Review:

on 2009-08-21 ToddLevinsonFrank Said:

I just listened to this album. Not sure why.

If it sounds like an Axl Rose solo album dressing up as a Guns'n'Roses album for Halloween& it's cuz that's pretty much what it is. It's not the first band to have one person keep the name and use it, but yea, this is an Axl & Friends album obviously. And honestly this album woulda been just as weak 15-16 years ago. So it's not that I'm disappointed after the long wait cuz I was never waiting for it and never much of a Guns'n'Roses fan anyway.

The incomparable Chuck Klosterman started his review this way:

"Reviewing Chinese Democracy is not like reviewing music. It's more like reviewing a unicorn. Should I primarily be blown away that it exists at all? Am I supposed to compare it to conventional horses? To a rhinoceros? Does its pre-existing mythology impact its actual value, or must it be examined inside a cultural vacuum, as if this creature is no more (or less) special than the remainder of the animal kingdom? I've been thinking about this record for 15 years; during that span, I've thought about this record more than I've thought about China, and maybe as much as I've thought about the principles of democracy."

If you read his whole review, he's really quite generous and seems to actually like the album. My review goes like this: Part boring, part horrendous&. mostly forgettable soulless schlock rock. Okay Axl, go away for another 15 years thanks.

But Klosterman sums it up better:

"Sometimes it seems like Axl believes every single Guns N' Roses song needs to employ every single thing that Guns N' Roses has the capacity to dothere needs to be a soft part, a hard part, a falsetto stretch, some piano plinking, some R&B bullshit, a little Judas Priest, subhuman sound effects, a few Robert Plant yowls, dolphin squeaks, wind, overt sentimentality, and a caustic modernization of the blues."

Of course Rolling Stone magazine has it in the top 10 of their Best Albums of the Year list, which makes sense for a magazine that puts Britney Spears and the Jonas Brothers on the cover.

But really, in the end it's just hard to respect a guy who wants to be treated like a genius but cant even bother to show up for work. From TheAge.com:

"Guns N' Roses frontman Axl Rose has been missing for two months.

The eccentric rocker has infuriated bosses at record label Geffen after disappearing without promoting the band's long-awaited Chinese Democracy album, which was released last week 15 years after the last Guns N' Roses LP.

A source told Britain's The Sun newspaper: People have been trying to contact Axl for two months and he's completely AWOL. It is frustrating because the album would have had a much better chance of going to number one if he had only been prepared to show his face.

You would have thought after spending all those years on an album you might do a few weeks of promotion.

Chinese Democracy was beaten to the number one spot in the UK album charts by The Killers' Day and Age, which sold 200,000 copies, nearly twice as many as Axl's record, which is rumoured to have cost $13 million, making it the most expensive ever album."


Rating: 2/10

Review:

on 2009-01-13 kennyscheldt Said:

For GnR fans back in November of 2008 there were several emotions... Some were shocked... "Huh!?? A new Guns album?" Some felt resentment, abandonment, indifference... "After all these years... it's too late, I don't care anymore..." And others, like me, reveled with excitement and circled the room while fist pounding "Take me down to the paradise city where the grass is green and the girls are pretty. Oh won't you please take me home."

When Axl Rose began working on Chinese Democracy back in 1994, the internet was just a few clunky computers, cell phones were only for the wealthy, and text messaging was inconceivable. Few people thought it would take 14 years and more than 13 million dollars (as of 2005) to complete. The rumors... The myths... The odd lineup Axl put together in 2000 to play live shows...(one word... Buckethead!?!?)

Would Chinese Democracy EVER be released? Reports of Axl's maniacal obsession to record and re-record songs and parts of songs up to 70 times! His obsession and dictatorial rule leading to the departure of every original band member.

With Slash and Co. gone should it be fair to call it a GnR record? Isn't it more like Axl's first solo record?

In any case WE DON'T CARE about any of that gobbledegook. We never really sat down to over-analyze anything off of "Appetite For Destruction" so why should we start now? All we want to hear is the high pitched, ear piercing screech of Axl singing a metal tune over insane riff heavy guitar solos.

I suppose if that is ALL we want, Chinese Democracy will help the listener relive the glory days to some extent. While the first two songs receiving considerable airplay "Chinese Democracy" and "Shackler's Revenge," are not going to knock your socks off, they do show that Axl's still got it.

"Better" is the best example of how Axl can rock 2008, as it is complete with a modern pop hook, intricate harmonic guitar work that would make even Eddie Van Halen jealous, and lyrics: "So bittersweet this tragedy Won't ask for absolution" show how Axl has matured in his writing of prose since the days of "Appetite."

"Street of Dreams" is epic and "November Rain"-ish. Complete with Axl's signature piano pedaling, orchestral string arrangements, and over-the-top guitar solos.

Although you won't find anything like Paradise City on this disc, you will probably get enough GnR to hold you for a while. And whether you love it, hate it, or think Axl sounds like a whiny old cat, remember one thing... He's still Axl and doesn't care what you think anyways!

Not Rated

on 2008-12-10 kev_stev Said:

Definitely dude, you're right. I think selling CD (ironic abbreviation for Chinese Democracy) under the GNR label was probably more of a marketing thing than anything else. The name'll sell CDs.

But on it's own, I really don't think it's that good of a release. I'm up for second lessons, so I'll try take 2.
Rating: 3/10

on 2008-12-09 SolitaryMan Said:

Hell, you're just not going to find any truly similar material to what you're used to hearing from GnR. It's just the way it is; I am open to the debate regarding Axl not using the Guns monicker for this album. It should have been a solo release.
Not Rated

on 2008-12-08 kev_stev Said:

I'm sorry, but really? "Shacklers Revenge" sounds like a bad, bad joke, and I'm not laughing.
Rating: 3/10

on 2008-12-01 devilgurl Said:

Heard a few songs already...and I love anything Axl does,from his songwriting to his vocals!
Rating: 10/10