Here Today... Gone To Hell!

Except for Madagascar, and the intro to Chinese Democracy, I kind of miss the styles of the...err...new old songs. Comparing '06 to '02 you can definitely hear that Axl is easing back on the industrial stuff. I think part of it is Buckethead's absence. Chinese Democracy had a lot of weird synth effects back in '02 and a majority of them are gone now. The guitar solo for CD at Tacoma '02 was a real mind-f*ck, now a lot of the solos sound more like the old band. On one hand I'm totally glad Axl's voice is back to an extent but at the same time part of me really liked aspects of those songs back then.

Axl's vocals are far better on the "old" songs now but I also kind of preferred the "cleaner" voice on The Blues and a couple others in '02. When Axl uses his grit-voice on The Blues now it can be amazing at times but he also seems to shift back and forth and I think the song really seemed more emotional and powerful when it was cleaner. I was just listening to the outro at Tacoma and Dizzy or Pitman play these little synth loops that really highlight the outro and give it a more emotional feeling.

I'm not trying to be critical, just wondering if anyone else kind of misses some of the aspects of the songs from back then.

I liked the 'old' Blues better, especially the RIR3 performance. And CD was better with the insane BH solo.

nah, I like chidem more now, especially the guitar intro, the only song I like more before was Madagascar but from Rock in Rio... and that was in 01 I think? ?I didnt like the way it was played in 02 and I dont like the way its been played in 06... idunno why....I would've loved to hear it on Rock Am Ring though...
Furthermore, I think the blues suffers from the raspy axl voice... clean vocals work best for that song..so In a way, the blues was better in 02..

Yeah, Axl's clean and ultra-high voice shone on The Blues. RIR3's Blues was one of his best peformances ever.

The blues was 5 million times better in 02. That intro from RIR 3 is the most gorgeous unbelievable thing I have ever heard and Axl hasnt came close once in duplicating it as I now find the intro sucks.

The song had tempo and gave me chill bumps at RIR3 whereas I cant be bothered to even listen to a new version of it.

i like Chinese Democracy better now than before.   the Blues though....i have to go with the RIR3 version.  i love the slower version as well though.  thats why i hope we get that so called bonus disc with CD.  so maybe we can hear different versions of songs.  yeah i know.....wishful thinking.

No.... I love the way the songs are done now.......... :yes:

NO

All the songs sound better in 2006 without Buckethead. He ruined the GN'R sound. The best version of "the blues" is the Rio 2001 version, but BH didn't play on that song.
The 2002 GN'R version were too "metal", basically because Buckethead guitar tone is too loud for GN'R, he sounded like Slipknot, not like a Rock n' Roll guitar player. There were also too much keyboards effects in 2002, now in 2006 some songs sound more natural (the blues), less overproduced.

I also like the Blues RIO3 better but i also am getting used to the new Blues..LOve to hear Studio version...Awesome song either way.. Others dont bother me..there Awesome.. : ok:

do you have any idea what you are talking about?  ??? 

Yes, his guitar tone was too loud and his playing didn't fit with the Guns N' Roses style aswel. He made Guns N' Roses sound like a heavy/speed/shredd-metal band, not like a Rock band. Anyway he is gone and I hope he is forever. terrible, terrible player for a Rock band (even the RHCP didn't want him because his playing didn't fit the band too).

it wont really matter as bucketheads parts will be on the album y'know. i think the blues was good at RIR three. the intro where the power chords came crashing in was excellent although i thought the lead part over the top ws a tad retarded, but may sound good on the record.

as for cd, i've listened to a few versions on you tube from 2006 and the keyboardsa are still there! although bh's mental solo isn't, but i dont think thats a bad thing........but it will be on the record i would expect
 : ok:

Buckethead does not sound like Slipknot  : ok:

On topic, I do prefer the 2002 version of The Blues with more guitar.   But CD and Madagascar I like better this year.

I agree. The Blues has dropped in quality. The 2002 version is one of my favorite songs of all time, while this new version is very forgettable. Obviosly the lyrics are incredible, but the quality of the music is now that of a piano pop ballad. I used to think The Blues would be a highlight of the album. I seriously doubt that now. CD was also better in 2002, although I do like this new intro. If BH was back, most of these songs would sound alot better, specifically Better and IRS. Maybe they could try Riyadh with him in the lineup. No he's never known what he was talking about. All he does is bash Buckethead without even knowing anything about him or his music. You just have to do your best to ignore his psychobabble, although sometimes its hard.

ouch!  :yes:

The Buckethead's groupie has just spoken.

