Chinese Democracy Review Thread

[Olorin]

The very definition of Pseudo Intellectuals    Was it a competition to see how  many metaphors and proverbs they could cram into 5 minutes?

Absolute codswallop.

[demo23nz]

Oddly she seemed to disagree with her own opinions presented in the original article when discussing it afterwards.

Not really. Her intro piece basically said a 14 year gestation could go either way (masterpiece or disaster), and then they basically concluded that against the odds it leans much closer to masterpiece than failure.

Some of their analysis was overblown of course, but that's the sort of discussion the show's viewers enjoy.

[Is he struggling?]

They really liked it.. or did they?

One minute they were calling it a bizzare masterpiece, the next they were calling it a relic of the 20th century and comparing it to 'Take That being smothered by Judas Priest'  .

Still its the most positive review if seen from the UK media thus far.

[Jimmy?]

Well that was unexpected!! 

Thought they were gonna slate it!!!

Care to share?  

Basically said, This album should fail given all the barriers. But the music is fresh, Axl is like a historian of hiself telling his stories, and the guy kept saying "He's pulled it off!".

[sneeks]

Yeah it was more positive than I expected.

[robz150]

A Masterpiece

Thats what he said

He said he didn't know how Axl did it but he got it completely right
The presenter seemed to be really excited about it
they said they weren't allowed to play any of it and had to sit in a boardroom to listen to it

The Iraq reference was to Riad

They didn't know what the songs were about but decided it was all about Axl/history of Axl

Could be right

[Jimmy?]

Btw, that has just boosted album sales in the UK. No doubt!

After the bad reviews it has been getting in the papers.

[Nighteyes]

You think this review will find it's way to the web?

[Jimmy?]

You think this review will find it's way to the web?

Video should be uploaded soon. Source - anythinggoes78 @ cd.com

[demo23nz]

Btw, that has just boosted album sales in the UK. No doubt!

It definitely raised the album's profile with an audience that may not have been that aware of it's impending release, as well as sounding intriguing and positive enough to make people who may not even be fans at least want to check it out.

[14years]

viewers in the uk (and hopefully the rest of the world!  ) can watch the Newsnight show again on BBC's Newsnight site.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/programmes/newsnight/default.stm

Text from the site also reads:-

MUSIC - GUNS N' ROSES - Chinese Democracy
He's back, and against all the odds, Axl Rose is at last releasing Chinese Democracy.

 
The album launched online ahead of its release in shops.

After 15 years in production, it is the first album of new Guns N' Roses material since 1991.
The band arrived on the music scene in the mid '80s characterised by frenzied energy and their fans say they changed rock music forever.
Axl Rose is the only remaining member of the band's original line up.

Can this new album live up to expectations? There are guitar solos but can they make up for Slash's absence?
Chinese Democracy is released on 24th November 2008.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/programmes/newsnight/review/7724759.stm

[maddog001]

http://ca.news.yahoo.com/s/reuters/081121/entertainment/centertainment_us_guns

The article is positive overall and good publicity. 

[Butch Français]

from the 2 norwegian newspapers I read online, one gave it 3 out of 6 and said it sounded very dated.
the other one gave it 4 out of 6 and gave it a positive review.
was very disappointed about the first one, but music critics in Norway has got to be about the worst bunch on the planet.

edit: personally, I'd give it 7 outta 10. might be higher in a little while though.

[Ali]

My review for the entire album?  OK, well, here goes...

I would give it a 7.5 out of 10 overall.  7.5/10 on my scale is not bad, considering I rarely rate any discs 10/10.  Appetite for Destruction would be an example of a 10/10 for reference.  I gave Contraband a 6/10. 

Reasons for the score from me are:

1) Axl's voice has lost a lot of range and power.  Let's face it, he's older now.  It's a shame, but his best days are behind him.  Some songs, his vocals sound great (Streets of Dreams, Sorry, Madagascar), then others are a real let down and could be helped greatly by vintage Axl (If the World, TWAT, IRS).

2) Musicianship from the band on this album is top notch.  They picked Axl up, when the vocals weren't stellar and the lyrics were a little cliche. 

3) Lyrically, the disc leaves you wanting something a little more.  Some songs feel unresolved.

4) I just have a problem with the whole Chinese concept to this album.  It works for the first song, but why dedicate the entire album to this cause?  I would have preferred a more enveloping theme after all this time.

5) The album clearly reflects years of work and the craftsmanship/effort is definitely evident on EVERY song.

So, some good points, some not so good... I give it a 7.5 out of 10.  It's not going to take the music world by storm, but it's a nice stocking stuffer for Guns fans old and new. 

This a thread for published reviews from magazines, papers, etc.  Not member reviews.  Just FYI.  BTW, Axl has lost range and power?  I don't agree with that at all.

Ali

[D]

Guys, seriously, there has never been any kind of music that has been universally loved by all. So just because someone doesn't like it, doesn't mean they are a hater or stupid or what have u.

As long as it seems they seriously  listened and gave the album a fair chance, negative reviews are just apart of it.

It means absolutely nothing.

If I reviewed a U2 record, I'd hate it cause I don't like their music, but see? it means nothing.

The reviewer may not be a GNR fan but u are suppose to be objective in that job.

So relax a bit.

[FunkyMonkey]

Guns N' Roses not bringing "Democracy" to China

Fri Nov 21, 2008

By Dean Goodman

LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - Guns N' Roses fans in China will have to go underground to get their hands on a copy of the band's first album in 17 years, "Chinese Democracy," which will be released worldwide on Sunday.

The rock band's Geffen Records label said on Friday, "It is unlikely we will be approved to release the album in Mainland China."

China's culture ministry has the final say on such matters, although rampant piracy makes the job difficult. Its decisions sometimes seem to lack consistency.

The title track might raise some eyebrows. Evidently addressing China's communist leadership, singer Axl Rose says followers of the outlawed Falun Gong spiritual movement have "seen the end and you can't hold on now."

The artwork includes Beijing artist Shi Lifeng's 2008 oil painting "Red Star," which depicts the powerlessness of Chinese people in a state ruled by an iron fist. Photos of the Chinese military and the Hong Kong skyline also appear.

But the album is devoid of bad language or sexual situations. That was not the case with the band's last release, which did slip through the net. The two "Use Your Illusion" albums from 1991 were rife with violent sexual imagery, vicious insults, cursing and homicidal thoughts. They were distributed by Beijing-based Dunhuang.

In America, the albums carried "parental advisory" labels warning consumers about explicit lyrics.

In 2003, the Chinese refused to allow the Rolling Stones to include four songs, including "Brown Sugar" and "Beast of Burden" on a hits album. But those two tracks did pass muster on a subsequent live album.

http://www.reuters.com/article/musicNews/idUSTRE4AL0TB20081122

Thanks to Blabbermouth.net

[gunns1]

now theres a suprise,
the album might not be available in china....

they could always get it off itunes though right?

[Mobenrad]

Oh well. Shows you what communism gets.

[Crowebar]

That's too bad for the average Chinese person. Kind of sucks for them because they're missing out on some good music.

[Layne Staley's Sunglasses]

The bootleggers will find a way to get the album out there.