Longer the Wait, The Less Likely?

[jameslofton29]

 At some point another GNR or Nirvana is going to burst on the scene and change the music scene as we know it. In fact, the emergence of a band of this magnitude is long overdue. Would a new "grunge" movement or something similar make Axl permanently shelve Chinese Democracy? Not only is it likely, I think it already happened once. Here's why.                         In the mid 1990's the industrial/techno band Prodigy burst on the scene. People started talking about a "techno" movement. It was during this same period of time that GNR started mentioning the industrial/techno edge to the new album. When several years later, this techno movement crashed and burnt to the ground, whatever album (or albums) that GNR was working on got completely scrapped. Also during this same period of time several members of GNR fled the band.                        I believe the death of Techno is one of the main reasons for a decade of GNR inactivity. When "Oh My God" recieved extremely mediocre reviews from the fans and media, Axl realized he was gonna have to start over. I think Oh My God and Silkworms are relics from this old but never heard album.                Time is quickly becoming a factor for the relevancy of Chinese Democracy. The longer the wait, the more likely another "movement" will occur and steal Axl's thunder. Which will force him to start all over again, thus continuing GNR's never ending cycle. For example, let's say a new reggae movement occurs. Would Axl sigh in disgust and scrap CD and decide to rewrite Peter Tosh's Legalize It? Or let's say that a new country rock movement occurs. Would CD get scrapped so Axl could redo the Eagle's first album?                      It's obvious Axl is walking a very thin and fragile tightrope. All it will take to spark a new movement is one new original band. Or just a song along the lines of a "Welcome To The Jungle" or "Smells Like Teen Spirit". And when a new movement occurs, and believe me it will, Chinese Democracy will become a massive trainwreck.                       I don't think the quality of CD is the main issue anymore. From what few tracks we've heard, its pretty damn good. It is time(or the lack thereof) that is the main issue. And someone higher up on the GNR chain than me needs to be pointing this out before it's too late.

[Dr. Blutarsky]

I see what you`re saying. But I think that beyond the prevelent style or influence of his new songs, Axl is a great artist and what he writes is timeless. Why else is there still interest in a man who hasn`t put any new music out in years?

[WARose]

i disagree with you. i don`t think axl is a guy, that changes his music style, because something is popular or not. when gnr recorded appetite their style wasn`t popular either.

and i think doug goldstein said in 99 that oh my god wasn`t really representative of gnr`s music style at that time, so i don`t think he changed anything. by the way i like oh my god.

my opinion is just that axl isn`t making a hiphop like record for example, only because hiphop is popular right now, nor would he make a techno like record because techno is popular. he is influenced by modern music, but he kept his own style i think.

[Pandora]

You seem to assume Axl's always following whatever trend is currently going on. There is no proof whatsoever that supports that theory.

[jameslofton29]

The reason there is still so much interest in Axl is because people remember GNR as the trendsetters that they were back in the late 80's/early 90's. That is no longer the case today. Does anyone think Axl has sat on the same masterpiece for 10 years?

[Andrew]

This all makes me think of the 1999/2000 rolling stone article which describe the album as something between Zeppelin and NIN, now they are two extremes in guitar driven music from 2 very different eras, yet both still sound fresh today. As long as the album has good songs, with hooks, catchy choruses then i can't imagine it sounding anything but fresh. Movements come and go but good song writing is timeless.

[Krispy Kreme]

Actually I agree with the  original post and think it is well thought out. There is no escaping  the fact that the  longer CD is not released  the greater the likelihood that it will sound antiquated when it comes out.

[//JK75]

I think jameslofton29 has a very good point... I don't think Axl is a man that follows trends because of it's popularity, but I believe Axl is a business man.. his intention to move to the industrial side is a fact (at least back in 1990-91), the point is that Axl would be able to change his style following a trend if he really feels that style goes good with him and GNR.. He felt that about industrial style back then..   Now the bad reviews of OMG, added to the bad response in the forums from his fans to songs like "Silkworms" could be a reason for him to delay the release in 2001-2002.

Like I Said, Axl is a business man, he saw all the negative reaction from the public to the symbolic 80's bands when the grunge movement took the music scene... He should see how bands that use to sell millions of records suddenly were rejected from the record companies and now they are back in small clubs tryin to survive.... He has to feel that pressure over his head, fear has to be some part of the eternal delays....

He can be just waiting because the market is now confuse...  I don't know !
Is something we don't want to think but is a BIG posibility of truth in this theory.

[Continental Drift]

Maybe I'm wearing "rose colored" glasses, but I've had the sense the last 7 years or so that hard rock music is basically on "pause" until the next Guns N' Roses album comes out... almost like nothing big or revolutionary is going to happen in the genre until the next (for better or worse) chapter of Guns N' Roses is written. So... I don't think we're going to see an '87 GN'R or '91 Nirvana type band that comes out and kicks the world's a$$ until Axl has had his say. Just my two cents.

I do agree that Axl is laboring heavily under the burden of expectations and wanting CD to be a major success, but I don't think he's ever wandered too far off from his own style. For example, "Oh My God" reminds many of the reckless abandon of the AFD era and "The Blues" could fit comfortably on to Use Your Illusion.

