Use Your Illusion II" was the companion piece to "Use Your Illusion I" and both records were released simultaneously in 1991. Similar cover art, just different coloring. "Use Your Illusion II" was produced by Mike Clink, a great producer and G N' R mainstay from "back in the day." This album has 14 tracks bringing the "Illusion's" toal count of songs to 30. Both records were ambitions. Both records were "art." Both records were good. And both records had some great songs. However, "Use Your Illusion II" was even more over-produced, bloated and pretentious than "Use Your Illusion I."
The Good; 'Civil War,' '14 Years,' 'Pretty Tied Up,' 'Locomotive' & 'You Could Be Mine.' The Bad; 'Knockin' on Heaven's Door,' 'Estranged' & 'Don't Cry (Alternative Lyrics).' The Ugly; 'Get in the Ring' & 'My World.'
Again, to be fair, this was a very ambitious record. AC/DC puts out virtually the exact same record everytime and Axl Rose & Co. refused to do that. They were/are true artists! They should be commended for it. But, once again, they got so far "off the tracks" with a number of songs that they're almost impossible to listen to. 'Civil War', '14 Years' and 'You Could Be Mine" are great. Even Duff's 'So Fine' is kinda cool. But for anyone who ever heard The Gunners' version of 'Knockin' on Heaven's Door' live at The Ritz in NYC, this studio recording is so overblown it's embarrassing! 'Don't Cry (Alternate Lyrics)' and, especially, 'Estranged,' are self-obsessed Axl Rose at his worst. While 'My World' is a piece of sh*t!!! No wonder Izzy bailed half-way through the tour. The writing was on the wall and he was smart enough to read it. If you're a G N' R fan and, there are still millions out there worldwide, then go buy it. There are some great songs. And it can be a good listen. But if you don't think it's pretentious, over-produced, over-blown, full of filler and tiring, then you're just wrong!
Information on the "Chinese Democracy" version of Guns N' Roses with yet another new member, DJ Ashba (Sixx A.M./Beautiful Creatures), who recently replaced Robin Finck
http://www.examiner.com/x-13064-Austin-Rock-Music-Examiner~y2009m7d19-Review-Use-Your-Illusion-II-by-Guns-N-Roses
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