I think it is a solid release, nothing quite like Appetite for Destruction, but I think it is pretty enjoyable.

Guns N Roses have only ever written two songs that I thought were any good - Welcome to the Jungle and You Could be Mine, and this new album is no exception. Skid Row were an infinitely better band, and unjustly overlooked.

Skid Row didn't have Izzy. Enough said.

They had Seb's pipes. And they were actually heavy.

I'm giving this a second listen through now, and this is actually a great album. Initially I didn't like it with the exception of the title track, but it has grown on me rather quickly. I can see why some people dislike it however.

Claims of nu metal are, as usual, full of complete shit.

To me, its not unfounded, but unfair to say about the whole album.

To me, only "Shacklers" has the closest sound to any nu metal type sound, but its saved by the solos and the somewhat more interesting arrangement (compared to nu metal that is).

Its not a "listen once and you'll love it" album, and maybe Axl didn't consider the right demographic to release the album. Maybe even a prog magazine should have been contacted, because this album is pretty dense. Its no Office of Strategic Influence, but it mixes so many different elements with electronic beats and orchestral part it may be too much for the average GNR fan.

Thats fine though, because even though the "less than stellar sales" of the album probably make a mark II (Use Your Illusion era) lineup reunion inevitable (not to mention Velvet Revolver doing pretty mediocre with their last album), I can still enjoy this (Chinese Democracy) as a fan of music, and crazy people taking decades to make albums!

This just in guys (and I assumed this would be the case with whats been happening in both camps!):


Has Axl Gone AWOL?Tuesday • December 2, 2008 12:44:58 AM

RECORD label bosses are fuming after GUNS N’ ROSES frontman AXL ROSE went missing for two months – costing the band a No1 album.

After spending 15 years and £15million recording their big comeback Chinese Democracy, only top spot was good enough.

But they lost out to THE KILLERS’ Day & Age in Sunday’s UK album chart rundown — with BRANDON FLOWERS’ group notching up sales of 200,000 during the week — 80,000 more than Guns N’ Roses.

Bosses at label Geffen are blaming unpredictable Axl for the disappointing sales after he went AWOL for two months before the release date.

Despite all the effort put into one of the most extravagant rock albums of all time, staff could not contact Axl to get him to promote his rock epic.

In fact, they failed to make contact with him from the day he delivered the final cut.

Chinese Democracy’s first week US sales are between 300,000 and 500,000. Yet their 1987 debut album Appetite For Destruction went on to sell a staggering 28million, so they have a long way to go with their new effort.

Genius

An insider said: “Everyone knows Axl is a bit of a maverick genius and won’t do anything he doesn’t want to do.

“The label is really glad to have him back. But it is frustrating because the album would have had a much better chance of going to No1 if he had only been prepared to show his face.

“People have been trying to contact him for two months and he’s been completely AWOL.

“You would have thought after spending 15 years on an album you might do a few weeks promotion.”

Better news for the label’s bean counters is the elusive Axl is rumoured to be trying to get the band’s first line-up back together.

Guitarist IZZY STRADLIN has said he is keen to see the original members back together and axe legend SLASH’s involvement in his current band VELVET REVOLVER looks shaky after they were dropped by their label.


If Axl has been spending the last two months of his time reuniting the original members for a world tour, I think Geffen might just forgive him.

As long as they don’t have to wait another 15 years.

Source: The Sun

Haha that's great!

That article really got my hopes up until I saw its "source." I think some part of my soul just killed itself

Yeah, The Sun isn't very credible at all.

It would be great to a real GNR reunion. I doubt it'll ever happen though.

I'm only up to Sorry, but so far this is a really boring album. The parade of power ballads was pretty silly, and Shackler's Revenge is the worst song ever. The production is really sterile and flat. It's like listening to a chalk board, despite all the layers of sound that are going on.

Wow, I D/Led the album a little bit ago. It was, honestly, the first time I wish I was back in the Slammer. Because there, yeah there's no music. Except on a few minor occasions. And the album was bad enough that I wanted to punt an infant.

People who where waiting for another Appetite for Destruction are stupid, and will be disappointed. But I really liked it, even though 'Shackler's Revenge' is one of the worst songs ever written by humanity this side of Linkin Park. But my favorite song has to be "This I Love", it's just so fucking epic, and I can't believe that Robin Finck, coming out from an industrial background, could play such classic-rockish guitar solos.

There are some reeaaaaally bad songs, but there are also really good ones! The last 3 songs were the best ones, IMO.

After all these years of waiting nothing Axl could do could really be considered worth the wait to most people. The album is very bloated and lacks focus a lot, however I must say I really like it. Axl is a great singer and when he wants can be a great songwriter as well. There is a lot going on on this album and of course a lot of people who liked the classic GNR lineup material are gonna find major problems with it.

Lousy album

I like it quite a bit.

Buckethead is still on it in parts cause Axl got pissed about Dr. Pepper saying he would not be allowed to have a free soda. So Axl mentioned he was part of the album. I doubt there's much bad blood there. Buckethead loves Axl but from what I've heard hes a difficult person to work with and he doesn't like to stay in one place very long. You know they built him a damn chicken coop in the studio? His music is great I recommend any of his albums. Anyway back to the Dr. Pepper thing apparently Axl is suing them because they didn't back the claim very well.

After all this bullshit about them getting upset about the album getting leaked onto the internet, why the fuck would they stream it on myspace?

cause Axl is cuckoo.