Here Today... Gone To Hell!

http://www.rollingstone.com/reviews/album/24024297/review/24161281/chinese_democracy

amazing!  :drool:

That's a great review. Very postive! I can't wait. It says it's from the November 27th issue. I gotta feeling Guns is getting the cover.

First review, and we can happily say it was a positive one. 4/5 is real good in RollingStone.  :beer:

Awesome, awesome, awesome!  This is a incredible review and I'm very very glad we got a good one right out of the gates.  I just hope more reviewers will take the album like this one does.  Instead of "It took 14 years for this???", it's "The songs needed 14 years to perfect and it comes off incredibly"

YYAAYY for Rolling Stone!! :peace:

Awesome review.  : ok:

I'm glad there are journalists out there who can stick to writing a review about the music itself.

Like it should be.




/jarmo

Awesome Review !!!!!!  8)

cool review (even if it's a short one for an album like CD)

Thanks for the heads up.

The is a great review for CD.

I'm pleased they reviewed the album based on the actual music on the album and not all the other stuff that's usually brought up when mentioning CD.

Fuck yeah, 12 days and counting.........

well done, RS. Gotta believe the rest of the critical acclaim will begin to pile up now

Glad to see RS made a positive effort in their review - this should be well received by most of the fanbase. I'm looking forward to different perspectives in future reviews...it's amazing how journalists can put a different spin on the meaning of lyrics, etc. Some of it you wouldn't ever have thought of - not to say they're always right - but the perspectives are always intriguing.  :peace:

so much anxiety into waiting for this thing. each day passes and we'll get more and more reviews and the next 12 days are just going to consume me. this is incredible.

i hope guns gets the cover of this issue. i'd snatch that in a heartbeat

excellent!

hopefully all reviewers will be as positive and impartial.

A good start to set the record straight before all the hacks get their chance to talk trash.

What a great review! In a few years they'll turn around and give it 5 stars, I bet.

Thanks for posting.  It's a great start and hopefully a few more journalists will follow suit and focus on the music too.

This is amazing.

Fricke is - BAR NONE - the best rock journalist THERE IS.

I've said it for years and years, and I even met him some time back, when he was in Denmark to talk about the Danish music scene (under the radar) and The Raveonettes and I was there as a representative for www.musikliv.dk. I pulled him aside afterwards and we had a chat. He's very, very cool.

"Yeah, I've been meaning to catch Axl and Guns, but they keep cancelling *laughs*. I had tickets for the 2002 tour," was his blinky-eyed reply to me asking him whether he had heard the new band.

He went on and said that "Guns was one of few inspired rock n' roll bands".

 :peace:

Great review, makes me more excited!

excellent review.


the journalist hits the nail on the head with that one.

great review, and rollingstone went up a few steps for me. that review just got me 10 times more excited for this grand album, i think we can expect to start seeing alot of reviews and promotions this week! rock on fellow gunners! :rofl:

Yeah thats a great review, no doubt about it. I don't necessarily want everyone who reviews the album to drool over it as we all have different tastes and opinions, I just hope that the reviews are based on the music and not on how long the album took to come out and be marked down for it as that would be incredibly unfair. Not long now!

Thank God David Fricke reviewed the record.  He is absolutely, without doubt, the best writer RS has.  He is one of the best rock and roll writers ever.  I love his stories and interviews, most recently with AC/DC and Metallica.  Thank you Mr. Fricke for being open-minded and giving the record a fair chance.

Ali

Great albums get great reviews 9 time out of 10 and this is a great album.

THAT REVIEW WAS AWESOME!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I am F*cking excited!!! For arguablly the biggest rock music magazine to praise the band and the album and axl like they did is an accomplishment guys. I love where he says, if all this was what axl envisioned in the early days than clearly a regular five piece band was not enough!!!! YES!!!!

Guys this is our time to write comments on that same page at the bttm and tell rolling stone that the album is great and that thier review was awesome!! and Click the 5th star out of the five to give it its due rating. This is IMPORTANT! This is rolling stone magazine guys come on!!!  : ok: : ok: : ok: :beer: :beer: :smoking:

Nice review! : ok:

But I really wanted to hear about "This I Love" and "Sorry", the 2 songs people are most anxious about. Is it possible he didn't hear them?

Excellent!!! I wondered who would be the first to review the album in its proper format, who would bet against Rolling Stone getting the first interview with Axl and hopefully the band.

I wish they mentioned more of the songs though, I suppose the album will be over anylised to death by other less open minded reviewers so this was not a bad start.
 IRS sounds like it might be the rip snorting rocker it deserves to be!

Looking at recent reviews, they only give above 4 stars to greatest hits albums. That's pretty good, this is the best reviewed "new" album RS have published in a long time.

i wanted to hear about "this i love" too !! i hear its hte best song on the album!

Like the review. Like the writer. All good things!

