Chinese Democracy: Such a Mystery

[damnthehaters]

It is unbelievable to me how many people have worked (through fact or rumor) on Chinese Democracy and possibly the next two albums for that matter.  We have heard of people like Paul Buckmaster, Mobe, Sinead O'Conner, Shaquile O'Neil, Naz, Pink, Desmond Child, and Curt Cuomo just to name a few.  What do you guys think of this?  I think it is getting too complicated.  But on the other hand, it could be brilliant. 

Do you think Axl is trying everything possible in music (taking chances) and taking a look at every different song at a different angle and using these people for help and suggestions?  I don't know if this is a good thing or a bad thing.  It could be a very good thing.  Maybe Axl is using people like Sinead O'Conner, or Naz to try something competely different that will shake up the music world and be huge.  Also using people like Mobe, Cuomo, Child, and Buckmaster, he is getting different ideas.   

Lets take for example Bobby Knight, John Wooden, Mike Szcepskii (no idea how to spell that), Lute Olsen, just to name a few.  These are or were really great college basketball coaches.  If you bring them all in to your college and have them share their ideas with you.  You could then take what you like from all of them and develope your own coaching strategy.  This could turn out really well.

With Chinese Democracy, I don't think it is going to reflect only Buckmaster, or Mobe, or Child.  I think it is going to reflect a mix of all of the people who Axl has worked with.  Maybe some people that Axl has worked with wont have an influence at all.  You never know, but I see it as Axl trying every different angle possible.  Chinese Democracy could quite possibly be the biggest album of all time.  Or it could be way to overproduced or mixed.  You just never know.

What do you guys think?       

[SLCPUNK]

Overproduced and mixed...

although I really hope I'm wrong.

Hearing that he has worked with so many people doesn't seem right with me.

Maybe we'll know one day.

[fartinabag]

I wonder if Duff Beer from The Simpsons had anything to do with our boy Duff and his battle with alcoholism?     Anywho... I think Chinese Democracy is gonna be huge.  If Axl is hellbent on world domination again,  it would not be in the bands best interest to release a record that is only good.  That is why i believe we have not heard any new music the past few years-because Axl HAS to release an amazing cd from the first to last song.  If Chinese Democracy fails Axl will forever be labeled as a washed up, has been.  I  think he put his blood, sweat and tears into this recording and I hope Chinese Democracy does in fact excede everyones expectations.  Its probably going to be very personal for Axl to finally release Chinese Democracy considering whats at stake and what he's been through since his last release over 10 years ago.  Even though we bitch and it sucks that Chinese Democracy is not in our cd player yet, I think that Axl being a perfectionist may prove to be a blessing in disguise.  Although many painful years have passed since we've heard any new GNR songs,  lets hope that Axls dedication to this cd will produce some of the best Guns songs we will ever hear.    When Chinese Democracy is finally released it won't be good...Its gonna be fucking HUGE!!!                                                                                       

[Lesty]

I think this is the first (and last time) I'll ever see the comparison made
between famous college basketball coaches and the creation of a Guns N Roses record.
And many of the people mentioned are only rumored to have been in the studio with Axl, and
whether anything became of it is anyones guess.

[ppbebe]

And many of the people mentioned are only rumored to have been in the studio with Axl, and
whether anything became of it is anyones guess.

Exactly. 
I?ve seen the comparisons of GNR to a major-league team n educational institutions numerous times here tho.

[axlrose20002002]

the cd is a joke it'll never come out

[ppbebe]

the cd is a joke it'll never come out

I know, I know. All of us know that.

We?ve heard that news hundreds of times already.

Thanx for the info. Yawn.

[gnrvrrule]

I don't know if I like all these people coming in; in fact I don't like it.  I mean, what is Shaquille O'Neal going to contribute to a Gn'r album?  Honestly think about that.  I want this album to be a rock n' roll album.  Yes, ballads and epics would be nice, but I believe that fits into the category of rock.  It's okay to do something like they did on November Rain with the orchestra, but when you have multiple orchestra people, a rapper/NBA player, techno artists, and pop singers all coming to work on it, I think it's going to make things worse.  I hope that the album has less of this stuff and more rock n' roll from Axl and the rest of the band members, whomever they might be at this point .

[mikegiuliana]

I guess the idea worrys me that so many outside hands touched this album, or had a say in certain things.. I would have rather the guys just put the album together alone when it comes to writing and laying down beats..

Nothing worn gw with a little help from the outside but not to where it becomes a huge list..

I have no clue what it will sound like or when it will see the light of day but I am looking forward to whatever time that is..

I wouldn't mind if axl did a duet or two, some guest vocals is always cool, especially if there are more then one records.

I still don't know why so many outsiders needed to be involved, hopefully alot of the people named are rumors.. I can't wait to see the worlds biggest thankyou section in the sleeve..

[Johnnyblood]

Overproduced and mixed...? although I really hope I'm wrong. Hearing that he has worked with so many people doesn't seem right with me. Maybe we'll know one day.