[jameslofton29]

From the responses this thread has recieved, I guess not many people agree with what I had to say. And I worked so hard on that piece! LOL!! As Jack Nicholson put it so nicely in A Few Good Men: You Can't Handle The Truth!!  LOL!!

[Dr. Blutarsky]

Rose colored glasses!   

I am foolishly optomistic, perhaps. CD will come out in some shape or form eventually.

[RichardNixon]

I've given up all hope in a new GN'R album. Hey Axl, thanks for the 13 year old blue balls!

[younggunner]

All men betray. All lose heart!
I don't want to lose heart!...I want to believe

[RichardNixon]

Well I guess that paid off for Red Sox fans.

[jgfnsr]

This all makes me think of the 1999/2000 rolling stone article which describe the album as something between Zeppelin and NIN, now they are two extremes in guitar driven music from 2 very different eras, yet both still sound fresh today. As long as the album has good songs, with hooks, catchy choruses then i can't imagine it sounding anything but fresh. Movements come and go but good song writing is timeless.

I agree to a large degree with the above statement.

A lot of people just assume Axl is just attemting to keep up with the latest trends or at least fit in somewhere.

I think his desires are far grandiose than that. 

He really wants to produce a timeless record.

[RichardNixon]

It is a timeless record in the sence that there will never be a time when it comes out.

[Intercourse]

You seem to assume Axl's always following whatever trend is currently going on. There is no proof whatsoever that supports that theory.

Pandora, I think you'll find quotes by Slash and Zack Wilde that would say the contrary.  I will try to find them if I get the time.
peace,
Intercourse.

[Dust N Rose]

From the responses this thread has recieved, I guess not many people agree with what I had to say. And I worked so hard on that piece! LOL!! As Jack Nicholson put it so nicely in A Few Good Men: You Can't Handle The Truth!!? LOL!!

Jameslofton29 we have exactly the same thoughts about that topic. It's the same conclusion I've made when I wondered how Chinese Democracy would be, especially after I've heard some bootlegs.
If we listen to House of Blues bootleg, we will hear additional electronic stuff on oh my god and you could be mine by Pitman. Silkworms and Oh my god really seem to be relics, projects or something. Perhaps that's why Axl hired Buckethead to do the space stuff?
Maybe, that's why C.D. delayed so much. All work had to be done again. And right now Axl may be waiting the right timing to release it. Greatest Hits may prooved that this phase is a good one to release it but the rap trend must fade so he could make a greater challenge.

You seem to assume Axl's always following whatever trend is currently going on. There is no proof whatsoever that supports that theory.

Noone said that, but he's definitely inspired by the trends, both musically and in manner. Check Oh my god which is industrial influenced and Axl's dressing in 2002 tour.
He said that C.D. will have rockers, new experimental stuff e.t.c. So there's plenty space for every song, from Oh my God to the Blues and from I.R.S. to Madagascar.

[Dust N Rose]

I think jameslofton29 has a very good point... I don't think Axl is a man that follows trends because of it's popularity, but I believe Axl is a business man.. his intention to move to the industrial side is a fact (at least back in 1990-91), the point is that Axl would be able to change his style following a trend if he really feels that style goes good with him and GNR.. He felt that about industrial style back then..? ?Now the bad reviews of OMG, added to the bad response in the forums from his fans to songs like "Silkworms" could be a reason for him to delay the release in 2001-2002.

Like I Said, Axl is a business man, he saw all the negative reaction from the public to the symbolic 80's bands when the grunge movement took the music scene... He should see how bands that use to sell millions of records suddenly were rejected from the record companies and now they are back in small clubs tryin to survive.... He has to feel that pressure over his head, fear has to be some part of the eternal delays....

He can be just waiting because the market is now confuse...? I don't know !
Is something we don't want to think but is a BIG posibility of truth in this theory.

I agree. Maybe spaghetti incident came out to test the waters in the new musical scene and not only to satisfy the fans that wanted a gn'r release.
Certainly Axl realised it and that's why he argued with Slash and other members. He wanted to modernize (not change) the sound  of Gn'R so they could survive in the musical storm then.

[Pandora]

Pandora, I think you'll find quotes by Slash and Zack Wilde that would say the contrary.  I will try to find them if I get the time.
peace,
Intercourse.

I know the quotes, but just because Slash and Zakk (two musicians who are firmly planted in very traditional rock music) say that doesn't mean I have to take it as gospel. Besides, Slash hasn't been involved with Axl for 10 years, so he probably has close to zero idea of what's currently going on in Axl's head.

Noone said that, but he's definitely inspired by the trends, both musically and in manner. Check Oh my god which is industrial influenced and Axl's dressing in 2002 tour.
He said that C.D. will have rockers, new experimental stuff e.t.c. So there's plenty space for every song, from Oh my God to the Blues and from I.R.S. to Madagascar.

Being inspired by up-and-coming bands is a totally healthy and natural thing, unless the name of your band is AC/DC.
But provided he's not deliberately chasing trends, he shouldn't have to worry about sounding outdated and having to start from scratch. Only posers care about that, and I don't think Axl's a poser.