 Great review, honest and insightful. and he is not just being biased in the review, which makes it that much more better. Just a quik question, what were the last couple of records RS gave 5 out of 5?

They don't give many 5 star reviews - the last rock one I remember getting a 5 star review was REM - Automatic for the People, but I am sure they have given more since then.

RS was also a pretty big GnR supporter, at least when Kurt Loder was involved (not sure if he still is).  

fantastic, really pumped now!!

How is "Scraped"?  I don't think I've heard this one...

He comments on the lyrics...which sound pretty badass...

Is he reviewing this based on the leaks?  Or did he have a legitimate copy?  If he did have a copy...it'll only be a matter of time til the wrong person gets a hold of it and it becomes public...

No mention of "This I Love" or "Sorry".  This is the second time RS has mentioned "Scraped".  I think this is going to be the first video shot for the album.....

"All things are possible/I am unstoppable," in the thumper "Scraped," that's not loony hubris ? just a good old rock & roll "fuck you," the kind that made him and the old band hot and famous in the first place.

I like the sound of that! 8)

Apparently a man who posts under "RandyJesus" has heard all of the finished songs and had this to say about them on RollingStone.com:

I am one of the few that has actually heard all of the songs in both finished and unfinished form.

The finished version of the songs sound more like the old songs but with some modern twists. There are two songs on the album which I would consider as filler. There first is the title track Chinese Democracy. It is a farely decent rock track but it doesn't represent the album well. I am assuming it was chosen as a single because it was the title track. Riad is the second filler track. Once again it is a decent rock song but doesn't represent the album well.

Songs like Better, Scraped, and IRS are the classic Guns N' Roses rock songs. The song Shacklers Revenge, sounds more like Axl singing over a song by Disturbed.

There Was a Time, Madagascar, This I Love, and Street of Dreams (The Blues) are epic songs like you would find on the Use Your Illusion Albums. Catcher (In the Rye) is another epic, but made in the mold of the legendary band QUEEN. Sorry is the most venom filled slow grinding song that is a cross between the old Guns N' Roses and Pink Floyd.

With all the innovation it still remains classic rock. If you like; Nickleback, Hinder, Buckcherry, Meatloaf, My Chemical Romance, and Velvet Revolver, Disturbed, Primus, Led Zeppelin, and Aerosmith. You will love this album.

I have to give this 5 stars.


Nov 10, 2008 09:31:55

I can't wait to hear these...

Although I don't see how you can put Nickelback, Hinder, and Disturbed in with the rest of the bands listed OR compare them to GNR ever...

That's where his personal review goes a little sour...

too bad he's not even lying. There are elements of those band in the album and the whole album is far from the old bluesy rock n rock style gn'r used to be.

not that that is a bad thing, it just may not be everyone's taste when they pick out a gn'r record. well now they have a chance to know that this band holds very little in common with their previous band members

Glad the reviewer gave Oh My God some props, it is a really great song. It annoys me when people knock it.

great review : ok: : ok:

I expected some asshole to write a review like, "Sorry, due to unforeseeable circumstances our review must be delayed till whenever", kind of like they did for the Fiona Apple album "When The Pawn...". Good to see the music actually reviewed instead.

Good review, props to David Fricke. He's been at RS for a long time.

I didn't think I could become any more excited for the release of this album, but after reading that review...somehow...I'm even more excited.   :o

way to go axl!   :beer:

it must be tough to read bad reviews after you've spent so long making something.  axl should go out and party like it's 1991.

Me too! Axl is THE KING OF THE WORLD!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Great Review.  Gets me fired up!!

What a great review.  My favorite parts...

It is plain, too, that he thinks this Guns n' Roses is a band, as much as the one that recorded "Welcome to the Jungle," "Sweet Child O' Mine," "Used to Love Her" and "Civil War." The voluminous credits that come with Chinese Democracy certainly give detailed credit where it is due.

and

To him, the long march to Chinese Democracy was not about paranoia and control. It was about saying "I won't" when everyone else insisted, "You must."

 :smoking:

WOW.  I am sitting at my desk at work and my legs are almost shaky.  Now THAT is what i'm talking about.  Excellent, and truthful, review.

 :beer:

Very good!!!!

Good review, props to David Fricke. He's been at RS for a long time.


Yes, since 1977.

He is the best rock journalist, maybe, ever.

Flies straight. Never goes for the man, but the ball. He'll mention the man but only in regards to the art. Be it Cobain, be it Brian Wilson, be it Axl Rose.

 :beer:

Yeah great review...

But it wont be the same story in Denmark. Almost every big newspaper will say it sucks. You know what im talking about. :P

I'm astonished after reading this review. It is not only that it's so honest and fair. I think I've never read any music-related article better than this. It's absolutely brilliant, and the writing is just blinding.

