Guns N’ Roses are officially the Michael Bay of music. In short, here’s what I’m on about:
I heard 9 mixes from Guns N’ Roses months ago, and finally got the real mastered deal of Chinese Democracy today after almost two decades and millions of dollars later. The release for this record is on the 23rd. I sat with this all the way through, and for the money I think they made it work. The real value will be determined by the listener.
So initially here’s what I thought. I want to like it. I really do. It sounds pleasant going into my earhole, and there’s a lot going on to keep it interesting. The record seems to be more like a business venture rather than a group of guys with a passion for music. Axl Rose gives some decent performances that seem to have some integrity and believability. A lot of different drum eq automation effects distract from the overall quality of the drums (which sound like they were composed in BFD2, a midi drum program). The guitar work is surprisingly impressive even though some of the effects are gratuitously annoying. Pop inspired vocal effects and layering give Axl a decent makeover from his early days, although the vocal quality sounds like where the money went.
My first impressions going down the list of songs was amazement on the amount of production and imagining the number of tracks in the ProTools files and the hundreds of plug-ins used. It’s almost like as technology evolved over the years they discovered they could keep adding shit.. and did.
Axl is the spotlight in this record. No question. There’s no Slash for Axl to be arm and arm with, so listening to this I started to feel like I was hanging out with a divorced buddy and his new girlfriend, only without the chemistry.
As far as songwriting and melodies go, it’s no Appetite For Destruction. I’m not sure if anyone was really expecting it to be, a lot of people got a taste of their new sound with their pre-released single “Shackler’s Revenge”. There’s mega production and lots going on to distract from the core of the song… or movie if we’re talking about Michael Bay.
I’ll be honest, in a decade where less is more I don’t know how well this will be received by the younger generation. I think a lot of older women will fall in love with Axl again, older GnR fans will remember Use Your Illusion and might enjoy about 80% of Chinese Democracy, primarily the slower jams.
If their live show is just as impressive and on par with the production of this record, they just might be able to pull the trilogy of albums off and maintain interest. However if they’re promising 2012 they better keep that production time table or they will further piss off more people. Axl can’t show up 4 hours late to a show or prolong a release anymore, this ain’t the 80s.
My predictions:
- ‘Better’ will be the next single
- Washed up 80s party girls will slowly crawl out of their dark caves
- Metallica will have music production envy
- The press will fart all over this record then smell it
- The next album will be released 2 years late in 2014
- Kanye West will collaborate with them on the next record
- The album will be received by a limited audience and die off with the trends
If you saw Transformers three or more times in the theatre, you’ll probably dig this record. A lot.
And hey, if you don’t like the tracks, at least you’ll get a free Dr. Pepper.
hey!!! … and oyu have the tracks? share!!!
Comment by Rafa — November 13, 2008 @ 5:29 pm
Here’s an interesting article about the 9 songs that were leaked a while back.
http://www.prefixmag.com/news/guns-n-roses-may-sue-the-pants-off-emchinese-democ/21097/
Comment by Bryan — November 13, 2008 @ 5:58 pm
I agree with the predictions with 2 minor changes:
Washed up 80s party girls will slowly crawl out of their dark caves from their suburban neighborhoods showing up to GnR concerts as Moms with their teenage children in tow (hopefully without the big hair and clown makeup… hopefully….)
The next album will be released 12 years late in 2024
Comment by Shell — November 13, 2008 @ 10:24 pm
Ooo yah. Then they’ll do the “When I was your age…” thing.
Comment by Bryan — November 13, 2008 @ 10:41 pm
i’m not sure bumblefoot was involved with the recording of the album’s guitarwork. buckethead or robin finck are who you’re after.
Comment by lee — November 20, 2008 @ 5:13 pm
Ah good call - thanks for lookin out. I edited for generic purposes, since I don’t have liner notes in front of me.
Comment by Bryan — November 20, 2008 @ 5:31 pm
[...] is awesome), but you’re just going to have to check it out. It will dwarf any publicity of Chinese Democracy (and I do find it funny how Kanye moved the ‘on sale date’ 2 days after Guns N’ [...]
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