Chinese Democracy (new GNR album)

[EarthBall]

Haven't heard it yet, but I'm looking forward to it. As I young tyke of 9 or 10, I found Use Your Illusion I/II amazing albums. I loved their raw power and Axl's emotion (I wasn't so absorbed in their lyrics - though it's really amazing how influential they were on alienated youth. That's a whole other story.) I've had a little revival of GNR in recent months. Listening to these albums again makes me realize how well they have aged (especially I - the red one). Too bad music like this doesn't exist anymore. Hopefully Chinese Democracy can come close...

[Lucky17]

Wow. I thought Chinese Democracy was just a ruse perpetrated by Axl to keep the music industry interested in GnR for the past decade. I never expected the album would ever see the light of day.

CM, how did/do you feel about The Spaghetti Incident? That album was in heavy rotation in my CD player for a while.

The Spaghetti Incident I wasn't really a fan of. It took a lot to top Appetite for Destruction and then Use Your Illusion I/II for me and that album never did it.

Yeah, as far cover albums go, that one was a real change of pace from the Illusion albums. I really liked it though, although I found it long after it had been released.

[celticmaestro]

Wow. I thought Chinese Democracy was just a ruse perpetrated by Axl to keep the music industry interested in GnR for the past decade. I never expected the album would ever see the light of day.

CM, how did/do you feel about The Spaghetti Incident? That album was in heavy rotation in my CD player for a while.

The Spaghetti Incident I wasn't really a fan of. It took a lot to top Appetite for Destruction and then Use Your Illusion I/II for me and that album never did it.

Yeah, as far cover albums go, that one was a real change of pace from the Illusion albums. I really liked it though, although I found it long after it had been released.

Yeah it was. Chinese Democracy shouldn't let Guns n' Roses fans down, I was pleased with it. Also, if you buy it in stores you get a free Dr. Pepper. Win/win.

[Donoghus]

That band isn't Guns & Roses, its Axel Rose & Friends.

The real GNR died awhile ago.

[hpantazo]

That band isn't Guns & Roses, its Axel Rose & Friends.

The real GNR died awhile ago.

maybe you should listen to the album first, this is a true gnr album, even if it's only axl, whereas velvet revolver albums, which had 3 gnr members, were not even close

[celticmaestro]

That band isn't Guns & Roses, its Axel Rose & Friends.

The real GNR died awhile ago.

Guns n' Roses is Axl Rose & Friends.

As good as Slash, Izzy and Duff were, without Axl Rose Guns n' Roses would be nothing. And the new album is classic Guns n' Roses.

[Donoghus]

That band isn't Guns & Roses, its Axel Rose & Friends.

The real GNR died awhile ago.

Guns n' Roses is Axl Rose & Friends.

As good as Slash, Izzy and Duff were, without Axl Rose Guns n' Roses would be nothing. And the new album is classic Guns n' Roses.

Beg to differ on that statement.

Just because you call yourself Guns 'n Roses, doesn't mean you're Guns 'n Roses.

[celticmaestro]

That band isn't Guns & Roses, its Axel Rose & Friends.

The real GNR died awhile ago.

Guns n' Roses is Axl Rose & Friends.

As good as Slash, Izzy and Duff were, without Axl Rose Guns n' Roses would be nothing. And the new album is classic Guns n' Roses.

Beg to differ on that statement.

How is it not? Are you telling me that if Slash, Duff and Izzy remained in Guns n' Roses but replaced Axl Rose with say Fred Durst pre-Limp Bizkit, then Guns n' Roses would be the same?

[Donoghus]

That band isn't Guns & Roses, its Axel Rose & Friends.

The real GNR died awhile ago.

Guns n' Roses is Axl Rose & Friends.

As good as Slash, Izzy and Duff were, without Axl Rose Guns n' Roses would be nothing. And the new album is classic Guns n' Roses.

Beg to differ on that statement.

How is it not? Are you telling me that if Slash, Duff and Izzy remained in Guns n' Roses but replaced Axl Rose with say Fred Durst pre-Limp Bizkit, then Guns n' Roses would be the same?

That wouldn't be Guns n' Roses, either.

[celticmaestro]

That band isn't Guns & Roses, its Axel Rose & Friends.

The real GNR died awhile ago.

Guns n' Roses is Axl Rose & Friends.

As good as Slash, Izzy and Duff were, without Axl Rose Guns n' Roses would be nothing. And the new album is classic Guns n' Roses.

Beg to differ on that statement.

