love the intro, and im VERY happy Axl kept the overdub on "has cost more than it should for me". Good ballad, but not the best.

If The World:
Like the new intro, the guitars sound a LOT better, it sounds more full. This could be a big hit if released at the right time.

There Was A Time:
Was never a BIG fan of this one, its not as good as everyone gives it credit for. Probably the worst one on the album.

Catcher In The Rye:
LOVE IT. great lyrics, great vocals, great music. whats not to like?

Scraped:
Best rocker on the album, if not THE best song on the album. This one just grabs you by the balls and decapitates you with guitars! The lyrics and vocals are fuckin amazing!  Its like: "World, We're back, ya miss us? i dont give a fuck, im here to stay, FUCKING DEAL WITH IT!" It's GNR, were you expecting anything less?

Riad And The Bedouins:
A real Led Zep feel to it, very underrated and a kickass rocker, i could see it being the next Jungle in the sense that it'll get blared at arenas to pump up the crowd before a big game.

Sorry:
Kickass song, great Pink Floyd feel to it. The guitars are amazing, and Axl sounds awesome! I was expecting something totally different (fuck you baz!) but this still blew me away.

I.R.S.:
A lot better than the demo, one of the weaker songs on the album, but its still good.

Madagascar:
Always liked maddy, little disapointed that the bongo noises are still there at the beginning. still love the song though.

This I Love:
You never thought you'd hear a song that surpassed November Rain in terms of ballad greatness, did you? Well here it fucking is. The pure emotion in the song makes it the best ballad to come out in the last decade easily, this is one of the best guns songs to ever come out, I'll be disapointed if its not a single. Absolutely LOVE this song.

Prostitute:
Great way to close an album. It starts out and makes you think of a sunny day, flowers blowing in the wind, real mellow shit like that. Then the drums kick your head off, and everything changes. You're thrown into an orchestra, a rock band, and multiple Axl Roses. The vocals are superb, the music kicks ass, and what better way to end an album like this?

[Destinedtobe]

http://mailasmeditations.blogspot.com/2008/11/chinese-democracy-review.html

[Tronx]

This is the most accurate review that Ive read, is like this is what I was thinking all this time.

[2NaFish]

according to this guy sorry is about the press; no, no its not.

[Tronx]

according to this guy sorry is about the press; no, no its not.

Who knows maybe slash, but the songs suggest a lot of things, that only Axl knows.

[Starscream]

This is the most accurate review that Ive read, is like this is what I was thinking all this time.

When he reviews Rhiad he says....

However...it doesnt seem to have a lasting effect on the listener but its fun to see axl has not lost his ability to exercise his freedom of speech after one in a million....

Does this mean he is trying to say that 'Rhiad and the Bedouins' is a song tackling the immigration issue?

[Tronx]

When he reviews Rhiad he says....

However...it doesnt seem to have a lasting effect on the listener but its fun to see axl has not lost his ability to exercise his freedom of speech after one in a million....

Does this mean he is trying to say that 'Rhiad and the Bedouins' is a song tackling the immigration issue?

Yep Kind off.....

[Estranged9]

Speaking of which, did u guys read th nytimes review! Ouch it made me sad! I thought New York had a good gnr fanbase

[schradas]

Speaking of which, did u guys read th nytimes review! Ouch it made me sad! I thought New York had a good gnr fanbase

NY has a huge GNR fan base.  The NYT is a liberal rag which most people wouldn't wipe their ass with.  Anybody that makes less 3 Million a year will tell you real New Yorkers read the Post or the News.

[Estranged9]

NY has a huge GNR fan base.  The NYT is a liberal rag which most people wouldn't wipe their ass with.  Anybody that makes less 3 Million a year will tell you real New Yorkers read the Post or the News.

Nice lol, ya ok then FUck the NYT!!    I read that shit last night and wanted to fight ! lol

[jmo101]

Why so negative on "If the World" based on what he/she believes people will think about it...if youre gonna review...just review...don't overthink everything...its a great song..just say so..if people don't like it, so what? their loss as far as im concerned.

[Destinedtobe]

Yep Kind off.....

Yea I am suggesting that..it seems that way