ESPN's Paul Shirley Reviews Chinese Democracy-Very Well Done Review

[GunnerOne 84]

http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/thelife/news/story?id=3833227

Shockingly, I think it's a decent review. I enjoyed this part:

"So what if the album doesn't have a single moment that compares to the opening riff from "Sweet Child O' Mine."

I don't care. It's a Guns N' Roses album. I like Guns N' Roses albums. And "Chinese Democracy" sounds like a Guns N' Roses album."

Paul Shirley is a former pro athlete, which makes his well written review even more surprising.

[Axl4Prez2004]

Well-written despite the obvious errors (Axl's age, etc.)...the "guitars coming out of nowhere" line, I'd have to disagree with that, but yeah, cool review.
Like this guy, I too hear no other voice that can convey emotion like Axl's.   

[faldor]

That is a pretty good review.  Pretty much shares my view that the lack of huge sales and overwhelming public reception isn't due to lack of quality.  More a lack of interest for some reason or another.

[mr marcus]

paul shirley wtf

[GunnerOne 84]

I liked the part where he said he thought about getting new friends because they didn't care about ChiDem.

[western_chaos]

LOL. It is a typical review from someone who knows very little about guns n' roses today.

[GunnerOne 84]

LOL. It is a typical review from someone who knows very little about guns n' roses today.

Hey, he likes the album a lot, and it was front page on ESPN when I found it, so hopefully it got some clicks.

Positive press is nice, even if he doesn't have all the facts.

[jemin]

LOL. It is a typical review from someone who knows very little about guns n' roses today.

I think that's the problem, not alot of people do know much of GNR today.

Good review.

[gilee7]

"It wouldn't be Guns N' Roses if everything went perfectly. And if everything went perfectly for Guns N' Roses, Axl Rose wouldn't be tormented by anything, and Guns N' Roses would be Poison."

I especially liked that part, because I think it's very true. Often the greatest musicians are the ones that have the most demons . . . Otherwise, every song would be pointless; just happy fluff devoid of meaning.

[duga]

'"Chinese Democracy" is a mess. It's all over the place. Guitar solos come from out of nowhere, there's almost no continuity from one song to the next, and almost every track has a part that makes me think, "That was a bad idea."

But I love it anyway. That's right: Love it.' 

[oldgunsfan]

I found the first paragraph very telling

"I was sitting on my bed in a hotel outside Le Mans, France, when I found out that "Chinese Democracy," Guns N' Roses' long-awaited album, had been released. My first thought was, "Finally." My second was, "I wonder if the wireless connection at this rustic country site will handle an iTunes download?"

Wonder when he was in France?  Kinda ties into lacking promotion/sales bla, bla, bla.

[beerman]

I thought it was well done, just an average fans insight. No axes to grind and no people to satisfy, just the writers honest opinion .

[Annie]

I found the article to be a little smug and condescending. He is a good writer, and he made a few good points, but some of the things he said really annoyed me.

[Layne Staley's Sunglasses]

As long as more people are aware that Chinese is out, I could care less.

And at least he's a fan. 

[y2marmar]

^^ I agree.
But I thought it was great. I couldn't find any faults with it.

[Layne Staley's Sunglasses]

Worse things have been said on "fan" boards.

[ATmagnum]

Paul Shirley is a pretty cool guy.  He's a basketball journeyman/author who was probably in France playing for some international team while hoping for an NBA team to offer him a 10-day contract. 

It's definitely a good thing that his column reviewing Chinese Democracy got ran on ESPN.com, which is one of the most highly visited websites in the world.  Maybe, since Shirley said he was in the dark about the release of the album, quite a few other basketball fans are in the same boat.  Hopefully they will will read his column find out that way. 

I think everyone here on this website is obviously going to be in touch with the release of Chinese Democracy, but other casual fans that don't listen to mainstream rock radio simply aren't.  Getting a positive review on ESPN.com is a great step in the right direction.