How is it not? Are you telling me that if Slash, Duff and Izzy remained in Guns n' Roses but replaced Axl Rose with say Fred Durst pre-Limp Bizkit, then Guns n' Roses would be the same?

That wouldn't be Guns n' Roses, either.

Bands change members all the time. But the front man more or less always remains the same. Axl Rose is the founding member of Guns n' Roses and if the other members choose not to return (which from what I understand was the case) then they need to be replaced. Axl Rose, in my opinion, was the only irreplaceable member of the group.

[Donoghus]

That band isn't Guns & Roses, its Axel Rose & Friends.

The real GNR died awhile ago.

Guns n' Roses is Axl Rose & Friends.

As good as Slash, Izzy and Duff were, without Axl Rose Guns n' Roses would be nothing. And the new album is classic Guns n' Roses.

Beg to differ on that statement.

How is it not? Are you telling me that if Slash, Duff and Izzy remained in Guns n' Roses but replaced Axl Rose with say Fred Durst pre-Limp Bizkit, then Guns n' Roses would be the same?

That wouldn't be Guns n' Roses, either.

Bands change members all the time. But the front man more or less always remains the same. Axl Rose is the founding member of Guns n' Roses and if the other members choose not to return (which from what I understand was the case) then they need to be replaced. Axl Rose, in my opinion, was the only irreplaceable member of the group.

I fully realize that.  However, when the front man is the only one that stays from a band that utterly dominated the musical landscape from the late '80s to the early '90s, it says something to me.  I can guarantee that this "incarnation" is going to be nowhere on the level of that band.  To me, GNR is Axl AND Slash and, to a lesser extent, the rest.  You remove many of the key elements of a legendary band and the name might remain the same but everything else is different.  This isn't going to replace that.

[celticmaestro]

That band isn't Guns & Roses, its Axel Rose & Friends.

The real GNR died awhile ago.

Guns n' Roses is Axl Rose & Friends.

As good as Slash, Izzy and Duff were, without Axl Rose Guns n' Roses would be nothing. And the new album is classic Guns n' Roses.

Beg to differ on that statement.

How is it not? Are you telling me that if Slash, Duff and Izzy remained in Guns n' Roses but replaced Axl Rose with say Fred Durst pre-Limp Bizkit, then Guns n' Roses would be the same?

That wouldn't be Guns n' Roses, either.

Bands change members all the time. But the front man more or less always remains the same. Axl Rose is the founding member of Guns n' Roses and if the other members choose not to return (which from what I understand was the case) then they need to be replaced. Axl Rose, in my opinion, was the only irreplaceable member of the group.

I fully realize that.  However, when the front man is the only one that stays from a band that utterly dominated the musical landscape from the late '80s to the early '90s, it says something to me.  I can guarantee that this "incarnation" is going to be nowhere on the level of that band.  To me, GNR is Axl AND Slash and, to a lesser extent, the rest.  You remove many of the key elements of a legendary band and the name might remain the same but everything else is different.  This isn't going to replace that.

Fair enough, point taken and TP for you. I agree to an extent when you say it's Axl and Slash, but my point was Axl is the main man in the band and the face and voice of GNR.

Back to the album, for me, it doesn't compare to Appetite for Destruction or Use Your Illusions I/II. However, listening to it as an album on it's own -without comparing - I say it's a good album. I've yet to decide whether or not I'm considering it a failure though. As good as it may be, Appetite for Destruction and Use Your Illusions I/II were pretty big albums to follow. And there's no "Welcome to the Jungle" or "You Could Be Mine" on this album, in 2028 if I'm still around I don't know if I'll have this album on solid rotation the way Appetite for Destruction still is. I'm going to have to give it another listen to make my mind up fully.

So basically I've kind of gone back on myself. I'm allowed to aren't I? I'll give my final verdict on this album after another listen. Long bus ride for me tomorrow, perfect time for me to ponder.

[Sweet17]

I think "who" the band is comes down to the songs. If Axl writes the songs - then its going to keep much of it's character when he switches up the players. I believe he does write the music so it should still get to be called Guns and Roses.

I do think that with regards to rock bands - when you see them in person it's pretty clear that almost all the time the rock is "guitar driven." While not everyone can sing compared to the guitar playing and the drums - the singing parts are pretty straight forward.

So some singer that doesn't even write the bands music is pretty inconsequential compared to the rest of the band. That's why Van Halen could swap singers..

Pete

[TheReaLPuba]

Is this new album really out and available to download? I thought it was coming out later this month as well....no?

[celticmaestro]

Is this new album really out and available to download? I thought it was coming out later this month as well....no?

It's out on Monday I think to buy.