Leaked Guns N' Roses songs reviewed, By DARRYL STERDAN - Winnipeg Sun

[Saboteur Cyb. Punk]

Normally, we wouldn't do this. And by "this," of course, we mean "voluntarily listen to Guns N' Roses."

Kidding. Kidding. We like GN'R as much as the next dude. At least, we used to. Or we think we did. It's kind of hard to remember at this point. After all, it's been a while since we've heard from our old pal Axl Rose.

Since the band ground to a halt following 1993's covers EP The Spaghetti Incident?, the Gunners -- which now seems to consist of Axl and random musicians drawn by some sort of lottery scheme -- have put out a total of two songs: A pointless cover of Sympathy for the Devil on the Interview With a Vampire soundtrack in 1994, and the industrial-flavoured Oh My God on the End of Days soundtrack in 1999. Speaking of End of Days, that's about when we expected to hear Chinese Democracy, the album Rose has supposedly been making, and remaking, and re-remaking, for about a decade.

But that all changed last week. Because last week, three -- count 'em, three -- new GN'R tracks surfaced on the Internet. Which brings us to the thing we wouldn't normally do. Normally, we wouldn't review unauthorized tracks from the Net. It doesn't seem fair to the artists to critique work that might be half-finished or never intended for release. It doesn't seem fair to readers to write about music they can't buy. And it doesn't seem kosher to encourage illegal file-sharing by publicizing illegal tracks.

But three new GN'R songs in one week? That's hardly normal. That's the musical equivalent of Howard Hughes, Greta Garbo and J.D. Salinger throwing a surprise party for Bigfoot. We figure we can make an exception in this case. So we tracked down the songs -- actually, we got somebody way more net-savvy than us to track them down -- and gave them a spin. Here's what we heard. And remember, kids, don't try this at home.

IRS | 4:16

Like all three tunes, this number is a far cry from the Sunset Strip sleaze of Guns' glory days. In fact, the jangly guitar chords and weepy slide notes that usher us into IRS sound more like Zep's Rain Song -- and Axl quietly moaning like somebody squeezed his lemon does nothing to dispel that notion. Soon, though, a squiggly electronic drum loop does. And once the live drums and a chunky, phased power chord riff kick in, we're on more familiar turf. The bulk of the song alternates between the two parts, with Rose -- whose voice hasn't changed much over the years -- alternately whining and shrieking about how some woman done him wrong. The mix is rough, but the pyrotechnic solo and oddball, jazzy guitar chords sound like Buckethead to our ears.

Decipherable Lyrics: "Gonna call the president, gonna call a private eye, gonna need the IRS, gonna get the FBI." Why? Is he finally wondering where his career went?

There Was a Time | 6:43

A funky hip-hop loop sets the groove, while a plunky piano melody and ominous strings create a horror-soundtrack vibe. Axl's voice comes in distorted -- though that could be the mix -- kvetching about drugs and betrayal and, yes, how some woman done him wrong (which would explain the song's misogynist acronym). Anyway, as Axl works himself into a lather, twin guitars gnash away as the cut ebbs, flows and gradually builds to a grand crescendo a la November Rain. Then it ends with a nice solid wallop. The most fully realized song of the trio.

Decipherable Lyrics: "I was the one who gave you everything -- the one who took the fall. You were the one who would do anything."

Better | 2:06

We found two incomplete versions of this number -- but both were long enough to get the idea. What sounds like a heavily treated guitar chimes away in the right channel. A scratchy lick sets up shop in the left channel. Rose comes up the middle, crooning a sing-songy lyric that's almost a lullaby. The wakeup call comes 30 seconds in, when the grinding guitar chords and midtempo beat arrive. The verses -- with Axl bitching about (all together now) a woman who done him wrong -- rock solidly, and the wah-wah-laced chorus works, but the offbeat bridge kills the momentum. Still, it's the rockiest of these tunes.

Decipherable Lyrics: "Replay the part, you stole my heart, I should have known you're crazy."

Final Verdict: Not bad -- but not worth waiting a decade for. If it were anyone else, we might suggest heading back to the drawing board. But with Rose, who knows if we'd ever hear from him again?

http://jam.canoe.ca/Music/2006/03/02/1468954.html

[duga]

Fun reading 

[mikegiuliana]

I enjoy reading anyone's opinions outside of the new gnr rcommunity..  Too bad they didn't have the entire version of better, it's so different then the 206

[SonofAGun]

We should send him the full clip.

Just kidding!

[anythinggoes]

posted in the media section this morning 

shame they didnt get hold of Catcher in the Rye

[Grouse]

Final Verdict: Not bad -- but not worth waiting a decade for.

I think that's the conclusion wich most of the non gnr fan/journalists will come to

[mikegiuliana]

Final Verdict: Not bad -- but not worth waiting a decade for.

I think that's the conclusion wich most of the non gnr fan/journalists will come to

honestly these people review albums or singles, they are busy people, they don't plop their asses down and give these songs six billion listens to have them warm up to them or grow on them like the new gnr fans do.. I'm sure a few songs I have said were crap or not worth any wait might have been songs I liked if I gave them the time, then listened with headphones

[nesquick]

Final Verdict: Not bad -- but not worth waiting a decade for.

I think that's the conclusion wich most of the non gnr fan/journalists will come to

Well, let's be sincere. Nothing's "mid blowing" or "earth shattering" here. Sometimes it sounds good, sometimes it sounds great, and sometimes it sounds bad. It will be a good Rock record, but I don't think it will be as great as AFD or the UYI. I can't see it happening, for many reasons. The 1st one is the musical quality wich is not as great as I expected. Maybe it's much more difficult today to make great music than 15 or 20 years ago because of the Internet.

