"Chinese Democracy: GNR"

Guns N Roses...
1993 + 15 years - SLASH = Chinese Democracy

Rated as One of the greatest Rock Bands Ever...

until chinese democracy...

To be honest... I've been a GNR fan ever since... for me GNR is rock... and rock is GNR... and when I read GNR was planning to release an album... the wait... the desperation...

Was reading a review of the album in rolling stones... only to realise that it took 15 years to make... Since the time the band dissolved... I assumed no more GNR... also since I had a constant track of Mr. Slash... I assumed everyone else would have formed there own bands or moved on... MISTAKEN...

downloaded it... and now...

...CHINESE DEMOCRACY...

K before I begin, GNR without Hish highness,Slash... is just another rock band... with Axl as lead... just like Vevelt Revolver lives on Slash's... I should have assumed GNR to live on Axls... wronged again... I was still expecting magic...

The Band: Axl Rose, Robin Finck and "the buckethead"...

based upon all the reviews I am expecting this to be one of those heavy of on Studio Engineered music than that of the authentic riffs...

Here's a track by track, blow by blow... run down.

1. Chinese Democracy

It don't really matter
I guess you'll find out for yourself
No it don't really matter
So you can hear it now from somebody else

Starts with subtle sirens and some chinese crap... and followed by the riffs... for which I've been desperate to hear... though the riff does sounds a lot like "Rock You Like a Hurricane" by the Scorpions... and slowly the guitars kick in... and it latches on to you... rocks pretty hard.

Rating : 7/10

2. Shackler's Revenge

Don't ever try to tell me, how much you care for me
Don't ever try to tell me, how you were there for me
I don't believe there's a reason (I don't, I don't believe it)
I don't believe there's a reason (I sure, I don't believe it)

More on the digitally worked song's... may be the one... the Rolling Stone described, as te Studio song... I just couldn't get enough of the lyrics...

Rating : 8/10

3. Better

So bittersweet, this tragedy won't ask for absolution,
This melody inside of me, still searches for solution,
A twist of faith, a change of heart kills my infatuation,
A broken heart provides the spark for my determination.

I kinda fell in love with the lines mentioned... but when I heard the song... all the digital noise... makes it more of a pop than a pure rock... but I just love the lyrics of this one...

Rating : 9/10

4. Street of Dreams

To the feelings that I felt I saved for you and no one else And though as long as this road seems I know it's called the street of dreams But that's not stardust on my feet It leaves a taste that's bittersweet That's called the blues

Bring me back the GNR from 90's... and Sweet dreams it is for you... can be classified more of blues than anything... the guitar does give a feel of Slash's... but the words couldn't quite paint

Rating 6/10

5. If the World

I never knew the way that you looked at me Would ever mean so much to me But in my heart I found The feelin's that I've never shown And now they've Got the best of me

No comments

Ratings : 4/10

6. There was a Time

Broken glass and cigarettes Writin' on the wall It was a bargain for the summer An I thought I had it all I was the one who gave you everything The one who took the fall You were the one who would do anything The one who can't recall

A ballad of course... Metal ballad... plays on for almost 7 minutes... Catchy

Rating : 7.5/10

7. Catcher in the Rye

When all is said and done We're not the only ones Who look at life this way That's what the old folks say But every time I'd see them Makes me wish I had a gun If I thought that I was crazy Well I guess I'd have more fun

Just another song... I'd wanna skip through...

Rating : 4/10

8. Scraped

Don't you try to stop us now I just refuse Don't you try to stop us now 'Cause I just won't let you

M gonna skip this one too...

Rating : 4/10

9. Riad n' The Bedouins

All my salvation and All my frustration Caught in the lies And if your at home as well Somewhere in time where only I can tell

I refuse to comment

Rating : I refuse to rate it...

10. Sorry

You like to hurt me
You know that you do
You like to think
In some way
That it's me
And not you

One of the stronger songs on the album... Slower paced... sludge style riff. Perhaps the only negative is that at over six minutes, the track goes just that little bit to long. 7/10

11. I.R.S.

All the reasons that you gave
I'd follow you
To where you'd lead
And if that'd be
The end of time, it's true

This one can almost sit with some of the older Guns 'n' Roses material... remininsence...

Rating : 7/10

12. Madagascar

I won't be told anymore That I've been brought down in this storm And left so far out from the shore But I can't find my way back, my way anymore

the last line says it all... too much effort... but all in vain... GNR in pieces is not GNR at all...

Rating : 5/10

13. This I Love

And now I don't know why
She wouldn't say goodbye
But then it seems that I
Had seen it in her eyes.

And it might not be wise
I'd still have to try
With all the love I have inside
I can't deny

I just can't let it die
Cause her heart's just like mine
And she holds her pain inside

my "november rain" for this album... a piano driven ballad... the best of this album... though November Rain still stays the top... this one's amazing too...

Rating : 9/10

14. Prostitute

If my intentions are misunderstood
Please be kind
I've done all I should
I won't ask of you
What I would not do
Oh, I saw the damage in you
My fortunate one
The envy of youth

A perfect album closer...

Rating : 8/10

In summary

It's really not fair to compare Chinese Democracy to any of the previous Guns 'n' Roses albums, largely due to the fact that this is not the same band. It's Axl Rose with some top class hired guns.

Lets be honest, there's nothing on this album that stands up against tracks like Don't Cry, Sweet Child 'O Mine, Welcome to the Jungle, Paradise city or November Rain... but it does sport a few good ones... esp the This I love... Shackler's revenge

But for the casual Guns N’ Roses fan or the general public, this is a very solid modern rock. Does it have its flaws? Of course it has... Is it worth the Money... download it ...

smiles