Chinese DemocracyReviews: Chinese Democracy
Binding: Audio CD EAN: 0602517906075 Label: Geffen Records Languages: Manufacturer: Geffen Records Number Of Discs: 1 Publication Date: 2008 Publisher: Geffen Records Studio: Geffen Records Rating:  - Too much Illusion, not enough AppetiteIt occurred to me that folks may have been too harsh on the Axl Rose Solo Experiment's (A.R.S.E) new album so I have made myself listen to it repeatedly over the last few days or so to try to see if any subtle nuances had escaped me. Nope, still disappointing although I will admit it has started growing on me a bit more. Stylistically all over the place, the production was completely overblown (altough GNR was heading that way by the "Illusion" albums) and too fx heavy (i.e. like a studio album that has been noodled with for 15 years!) and most of the songs are just a touch too long. Also there might be a little too much Axl in a few of the cuts, on one (Shackler's Revenge, I believe) it's almost Enya-esque in how many tracks of Axl vocals are dubbed, overdubbed and layered. About being overproduced, the song "If the World" in particular I thought could have been excellent but dropped to merely decent because Axl apparently was having way too much fun at the mixing board. "Catcher in the Rye" and "Scraped" also have many moments where I'm thinking "Is it so hard to just sing a song and not come in and modulate and layer the every vocal after the fact?" Now I might be being overly critical because a) this took 15 years and b) this is the lead singer of one of the best rock bands of the 80s-90s if not rock and roll history so I expected something if not transcendent at least rockin' after all this time. I guess I wanted more Appetite and less Illusion and this was much more Illusion than I ever needed. Rating:  - Why?I bought the album and just have disapointed.It has tons of electronic sound on it and its really not what i expect from GNR, the best track to me is only "BETTER" , better really shows the're able to create something that sounds modern but still has traditional GNR sound. Other then that, its below par, even the title track sounds terrible. 1 star just for that 1 good song. Guns n Roses is over. Axel will try to make solo album. But he don't use name of GNR. If you don't want to be regret, be far.Be beyond far far far. Rating:  - GNR is BACK!!!!Finally....a major Rock album & future classic!!! I'm just going to cut to the chase here with all the hullabaloo about how long it took to make this album & yadda yadda yadda & say....Who Cares? It's here now and that's all that matters. People that want to snivel about the past need to understand that a work or art is not predictable & takes as long as it takes period. Having said that.....I am so happy to finally have this long awaited album in my possession. I have to admit I was almost afraid to hear this one, what with all the buzz & expectation around it, but I am open-minded with my likes and dislikes. I've been a fan of GNR since 1988 when "Sweet child o' mine" was released and enjoyed all their albums. Axl Rose has been much maligned by the media & former bandmates Slash, but I paid no attention to such drivel because the man has the talent & I was already a major fan of GNR. When I first listened to this album I thought...."it's good" but I realized it's an album you can't judge with one pass....it's one of those that "grows" on you. So, I took another listen and it was the second pass that made me a believer. This is an awesome work and I have to put it up there with AC/DC's Back in Black, Def Lepard's Pyromania & Alice n' Chains Dirt! And that is saying something because these are the albums that I just can never get enough of and never get sick of! I took a listen to some old GNR just to get a gauge on where this album is and I must say some of the songs are very much like classic GNR (or at least have that old flavor) while others are a unique combination....like the title track. It's hard for me to say one is better than the other so I won't even try....I'll just say that this compilation is definitely a compliment to the collection of classic GNR in my collection. I understand that there will be fans that want the original band-mates with Slash, Izzy & co. but, basically this is still GNR and maybe someday the others will join up for a tribute concert or compilation....who knows, but I won't hold my breath because I don't need to. The tracks with the Spanish guitar, classic rock riffs and variety of voices used by Axl are awesome and reverberate in my mind long after the album is over. There's even awesome ballads in the mix called "Sorry" and "This I Love". It has everything a major Rock work needs. You know it's good when it calls you back like a siren in Greek mythology to listen to it over and over. This is a diverse hard-rock classic in the making. Axl....ya done good. I can't wait to see GNR live! Awesome..... Rating:  - Not what I expectedThere is really no comparison between this new album and the old Guns'n'Roses. Beyond the obvious absence of the entire band, Axle cannot hit the high notes with the same clarity as he was once able to do. He didn't used to need all the voice effects and those effects only serve to further distort his once outstanding range. This isn't the Guns'n'Roses that once was. Overall a big dissappointment. Rating: - We waited a decade for this??I can not believe after 11 + years waiting for this album and all the delays this is the best Axl and his band mates can come up with. There is one good song and maybe three or four above average tracks the rest is filler. Save your money. Perhaps the live act will better than the recorded one. We can always hope for a reunion Chinese Democracy ReviewsMore reviews:Buy Chinese Democracy Sale Reviews Deals
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