Friends (non-GNR fans) reviews of CD

[Layne Staley's Sunglasses]

Hahahaha, great story!

P.S.  How does the chair dance go? 

[Axl4Prez2004]

Here's how I responded to an old friend's thoughts on CD: (his words in red)

I do not like Axl enough to pay for his album.

Might I add you don't know Axl.  Might I also add that of all people to judge somebody not based on all the facts at hand, I'd think you'd be the last person to do so.  (in this guy's lifetime back in college he was accused of cheating or plagiarism when in fact he was innocent...and as a doctor, he's had to deal with fall-out from a personal substance abuse issue with the shit hitting the fan in local newspapers)

I refuse to call it G-n-R as no Izzy or Slash.

Boy, if I recall correctly, GNR was still GNR to you without Izzy (from '91 on), and Slash ceased being a functioning member of the band by '95 (officially leaving in '96)...so where did you decide to draw the line?  How about when Adler was kicked out in July of 1990??  Hmm.  By the way, Izzy not only performed with GNR at many shows in '06 and '07, a yet-to-be released new tune with Axl, Izzy, and the rest of Guns will be in one of the upcoming GNR albums.  Perhaps you could try and pay for a % of that particular single...or you could steal it out of unjustified spite.  Whatever floats your boat.  btw, do I even need to bring up the many bands (Pink Floyd for example) that went through lineup changes and kept the band's name?


All rock bands are looking to make it big/get rich,

Axl "made it big," and "got rich," already... what part of that don't you understand?  If Axl's m.o. was money, Slash, Izzy, Duff, and Axl would have made about 8 s&*ty albums by now that all sounded like Appetite, a-la AC/DC with the same sound over and over and over.  Right now there'd be a huge cash-grab reunion tour where folks like you might even plunk down hard-earned cash to see something that was, but isn't.  Quite sad.

The Best Buy exclusive thing is a record company "for profit" move.  Plain and simple.  It's guaranteed sold units that are needed desperately when there are so many uninformed anti-Axl folks like yourself, out there, who refuse to buy it.  Part of the blame for the truth not getting out there, and the press latching on to the "Good Slash, Bad Axl" b.s....is Axl himself.  He hasn't set the record straight choosing instead to take the higher road and not respond to the lies, but for a few rants at some shows in the last 6 years.  Wow!  It's almost as if Axl doesn't care how many albums he sells, eh?  Have you seen him do any marketing for the album?  Perhaps you'd like to read exactly what Axl has to say...or perhaps not.  Why pursue the other side of the story when you're certain the drugged-out former guitarist has all his s&*t in a row.   Slash gets paid for books.  He gets paid for commercials for Guitar Hero.  Axl answered a ton of questions for free on-line.  Yeah, it's just all about the money. This is a link to Axl's Q&A...
http://www.heretodaygonetohell.com/board/index.php?topic=55296.0


but some lose their muse along the way and try to perfect their music (which is impossible).  Hence 10 years!

Wow, is that what it was? A lost muse?  Thanks for the solid fact-finding there.  I've spoken with many a GNR fan over the years and that's a good one buddy.  Why would an artist EVER want to actually take the time to perfect an album?  You're right, sit down in a studio, give it a couple of weeks, and BAM!  Yeah, that's the kinda s^&t that gets us St. Anger and numerous s%^&y Bon Jovi albums...and the aforementioned AC/DC re-hashed sound over and over and over.
I'm sure having talented musicians leave his project and more talented musicians joining the fray periodically had nothing to do with the agonizingly long production time.

  I bet Appetite took 6 weeks to complete...
 
Of course the production time was shorter!  Are you kidding?  The band was just starting up.  No offense, but you really haven't done your research here...it's not like you to be so ill-informed.  You're reminding me of a guy who watches Faux News then starts talking smack about Obama.  You've probably seen VH-1's "Behind the Music," and read various interviews with and/or books written by Slash.  You have been played.  There never was a forced sign-over to Axl for the band's name Guns N' Roses.  That's a myth dude.  Your anthropology background teaches you, "Old myths die hard..." it's quite ironic to see you of all people clinging to the myths. 
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I know I could have explained it better...but it's what I wrote at the time. 
I'll be a bit more on-topic next time and post some CD reviews from friends who have actually listened to the album.   