I guess he felt truly inspired once he had listened to the whole Chinese Democracy!

I cannot wait to hear Sorry and Scraped.

Excellent review, I'm glad to see people judging it for what it is etc.

Any review that mentions anything not relevant to music, I throw away.

I think the prevailing thought that todays culture does not have room for AXL ROSE.  My ass, lots of these publications sold lots of copies on account of GNR and there popularity.  Hinder and todays shitty knock off bands just don't have the AXL ROSE mystique.  I think MTV and Vh1 will support GNR more then you people expect.   GNR made MTV a lot of money too.

I have a smile on my face ...  :D ... btw. (I have a feeling  ;)) Sorry and Scraped are 2 special songs, very special and amazing  :drool:

v. ..

I was watching some old YouTube stuff the other day and u quickly get reminded of why music sucks today. Axl is still one of the most "Real" people ever. He isn't out there doing a job, or doing a show * I mean he is* but u know what I am sayin, performing and playing is like watching Axl battle with himself and u can see it play out on stage.

The rants were fabulous, just because they were so spontaneous and once again real. He didn't put on a smile and fake it ever.  U always knew how he was feeling and u will never see that again.

That line by Fricke is fucking classic


To him, the long march to Chinese Democracy was not about paranoia and control. It was about saying "I won't" when everyone else insisted, "You must." That is Axl in a nutshell.

Very pleased to see Fricke write a respectful review (not that I would expect anything less).  Lets hope this butters Axl up enough so that he gives them an exclusive!

excellent review by Fricke...he certainly "got it".....Some journalists have never fully understood what Guns N Roses or Axl were about...It seems as though Fricke really got it...really cool... : ok:

loved the review  : ok:

for those who need an english - spanish translation, click here (http://gnrla.mejorforo.net/guns-n-roses-f4/review-de-rollingstone-de-chinese-democracy-cuatro-estrellas-t1465.htm)

This is great news. Less than two weeks away!!

a.

Awesome review.  See, this is why I love Mondays now, always something happening.  BTW, anybody know how often RS gives 5/5?

Almost never.

Now its about time RollingStone gets it right! This is a great start to what will hopefully be a long list of great reviews!

Very cool review!

I think the RS review may give people a second look at the album who otherwise may have not been interested.

Very seldomly does RS hand out a 5 out of 5 rating. Only one I can ever remember was Neil Young's 'Freedom' disc back in 1987. Metallica's 'Death Magnetic' received a 4 out of 5 recently, and that's a pretty damned good record.

David Fricke is also a huge fan of the Eagles, so maybe Irving Azoff's connection with both the Eagles and GN'R could explain why RS got the early review.

Interestingly enough, Fricke does not mention "This I Love", I'd really like to have gotten his opinion of it. That's the one song I'm just desperate to hear.

I think Springsteen and Dylan's recent albums got the 5 star review. But hey, four stars is great. Imagine how bummed out we'd be if it got 2 stars (which I think Erlewine at AMG will give it!)

I stopped caring about the press a long time ago, but I have to say that was a great review. It didn't drag on about the past or who is missing or why it took so long or the gossip or speculation or anything like that - It just focused on the strengths of the album itself, the lyrics, the themes etc..

Not every review may be as open minded as this one, but at the end of the day the reviews don't matter to us..

Well said.
 :beer:

Yes. The most recent 5 stars handed out was Michael Jackson's Thriller 25, which i think is the only one in 08 so far.
Before that, Springsteen, Dylan, Kanye West, Brian Wilson, etc. I saw a list somewhere and they've given about 15 five star reviews this decade, but only gave out 3 in the 90s.

First review and it's a posstive and... it's Rolling Stone! Brilliant  :yes:

This is the review I was anticipating the most. 4 outta 5 stars is beyond my expectations.

I don't think for one second the album is not going to be good, it'll be fucking outstanding for that matter, but I was afraid the media was not going to focus on the music rather than Axl and the 14 years in the making yada yada crap.

There'll be some nasty reviews I'm sure, but having RS praising the album it'll most likely make most jourlnalists focus solely on Chinese Democracy (the music)  : ok:

If I remember correctly Appetite for Destruction got 5 Stars.
Use Your Illusion 1 got 4 Stars.
Use Your Illusion 2 got 4.5 Stars.

That's just going from memory though.

Remember  how everyone here said there is no way RS would diss Axl when CD came out? We were right!!!  :rofl:

Anyone notice the Posted Date?

"DAVID FRICKE

(Posted: Nov 27, 2008)"

Does that mean it's going to get pulled and reposted later? Or is that the issue of RS that it's going to be in?

Might be in the issue that goes on sale this or next week?




/jarmo

It will be from the next issue, I'm sure.

