...
So lets welcome G'N'R back, with hugely anticipated "Chinese Democracy" album, well I say G'N'R but of the original line up of Axl Rose (the only current member to have been there from the start) on vocals Izzy Stradlin (rhythm guitar), Tracii Guns (lead guitar), Ole Beich (bass) and Rob ... Read review
17 years in the making and beholden of a level of hyperbole verging on mythology--one that ... more
couldn't even be derailed by Axl Rose staffing his ever-changing troupe with people named Buckethead, Bumblefoot and Brain--Chinese Democracy would disappoint ev...
Postage & Packaging: Free! Availability: Usually dispatched within 24 hours...
Advantages: Some brilliant tracks, nice to hear Axl again Disadvantages: Feels disjointed and some dire tracks
...quickly and never fully get a second wind which seems like a shame.
Notes:
Chinese democracy (track) was released as G'N'R's first single from the album
Better was released as the second single off the album ... more
It's been a while for Axl and Co. It's been even longer than most of us though, infact their last studio album was "The Spaghetti Incident?" in 1993 and that was an album of covers, meaning the last fresh G N R album was back in 1991 with the 2 "Use Your Illusion" Albums. With the best of album released inbetween the "The Spaghetti Incident?" and now ("Greatest Hits" was released in 2004, consisting of work from the previous albums).
So lets welcome G'N'R back, with hugely anticipated "Chinese Democracy" album, well I say G'N'R but of the original line up of Axl Rose (the only current member to have been there from the start) on vocals Izzy Stradlin (rhythm guitar), Tracii Guns (lead guitar), Ole Beich (bass) and Rob Gardner (drums). This line up was soon to change for the first of many times, thought this is the 1985 line up.
Soon after formation Slash took over lead guitar, and Duff McKagan took over bass, the final change was to be Steve Adler took the drums from the departing Gardner. This line up would take G'N'R to argueably the best peroid in their history, including their debut album "Appetite for Destruction" in 1987 followed up by "G'N'R Lies" in 1988.
Next came the dual released "Use your Illusion" albums I and II and the next band line up: Adler left due to drug problems, with Matt Sorum replacing him and Dizzy Reed became the sixth member joining permanently as a keyboardist. The success of "Use your Illusion" left them at #1 and #2 in the US Billboard charts at the same time, ane lead to one of the most infamous tours in which during the 28th month tour the band reaped the awards financially. The same tour lead to riots, band walk offs and Axl diving into the crowd to have effectively a fight with a fan who was taking photos in an incident known as "The Riverport incident". Whilst on the same tour Izzy left the band due to tensions over alcohol (he'd recently stopped drinking and found the others exsessiveness rather stressful) and was replaced with Gilby Clarke.
The tour ended in 1993, in Argentina, the last time the line up of: Axl, Slash, Duff, sorum and Clarke would perform together.
"The Spaghetti Incident?" followed and in comparision to the "Use your illusion" albums was a bit of a flop despite debuting at #4 on the Billboard chart. The album lead to tensions and by the end of 1997 the band was Axl Rose, Tommy Stinson on Bass, keyboardist Dizzy Reed, multi-instrumentalist Chris Pitman, and guitarist Robin Finck.
So now we'll fast forward to 2008...well not soo quickly, the album was rumoured to have begun production in 1995, for those video game fans, the album has often been called "The music equivalent of "Duken Nukem Forever"" due to the fact it's been in production for so long. Some reports state the album has cost over $13,000,000 in the studio before release. The revised line up would change once again in 2002 when Paul Tobias left and was replaced by Richard Fortus.
The album was finally released on the 22nd, 23rd and 24th of November 2008 (dependent upon where you lived) with the band consisting of: Axl Rose - lead vocals, piano Dizzy Reed - piano, keyboards, backing vocals Robin Finck - lead guitar Tommy Stinson - bass guitar, backing vocals Chris Pitman - keyboards, programming Bryan Mantia - drums, percussion Richard Fortus - rhythm guitar, backing vocals Ron "Bumblefoot" Thal - lead guitar Frank Ferrer - drums, percussion
The Album opens with the title track which although not the best on the album, is still a brilliant track to open the album on, the riffs are brilliantly put together, it's hard hitting and relatively edgy musically before Axl's icon vocals kick in and show that despite a slightly less explosive energy and a slightly more mature attitude he still has it vocally. Lyrically the track seems fit for his voice (well it would be wouldn't it...), th energy theres the sounds there and after just one song your thinking it's G'N'R back to their best even if the guitar is slightly more about speed than it used to be.
Shackler's revenge follows and is an equally brilliant track, sounding more warped and dark than the previous track at the start, but quickly heads into a head banging rock anthem, one of the most lyrically catching songs on the album and probably my second favourite personally.
Better follows this and makes it three out of three for great songs so far, the best on the album in my opinion, starting softly before Axl's voice takes us on a ride over the backing and added to the lyrics makes the ride a damn fun one. The chorus really does seem like the high point of the album imo, and this could explain why I'm such a big fan.