[falungong69]

god, why waste your time?  you honestly shouldn't even be friends with someone that judgemental and closed minded.  also, the fact that he could say supportive things about slash even after axl has explained the truth about what a bad person he is reflects really poorly on your friends morals.  you can really do better.

[ppbebe]

like to keep singing your fav cd tune to him.
good job axl4prez but remember the songs are mighter than the words.
after the christmas reunion my relatives went home humming the chorus bit of better.

I almost asked her what her screen name on HTGTH is lmao.

lmao.
she already has a very fine appraciation of music.

[Axl4Prez2004]

god, why waste your time?  you honestly shouldn't even be friends with someone that judgemental and closed minded.  also, the fact that he could say supportive things about slash even after axl has explained the truth about what a bad person he is reflects really poorly on your friends morals.  you can really do better.

Jokingly, I'd agree.    But no, he'll still be my friend...and no, his ignorance when it comes to GNR has nothing to do with my friend's morals.  Thanks though.

I got a response and sent one back...but I won't waste space here with that...needless to say, I call 'em like I see 'em.  I may be a huge GNR fan, but I am also a loyal friend...and realize nobody's perfect. 

Now, a review that gave me a laugh.  My wife's dad, 76 year old Navy vet., who shakes his hand at me when I mention Axl...calls him a druggie, a screamer who can't sing, hates him, etc....well, I played the opening of TIL for him, right from the get-go, "He sounds like a girl..." but then, as he kept listening, there was no denying Axl can sing, so he gave me a so-so hand gesture with a smile.  If he liked it vocally and lyrically, he'd never admit it.  ...but I could tell he did. 

[PolarBearWitchHead]

Axl would have made about 8 s&*ty albums by now that all sounded like Appetite

holy fuck that would be sweet

ps... Headliner after so many years?  i should have better title

[inlikeflynn420]

my sister came to town over christmas and we were cruising around in her rental car. it had a pretty good sound system so i decided to pop in "chinese democracy" to see what she thought. A little background: although she is technically white, for all intents and purposes my sister is a 42 yr old black woman. a wigger, i f you will. her taste in music is pretty much all hip-hop or r&b(jay z, kanye, mary j. blige...) when she wants to "rock out" she listens to Daughtry. But, she is a major stoner, and she loves Prince so, i know she can appreciate great guitar. So we smoked up and started the cd. Right away she said that Axl is one of the few people in the world who you can recognize their voice instantly when you hear it. Then she kinda impressed me by asking whatever happened between Axl & Stephanie Seymour. She did know Slash was no longer in the band and said that whoever it was who replaced him was a kickass guuitar player (i explained to her the whole multiple guitarist situation). Anyway, she loved the sound and mentioned that Axl is really pissed off at some woman. A few days later she called me, and i had "ITW" on my ringback. She said she's been thinking about "CD" and wished i would've burned her a copy because she really liked it and kept thinking about it in the days after she went back home. So, i told her i'll buy her a copy from best buy and send it to her.  I thought it was pretty cool that axl won over someone who really isn't into "rock" music, but just appreciated it for being a great sounding album!   

[faldor]

Good story.  Goes to show you if people just give it a try and listen with an open mind they will see how good the album actually is.

Although as Axl himself even said, it's not for everyone.

[The Prez]

None of my friends, family or co-workers think much of it.  I do think CD takes a few listens to "get" and for people not familiar with the last 15 years to reset their expectations.  But still, after one listen, nobody was really impressed.  A few old school fans REALLY disliked it. 

Same here.
I would even add that most of my friends (who are into rock music) do not really care about the album also, even they like(d) GN'R in the past and have the records... I think most of the non hardcore or non GN'R fans are not (yet) into the 'new' GN'R...they see guns still as the old lineup and so for them guns does not exist anymore.

[Aussie_Axe]

most of my mates think it sucks, but there a bunch of cunts anyway  ,  my mates who like gnr liked it. 

[Axl4Prez2004]

message from a woman I used to work with: 

"Wanted you to know I have been listening to Chinese Democracy a lot. I think it's awesome. Sorry has to be to Slash. I have many faves but am not good enough to have the titles memorized yet. There are definitely radio ready songs on there mixed in with the true die hard fan songs. The scores are incredible, very intricate arrangements."