***

How refreshing to see someone - especially someone of Fricke's stature - judge GN'R and Axl by the music, and not by the rumors that have surrounded him for more than a decade now.      Exactly the reason I want to see an interview done by Fricke above anyone else.  An excellent, excellent start to Chinese Democracy getting the respect and accolades it deserves.

Awesome review! :D Axl deserves this!
I still can't believe this is finally happening... my life is nearling completion :drool:



I think that is a little much to hope for, given how Axl is the guy most journalists love to hate, but I do hope a majority at least give him a fair shot before they type up their insignificant little reviews full of judgement and scorn.

I may be talking out of my ass, but does anyone else sense that an exclusive RS interview with Axl may be on the near horizon? Perhaps in the issue that will be featuring this review. : ok:

I hope so.  I have to wonder why RS was given the exclusive other than perhaps some personal preference on Axl/management/the band's part.

Ali

Was thinking the same thing and I hope we're both right!!  :peace:

I think this was a great review! I am sooooo looking foward to November 23!

I am so proud of Axl. And I am, as always, proud to be a fan.

All those fools saying Axl was fucking up GN'R's legacy just got shit rubbed all over their face. Fuck all of you. Goddamnit it is good having Guns N' Roses back!

I'm fascinated with this part


great review. This is a very good kick off.

 :)

Chinese Democracy gets glowing review

Stuff.co.nz | Tuesday, 11 November 2008

Rolling Stone magazine has dished out four-and-a-half stars in a glowing review of Chinese Democracy - the long-awaited new album by controversial rock band Guns N' Roses.

http://www.stuff.co.nz/4757650a1860.html

HahaAAAAA Fuck YEA!

I am loving this shit!!!

My thoughts exactly ;)

That's where he lost me.  That song is pretty average at best.  It's actually quite forgettable. 

Glad the music was reviewed and not the man or the time/money it took to make CD.

This is my personal favourite part:-"Rose shows that he still holds a long-breath vowel ? part torture victim, part screaming jet ? like no other rock singer."

And there is so much going on in "There Was a Time" ? strings and Mellotron, a full-strength choir and Rose's overdubbed sour-growl harmonies, wah-wah guitar and a false ending (more choir) ? that it's easy to believe Rose spent most of the past decade on that arrangement alone.

wow.  i cant wait to hear the finished product.  i had always hoped when i have been listening to TWAT for the past 2 years, that there was a full on orchestra and some sort of false ending with a great outro.  sounds like the finished version on the album is going to be epic.

Uhhh...2 years? That's the original leak.

the fucking album will be epic!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! partying up for GNR! that whole week, into the thanksgiving holiday weekend! :beer: :beer:

very cool review : ok:

I covered the Danish SPOT Festival (music festival for up- and coming bands) in 2003, for the site www.musikliv.dk.

David Fricke was attending and was there to listen to music, but also to hold a press conference and talk a little about how The Raveonettes literally took off, after his review in RS.

He was very humble and very, very funny.

My article from back then is in Danish, but Fricke's comments are in English. The headline reads "frickassee gets 6 [the max] chef hats".




SPOT 09: Frickassee til seks kokkehuer


- Rockpressens grand old man, David Fricke, var igen at finde p? ?rets SPOT Festival i ?rhus. Igen var amerikaneren festivalens st?rste attraktion. Fortjent.

One Year Later: How Could The Raveonettes Happen? m. David Fricke

Fredag 30/5 2003, kl. 18.00, SAS Radisson hotel, ?rhus




De var engang to.

Nu er der kun ?n tilbage.

S? at sige.

Da den autodidakte huffsnuff rockjournalist Lester Bangs tragisk d?de af en overdosis hjemme i sit lille 2-v?relses hummer i 1982, mistede rock journalistikken en af sine mest arrige og virile stemme nogensinde. Siden hen har det v?ret blodfattigt med sigende personligheder i popul?rmusik pressen, b?de herhjemme og i udlandet. F? har de reflektive egenskaber som der skal til. F? kommer ud over skrivebordet eller forbi deres egen ferske og kompromiss?gende bl?de mellemvej af hjerned?d deadline journalistik. Verden har absolut ikke brug for flere spiseseddels anmeldelser.

S? er det jo betryggende at vi stadig har h?derkronede Rolling Stone Magazines senior editor David Fricke. P? visit i lille Danmark s?gar.

Fricke har skrevet for RS siden 1977 og er stadig den skarpeste pen i skuffen. En ildsj?l. En kompromisl?s (og kynisk) anmelder, men ogs? v?rt for en berusende varm og intelligent gang l?sning n?r han br?nder for et stykke musik. Hans navn vil forevigt v?re k?det sammen med Stones, Zeppelin, Ramones, Jesus and Mary Chain, Guns N' Roses, Nirvana og mange flere. Senest Danmarks egne The Raveonettes.

Frickes viden, indsigt, forst?else og evne til at artikulere de f?lelser som den gode og ?gte rockmusik kan s?tte i gang i hjerne og sj?l er ganske enkelt helt unik.

