Most Helpful Customer Reviews
|
|
3.0 out of 5 stars
Not too bad... not too good either., June 13, 2010
This review is from: Chinese Democracy (Audio CD)
A comeback which, perhaps, didn't deserved the long wait, or better said: don't expect to hear anything better than previous GNR classics.
Apart from a couple or not more than three remarkable tracks, the whole work lacks from the personality imprinted on great albums such as Appetite for Destruction or Use Your Illusion II. Chinese Democracy, as a whole, resembles a kind of Nine Inch Nails impersonation, made identifiable only by W. Axl's distinctive voice nuances.
Recommendation for newcomers would be to better stick to classics, and move on. Committed fans won't be frustrated, but somewhat disappointed, for sure.
Help other customers find the most helpful reviews
Was this review helpful to you?
 
|
|
|
|
|
|
1 of 2 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Quantum Leap Beyond, February 15, 2010
This review is from: Chinese Democracy (Audio CD)
Musically, vocally, conceptually, a quantum leap beyond the old band. Axl still can use his trademark vibrato, but he has expanded into a richer array of expression -- from sounding a bit like Metallica's Hetfield on parts of the title track "Chinese Democracy" to soaring in the sonic range of "If The World". Axl did not prostitute himself to "live with fortune and shame"; he kept his artistic integrity on this one!
Help other customers find the most helpful reviews
Was this review helpful to you?
|
|
|
|
|
|
1 of 2 people found the following review helpful:
3.0 out of 5 stars
Download the 4 or 5 good tracks and save yourself some money, January 13, 2010
This review is from: Chinese Democracy (Audio CD)
Bet you've heard, GnR is back with a new album! Before you go off on me about "It's not Guns N' Roses!," um, I know that quite well. But it is Axl Rose, and last I heard, the dude could still wail and write. So I figured at least I should give the album a try.
Democracy starts strong with the title song, then two of the better and harder songs on the CD, "Shackler's Revenge" and "Better." Buckethead plays the guitar on these tunes and much of the rest of the album, so props to Axl for getting someone with mad guitar skills to replace Slash. However, while Buckethead can play a mean solo, he just can't contribute to the whole song like Slash could. He can't contribute to the writing or sweeping riffs that haunt GnR's best old stuff. You can't replace a huge piece of the original GnR like Slash just by getting a guitar player that might be able to rip off a solo that Slash might have trouble countering technically.
Unfortunately the album goes downhill after the first few tracks. One problem is that Democracy is chalked full of boring ballads. GnR had what, 6 ballads on all their albums? Democracy has 5 all to itself, and not one is very good. I don't count the slow but interesting "If the World" as a ballad, one of the album's best songs. Axl weaves a beautiful and a slightly heavy melody which sounds a lot like other Axl classics.
Even some of the harder stuff is missing an edge, both the music and the lyrics. In "Scraped," Axl repeats over and over: "Don't you try to stop us now/I just refuse/Don't you try to stop us now/Cause I just won't let you." Wow, Axl, what mind-blowingly creative lyrics. Unfortunately, a lot of the originality of GnR has been lost, either because Axl is burnt out or, more likely, because he's missing the creative input of Izzy, Slash and Duff.
I was about to give up on the last half of the album until this little diddy called "I.R.S" came up. Whoa. The volume started at a normal level but had to be increased more and more as the jam ran on. No one, and I mean no one, can scream like Axl. The vocals on this song are downright sick, and the lyrics are good ole broken hearted, pissed-off misogynous Axl Rose rantings. He belts:
Gonna call the president
Gonna need myself a private eye
Ooh, gonna need the IRS
Gonna get the FBI
Gonna make it a federal case
Gonna wave it right down in your face
Read it baby with your morning news
With a sweet hangover and the headlines too
This song would fit right in place on Use Your Illusion, and if the whole album kicked as much as butt as "I.R.S," it would warrant at least 4 stars. They still miss Slash in a song like this, but it's almost good enough to forget for a few minutes. Steering away form the obvious that this isn't as good as the original GnR, Chinese Democracy lacks the creativity and punch to be a great album. Axl can definitely still sing, and although his songwriting isn't quite on par with when he was with GnR, he's still good for a few kick ass tunes. I'd recommend downloading the 5 or so good songs on this album and save yourself the $15.
Help other customers find the most helpful reviews
Was this review helpful to you?
|
|
|
|
|
|
Most Recent Customer Reviews
|
, recommendations and new releases on SoundUnwound 
