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Chinese Democracy review: no holds barred!
The painful truth about Guns N' Roses new album
The MusicRadar Team, Fri 21 Nov 2008, 12:03 pm UTC
After 15 plus years and $13 million spent, Guns N' Roses' Chinese Democracy is finally out on Sunday 23 November. So, what is it really like?
Three MusicRadar staffers (Chris Vinnicombe, Joe Bosso and Michael Leonard) listened to Chinese Democracy separately – so as not to influence each other – and these are our honest opinions of the world's most expensive album ever. We didn't compare opinions before writing.
If you are a diehard Guns N' Roses fan – or Axl Rose himself – you may want to look away now.
Or better still, tell us if we're wrong...
Guns N' Roses' Chinese Democracy: track by track
Chinese Democracy
"A punchy, if over-processed riff drives along nicely. Axl's voice sounds great in the verses, recalling his Appetite-era menace. The shouty choruses might have benefited from a little more melody and the soloing is tedious. But a solid enough opener." CV
"Decent riff, Axl sings okay, but the lead guitars are too much. A stuttering, spluttering mess." ML
"A not-so-bad power chord riff announces 'We're off!' And then...we're not. The chorus is decent, but not memorable. And Axl's voice sounds like an impersonation. The guitar solo is flat and ultimately pointless." JB
Shackler's Revenge
"Is it 1993? Industrial-metal numbness, with guitar solos that sounds like a malfunctioning Nintendo. There's a tune here somewhere, lost in an insane mix." ML
"Hideous intro recalls mid-'90s video game soundtracks, and the industrial flavours are long past their use-by date. A shame because there's a decent tune fighting to get out here." CV
"Whoa, boy. That's some dated video game sounds for you. The guitar solos are literally fighting to be heard amidst the wannabe-techno clutter. Way too much going on here. If there was a song, it's lost." JB
"The guitar solos are mostly horrible. Can somebody call Slash please?"
Better
"The strongest melodies so far. Probably about two minutes too long though and the guitar solos are mostly horrible. Can somebody call Slash please?" CV
"I think this is better. It has a groove of sorts, as opposed to chucking 67 guitars at the problem of not-having-a-song. Best so far." ML
"The best song so far, which might be why it's called Better. Sadly, what could have been a strong tune wears out its welcome. Axl just doesn't know when to stop. Three tracks in and we have yet to hear a killer guitar solo." JB
Street Of Dreams
"The ripple of piano is ominous and it signals Axl entering lighters-aloft stadium ballad mode. Axl's been trying to be Elton John and Queen at the same time since Use Your Illusion."CV
"Overwrought, too many vox overdubs, too many strings, too much of everything. Awful." ML
"Where's the chorus? This is simultaneously too much and too little."
"The piano intro is the kind that is meant to signal 'This is my next November Rain.' Problem is, Axl throws the kitchen sink at us production-wise but he hasn't written a memorable song. Where's the chorus? It's simultaneously too much and too little." JB
User comments (35)
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Hey ekillswitchx,
While you're entitled to your opinion, I think you missed the mark on the MusicRadar review. First off, it's not a Buckethead album, so the fact that the writers didn't praise the song as being true to what Buckethead does makes no sense. Axl calls it Guns N' Roses, so they reviewed it as if it was supposed to be a Guns N' Roses album, not a Buckethead album.
And I think it's quite possible to say that an album is too long in a few sentences. Just because an album is too long (and this one is) doesn't mean you have to take up endless space saying so. Much of the time, good writing means saying the most with as few words as possible.
I just think this review is on the money, and I've listened to the album twice now so I can truthfully say that. -
Having downloaded my copy early somehow of the iTunes store, I share much of the same criticisms of the reviewers. Needless solos, shoddy riffs, poor in laces vocals, over the top strings and sound effects. After downloading and enjoying the title track as a single, I was awaiting the masterpiece that other fans were also waiting for. Didn't happen.
Without the others, Axl is lost in a sea of other different genres, switching from prog, to acoustic, spanish and rnb, before realizing that he is in one of the most popular rock bands ever made.
The addition of 3 guitars, and other irrelevant members such as Chris Pitman (who is Chris Pitman?) has led to an overpopulated sound in places, and in others, being barely able the hear the guitars.
After this album, I believe that the reunion is on the cards -
I should have known since you prefaced your whole statement with 3 disclaimers that you weren't going to be bias, that this would be a garbage review.
First of all. I think everyone needs to think of this not as Guns N' Roses. This is not GnR. If you are expecting bodacious riffs and your general hell raisin lyrics, it's not here. Rightfully so.
As for the review. Have you ever listened to a Buckethead album? Any of you 3? When you ripped on 'Sorry' for 'xeroxing Pink Floyd' you might as well discredit a large chunk of Bucketheads career in that case, as nearly everything on 'Electric Tears' carries that same tone. It is a close minded statement.
The three of you complain about the length of the album but have not but 2 sentences per song. Someone must have met thier word quota for the year.
Your analyzation of 'If the World' is TERRIBLE! Poppy latin beat? What? Where? This song sounds like it could be the best Bond intro ever. Too bad 'Quantum of Solace' didn't take wind.
You mispelled 'Riad N' The Bedouins'. Good work on taking time to accrue accurate and factual information on an album, which yet again, left you bored, you should've had time to proofread eh? This is a great song. The shrieking is a little much at some times, but, it grows on you. The lyrical stylings and the way he harmonizes is just ridiculous. Awesome song.
Having 60% of your assessment of 'IRS' be based on the fact that it sounds like it did when you illegally downloaded it however long ago means what? Is it Axl's fault you downloaded his stolen song?
'Better' is a solid, solid, solid song. Solid as any you will hear from ANY band out there. No decent solo? The second solo takes every aspect of Slash and his guitar playing essence if you will, does what he did and still does (zzzz...) better than he ever could, and then shits it out and hands it back to him. It is awesome. You feel it. To say anything less, you are obviously looking to nitpick.
This is not Guns N Roses. But it is fuckin awesome. Don't listen to these pickle smoochers. -
ok im listening to it now. It seems ok my speakers are not the best, the guitars sound like they used a line 6 spider 111 on them which aint great. Maybe I'll learn to love it who knows. He was always going to be on a hiding to nothing with this album. I'll still buy it.
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Why wait till Monday? Just go check out the record on MySpace and tell us what you think.
I've heard it and I think the MusicRadar comments are right on the money. It's a mess of an album and it's boring. Axl should call up Slash and Duff and bury the hatchet and make a real record. -
Bit disappointed at the comments on here. I have not heard it yet but will do by monday and I shall post up my thoughts then. There seems to be some petty squabbling going on on here at the moment.
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I thought the album was aweful apart from a couple of tracks. There was way too much computer stuff, it was just horrible. I think they should have kept it simple.
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old band dude, I am actually playing guitar/vocals/whatever else in a folk rock group now, a fairly different musical genre, so when the myspace is sorted Ill let you know. ;-)
p.s. wasnt that a rather 'lazy' retort for someone as pretentious as yourself? C'mon dude, at least throw in a few polysyllabic words or perhaps just stretch out your insults a little...make them worth reading please! -
I just hope this staffers are not writing gear reviews, lol !
The only thing is realy wrong is been released as GnR , this is Axl´s baby.
Ok , is not the best album ever, but stil is better than most 99% of the sh.. in the charts right now.
Way more interesting than the 6 or 8 minutes opus of boring riffing from Metallicas last album or the Velvet / Slash works. -
One listen to Chelsea Burns discredited your opinion.
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