Axl Right, World Wrong: "Democracy" Prevails
Once upon a time in late 1999, Axl Rose played me many of the songs on Chinese Democracy.
First he invited me with my family to his house for Halloween. That's a story for another day.
A few weeks later, we met in the middle of night in a studio that I believe was then owned by the Captain & Tennille. Having first met Axl just as his career was taking off, he generously invited me and took a few hours from recording to play me some of the music that he'd already been working on for years. Then he gave me an extremely rare interview about his already mysterious work in progress for Rolling Stone. I loved what I heard. Sometime that morning, I remember asking Axl if having just missed the 20th century, he would definitely commit to releasing the album during the 21st century. I think Axl -- arguably the last real rock star -- might've even cracked a slight smile, but then again that might be wishful remembering.
I'll never forget that night because I got home at 4:45 am, crawled into bed with my wife, and then looked at the clock as I fell asleep around 4:58 am. At exactly 5:01 am, my older son Andrew, who was then just two, crawled into our bed and woke me up for the day. Fortunately, the buzz from the music was more than enough to keep me going on three minutes sleep. Andrew is now 11 and thinks Guns N' Roses is really cool, like his brother, his mother and father.
Last night I finally heard Chinese Democracy in all its glory.
Why did it take so long? Maybe Axl wanted to wait until he outlived the music industry. Maybe he was waiting for Obama to come around and remind us about American Democracy. Or maybe it just took exactly as long as it took. In any case, I love it. It's the perfect soundtrack to our not-so-Great Depression, and the sort of inspiring resurrection that's always welcome for all those of us for whom rock & roll is still a religion.
Axl, it's always great to hear from you, and thanks for the gift. I downloaded your album on iTunes, but so far it's the Best Buy of my holiday season.
Come around more often, you hear?
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I wanted to like it. Really. Not a decent tune or lyric on the thing. It just seems over-cooked,over-produced, amorphous and under-inspired. Adding a million tracks to a bad song in pro-tools doesn't make it a good song. Adding more 16th notes to a guitar solo doesn't make a great piece of music, it makes self-indulgent wankery. But if you like it, and you're not making any kind of money from promoting it, good for you. If you're a "journalist" on the Universal/Azoff payroll and you're saying it's a masterpiece, you should be ashamed.
This is truly a great album. It's not for everyone, but it is great. The songs are neither weak nor cheesy. They are strong, rich with musical and emotional depth and truly different. Hate on it as much as you want, but it is great.
Say it Ali G!
Honestly, I'm not sure why Axl provokes so much hate at this late date.
No hate. Just no respect.
Axl's stl crp.
I agree. And to attack a piece of art as weak or cheesy is a very easy and juvenile thing to do. I think upon examination of the album, those "weak and cheesy" arguments don't stand up.
It's funny -- most people are reviewing their issues with Axl, not the album.
I suspect that the hard-core fans of the band will like it but everyone else will be wondering what all the fuss is about. I thought the album was mediocre. It didn't suck, but there weren't instant classics or memorable songs on it. Of course, my opinion may change with additional listens.
Let it grow on you.
While listening to "Chinese Democracy" there were several moments when I began having fits of uncontrollable laughter. This was not a response to joy, rather I was laughing at how bad this collection of music is and how long it took to compile and release. Some of the material on this record is so bad it is just damn funny ,at other times it is extremely cringe inducing. One thing for sure is the kids of today should like it with it's crazy layered and glossy, digital production values, but the songs are weak and often very cheesey. Definately not the GNR of old, but some new creature that has absorbed all that is bad in the world of modern music and forgot that great songs need great riffs and melodies, not just production values and bombast. Axel Rose and Tommy Stinson should be embarassed for this effort, at one time both were in real rock and roll bands, but they aren't anymore. Thumbs down, this one stanks!
Just interested - which tracks provoke laughter for you?
This coming from somebody who doesn't know how to spell definitely.
Tommy Stinson and Axl Rose owe you no apologies. Those are two of the most Rock n' Roll people to have ever walked this earth.
What the hell does that mean? Most rock n' roll guys? Does this mean that they go to the sock hop?
Who would have thought back in the day of Tommy Stinson and Axl Rose together, but it works. Plus it's good to have a Stinson still around and playing.
I've listened to almost all of it and what a POS.
Almost all?
What you gave up?
Couldn't take all that democracy?
Best rock album in 15 years. Period.
And what album fifteen years ago?
DW
It is a good album. Very good. I don't know about epic or great but very good is a fair judgment.
If you liked the Use Your Illusion Axl driven version of Guns, then you will probably like Chinese Democracy. The guy below me said the only song he liked was "Catcher in The Rye".
I think "Better" is the best song. "Street of Dreams", "There Was A Time" are VERY good songs, and I didn't really think any of them could be called bad.
There is some really good guitar work throughout and done by who the hell knows, Rob Finck, Buckethead, Bumblefoot. At the end of the day, the vocals are very layered and classic Axl. His lyrics seem very heartfelt. I find it believable.
Lastly, the best compliment I can give Axl is that while he borrows influence from some other artists such as the use of more electronic driven music etc., the finished product is truly original and unique. It is Axl. And for the $12 I paid, well worth it. congratulations AXL, you still got it buddy.
"There Was A Time" is great -- I like all your favorites and more and more are growing on me like "Sorry"
Maybe you heard a different album than I did. It was awful. Not "that's it?" awful. Plain awful. I listend to the whole thing 3 times through to see if it would grow. No such luck. The only song I liked was Catcher in the Rye, and even then it didn't hold a candle to the previous work
Time to pay Slash and the gang whatever it takes to get the band back together for that nostalgia tour
Millions of people dying to hear this album played Shackler's Revenge on Rock Band 2, and cancelled plans to buy it.
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