Track 4 is the piano based piece "Street Of Dreams" the albums "November rain" if you will, and Axl's voice sounds like the Axl of old, for G'N'R fans of old this could well be your stand out track, personally I feel it's the last great track before the album starts to slip away. A softer more melodic track than the previous three shows that the band can tone it down when needs be.
If the world is track five and sounds like one of those old Streets Of Rage backing music (soft elevator music sort of thing) before Axl's vocals kick in, and despite sounding fine, the song it's self just seems a lil, soft, the rock and roll seems to have vanished for the time being.
There was a time, takes the album back into the true rock territory but only during the hook/chorus which sadly makes the song seem like it could have been so much better, it seems like it's half a good song and half of a bad song sort of thing. Acceptable, but not upto the high standards of the opening few tracks.
Catcher in the Rye takes a leaf out of "Street Of Dreams" book and again goes for the softer sound more melodic feel and again nails it, though at times it seems to not really seem G'N'R-ish but yet Axl's there. A good song but feels slightly out of place on the album. Though the guitar is at one of the high points during the track.
Scraped, the energy is back, the tempo has livened up once more, and typical service has resumed with Axl again on top form, the backing equally there, making this one of the most accessible songs on the album as the rock does sound like rock, maybe a lil too mainstream sounding for hardcore fans though.
Riad n' the Bedouins is next, and I'm sure someone will know more about the title than I do, as it just seems rather odd, but the song goes carries on in the same vain as the early tracks, the fast high tempo rock with Axl's vocal running over the top.
Sorry is next and is another softer track and although lyrically and vocally its a pretty solid track like a few songs it just feels so out of place on what is effectively a rock album. If the album had been more like this it'd have been a more awesome feeling song, but it's hard to rate it on it's own merits.
IRS my favourite song from the latter part of the album goes back to what made G'N'R so good in the first place, a rawness mixed with Axl's vocals and easy to listen to lyrics. Fast, angry and awesome, this is what the album could have been solely consisting of and no one would have complained.
Madagascar sounds like another one of those Streets of Rage type tracks for the backing and although it does pick up, it always sounds rather, subdued and much like Sorry it feels like it shouldn't be here but should instead be on a totally different album.
This I Love, another softer piano based song, and the only track on the album written solely by Rose, and much like the other piano based piece it sounds brilliant, the vocals and lyrics are perfect together, and the musical composition suits it all wonderfully, although again possibly making the album feel disjointed a little.
Prostitute, the final song on the album, another softer piece almost symbolising the end of the album, which started so well and seemed to promise so much, but seemed to burn out quickly and never fully get a second wind which seems like a shame. Notes: Chinese democracy (track) was released as G'N'R's first single from the album Better was released as the second single off the album
Advantages: Original, fresh new material, resembles the old Guns n Roses Disadvantages: One or two bad tracks, but nothing major
Chinese Democracy is one way overdue album and it really makes you wonder why it took Axl Rose so long to sort his act out and finally get it together. It's been thirteen years since Guns n Roses released a studio album back in 1995 - The Spaghetti Incident, which contained no original material. Chinese Democracy, then, has to be the most eagerly anticipated and long awaited album of all time!
I actually listened to the album in full on Guns n Roses' ... ...day. However, sales figures for Chinese Democracy never came close to the iconic release of AC/DC's Black Ice and I believe Chinese Democracy only made it to number 25 in the UK album charts.
Unfortunately, this isn't the old Guns n Roses and only consists of two original members, Axl Rose and Dizzy Reed. In all honesty Slash was the one who really made Guns n Roses for me and they will never be the same without him. However, all the way through ...
sparksteroyd 11.12.2008
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful Review of Chinese Democracy [PA] - Guns n' Roses
Advantages: Good compact disc Disadvantages: Some weak tracks
...listing 1. chinese democracy: The first song starts well with a nice introduction of calm and peaceful tones. Then soon after this initial introduction the rock begins with some amazing guitar notes and axel rose accompanied with the guitar and a steady drum beat start on singing. The song uses politically inspired lyrics of what would be interpreted of leadership in china. The song overall I felt was really well played and nicely presented. 2. shackler’s ... ...the lyrics in the view of someone actually visiting a madame. In fairness the track is nicely played in terms of consistency and in it avoiding being completely negative in terms of quality. opinions chinese democracy as an compact disc certainly impresses in terms of quality. ...
costas1234 28.02.2009 (31.05.2009)
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful Review of Chinese Democracy [PA] - Guns n' Roses
Advantages: Nice Mix of tracks and feels Disadvantages: No Slash
...get their newest album called Chinese Democracy which was released late in 2008. The album has 14 tracks and lasts for just over an hour. Iit opens with the title track which starts with a long gentle fade in of background talking in Chinese before the drums and bass come in over the top then strong lead guitar, overall it is a strong track which does talk about democracy. Track 2, Shackler?s Revenge, is a very dark sounding track in sound and lyrics ... ...about you. Better, the third track, has a funky beat to it, lighter than you would normally associate with Guns and Roses and is one of the softer rock tracks on the album (although it too has its harder parts) and is one I really like, there is a guitar solo in the middle of the lyrics talking about getting to know someone better and falling for them. The lighter note continues with ?Street of dreams? which open with keyboard then soft guitar, the ...
