Appetite for Destruction [Explicit Lyrics]

Guns N' Roses | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (October 25, 1990)
• Original Release Date: 1987
• Number of Discs: 1
• Format: Explicit Lyrics
• Label: Geffen Records
• ASIN: B000000OQF
• Also Available in: Audio CD  |  Audio Cassette  |  Vinyl  |  MP3 Music
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (844 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,706 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)
  • #30 in Music > Hard Rock & Metal > Hard Rock
  • #82 in Music > Hard Rock & Metal > Pop Metal

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com

A glimpse of the future, and not because of its huge influence and umpteen million sales. The poor-little-rich-boy protest "Out ta Get Me" intimates that Axl Rose's egotism and martyr complex were soon to grow bigger than his head; still, Appetite's night-train wreck of punk and metal sounds and sensibilities make it more than just an emblem of its time. Whether GN'R are dancing with Mr. Brownstone, penning a callow kiss-off letter to some chick named Michelle, or passing out on somebody else's sofa, this was and remains a savage journey to the heart of the American--or at least the Hollywood--dream. --Rickey Wright

Product Description

This 1987 smash didn't just soar to #1 on the strengths of Axl's wail and the 12 strings of Slash and Izzy Stradlin-it produced a fistful of ferocious rock anthems that have been clogging jukeboxes and airwaves ever since. The greatest hard-rock record of its time features "Sweet Child O' Mine; Welcome to the Jungle; Paradise City; Nightrain; My Michelle; Mr. Brownstone", and more!

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

75 of 84 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars One of the greatest albums ever October 27, 2000

By "bulldog51"

Format:Audio CD

In 1987, Guns N' Roses exploded onto the national scene with "Appetite for Destruction." It was their first and best album. On the first track, "Welcome to the Jungle," Slash's beginning riffs and Axl's eerie howl set the stage for the rest of the songs. "Jungle" is a no-holds-barred look at the dark, drug-infested world beneath the glitz-and-glamour exterior of Los Angeles. "It's So Easy" shows the heart of the band: Axl's interplay with Slash and Izzy Straldlin. "Night Train" is another exploration of the sex, drug, and alcohol-fueled world of an L.A. club band at the time that Guns was coming up. "Out Ta Get Me" is the first glimpse of Axl's paranoia and self-absorption, which would ultimately lead to the band's downfall. "Mr. Brownstone" is a song about (surprise!) heroin, and with the lyrics "the show usually starts around 7. We go on stage around 9," it would prove prophetic about the chaotic nature of Guns N' Roses and their live concerts. "Paradise City" begins in (and the choruses return to) a Southern-Rock style, but is mostly the blues-and-punk-flavored hard rock that made them famous.

"My Michelle" is the darkest song Guns N' Roses ever produced. It's the semi-true story of a girl trying to grow up in L.A. without any support from her family, and then falling prey to the demons of wanton sex and drugs. "Think About You" is one of the most under-rated Guns songs. It's a sweet ballad about first love, but set to a hard-rock beat. Not a power-ballad, but a great song that never got the acclaim it deserved. "Sweet Child O' Mine" is another love song set to a rock beat, and showcases Slash's unique talents as a guitarist probably better than any other song on the record. "You're Crazy" shows the band's punk influences. "Anything Goes" is a straight rocker about a mutually self-destructive relationship. The record ends with "Rocket Queen," one of their best, and least appreciated. Slash and Izzy's guitar greatness are on display here probably better than anywhere else in the album. "Rocket Queen" also shows Axl's vocal and song writing talent. It starts as a rocker about a virile young stud (probably Axl) and an older woman. But after the famous interlude, (if you don't know what I mean, find out for yourself,) the song switches gears seamlessly, to a mellow ballad about friendship and love through tough times. It's a truly amazing song.

The cassette version of "Appetite" is the first album I ever bought. Time has not diminished the impact of these songs for me. Guns N' Roses are my personal favorite band, and "Appetite" is their high point. As they say, once you reach a peak, it's all downhill, but that's not important. What is important is to remember them as what they were: a definitively groundbreaking band.

342 of 412 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars The Greatest Album of All-Time? September 4, 2003

By James F. Colobus

Format:Audio CD

One afternoon in 1986, I was relaxing in my bedroom after a long day at school when a song came on the radio that changed my life forever. Between the glorious screeching of the lead singer and the unforgettable guitar riffs, it sounded like nothing I'd ever heard. When the song was over, I listened intently until the DJ said, "That was `Welcome to the Jungle' by a band out of L.A. called Guns n Roses and they've just released an album titled Appetite for Destruction." I immediately called up my friend, Chris, and told him I'd just heard the most incredible song and filled him in on the details.

