Based on what we have heard so far...

[Bono]

The UYI twins were GN'R's Achtung Baby. And as far as I know industrial elements and 80s power ballads aren't fresh anymore.

Not quit. Yes the Illusion albums were an evolution from AFD but they weren't a complete overhaul of the bands style, sound, "message" or image. Without the vocals Achtung Baby sounded like a  completely different band. the Illusion albums still sounded very much like Guns N' Roses.

[Ranma_br]

It is really really hard to know ... as soon as we haven't heard this album yet ...
When you listen a bunch of songs together they take a complete diferent form, and that is why we call it " ALBUM " ... It's a collection of diferent songs that complement each other and that's also what makes and album be or not what it will be remenber in the future.

Anyway here is what I think:

A NEW BAND => could be really sucessed with "BETTER" and "MADAGASCAR". These 2 new songs are very inteligentes and both have a ... special moment ( In Better is the " I never wanted ... " part , and in Maddy is the Mixed lines part ). - ?BUT THIS IS GNR, so - They will make some noise for sure ...

A New Band => could be sucessed also with "THE BLUES" as a hit, not a big, but a good hit. - GNR - would do a good noise because GNR fans loves November Rain and it reminds us of it a little.

"T.W.A.T." => we need to hear the final version ... we have heard 3 versions ( The 99', the 02' and the live 06' ... the 06' sounds very diferent and much better than the others , so ... let's wait and see )

"CHINESE DEMOCRACY", "I.R.S." => CD in the live 06' has the most perfect intro ... but , the song isn't THAT ALL ... and I.R.S. a good song , not much ... they wouldn't be good sucessed if a band released them as their first SINGLE ( I Mean, a new ) , - GNR - Could be ... but i prefer them as some normal tracks, not the MAIN tracks ...

"Rhiad and the Bedouins" , "Oh My God" and "Silkworms" => Rhiad , is also a good song, a little bit worse than CD and IRS. Oh My god is a bad track , but wouldn't get much ... it's easy to see how it is not even remenberd when you ask to a not die hard fan like us about this song, and he can't even remenber of this song ... BUT I STILL HEAR IT ... The Last and yeah ... the worst Silkworms ... , it sucks ... why ?? Because it is a stupid song without any sense, only a lot of noise and with AXL saying some nonsense.

But lets wait and hear the final tracks, at this point it's only speculation unffortunetly ( more than 7 years of speculation )

[GNRfan2008]

The UYI twins were GN'R's Achtung Baby. And as far as I know industrial elements and 80s power ballads aren't fresh anymore.

Not quit. Yes the Illusion albums were an evolution from AFD but they weren't a complete overhaul of the bands style, sound, "message" or image. Without the vocals Achtung Baby sounded like a  completely different band. the Illusion albums still sounded very much like Guns N' Roses.

Yes, for the most part. "November Rain," "Don't Cry," and "Estranged" all seem like a pretty different sound to me. But some of the so-called filler songs definitely sound like AFD. In fact, I think "You Could Be Mine" is probably their most kickass song ever. I just wish Axl had actually recorded the part that he sings live ("...with your ass in the air!"). You're right though, UYI was not a complete transition.

[DaNutz]

Initially what is going to happen, is mainstream kids are gonna say things like, "This band sounds different then the original", "Axls fat man".
The typical negative ignorant shit.

After a single/video or two SINK in, people are gonna start coming around...I dont care if they use The Blues, Better, Madagascar,IRS or new material...By the
4th single, it will be mainly accepted as a great album thats better than UYI but not quite comparable to Appetite.

CD will have very strong opening sales, and will be a top 10 album for a year or two.

Anyone who thinks the album will flop based on the material we've already heard is a fool and I cannot respect your opinion.

[Voodoochild]

the worst Silkworms ... , it sucks ... why ?? Because it is a stupid song without any sense, only a lot of noise and with AXL saying some nonsense.

I'm sure if they ever release this song in studio, it will be way better. Don't judge it from a crappy mix like in RIR3... Also, I bet they re-worked the song.

Same for Rhiad. I think people judge it by the quality of the bootlegs... Not fair, IMO. It's a kick ass song, with awesome riffs and amazing drums.

[Bono]

CD will have very strong opening sales, and will be a top 10 album for a year or two.

Anyone who thinks the album will flop based on the material we've already heard is a fool and I cannot respect your opinion.

Well personally I think it's really neive to think this album will be in the top ten for a year or two. Seriously top ten for 52 plus weeks? I don't think so no matter how good it is. There's no way. It's not the return of The Beatles. ?And as for not respecting peoples opinions, why the hell not? Can't you respect somthing without agreeing with it?

[GNRfan2008]

Initially what is going to happen, is mainstream kids are gonna say things like, "This band sounds different then the original", "Axls fat man".
The typical negative ignorant shit.

After a single/video or two SINK in, people are gonna start coming around...I dont care if they use The Blues, Better, Madagascar,IRS or new material...By the
4th single, it will be mainly accepted as a great album thats better than UYI but not quite comparable to Appetite.