After listening to these demos, I don't think CD will sell 20 or 25 million copies...but anyway, it's going to be a good Rock record though.

[Origen]

I wounder what they would of said if they heard the Full Better or Catcher in the Rye 

Decipherable Lyrics: "Gonna call the president, gonna call a private eye, gonna need the IRS, gonna get the FBI." Why? Is he finally wondering where his career went?

 

[Saboteur Cyb. Punk]

Well, let's be sincere. Nothing's "mid blowing" or "earth shattering" here. Sometimes it sounds good, sometimes it sounds great, and sometimes it sounds bad. It will be a good Rock record, but it won't be as great as AFD or the UYI...exept it the studio materil is WAY better than those demos.

That's what I think too. If T.W.A.T and Catcher in The Rye are "The Big Guns" it will be average rock record. Something like "The Spaghetti Incident"

[duga]

Final Verdict: Not bad -- but not worth waiting a decade for.

I think that's the conclusion wich most of the non gnr fan/journalists will come to

Well, let's be sincere. Nothing's "mid blowing" or "earth shattering" here. Sometimes it sounds good, sometimes it sounds great, and sometimes it sounds bad. It will be a good Rock record, but it won't be as great as AFD or the UYI...exept it the studio materil is WAY better than those demos.

Hearing those ten (OMG + 5 live + 4 demo) new songs I think CD will be at least as good as the worst half of the songs on UYI1&2. That means a very good record.

[jameslofton29]

But three new GN'R songs in one week? That's hardly normal. That's the musical equivalent of Howard Hughes, Greta Garbo and J.D. Salinger throwing a surprise party for Bigfoot.

Thats hella funny. Add to that Greta frying Elvis a peanut butter and banana sandwich and it would be even closer to the truth.

honestly these people review albums or singles, they are busy people, they don't plop their asses down and give these songs six billion listens to have them warm up to them or grow on them like the new gnr fans do.. I'm sure a few songs I have said were crap or not worth any wait might have been songs I liked if I gave them the time, then listened with headphones

You're absolutely correct. The media will give something one or two listens. Thats the main reason these demos shouldnt have been sent all over the galaxy to be scrutinized. I'm actually surprised the songs got as good of a review from these people as it did. We might love them, but that doesnt mean they are ready for public consumption.

[Mikkamakka]

Well, let's be sincere. Nothing's "mid blowing" or "earth shattering" here. Sometimes it sounds good, sometimes it sounds great, and sometimes it sounds bad. It will be a good Rock record, but it won't be as great as AFD or the UYI...exept it the studio materil is WAY better than those demos.

That's what I think too. If T.W.A.T and Catcher in The Rye are "The Big Guns" it will be average rock record. Something like "The Spaghetti Incident"

Agree, but CITR isn't a big gun, all of the 'new' songs are much better (except Silkworms). As far as we know, Better, IRS, TWAT, CITR, Madagascar, The Blues and Chinese Democracy will make the album. If the other half is on the same level, then it'll be a good album, although not mind-blowing or earth-shattering. So it'll be better than TSI, but not better than an album Axl (or Slash) should drop in every 2 years with 6 months of writing and recording.

[oldgunsfan]

Final Verdict: Not bad -- but not worth waiting a decade for.

I think that's the conclusion wich most of the non gnr fan/journalists will come to

I agree with that assessment completely

[Thorazine Shuffle]

I think once the album is released we will see much more articles such as this.  It's people comparing the old GNR to the new GNR thats going to be the downfall of this album, unless Axls got another SCOM up his sleeve.

[oldgunsfan]

We should send him the full clip.

Just kidding!

I just did

[St_Jimmyuk]

i think he was a bit harsh, i think the songs a great as do a many number of people, im only worried that if people keep on leaking these tracks axl will delay the album once more and change the tracks, axl already didn't trust the internet and with his temprement i wouldn't put it past him to crap the album and start again removing all the leaked trakcs

[oldgunsfan]

I think once the album is released we will see much more articles such as this.? It's people comparing the old GNR to the new GNR thats going to be the downfall of this album, unless Axls got another SCOM up his sleeve.

well considering he kept the name Guns N Roses, that's to be expected don't you think

It's pretty naive to think the general listening public wou;dn't compare AFD to UTI to CD and vice versa

Of course, I find it hysterical and awfully hypocritical of fans to get all bent and bothered when someone compares the new material unfavorably to the old.  yet, scream and shout in agreement if it's a favorable comparison.

You know if somethink it's great, fine, bets musioc ever written.  If it's unfavorable, how can you say that when it's only a demo or how dare you campare the new band to the old.

Can't have it both ways people

[ppbebe]

Better | 2:06

We found two incomplete versions of this number -- but both were long enough to get the idea. 

Were they really? 
You should've known they're crazy.

[Janabis]

Final Verdict: Not bad -- but not worth waiting a decade for.

I think that's the conclusion wich most of the non gnr fan/journalists will come to

The thing is, no piece of music, by anyone, in all of history can live up to that kind of judgement standard. Beethoven's 5th symphony didn't take ten years to compose. Will Axl impact music history to the same degree that Beethoven did? Of course not. If Chinese Democracy turns out to be a great rock album, then that's all that matters. Makes no difference if it took him 10 years or 10 minutes.