I can’t believe it. Guns N’ Roses is finally releasing the long awaited ‘Chinese Democracy’ on November 23, 2008. MySpace is currently streaming the album in its entirety – which I’m listening to now. Axl sounds good…at times great and sometimes not so good…and the band is tight – with some excellent guitar solos. Even if you’re just mildly curious, it’s worth checking out. There’s certainly a mixed bag of music, and I’ve found myself listening to some of the songs more than once to get a better feel for them.

Guns N’ Roses on amazon.com

Chinese Democracyon amazon.co.uk

Opening track “Chinese Democracy” has a cool intro, and rocks out with cool vocals – Axl sounds great, using the lower register of his voice.

The vocals are questionable on “Better”.

There’s a mix of the old, familiar “Axl voice” from the days of ‘Appetite for Destruction’ and ‘Use Your Illusion’ throughout ‘Chinese Democracy’, and a more… theatrical … voice, like on piano based “Street of Dreams” and “This I Love” – which includes a great guitar solo, and dare I say – a harp? Are they the new “November Rain”? Wow – “If The World” grooves with a fat bass and a mix of funk, rock, contemporary jazz feel, an electric Santana/Slash-like guitar solo, an acoustic spanish-like acoustic guitar solo, and a soulful, high pitched vocal delivery by Axl. Hmmm. Different. I’m undecided on this one. There’s A LOT going on here. I *think* it could grow on me.

“Scraped” is a strong rock track. It has that old school Guns N’ Roses feel with catchy backing vocals. At times, “Sorry” is somewhat reminiscent of Pink Floyd, with its dark mood and lyrics. I like the laid back groove – with spanish style acoustic guitar subtly played throughout, and a beautiful electric guitar solo. Not sure about the vocal delivery during the first verse, but sounds much better as the song goes on. There’s even some whistling tucked back in the mix toward the end of the song, which brings back memories of “Patience”, however the song sounds nothing like it. This could be another grower. Actually the more I listen to it, the more I like it – and – according to information on Wikipedia, former Skid Row frontman Sebastian Bach, a longtime friend and supporter of Axl Rose, recorded backing vocals on “Sorry” at Electric Lady Studios, which is interesting, considering I’m a huge Jimi Hendrix fan (Electric Lady Studios was created by Hendrix).

I’m sure for those who sit down with this album and really take it all in, there will be a good mix of opinions regarding favorite and least favorite tracks. It certainly makes for good, maybe even heated, discussion, especially amongst old school Guns N’ Roses fans.

The entire album probably won’t be streaming on MySpace for long, so this is a great way to preview the album before you buy – if you decide to buy, that is.

It’s hard to believe that ‘Chinese Democracy’ is actually released. Whether it’s any good or not, could this have been the most anticipated album in the history of rock music? Has the fire burned out or has it been worth the wait?

Chinese Democracy Track Listing:

1. Chinese Democracy
2. Shackler’s Revenge
3. Better
4. Street Of Dreams
5. If The World
6. There Was A Time
7. Catcher N’ The Rye
8. Scraped
9. Riad N’ The Bedouins
10. Sorry
11. I.R.S.
12. Madagascar
13. This I Love
14. Prostitute

Guns N’ Roses MySpace

Guns N’ Roses Official Website

By: Jenny May

The Guns N’ Roses ‘Greatest Hits’ album, will be re-released in the UK on June 2nd, 2008 especially for Father’s Day, as it’s most definitely the only album of choice for any serious rockfather.

With increased chatter of a 2008 release of ‘Chinese Democracy’ going through the rumour mill, the 14 track collection will contuinue to whet everyone’s appetite for the most anticipated album release in musical history. Dr. Pepper is promising the whole of America a can of their sweet and fizzy beverage, if the new album is released this year.

From first single and anthem of the late-Eighties LA underbelly, “Welcome To The Jungle”, through to the epic balladry of “November Rain” to the last single and cover of the Rolling Stones’ classic “Sympathy For The Devil”, this album features the band’s finest moments.

The full track listing is as follows:

Welcome To The Jungle
Sweet Child O’ Mine
Patience
Paradise City
Knockin’ On Heaven’s Door
Civil War
You Could Be Mine
Don’t Cry (Original)
November Rain
Live And Let Die
Yesterdays
Ain’t It Fun
Since I Don’t Have You
Sympathy For The Devil

Tracks 1, 2, 4 taken from ‘Appetite For Destruction’
Track 3 from ‘G N’ R Lies’
Tracks 5, 8 – 10 from ‘Use Your Illusion I’
Tracks 6, 7, 11 from ‘Use Your Illusion II’
Tracks 12, 13 from ‘The Spaghetti Incident?’
Track 14 from ‘Interview With The Vampire OST’

Guns N’ Roses – Greatest Hits on amazon.co.uk

Guns N’ Roses on amazon.com

Top photo credit: Ross Halfin

Guns N’ Roses Official Website

I’ve mentioned before on Band Weblogs that my first and one of my best concert experiences was at a Guns N’ Roses and Brian May concert back in the 90’s. It’s also no secret how I feel about Slash so naturally I’m going to have some interest in what Axl Rose gets up to in the music world.

I wouldn’t say that I’ve been sitting on the edge of my seat waiting to hear what the fuss is all about with the new Guns N’ Roses/Axl Chinese Democracy album that has been taking so long to release – but like I said, I do have some interest in it.

Surprisingly, Rolling Stone has links to each “leaked” track posted on the MetalSucks blog. So…are the leaked tracks actually market research being put on by the record company to find out public reaction to certain tracks pre-album release or were the tracks actually leaked?

Either way, for the curious who want to listen to the Guns N’ Roses Chinese Democracy tracks while they’re still up, you can find the links to the leaked mp3s here on MetalSucks.net.

By: Jenny May