I'm no buckethead defender.  I think he's ok and all, but you dont see me singing his praises all the time (although I do like him better than bumblefoot, GNR could just be RObin and Richard on guitar for all I care).   but to say buckethead would belong in a band like slipknot is just completely ignorant.  clearly you've never actually listened to buckethead's stuff or slipknot.

I thought The Blues was way better in '02. Axl's best vocal performances on that song were at the shows in Japan. Also, I really liked how the guitars came in all at once at the beginning rather than the really mellow piano intro that they switched over to in '06.

yea i don't understand why they took out the guitar in the beginning.  :no:  but I think vocally Axl sounds better in 06.  so that kind of balances it out.

Out of the changes made to the 2002 songs, the change in The Blues was the most shocking. Why fuck with perfection? I hope the 2002 version eventually sees the light of day.

ya the guitar made the song epic.   still an amazing solo by robin, outro by richard, Dizzy's piano and Axls' vocals and lyrics  :drool:   overall just a beautiful song.  but i hope the album version mirrors what we had in 2002.  We know the song was recorded already before the 2002 tour as a few secs of the studio clip showed up on radio promos.

Yeah, The Blues is the song where Finck always shined. Shows he could do something amazing. I have a feeling he's not a big fan of this newer one. :hihi: I dont blame him.

The 2006 versions of the new songs are generally miles better of the 2002 versions IMO. And yes, this is definitely because the band eased the industrial stuff and decided to go back and be a Rock N' Roll band. Props to the 2006 band :peace: :yes:

I agree with this, although actually The Blues lost  a little bit of rock by loosing the guitars in the intro, but it?s better that the synths are off.

 : ok:

I dislike most of the newer songs in '06.

The Blues sounded great with the guitar.. and the synths were very cool sounding. Added to the song.

Chinese Democracy sounds kinda the same to me.. only I like Bumbles interpretation of the solo better than Buckets. I actually prefer the 02 intro to the 06 one. Sounded more natural.

I haven't really listened to '06 Maddy much.. but from what I remember it sounds somewhat the same.

Also, James, do you honestly believe the new band doesn't do Rhaid just because of Bumble  :hihi:? Your a cool guy, so don't feel like im trying to offend you, but all you seem to do is bash Bumble. Have you actually listened to alot of the new boots? He sounds great and nails just about everything. I mention this alot, but TWAT from Madrid? Have you heard that? Bumble owns up on it.

I think maybe you heard a couple of boots and got the wrong impression. The guy is very good...

I'm just saying maybe you should give him a chance. I think you'll be pleased at Arco when you get the chance to hear the whole set list. I think hes done great.

    -jack

I dont just "bash Bumble". Yes, I've heard the majority of these boots. He isn't impressive. He doesn't even try and replicate the BH work, because he cant. He just uses improv shredding instead. I literally laugh when I hear some of this 06 material. I guarantee that Axl has had second thoughts about choosing him. If me(and others) can see BBF as the weakness in these songs, I'm sure he can. If he was worthy of praise, I would give it to him. He's not. Did you know Riyadh is the only song on the setlist that hasn't been performed? I wonder why? Take a guess. "BBF nails just about everything"? :nervous: Please tell me you're joking, or give me the boot to this secret concert you're hoarding. If he could nail everything, these BH solos wouldnt sound like comedy routines and Riyadh would have been in the setlist since Hammerstein.

I'm going to give him a chance. By the time GNR get to Arco, I'm praying he has done ALOT of practicing. : ok:

By the way, I'll give him props on the old material. He does a great interpretation of Nightrain, and a damn good job on NR. He cant handle the CD material. Sad but true.

Dude, thats ridiculous. You honestly think they don't play Rhaid just because of Bumble? Thats a bunch of crap James. How many times did the old band play Rhaid? Not very often.. it must have been because of Bucket back then right? Bumble could pull it off fine. It's not even that great a solo either. Listen to Rhaid from Vegas HOB and tell me that solo sounds good.

And if your right and Bumble really does fuck up the new stuff like you say he does.. why wouldn't they just play Rhaid anyways? If he fucks up the other songs why not just let him "fuck those up?" Also, if you ask me Rhaid is the song where Bucket shredded the most.. so if Bumbles just an improv shredder surely he could just shred through it?

Im watching Better @ RockAMRing... and it seems like Bumble does the solo pretty much like Bucket. =/. He sounds good on IRS too...

Oh and TWAT from Madrid? (ADDED IN LATER... just to clarify... its only the solo.. your not getting the whole song)

http://www.yousendit.com/transfer.php?action=download&ufid=A822F6DE14FAF252

Doesn't sound like a joke to me. Sounds fucking good James.

And im not dissing on Bucket. I love the guy. Im gonna see him at HOB Anaheim.. but to say Bumble sucks is bs.