Den 2-meter h?je, ranglede og denimkl?dte Fricke lister dog ind i det fine m?delokale p? SAS Radisson hotellet denne fredag p? SPOT festivalen i al ubem?rkethed. Indtil seancen g?r i gang og stilheden breder sig. Salen spidsede ?rerne som gjaldt det livet.

David Fricke snakker heldigvis meget og han snakker l?nge. Salen tog sultent imod. Han kom vidt omkring. Om The Raveonettes, hans efterf?lgende venskab med Sune Wagner (bl.a. om hvorledes Wagner vitterligt har studeret musik fra A til Z, ved at indk?be plader i alfabetisk r?kkef?lge), den nordiske musikscene generelt og sm? festivaler som SPOT her. Fricke var meget begejstret for SPOT og h?bede at den ville forts?tte mange ?r endnu; "I have no major knowledge of Danish politics, but I believe you are building a new opera house, correct? It's like, throw some of that bread over here.." kommenterede han oprigtigt.

Er branchen og k?rene nu s? h?rde indenfor musikken, at det n?rmest kr?ver en fortaler som Fricke for at f? en pladekontrakt, l?d et af sp?rgsm?lene. Det var jo kontrakten med Columbia Records alle ville h?re om.

"What I listen to is mostly under the radar," siger Fricke roligt p? klingende ay-m?r-rikainsk til det fyldte lokale, "and regarding The Raveonettes it is only fair to say that, basically, I believe I stepped on a train that was already pulling away from the station." Han ville ikke h?re tale om det - Raveonettes' millionkontrakt med Columbia Records var en af de mange ting i branchen "that just happens" som han pointerede.

"Actually, the president of Columbia called me shortly after they played CBGBS (klassisk New York rockklub)", r?vesmilte han. "Now.. this guy doesn't normally call me," fortsatte han medens salen nikkede og grinte h?jlydt.

"And he goes, 'So David, are they any good? Are they? Should I sign them?'" - Fricke l?fter sin lange arm og drejer hovedet durk mod publikum s? hans varme ?jne bag de alt for store hornbriller og ravnsorte Ramones h?r stirrer ud over hele lokalet, "Well, I said, it's your money.."

Hvorefter salen eksploderede i latter.

"The rest is just words from me," summede han op. "Good rock n' roll should move you, and what some Danish bands are doing right now is taking what you like from us - and then selling it back to us. It's what the Stones did. It's what The Beatles did. It's what Sune [Wagner] did.

I don't need any more bad Pearl Jam. I like Pearl Jam. But in most American cities you have a thousand Creed-like bands, and it's discouraging."

Tiden flyver afsted og pludselig er vi ved vejs ende. "Promise to shoot me if I ever say that a band sounds like 'this-band-meets-this-band' ever again, which is really the oldest clich? around," griner Fricke.

Slutteligt giver salen ham en (passende) st?ende ovation. Det var direkte r?rende.

Derefter kr?b den ydmyge, lange mand ned fra podiet, ned til folket, p?blen og menigmand, ned hvor han f?ler sig mest tryg og p? hjemmebane. Midt i overbuddet af branchefolk, pladeselskaber, kamera-blitz og ledninger i det lidt for p?ne konferencerum.

Der var overraskende ingen som umiddelbart turde tage ham i tale efterf?lgende, s? Deres skribent her benyttede lejligheden til at give ham h?nden og tage en kort snak.

Tag mit ord for det: David Fricke er ikke alene ydmyg - han er rasende im?dekommende. Et unikum af rockviden og - vigtigst - meninger med resonans.

Jeg v?lger s? ikke at skyde ham selvom han vist kommer til at sige klicheen igen. Vi griner. Det bliver til et varmt kram og rygklap.

Dern?st lister han ud af det summende "branche"-bef?ngte lokale, og ud til de sm? rock scener hvor live musikken lystigt pumper l?s.

Hvor han kan ?nde i fred.

- MUSIKLIV.dk


 :beer:

"If this is the Guns n' Roses that Rose kept hearing in his head all this time, it is obvious why two guitars, bass and drums were never going to be enough."


Good stuff!

It's almost time.

 :beer:

I've always liked David Fricke.

He's on all these VH1 Classic programs and I admire his work.  He has a calm confidence in himself, which I adore.  This good review he gave CD means a lot more to me coming from him.

this review had me in goosebumps! loved the line about axl's voice being "part torture victim, part screaming jet" 

nice to see a review where it appears the journo has in fact heard the album and listened. rather than deciding what to write beforehand and letting his opinion be driven by media drivel.

I am aching for the 24th..

one of the comments bellow the artivel on rs.com ... for those who were afraid why sorry, this i love and catcher were not mentioned  : ok:

v. ..

