[lord_glum]

Judging by my pic you get the feeling I am a guns and roses fan...actually and Axl fan more so than guns.  I picked up Chinese Democracy CD and LP last night.  I plan on spinning them both to see if there is anything of note between them...

I was curious to hear people's opinions if you have heard it or bought it.  For the most part people are complaining saying its not GnR sounding blah blah blah.    I guess everybody expects Appetite and you end up with use your illusion 3.  If you look at the way the 'illusions' trended it was where this album ends up.  It does lack the 'raw energy' factor pervious albums have had, but I don't think you can be a Guns fan and not expect this.  Its where Axl was taking the band for better or worse....The 'symphony' in november rain is done on a synth for pete's sake.

I personally think it sounds fab-u-lous.  I think the lyrics are a bit lacking and too catchy, but sonically I think is where the CD shines.  Its heavily layered and sometimes conjested, but the sound is more or less original.  (Near dead on copy of some Pink Floyd though).  I have not heard a recently released rock CD sound like this in a while.  It may be I am biased....

If you want old guns sound pick up velvet revolver; if you want something different than this is for you.  Just come in with an open mind.

Jvo

[JoshK]

I just heard the one song on the radio and it didn't leave me wanting to hear more.  I have all the other guns albums, but don't see myself buying this one.  I wasn't expecting anything other than some good old rock'n'roll. 

[Hicks]

I like the first three songs, they actually rock and think the electronics serve to update the Gn'R sound well.  Then it goes into sappy balladland and never recovers.  I mean take away those first three songs and it's pretty much a pop album, even though you can hear Buckethead trying to inject some cool guitarwork every once in a while.  It's a shame because I think if Axl had made an album that was more along the lines of those first three tracks with only two or three ballads it could have been a great album.  As it is to my ears it's three good songs and then a bunch of cheese.

[face]

IMO, it's a real disappointment.

[amadeus916]

[rockadanny]

"YOUR"? Sheesh!

[JimJ]

Ur

I can't stand it...DL'ed it just to hear, deleted it.

[Brown]

just do not understand the Title. Whats up with that. Shock or stpidity ?

[Doug]

I like Appetite from start to finish... I still like to pull it our on occasion, especially when driving.  Chinese isn't doing it for me start-to-finish.  I'm starting to like it a little, but I was disappointed with my first listen.

[satfrat]

I like the album ok myself, some tracks are definitely stronger than others tho. I particularly like track 5, If The World. I think it gets better with each listen and as it is with G&R albums, I love the guitar work.

Cheers,
Robin

[jackman]

OK, I am a huge GNR fan and this one is a disappointment.  My expectations were very low because it has taken so long to get this album completed, but this didn't deliever in any way.  It's more like an Axl solo album/vanity piece.  I also am a Buckethead fan in general but his playing (at least the tracks where it was clear he was playing) sounded out of place on this one. 

Anyone who thinks this is the real GNR is kidding himself.   At best, this is a solo Axl project and he owns the name to the band so it's technically a Guns album.  I read somewhere that since the production started 10 years ago, some original members were on some of the tracks (Slash?).  I can't tell but none of the songs stand out to me. 

It's too bad these guys didn't stay together and continue to make great music when they were in their prime.  Is there a better hard Rock album than Appetite?  Not in my book.   Axl can go back to his cave for another ten years, or a hundred years but it doesn't appear he will ever approach the coolness of early GNR. 

Sorry, but I couldn't resist this last one...



I wish the guy in the picture would just go away.


J