Just bought Chinese Democracy the other day...

I wasn't sure at first, but it is a real grower. It doesn't sound like the Guns N Roses of yesteryear (but that's probably because it isn't the Guns N Roses from yesteryear).

There are some solid tracks on the record, but I can't help but feel Axl should get back with Izzy Stradlin and Slash.

The new record doesn't sound like a real band. Listen to tracks like Locomotive or Coma and then listen to the new record and you'll see what I mean.

Still, my favourites are Shackler's Revenge, Better, Madagascar and Street of Dreams.

Not keen on Chinese Democracy at all and the bloated Use Your Illusion albums don't impress me as much as they used to, though I think there's some great material on them.
Appetite For Destruction is still where it's at for me.

Cloudbuster said:

Use Your Illusions I and II may be flawed (and it hasn't dated well at all) but it also contains a lot of the bands best work. Songs like Don't Cry, Coma, Bad Obsession, Locomotive and Estranged still sound great today. The trouble with that album was it had one too many fillers and the two covers were completely pointless.

Chinese Democracy is a grower - you should give it some time.

Whether or not you can truly consider it a "real" Guns N Roses album is entirely debatable though...

I am liking C.D.

It's not Appetite, and for good reason. I was surprised to find it only sounds somewhat over-produced. I expected much more in the way of crazy changes and overproduction. It's basically just a good slick rock album, and surprisingly seamless considering the millions of seams it must have.

But the songs do grow on me. It has a lot of meat to it, and unlike the last Racanteurs album which I find is over in a few minutes, the GnR album is seemingly only on track 3 after an hour of listening

Axl's singing is different, too, not just the band. He sounds female at times. His screech is there, but it is not oppressive as I had feared (I wasn't sure I was still up for that tone)

The music is actually a step back in some ways. There are 80's ballad type songs, and 80's shredder guitar solos. But then there's Korn influenced, more modern rock.

All in all it's a solid album, but probably should simply be one of many released over the last 10 years!

MattyJam said:

Locomotive is bloody amazing. I really liked Use Your Illusion II. I thought I was a little disappointing. Bad Obsession was a fine New York Dolls type song though. I've heard Chinese Democracy and it misses the swagger of the old GNR and its far too wearing an experience. I could only do half a dozen songs at a time and i was beat from listening to it. Music very rarely makes me tired but that album is hard going. I did like Better though, very good song, even if the chorus is ripped from Anthrax's Only.

NDRU said:

There's a ton of meat on it, actually theres too much meat on it. Also the pacing is all off though i can imagine it making much more sense if it was bought as a double LP and played that way.

WildheartXXX said:

I agree it's too much to get through. I actually don't think I've heard the last song yet, but listened to the first 8 songs numerous times.

MattyJam said:

without Izzy, Matt, and Slash u can't call it G-N-R, 'cause Buckethead doesn't count....

diamondpearl1 said:

Even Buckethead has left, hasn't he?

MattyJam said:

I don't know 4 certain but Axl's lost his mind tryin 2 recreate what was the modern day Zeppelin/Sex Pistols with a bunch of clones...

diamondpearl1 said:

you can call it GNR but it doesn't make it real