It's a good review, not just because it's positive, but because it's fair and he made some good points there.

While it is interesting to read, I put absolutely no stock in commercial 'reviews'...when you go to a new town, and want some grub, do you read 'Zaggats' or ask a local?  I personally check out the place with the most cars in the lot.  There is no doubt in my conspiracy filled head that certain mags know they will get snubbed for big $$$ interviews (read: Axl) and will review poorly, while those with confirmed interviews or feature articles will review more positive.

David Fricke is probably music's best journalist. I have enjoyed and agreed with the major part of his reviews over the years. I doubt he's trying to suck Axl's ass here. The review is good... it doesn't mean it's bought or RS's way of getting exclusives.

But too often the place with the most cars in the lot is an Applebee's.  Kind of like how Nickelback sells 7 million copies.

If you don't recall, ax let RS writer David Wild listen to many of the demos many years ago and there was a great article about it in RS several years ago about the state of the band. RS has always been good and fair to gnr and that's why they have been granted access....

No, I do recall.  But the question is what benefit would there be to GN'R for doing that?  Would they be given a cover story?  We'll see, I guess.

Ali

Great post...That's comedy gold

There are may benefits. First of all RS is THE rock n roll magazine and most widely respected and read. Second, I'm sure they would get the cover story..actually, im almost 100% positive that they would put gnr on the cover. RS has always kept an eye on what gnr has been doing over all of these years. If there was any news, any news at all over the past many year about axl/gnr, etc, RS reported it....You should subscribe to it and you would know that...

I do subscribe to RS.  But, quid pro quo is probably at play here in order for GN'R to specifically give RS the exclusive.  RS may give GN'R a cover story regardless, but what I'm wondering is were they guaranteed the cover in exchange for the exclusive review.

Ali

This review stands out for 2 reasons, 1-it's fair, 2-it's well writen.  You don't see that very often these days. 

prairieboy,

GNR management: ''in exchange for an early copy you must be absurdly positive''

R.S editor ''deal''

It just couldn't be that they wanted to have the biggest music publication to get an advance copy.

No.  No way.

It makes too much sense.

I think David Fricke has a little more credibility than that.

Then if you did know about the history of rs and gnr, then there is no need for trying to get a "quid pro quo." You seem to be an historian on the subject, so there is no need for this conversation.

Credible or not - a sit down with Axl is probably the biggest prize in his business right now...a lot of people have very little problem making compromises to get something that big.  My conspiracy warning beacon began flashing (I wear it over my tin-foil beanie) as soon as I read that review...not saying the review was wrong in any way...but more a point against the other 'reviews' by people with no access and no hope of a Gn'R Cover/Axl interview - they all seem to consider the same material that Fricke gushed about to be marginal or bad.

But all the other "reviews" I've read were just some jackass talking about the leaks.

Oh fuck off man... go post about "GIANT ROBOTS FIGHTING EQUALS GREAT ENTERTAINMENT IN MY MIND!!!"

On a personal level who cares what the reviews say, cause if you(as in each of us individually) like the album thats all that matters.

On a business end the reviews are important, therefor if they need to be "bought" so be it, as it is the business end.

Sure we all like to read good reviews as it helps all of us that have been defending this album for so long, but in reality do they matter in what the album means to each of us?

That's a big irritation for me right now too. As far as I can tell Rolling Stone (and soon Classic Rock) have the only legit reviews. Everyone else seems to be basing their reviews on old leaks.

Yea, I'd be willing to bet this will be one of the few positive reviews we'll see on Chinese Democracy.  The media monkeys have been all too eager to bash Axl at every given opportunity it seems.  But, an album that sells very well will invalidate all of that.

nice review!

All I'm saying is that it while it may be likely that GN'R would get an RS cover, maybe they gave RS the exclusive first review of the record (while making Classic Rock and others wait to publish their review) in exchange for a guarantee to be on the cover.  There is a difference between "likely" and "guaranteed".  That's all.   : ok:

Ali

Nice theory.  Utterly baseless, but entertaining nonetheless.

Ali

Good to read a review by someone who has actually paid attention to the lyrics. That's probably one of strongest parts of this album.

Good Review!!!  : ok:

I am really happy RS review came first. This gives all other so called journalists a base to go bye. The fact that it is so well written and thought out, based solely on the merits of the music itself is fanfuckingtastic. It puts the others right in check from the get go. Do they judge it on its own merits, or do they get into douche territory.

mullethead writes:

Axl has delivered his magnum opus, an album that's not too far away from something the old band would have made if the former members hadn't been too shortsighted and stubborn to expand upon what they had already done.

Rose was smart enough to realize that they could never make another Appetite For Destruction, as that was a snapshot of a place they were in at that particular time, a place that they would never return to. There are still plenty of elements of what made GnR a household name on display. Better is a prime example, a hook heavy, radio friendly song that is nonetheless hard rocking, and completely distinct from the music of any other popular rock band at the moment.

