Overproduction / Production of CD

[D]

i can almost guarantee one thing though after reading the contraband reviews

i guarantee alot of us will hate chinese democracy upon first listen

first listen we will probably listen with our mouths open wondering "what the fuck"

but then we will listen and listen and it will become fuckin awesome

i am hoping and praying that axl doesnt have a mtv.com stream thing b4 the cd comes out

im so glad i only listened to about a minute of each song cause i think that ruins cds

nothing like buying a cd reading the lyrics while u blast it full of blast makes the cd experience all together better


i understand the overproduced argument as u dont want it to sound manufactured and robotic and stiff but i dont think that will happen

sorry falcon about the experimental, i didnt mean it as like new age sounding shit

i just meant i dont want everyone to be expecting welcome to the jungle 2004 type songs, im hoping for some diversity, i want something absolutely new sounding and unique

[Stupid Head]

The problem I have with the production of the UYI's is that they sound way too clean.  

Listen to AFD.  The instruments and Axl's vocals are just much more raw.  That separated GNR from most artists of the time.  Then they took a step back with the UYI's and its cleaned-up production.  All the sudden GNR sounded like they hired Poison's or Cinderella's production team to do their next album.

What is ironic is that when UYI came out, the trend was shifting back toward rawer production (with Nirvana and Pearl Jam leading the way)--something Axl/GNR had done years ago but abandoned with the Illusions.

It sounds like you're just regurgitating garbage that you read about or that somebody even less informed than yourself told you about. Cuz you certainly don't know what you're talking about when you say UYI sounds like they hired Poison's or Cinderella's productions team. Listen to Look What The Cat Dragged In. Its production is much worse than that of Appetite For Destruction. It comes down to how much money you have to produce an album. Of course UYI has more elaborate production than AFD. They were the biggest band in the world at the time, so they could afford to have better production than they were able to afford during Appetite. You can't expect a band to be stuck in its garage days forever. If you think GN'R has spent $13 mil to produce a raw garage band record, then prepare to be severely disappointed with Chinese Democracy. CD's production will be so clean, it'll make UYI's sound like a cesspool.

Listen to the opening guitar for Chinese Democracy on the Boston promo. It sounds so clean, its hard to believe its a guitar.

[Naupis]

Having heard some demos, I think I see now why Axl has been through so many different producers.

TWAT is a perfect example of what I worry may be a problem on CD. It is an outstanding song, but it seems like he has almost too much going on with all the synthesizers, drums, 4 guitars and other layering effects. There are points it almost sounds "cluttered" where there is like 10 things going on at once.

I know it is just a demo, but I think it may be a valid concern. There is a fine line between just enough background stuff and way too much. He appears to want to push that line, which I personally like, but I fear overproduction will be a major problem with many of the new songs.

[Neemo]

Well, of course its gonna be very "pollished" what do you expect for 6 years work and $13,000,000??!!

[NickNasty]

AT this point I trust Axl to get it right-he must be reasonably satisfied if hes played it for people.

[DunkinDave]

TWAT is a perfect example of what I worry may be a problem on CD. It is an outstanding song, but it seems like he has almost too much going on with all the synthesizers, drums, 4 guitars and other layering effects. There are points it almost sounds "cluttered" where there is like 10 things going on at once.

We only have a 128 kbs MP3 of the song, the audio quality is therefore terrible.

And therefore it's unreasonable to criticize the mix.

[Naupis]

Well, of course its gonna be very "pollished" what do you expect for 6 years work and $13,000,000??!!

I agree, but I also think you would agree that there is a distinct difference between "polished" and "totally over the top." I just don't want to see this album tanked by critics and the general publc who say he "jumped the shark" and went totally over the top. Which we all could agree is something Axl struggles with keeping under control.

[Neemo]

Well, of course its gonna be very "pollished" what do you expect for 6 years work and $13,000,000??!!