Chris could always be counted on to do the right thing so I wasn't particularly surprised when he showed up at my parents' house that night in his beloved beige Ford Escort with a brand new cassette in its tape deck. We picked up our Smiths-loving feminist friend, Cynthia, and headed down to Hampton. As `It's So Easy' blasted out of the Escort's cheap speakers, Cynthia's face turned crimson and she became enraged, "What is this crap?" she yelled.

"It's our new tape by Guns n Roses," Chris said in his most soothing voice, "Just relax and enjoy it."

"Turn around btch, I've got a use for you!," ordered Axl.

That was all Cynthia could take. "Turn that misogynistic sht off," Cynthia screamed.

Chris and I couldn't help but laugh. Cynthia was a good friend, but not that good. I mean we had just discovered perhaps the greatest album of all time and Cynthia wanted us to cut it off due to a few of Axl's more colorful turns of phrase. She'd have to endure it. And endure it she did - until "Rocket Queen" ended and we started it all over again. Probably not a night Cynthia recalls fondly, but Chris and I sure enjoyed it.

Then over time, a funny thing happened. "Welcome to the Jungle" became a hit and "Sweet Child O' Mine" became a cultural phenomenon. All the girls (Cynthia included) who previously despised Guns n Roses fell madly in love with them once they heard Axl serenading Erin Everly's eyes in song. Even our classmate Jenny, a Kate Bush fan whose Sapphic tendencies were just beginning to blossom, began raving incredulously about Axl being a poet after hearing "Sweet Child O' Mine" on the radio. Yes, those were pretty weird times and we have Axl, Slash, Izzy, Duff, and Steven to thank for them.

Appetite for Destruction provided me with a musical identity. I'd spent the first few years of high school in the classic rock scene because that's what I heard on the radio and I didn't own any music of my own. My mom and dad listened to classical and country, respectively, at the time and it just didn't seem possible to bring rock music into our house. For one thing, I never really had much spending money so I just quietly listened to the radio in my room hearing the same classic rock songs over and over. Don't get me wrong, I enjoyed them, but when I heard Appetite for Destruction, it was like a void had been filled within me. As a shy person myself, Axl shouted all the things I and countless other kids like me in America wanted to shout but couldn't. Even if I wasn't dancing with Mr. Brownstone, taking the Night Train, or dating a girl whose daddy worked in porno, at least I knew Axl was. References to GnR became commonplace in and around our high school. I can't tell you how many times Chris and I told Cynthia she had "nothing better to do" and that we were "bored". At the McDonald's in Lightfoot, John Martin leaned against a refrigerator, inhaled deeply, and claimed to "smoke his cigarette with style."

With Appetite for Destruction, more than for any other album in my collection, the stories and memories are endless. For better or worse, it helped make me the person I am today. I have always been willing to accept that different people have different opinions on music, but I remember being horrified in the 1990s when GnR became a punchline for alterna-brats. Only a handful of bands have revolutionized popular music. We treat the others (Beatles, Led Zeppelin, Nirvana) reverentially, why not GnR as well? As far as I'm concerned, Appetite for Destruction is the best record released during my lifetime and probably the best rock record ever made. "Take that one to heart."

43 of 51 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars MAYBE THE BEST ROCK ALBUM OF THE 80'S November 16, 2001

By Martin Lemos

Format:Audio CD

APPETITE FOR DESTRUCTION was a shot in the arm for the sorry state of hard rock in the 80's. All the other big bands of the era were more into looks than music, while the musically sound bands didnt get their due. WELCOME TO THE JUNGLE kicks off the album and it is an angry tribute to life in LA and breaking into the music business. ITS SO EASY is another hard rockin song that keeps the listener intensely hook into this record. NIGHTRAIN is a straight ahead in your face rock song that just blows you away. MR. BROWNSTONE is the bands story of playing with heroin and it epitimizes the rock n roll lifestyle right before your eyes. PARADISE CITY is a epic song should be considered up there with STAIRWAY TO HEAVEN or FREEBIRD. SWEET CHILD O' MINE is another classic tune that starts off with that great guitar intro. MY MICHELLE starts off with a dark, sinister sound that it maintains throughout. THINK ABOUT YOU is a love song in true Guns fashion. ROCKET QUEEN is the last song on the album and it is a truly great song. It has a somewhat dark mood to it midway through it changes tempo and slows down and it still comes off great. This album was a brief look as to what the future could have been for this band before drugs and internal conflicts finally tore them apart. This album is a must own and stands up there with all the great Stones albums from 68-72