CarlG 25.02.2009
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful Review of Chinese Democracy [PA] - Guns n' Roses
Advantages: Excellent listen, a mixture of songs Disadvantages: No original band members, lacks organisation occasionally perhaps
...album ended in 2008 with Chinese Democracy. It bore the legendary name but not the faces. The top hat and Les Paul were gone. So despite being a massive Guns N' Roses fan, I approached with caution.
I needn't have.
As soon as the haunting intro to 'Chinese Democracy' kicks in, and Axl Rose's scream pierces the air, you know, as you always did, that he would be back. 'The streets don't change but baby the names' he once sang famously on the ballad ... ...that can be listened to from start to finish without too much effort. It combines enough fast-paced rock for the headbangers to be satisfied, as well as piano and synth-oriented ballads that Axl became famous for during the Use Your Illusion era. 'Street of Dreams' is a highlight, almost a throwback to the sunset strip glory of 1987.
There is a definite theme to this album, and you get the feeling that beneath the endless layers of guitar the anguish-ridden ...
Beddall7 31.07.2009
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful Review of Chinese Democracy [PA] - Guns n' Roses
Advantages: That awesome familiar sound, some great tracks Disadvantages: It's not Guns N' Roses, too much time in production makes it sound dated
...that could fill an encyclopaedia, Chinese Democracy was somehow finally released to the public. Holding the physical CD in my hands still seems unreal given what it went through but nevertheless it was quickly snatched up by the desperate Guns N' Roses fans. And that was the problem, they were all Guns fans and this is not a Guns album. Having split up, the majority of the band evolved into Velvet Revolver while Axl retained the Guns name and compiled ... ...what this is, and what it should be seen as, is an Axl Rose solo album. And as such, it's not that bad, the title track which had been lingering around for only a decade is a tasty reminder of the Guns sound while There Was A Time is such a good track as to justify buying the album even just for one song. Sadly, the rest of the music is a bit hit and miss. There's some interesting tracks to listen to but it suffers quite badly from overproduction ...
psymonb 08.05.2009
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Review of Chinese Democracy [PA] - Guns n' Roses
Product Information for "Chinese Democracy [PA] - Guns n' Roses" »
Product details
Title
Chinese Democracy [PA]
Performer
Guns n' Roses
Genre
Rock & Pop
Sub Genre
Hard Rock
Release Date
24/11/2008
Original Release Year
2008
Label / Distributor
Geffen / Universal Music
Engineer
Chris Pitman; Rail Jon Rogut; Al Pe
Producer
Chris Pitman; Eric Caudieux; Sean B
Pieces in Set
1
Studio / Live
Studio
Stereo
Stereo
Format
Performer
EAN
602517906075
Catalogue Number
1790607
Additional notes
Album Notes
Like the hard-rock equivalent of Brian Wilson's SMILE, Guns N' Roses' CHINESE DEMOCRACY was one of the greatest records that never was--a project more fable than fact, more speculation than actualization. Created over 15 years with countless producers and musicians, the album often seemed as if it would remain forever mired in the swamps of Axl Rose's legendarily unpredictable personality. When the disc finally did appear, the musical landscape had changed so significantly that many wondered if Rose's fans even still cared. What the faithful got for their undying loyalty may not have been classic GnR, but it was an unquestionably powerful slice of enigmatic, genre-pushing hard rock which retained some the group's famously rebellious attitude. Sonically, CHINESE DEMOCRACY benefited from its long gestation period by incorporating bits of many post-SPAGHETTI INCIDENT subgenres, including nu-metal, electronica, new garage rock, and post-grunge. Luckily, even after all his bizarre, Michael Jackson-like personal travails, Rose lost little of his lyrical bite, shooting back at disbelievers with the fervor of a much younger and hungrier artist, leaving admirers wondering if perhaps the best was still yet to come.
Album Reviews
Rolling Stone (p.120) - 4 stars out of 5 -- "[A] great, audacious, unhinged and uncompromising hard-rock record. In other words, it sounds a lot like the Guns n' Roses you know."
Titles on disc 1
1.
Chinese Democracy
2.
Shackler's Revenge
3.
Better
4.
Street Of Dreams
5.
If The World
6.
There Was A Time
7.
Catcher In The Rye
8.
Scraped
9.
Riad n' The Bedouins
10.
Sorry
11.
IRS
12.
Madagascar
13.
This I Love
14.
Prostitute
Ciao
Listed on Ciao since
10/11/2008
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