I agree, but I also think you would agree that there is a distinct difference between "polished" and "totally over the top." I just don't want to see this album tanked by critics and the general publc who say he "jumped the shark" and went totally over the top. Which we all could agree is something Axl struggles with keeping under control.

What like Linkin' Park? They are possibly the most over produced band I've ever heard

I think we'll get a slight "dirty" feel, industrial, grunge, rock & metal all rolled together. The mix will be sweet, don't fret

[jbenzz]

Personally, ?I think the mix that we're hearing is probably demos that were
given to Richard when he joined the band. This is pure speculation, but in
all the demos, the rhythm guitars are cranked up way too much. ?If he was
trying to learn his parts, it would make sense for him to get CD's with his
parts cranked up to play along/study. ?

Another tidbit that I'm curious about and that has been mentioned is the
possibility of CD being 5.1. ?I didn't think too much of it when it was first
mentioned but I came across an old issue of Recording Magazine which
has an interview with Roy Thomas Baker (Queen, G'NR for a bit) and there
were two focusses of the article: Guns 'N Roses and converting Queen's
songs to 5.1 sound. ?The article mainly focussed on how RTB was converting
to 5.1 sound, but it would make sense that if RTB was really into the 5.1
sound, he'd suggest it to Axl...

Just some thoughts...

[Dr. Blutarsky]

seems like Axl,s vocals are a little buried in the mix of everything at times.  The music is absolutely fantastic, though remember the mixes we've heard is not the finished product. Hope they are called Demos for a reason.

[JAC185]

Ive heard people say that theyve pushed the music back abit and the vocals become stronger and the song already sounds better, on these tracks (as they are demos) it kinda sounds like you can hear axls vocal track being played against the music, im sure Axl can sort that out. Also, Axl's voice is still gritty and rock n roll, they cant over produce on that, it will give the music some edge however flat it is

[Thorazine Shuffle]

Well, of course its gonna be very "pollished" what do you expect for 6 years work and $13,000,000??!!

It would be sad if after all of this time and effort CD sounds like St Anger

[conny]

I think it is too early to discuss production and sound details.

The demos (hopefully) give a good impression of the material and sound direction, but nothing more.

[Sandinista]

The demos are unmixed and unmastered, so it's natural that the levels will be all over the place.

[Naupis]

The demos are unmixed and unmastered, so it's natural that the levels will be all over the place.

The levels aren't so much the issue. The issue is making the songs complex and difficult without going overboard with everything he is working with. Trying to craft a song with 4 guitars, orchestra's, piano's and synthesizers.....not to mention we need to hear Axl singing is a difficult task. If not handled properly it can leave the listener overwhelmed in a bad way.

[Allman]

Well, of course its gonna be very "pollished" what do you expect for 6 years work and $13,000,000??!!

It would be sad if after all of this time and effort CD sounds like St Anger

 

[ARC]

I just can't wait for the studio versions of Madagascar, IRS and TWAT...

Holy crap, they will be orgasmic...!

[jbenzz]

Overproduction really is a lack of cohesion in recording/mixing.  AFD sounded great, and it was pretty heavily produced - but they did it well and the mix kicked ass.  UYI sounded over-produced cause the mix was kinda shitty and the recording/mix didn't always fit with the flow of the songs. 

[mikegiuliana]

I'm going to just wait until I hear the album to say anything.. For all I know these songs were in their second stage and that could have been 5 stages ago after redone parts...

I do agree that say oh my god in rio is better thent eh actual studio tune

[ironfin]

In the interview that Slash and Duff made to the Virgin Radio, he mentioned how the raw tracks of the Use Your Illusion albums sounded better than the released version. Don't you think it can happen to Chinese Democracy?

Oh My God, for example, I think that a naked version of it could be better, by far, than the End of Days version.

Definetly - The demo of NR is better than the album version, at least Axls voice is. Axls voice sounds greatest on the accoustic side of Lies and that was recorded in an afternoon