CD will have very strong opening sales, and will be a top 10 album for a year or two.

Anyone who thinks the album will flop based on the material we've already heard is a fool and I cannot respect your opinion.

Top 10 for a year or two? That doesn't happen nowadays. It just doesn't. CD will open up with very good sales just based on the die-hard fans buying it. After that, eventually the mainstream public will buy it like you said. That will keep it in the top 10 perhaps for a few months. But not for a year or two. I'd love it if I were proven wrong on this, but trends indicate otherwise. Heck, it might even end up selling HUGE to start and then falling off like every other album out there. If they release a killer first single, then it won't matter how ignorant people are. If they enjoy how it sounds, they'll buy it.

[DaNutz]

Top 10 for a year or two? That doesn't happen nowadays....But not for a year or two. I'd love it if I were proven wrong on this, but trends indicate otherwise.

Well I havent paid too much attention to the billboard charts over the last few years..Looking on there now though, I see Nickleback at #10 and they've
been on the charts for 48 weeks selling only approx 3 million.. A few others are in the top 20 and have been out for a year or so.

Whats going to make this album successful, is the seemingly never ending release of quality singles, and the gradual acceptance of this "new" band...I cannot
see this album selling millions the first few months (which it will) then being labelled as all hype and suddenly falling into obscurity.

[DaNutz]

Also remember they will touring during this first yr and there's going to be an onslaught of media reports and articles coming up real
soon..The exposure is going to be huge to say the least.

[russtcb]

Also remember they will touring during this first yr and there's going to be an onslaught of media reports and articles coming up real
soon..The exposure is going to be huge to say the least.

That's how I feel. I think that how much the label and the band support the album will make all the difference in the world.

[Charity Case]

If the leaks and songs we've heard live are any indication of the new album as a whole, I don't think it will be this huge success that some of you think it will be.  I agree with the poster that stated that Better is the only song that measures up to the old GNR material.  And, I agree with the poster that said that there is something very tangibly missing in the guitar playing.  The guitar on the demos/live tracks is boring and meaningless to me.  It's emotionless.  The new music misses that Slash bluesy mastery for sure.  I think if you gave IRS to Slash and asked him to rework it, it would be phenominal.

I'm sure I'm in the minority around these parts, but you can't replace a wold class guitar genius with session and  studio musicians and a guy who plays 200 notes a second without emotion.  I think the demos show you why.

[Ak1nney]

I personally think the guitar solos on The Blues and Better have great melody and sound really cool.But ya, so far the songs have lacked that slash and izzy like bluesy groove that they turned into badass rock songs, BUT this is a new GNR and they are going for something a little different I think, so who knows how it will  exactly turn out.

[Voodoochild]

TWAT solo has no emotion? It needs Slash? OMG, I guess I don't know the real meaning of emotion and feeling..

[Ak1nney]

LOL, I actually think some of the solos so far sound kinda slash like, they have that kinda melody and stuff. I mean their not 2 mins long and completely like him, but who cares. I've heard so many good guitar solos that don't sound anything like slash haha, but dont get me wrong, slash is the shit.

[nesquick]

If the leaks and songs we've heard live are any indication of the new album as a whole, I don't think it will be this huge success that some of you think it will be.? I agree with the poster that stated that Better is the only song that measures up to the old GNR material.? And, I agree with the poster that said that there is something very tangibly missing in the guitar playing.? The guitar on the demos/live tracks is boring and meaningless to me.? It's emotionless.? The new music misses that Slash bluesy mastery for sure.? I think if you gave IRS to Slash and asked him to rework it, it would be phenominal.

I'm sure I'm in the minority around these parts, but you can't replace a wold class guitar genius with session and? studio musicians and a guy who plays 200 notes a second without emotion.? I think the demos show you why.

Not only IRS, but Slash would also do a fantastic job on the TWAT outro for sure... 1st solo (Robin) is great, but on the second solo (outro) played by Buckethead, Slash would DESTROY him. Just hear the Outros of Paradise City, November Rain or Locomotive (2nd part with the wah-wah), hear Slash play... give him the TWAT instrumental and let him write, create and play his own guitar melodies... I'm sure he would create something unique that would bring that song to another dimension...

[Lipfel]

Sorry, but that made me laugh  Slash would be nowhere near as good as Buckethead on There Was A Time, please don't generalize Buckets Solos, just because you have a problem with his shredding ability... and for I.R.S, I don't think Slash could come up with something better than for example Robin in this song, it's just not his style (btw, I just love Fincks Solo, it maybe sounds crazy, but to me, it almost gives the song a kind of Salsa-Samba-Rock Feeling).

[nesquick]

Finck is good on the demos. But Buckethead.... God... "emotionless" must be his real name!

[Voodoochild]

Finck is good on the demos. But Buckethead.... God... "emotionless" must be his real name!

You fail to feel the emotion on Bucket's solo. Maybe you should change your name then...

[nesquick]

I can't fail on something that doesn't exist.
I can't hear something that doesn't exist.
I can't feel something that doesn't exist.

[Voodoochild]

Seems like you're still failing.