But rather than try desperately to pass himself off as the angry young man he was in 1987, Rose has taken on a more reflective mindset.

Oh sure, he still displays some of the venomous, nihilistic lyricism he did during the old days, but he has matured as a songwriter. Nowhere is this more clear than in Sorry, a scathing "fuck you" of a song. In the past, Rose probably would have been tempted to display these types of emotions in a brutal, aggressive song. Here, he makes his words that much more potent, presenting them in a deliberately paced musical environment that is Pink Floyd-esque during the verses but contains on assault of ominous, grinding, monstrously heavy guitars during the unforgettable chorus, with a gorgeous guitar solo included for good measure.

From top to bottom this is the type of ambitious, over the top mainstream rock album that has become all but extinct in the modern era. It retains the style and sound of GnR but embraces the bombastic, unapologetic extravagance of 70's era Queen, combining other influences as wide ranging as Isaac Hayes to White Zombie, with some of the most intensely personal lyrical content that Axl has ever written. Anyone who writes it off because Slash isn't there or because it took a long time to make is depriving themselves of one of the greatest rock albums in the past decade just for the sake of being petty or doing what they view as cool, and frankly it's their loss.


Nov 11, 2008 12:54:51

amazing post. Cant wait to hear Sorry!

I'm just glad the story/review now sports a more current photo of Axl.  Enough with the old, you know?  Give me the GN'R of here and now!

Wow. A fair review. I'm impressed. Someone actually judged the album on it's own merits, rather than trashing it.


I'm more optimistic than ever! : ok:

They switched the photo.  :)

http://www.rollingstone.com/

Wow I have met my quota for excitement for the night. Thanks for the update.  Oxygen Please!  I think I am freaking out!

Great review, can't wait to hear Sorry!

I'll take my deleted post as a hint I guess.

My quick and easy review would go as follows:

I've heard from others that this album has the same element as U2's Achtung Baby did.  Meaning there is a little bit of everything and, at the very least, something for everyone.  In all honesty, this album could be a modern Appetite for Destruction.  While some the album and songs may not go down in history the same way Appetite and it's slew of hits did...Chinese Democracy is still filled with raucus guitar licks, beautiful piano and keyboards, symphonies, hypnotizing drum beats, and some of the greatest lyrics I've listened to in my life.  Like Appetite, even non-die hard GNR fans should be able to play this album from start to finish without a thought of skipping tracks...

While critics and cynics will line up attempting to compare the album to the 80's Appetite...attempt to mathematically value the finished project compared to the amount of time it took to make it...or just hate on Axl because it's the "sexy" thing to do...it won't matter.  People are who they are...and if they're not going to think for themselves and judge something based on what somebody else thinks...their opinions are unnecessary and irrelevant anyway.  I've always wondered why if somebody claims to hate Axl or the band or music so much...why do they waste their time to write about it??  If I hate something...I certainly don't trudge the internet in search of a comments section in order to waste my time and give my 2 cents about it....so at least Axl and Guns n Roses are worthy enough of a least some of these people's time...

In the end, despite all of the hardships and controversy, this album will go down in history as something special.  Regardless of the reviews or the overall success of the album monetarily, the album brought a lot of people together and had an effect on peoples lives whether good or bad. 

As it mentions in the RS interview, people will question whether the album was worth the wait...and the most rock n roll thing about it...is Axl really doesn't care whether you think so or not...

Since when did this become a thread for amateur reviews?

Yeah, personally I skip them all, I prefer listening to the songs myself instead of getting some unimportant fuckhead's opinion about them before they're even released.

I think around the same time they allowed dickheads like yourself to cry about them for no reason...

Well hello there newbie.

I suggest you follow our guidelines if you want to continue posting here.

In your case, you should pay very close attention to these two

#1: no insults
#2: we do not talk about illegal leaks.

If it's too much for you to handle, please logout instead of making smart ass remarks about it.





/jarmo

So when I comment on a band I like without the leaks being discussed and insulting anybody...and somebody insults what I write...that's ok??  Am I getting this right? 

I didn't insult anybody or talk about anything in my previous post...and in return I was insulted.  Then I respond to the insult...and I'm the one who gets scolded...

And I'm not new by the way...while I also don't think "seniority" should take the place of logic and reasoning...I had an account that I had used for years and forgot the username and password to.  So I made a new one. 

Is it that only the people that have "been here the longest" are able to insult others?  I'm trying to get this site understood...  I thought this was a place to talk about Guns n Roses...I didn't think I was going to be judged by my "superiors"...

Please explain...

He's got a point.

Subject: Rolling Stone reviews Chinese Democracy

It doesn't say "Average Joe reviews Chinese Democracy" or "My neighbor reviews Chinese Democracy".

Everything has its place.