Like I said, download that clip of Bumble's TWAT solo and tell me hes a joke.

Oh and one more thing... heres a mp3 that compares the Chinese Democracy solo of Bucket's Boston '02 and Tacoma '02 to Bumbles '06 New York. Bucket's solos are played first and Bumbles is the last clip. (ADDED LATER: It's just one mp3 of clips.. clarifying.. )

http://www.yousendit.com/transfer.php?action=download&ufid=A86CF0AB6D66167C

Check em out. If you still think Bumble can't do Bucket justice then I don't care to convince you.

I do prefer the 2002 live version of "The Blues".

I miss the guitar parts at the begining :'(

And I think Madagascar and The Blues are better when Axl doesn't use his raspy voice on them.

I like the rasp on Madagascar, I think the song in '02 was very good and in '06 is a masterpiece.

Jack:

As far as CD goes, he does a decent job. BH does better, but he pulls off that solo. TWAT is a little off, but the song could be passed off in a live setting. Since you seem to know about my "Bumble bashing", you will know my main issues are with IRS and Better, examples you didnt list. No need to list them either, because I'm sure you realize it as well and may have played a part in not using those songs as examples.

Trust me, as long as BBF is in the band, Riyadh will not be played. When BH is back, we'll hear it again. Have you ever taken into consideration that the setlist is AFD heavy because BBF cant pull off many of the new songs? Him not doing Riyadh well(my speculation since we havent heard it yet) may have made Axl realize that other new songs cant be played either.

I prefer the 2006 versions.  I like the piano intro in the Blues, and CD and Madagascar sounds better too.

Why play new songs when the album isn't even near?
(Back during the Europe tour)

I actually didn't know that (about the songs you dislike with Bumble), but I get what your saying.

Anyways, I guess its just a matter of taste. I prefer Bumbles CD solo to Buckets... and Bumbles TWAT solo is perfectly fine. Great sounding actually. IRS and Better from RockAMRing sound great to me... but I admit I haven't heard too many boots of those songs.

And James I still don't understand the logic with Rhaid. They hardly played it in 02.. not exactly a fan favorite.. so why play it yet? I can say with a fair amount of confidence that it will be played during the US run and that when it is you'll eat your words.. It's not like Rhaid's solo is that difficult. Your fooling yourself into thinking it's something special. It's not.

But I'm sure when they DO play it you'll say its only because Bumble had the extra time to "practice it"

And haha, the AFD setlist? Cause of Bumble? Yeah James.. thats it..  : ok:

So in '02 it must have been Buckets fault right?

Don't make excuses in places where there isn't any. Bumble is DEFINITLY NOT the reason they play AFD setlists. That is obviously a choice made by big man Axl because CD is not out yet. Nobody wants to go out and hear the new songs until the record is out.. and we've already like 6 or 7 songs. Why bring out more?

In the end Bumbles a totally great player who can handle pretty much all the CD parts... it sounds like you just suddenly became attached to Buckethead and now think that nobody can play his parts. Which isn't the case. None of Bucket's solos for songs off the new record (that we've heard so far.. even though I doubt any at all) is extreamly tough virtuoso stuff anyways. And don't think I have a bias against Bucket either.. like I said, I'm seeing him live soon, and I realize that he contributed alot to the band.

If you want to believe that Bumble is the reason for AFD, rehash and no Rhaid you might as well blame him for the 2002 cancellation, no 2006 VMA show-up, and no CD in 2005. None of it is his fault

Just remember who thought the original lineup reunion at Download and Rio sounded right  : ok:. And it wasn't me.


^^^Heh, this still cracks me up...  :hihi:

ADDED LATER. Oh, btw... I know you'll probably say "Well of CORSE hes gonna say he knows it"... but thats bs.

(http://xce.xanga.com/962a900a7113277541634/m52543568.png)

NO I prefer it the way it is now, in the moment....keekee....well i am missing bucky but I LOVE  the way axl performs now.....keekee 8)

The Blues in 2002 was the best.  I liked the guitar near the beginning.  Those synth effects that kicked in at the "I don't know just what I should do" part were perfect, but I can't really notice them on the new version.  Still a very strong song but it's not as good as the 2002 version IMO.  2002 Chinese Democracy + the new intro would be the best.  Madagascar I think is about the same, although some of the Buckethead solo work is missed

You bring up a good point.  I looked back to RIR 3 recently, and the show had a much different vibe than today.  I really love the live version of "Oh My God" from then, and I couldn't help but get the feeling that they were trying to pull off some post-apocalypic nuclear war vibe...  I really kinda liked it... That has all but disappeared today.  Too bad, I would have loved to hear that "version" of CD...