I think this is a concern all of the pragmatic fans have. It would be hard to think of an album that benifitted from having so much tinkering by so many people over such a long period of time. Pet Sounds wouldn't qualify here because it was almost entirely Brian Wilson, to my understanding. CD will set the standard for so much time and collaboration...

[Vicious Wishes]

Trust uncle Axl. When it comes to the best, kick ass songs on the planet, he always comes through..............eventually.

[mikegiuliana]

Trust uncle Axl. When it comes to the best, kick ass songs on the planet, he always comes through..............eventually.

gnr always came through, axl is yet to prove he can..

[Vicious Wishes]

Mike, you know he'll come through, sooner or later. OK, later. You're counting on that as much as I am. And when CD gets released some fine day, we'll roll our wheelchairs and oxygen tanks into the record store, wheeze a little bit and pick it up. Of course we'll die on the way home from shock.

[mikegiuliana]

Mike, you know he'll come through, sooner or later. OK, later. You're counting on that as much as I am. And when CD gets released some fine day, we'll roll our wheelchairs and oxygen tanks into the record store, wheeze a little bit and pick it up. Of course we'll die on the way home from shock.

ha.. Yes the day before we die it wil be released.. I will be going to the store in my wheelchair with my oxygen tank and right when I finally see it with my decaying eyes I will go into cardiac arrest.. I'll be on my last breath saying I got cd, then they will have to pry it from my cold dead hand and try to wipe the smile off my face.. I can die now I have the album , 70 years wasn't that long of a wait

I honestly don't want it to be later though, it's not only because I don't want to wait, it's because the longer you wait the more chance things could go wrong in the gnr camp..

[younggunner]

I mean, what is Shaquille O'Neal going to contribute to a Gn'r album?

I highly doubt he will be on the album. Do you guys ever stop and think that maybe they were just fuckin around in the studion one day? A couple of the gnr guys are laker fans...shaq is next door doing his albuma nd its a slow night they say hey come on in and they just mess around.
and thats even if its true at all...

I guess the idea worrys me that so many outside hands touched this album, or had a say in certain things

This plays into the whole 3 album thing. You all make it seem like Axl has brought in all these people for CD and CD alone...

If you believe there are 3 albums then all of these people isnt outlandish. Different producers for different types of songs. Different collaborators for different kinds of songs. Not all of these songs will be on CD.

So lets say there are 1 or 2 "guests" or major contributions from some1 outside of gnr on CD and each of the followups...is that outlandish and unfathomable? Give me a break.

[pens35]

Sinead O' Connor contributed? Never heard that one.

[jabba2]

The Pink rumor is also false, though there are many producers involved in the past that are currently not helping Axl right now. Almost every big rock record producer has probably heard Chinsese Democracy at some point IMO. Axl has gone to practically everyone to make his record, which kind of tarnished Axl's reputation as a songwriter. I really wish Axl would have kept this as a 100% solo effort, because he probably can actually write music, but hes too freaked out to release anything without large amounts of outsiders doing the writing. At this point even BH has to be considered a songwriter/producer if his parts stay on.

[damnthehaters]

Sinead O' Connor contributed? Never heard that one.

I heard this rumor a couple of years back.  I actually hope this one is true, I think her voice is awesome.  This would be what you call taking a chance,  and Axl could turn something like this into a good rock duet.

[Gordi]

Would certainly be interesting...till then...we just play the waiting game....

[RumJungle]

The Pink rumor is also false, though there are many producers involved in the past that are currently not helping Axl right now. Almost every big rock record producer has probably heard Chinsese Democracy at some point IMO. Axl has gone to practically everyone to make his record, which kind of tarnished Axl's reputation as a songwriter. I really wish Axl would have kept this as a 100% solo effort, because he probably can actually write music, but hes too freaked out to release anything without large amounts of outsiders doing the writing. At this point even BH has to be considered a songwriter/producer if his parts stay on.

Just because Axl has worked with multible producers doesnt mean that they wrote or even helped write the songs.  The band writes the songs, the producers help them record the music.  If the Band is working on a lot of songs with a lot of different styles then it makes sense to work with different producers who can help the band realize the sound they want.

I think that most of the rumors about all these people are false.

I believe that its the band, who worked really hard for years jamming, writing songs and evollving that
we are going to hear on this record. Not a bunch of wacky outside "hit makers" brought in to help Axl   
make radio friendly songs. That is just ridiculous.

Axl has a huge vision that has taken a long time to realize, and the people who have helped him, the legitimate ones, (Sean Beaven, Roy Thomas Baker, Mr. Rodriguez) I believe are the only people that have done production work.  And the only legitimate "guest appearences" that anyone knows of is Brian May and the two guys who did the orchestration work.

I believe Axl when he says that there will be three Albums, hence the three producers.
I also believe that this entire process from the beginning when the new band formed up till now has been a huge educational experience for Axl in learning from the best in the business how to be a top notch producer.  He worked with these guys for years on a lot of music soaking in all their knowlege and now he has taken over the project.

Maybe after the Guns thing is all said and done Axl will go on to produce other bands.

Dont believe for a second that anyone is telling Axl what to do.

out