/jarmo

I see, so this board is a bunch of characters in cahoots with one another?  Who needs it...

I don't remember the topic of the post including "Corruption" or "Judging others" or "Insults to 'newbies'" either...

But whatever.  You guys are ridiculous and this doesn't really make much sense at all...

Stick to the subject.  : ok:





/jarmo

Maybe I should have been more specific:
- This thread is about the Rolling Stone review
- We can have pages and pages of reviews from members of the forum once the album is released.  Until then, we have to assume you're just reviewing leaks which isn't allowed.

And no, I'm not a moderator or a dickhead.

From an article on the Rolling Stone review, great quote from Tommy...

Fricke notes that of the many musicians who appear on the album, bassist Tommy Stinson plays on nearly every track. Stinson told us a while back that he did not have any idea how Chinese Democracy will be accepted: "You never know what people are gonna like, what they really want... all I know is that, like, that we made a really powerful record that I think he's proud of, I'm very proud of, and all we can do is put it out and tour behind it and hope they accept it and hope it does what I was hoping it would do when I joined the band, which is, like, make history."

http://www.kbsradio.ca/news/music/87/825586

RollingStone >> Issue 1066 >> November 27, 2008

Illustration by GRAHAM SMITH

(http://gypsysoul.lunarpages.com/rs112708.jpg)

that picture is fucking badass!  :peace:

Awesome! Could you PLEASE also scan the review page,as well as whatever track they chose for the "keytrack" for the current months reviews? It should be right under the same page or the next,in grey.Thanks!

Key Tracks were, "Better, T.W.A.T, I.R.S and Prostitute " if i remember correctly

Article is up on RS.com but here are the scans from the Mag...Hmm Photobucket resized the pictures  :-\

(http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y17/slash310/1st_page.jpg)
(http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y17/slash310/2nd_page.jpg)

Thanks,man.That looks awesome! I'm still waiting on my issue in the mail,and even though I had already read the review,I wanted a little sneak peek.Thanks again!

Oh,hey.There is another "keytracks" section,where they pick 1 song from a few of the major reviews,and write up a small summary.With Metallica,they had "All Nightmare Long",calling it the definitive Metallica song.Any mention of a Gnr track there?

Niiiice picture : ok: IRS has been one of my favourites since I heard the original fucked up crackley leak, glad it got a special mention!

do you think it's possible to judge the album on its own merits but still not like it?  i honestly do not think so. 

Each of us as fans should want the music to get out there and for people to love it.  It's not about justifying our defense of the album to random internet asshats. 

But from the purely selfish perspective, good reviews help sell albums.  Album sales spark tours, put butts in the stands, and re-popularize the catalog.  Everybody makes money, and more money = more GNR both now and in the future. 

We're obviously biased.  Go to a Britney Spears fan page and they'll probably say the same thing about her new album, but that single she's got out now sounds like all her other ones to me, terrible.

That review was the SHIT. Rock on.  :beer:

Haha, fuck! That's the most bad-ass picture I've seen, and what a fucking great article! ;D "The most anticipated record ever: Axl made it worth the wait" - that's so fucking sweet to read after all these years, you have no idea! :smoking: Wow... Just wow! :beer: :drool:

Since literally everything I post gets deleted for no reason...I'll just say...

Badass picture!!!

Did that mag hit newsstands yet or just subscribers?

Yes. Pearl Jams second album. Based on it's own merits, is total shit.

It's out in New York City, should be out in other places tomorrow.




/jarmo

Vs. is total shit?!?  Cmon get a pulse.  It's probably their best album...

And the comparison to the review to Chinese Democracy is apples and oranges...

i thought the review was very fair

just bought it!!!!!!!!!

Who is on the cover?

There's four (4) different covers ... John Lennon, Elvis, Aretha Franklin and Bob Dylan.


/jarmo

FUCK...I was hoping for AXL....damn it

Let's hope for the next one!
Dylan on the cover is cool anyway, though this time I would have preferred to see Axl.

Axl will hopefully give an interview and then the cover.

there's a huge cd ad in it. plus: a pic of axl in an article about the rock-fall-season; axl's among the best singers of all time (with pic) and there are even more gnr-pics are on the last page: one band photo of the original line up and a new one of axl for the single in the rock-charts...

Trying to avoid reading the review until I have actually heard the CD...

how did GNR didnt got the cover?!

yes maybe they are planning an interview, but this was the best month.  :rant:

I think it will be OK.

No cover = no problem

The hype will be enough for the first month.  And then when things start to settle down...

WHAM BLAM!  GN'R on the cover! And Chinese stays on top of the charts a little while longer.  :smoking:

its still early to get the cover...Metallica and AC/DC, got the cover a week or even 2 weeks after the album came out....Rolling Stone comes out more than once a month...

I don't think they can have a cover story without actually talking to the band.