Here Today... Gone To Hell!

Chinese Democracy is alive and well: a song by song review of the new Guns N' Roses album

Posted: November 14, 2008

The new record from Guns N' Roses is a scorcher. Hard to believe I'm actually writing these words, but Guns N' Roses is back. Axl Rose rules and his new 14 tracks are going to make lots of non-believers freak out. Thursday, we had a sneak preview of the record and man oh man, the first single Chinese Democracy does not indicate the direction of the album: the thing is vintage GNR, and makes you think that Slash, Duff and Izzy were little more than well-dressed sidemen. We'll have a full review posted on Tuesday, but after giving this thing a test drive, let no man question the genius of Axl -- Guns N' Roses, the best album of 2008? Could very well be. Rock on.   

Song by song review: http://network.nationalpost.com/np/blogs/theampersand/archive/2008/11/14/chinese-democracy-is-alive-and-well.aspx

Wow just wow, so many glaring mistakes in there it's just embarrassing...

Weird, he says the album is great, then just kills two or three songs... Hmmmm... What the hell kind of review is that?

Wow, let's calm down a little. I mean: "the thing is vintage GNR, and makes you think that Slash, Duff and Izzy were little more than well-dressed sidemen." The album will be good, but let's not go as far a saying BS like that... In the same way we criticize bad reviews let's not idolize people just for saying good things about the album.

He answered that...

by Ben Kaplan
Nov 14 2008
   

I was only allowed to listen to it once in the office of the record label. And this isn't a review, it's a preview.

This is a pretty badly written review. He messes up the lyrics of Street of Dreams (he writes lyrics from Better), says Shackler's Revenge is vintage Appetite, and compares Riad to Alice in Chains. Ignoring whether I agree or disagree with the conclusions, it's a strange article. I'll wait for the full one on Tuesday before I make any real judgments though.

Exactly.

Yes he made mistakes, especially with some lyrics.

Yes he said some songs were bad, even terrible.

But he did say his overall impression of the album was very, very good. This is what is important.

He didn't like 3 of 14 songs. That happens. I could pick out a couple songs on just about any classic album that I don't like--even Appetite. That he seemed to love 11 of 14 on a first listen, and was very enthusiastic (mistakes and all) is very good. 

As for the mistakes, who but a super-fan is going to pick that stuff out? I have a friend who is constantly mocking the dolphins in the November Rain video. Why quibble over minor facts?

what a douche

It's the humorous, hyperbolic style of writing--I doubt he really thinks Radiohead is just a wimpy navel gazing band. But he seems earnest in his praise.

I think a lot of people are trying to be the "first reviewer" of this album, and it's just not realistic. Almost sounds like he reviewed the album based on the 9 leaks, the sound clips from the promo videos that were leaked, and any other promo material found.

It's simply BS what he says about the song Chinese Democracy. Everyone I know that's heard that and is not a huge GN'R fan has said they think it's classic GN'R at their best.

a.

Very few albums get a 1-14 "all songs are amazing" review.  There are few albums in history that I would put in that category...

At least I know I can be a music writer or a review person if my other career doesn't work out.

Where do they find these fucking people?

He's right, its no Appetite. It's Chinese Democracy ya f'n Bozo.

Perhaps the guys just so f**king blown away hes lost all sense of word and meaning :yes:

I agree.  I was surprised by reading the first paragraph of the review or preview, that he didn't like some of the songs.  Not the best review, but his overall impression of the album is very good.

There are a lot more of these to come.

this review is actually accurate...

"Sorry" is a masterpiece, Bach is amazing in this song. It's very unlike anything Axl has done.

"Scraped" is the "don't you try to stop us now" lyric in the clips... and it's comparison to My World, but more tolerable.

Catcher in the Rye is the same basically as we've all heard.

"This I love" is yet to be heard by anyone. I'm so excited by this! oMG

Not sure it's necessary to jump all over the guy.  It's his opinion.  And I took that "preview" as pretty darn positive overall.  I'm gonna love all 14 songs, no doubt.  But I can't expect everyone to like them all.  I'd gladly take 11 out of 14.

Does anybody expect a reviewer who might not be a fan to instantly like all the tracks?


It takes fans more than one listen to appreciate the album too, why would it be any different for a reviewer?





/jarmo

Exactly.  The fact that the guy liked 11 of the songs right off the bat is extremely positive.

No shit, that was one of the most poorly written reviews I've ever read.  The label needs to be more selective in who they let listen to CD.

Not a bad "preview".  HIs impressions are very different than some of mine...of course, we've been obsessing over this thing for a while, now, so that's to be expected. 

They key is that, while he disliked a couple of the songs, he seemed to think that the album as a whole was very good.

I'll cut the guy a break because he only had one listen and declares it's only a "preview".... but he's got the lyrics to Better under the "Street Of Dreams" heading.

Yeah, with comments like:

let no man question the genius of Axl

Guns N' Roses is back

This record is so, so good

I love this new Guns N' Roses record

I think he liked it.  ;)

And they have added a disclaimer since I posted this...

[NOTE: This isn't a proper review, but a preview of the album. The writer was given the chance to listen to the album once in its entirety. These are his first impressions. We will have a full review once the album is released.] 

It's good that the writer likes the album. However, this is  a poorly written "preview". As a writer, you have to research and get your facts straight. Shackler's Revenge is vintage AFD?! What was the writer smoking?

he was smoking what new kids on the block had to think that they could be the biggest boy band in the world all over again in their late 30s hehe. By the way, that aging boyband and GNR share the same manager lol

wow... that was one of the most misleading reviews (or previews whatever) i've ever read.. based on the songs ive heard live. of course i havent heard the album maybe theyve changed their sound totally  ::)