Music Review: Guns-N-Roses Chinese Democracy

November 20, 2008

Is 14 years to long to wait for a follow-up album? In 1986, when Appetite for Destruction was first released to the world, myself along with millions of other fans rushed in for what could only be called a new musical experience. Guns-n-Roses was raw. It was real. It made our parents cringe at the thought that their kids could listen to something so…so…distasteful.

Then we lost them.

Sure, there was the Use Your Illusions I & 2 that had some good material, but the band itself had worn thin and worked its way into the mainstream ballad markets. Soon enough Guns-N-Roses would vanish for good.

On November 23rd, after a 14 year hiatus, America’s biggest rock/metal band returns to the big stage. Should we hate them for being gone so long? Should we be dissappointed that Slash and the others behind the original incantation of Guns-N-Roses had dissipated? For those of you now holding this same argument, and I have heard it over the last few days, all I can say is that you are going to miss one hell of an album come November 23rd!

Chinese Democracy combines the efforts of all previous albums of G-n-R and comes up with something yet new again. It is an amazing peice of hard-rocking, hard-hittin’, and mesmerizing musical melodies that bring back the flavors of that age that none of us want to truly forget. It is Guns-n-Roses 1986, 1994, and 2008 all wrapped into one tight package of tunes that will have you wondering what the hell you just listened to. Axl Rose is still the king of hard-hittin rock, and his bandmates are his court.

Fortunately, I have been one of the lucky 120,000 people to have listened to the full-streaming album on MySpace. FOR FREE! I was, like many people, questioning whether the new “G-n-R” would come close to the glory days of Appetite, or even compare to the Use Your Illusions days. Without a doubt, this album will go down as another great epic and reignite the Guns-N-Roses phenomenon for another generation. We can now be thankful that 14 years was just the right amount of time to make a hard-hitting return and bring us all back to the glory days.

If your looking for the hard-hitting, angsty Axl Rose then look no further than Track#7 “The Catcher in the Rye” and Track#10 “Riad N’ the Bedouins”. Both tracks come at you with fists flailing and will remind you of why we fell in love with Guns-N-Roses back in ‘86.

You want 1994 G-n-R? Track #13 “This I Love” has been getting some notice and brings back thoughts of “November Rain” and “Don’t Cry”, including the full orchestral ensemble and the raging guitar licks that even Slash could be envious of. Need another? Checkout ‘Street of Dreams” on track 4.

The future of Guns-n-Roses? The first three tracks of Chinese Democracy bring together what Axl has been able to do over the last 14 years. Their songs have the hardcore edge of the 80’s, the orchestral and technical involvement of the 90’s, and the techno of the here and now. Axl weaves and molds the sounds inextricably and blends them with a depth that is rarely seen in today’s music. Take it from me, you HAVE to HAVE this album!

Guns-N-Roses’ Chinese Democracy will be available on November 23, but only at a Best Buy store near you. Until then, you can do like I have and listen to the full-streaming album on MySpace for free. It don’t get much better than that!

Early Song Favorites: Tracks 7 & 8 “Catcher in the Rye” and “Stranded”

Least Favorite: Track 14 “Prostitute”

Overall, this album beats any expectations I had of a new G-N-R album. Right off the bat, you can probably pick out 6-8 tracks that could be radio friendly and offer up the hits like we remember. Go check it out!

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