I start with an apology, im sorry i have not posted for some time...a number of things such as being ill, meeting friends and also a small thing called Christmas (its a very big thing dont worry!) have all got in the way...but im back!
A couple of weeks back i decided to grab the bull by the horns and purchase the new Guns N' Roses album 'Chinese Democracy'.
Having heard small samples of all the tracks on there Myspace i was under the idea that it was basicaly...Crap with a capital C. But as with so many things in my life i have been made to think again.
2008 has been a very good year for Classic Rock fans. The releases of new albums by AC/DC, Metalica, Whitesnake and Def Leppard have all made in into the top 1o uk Album Charts. Now i dont own the AC/DC album and i dont think i will and the less said about Metalica the better, but Def Leppard and especialy Whitsnake have put out material that is up there with there best stuff (Sorry DL but you will have to try much harder to make a new Hysteria). But with a double figure year wait for the new GNR album this was the album that everyone was waiting for.
Chinese Democracy was also the first single released. And upon first listen i couldnt see what all the fuss was about. An ok Rock song with a very punky delivery by Axl Rose. To be honest it was one of the worst spent 79p on Itunes ever!
But my whole opinion has been changed. The album mixes good old Rock and Roll, Industrial, Piano (Never saw that comming), Metal and R&B and is actually very, very good.
For example my two favourite songs on the album 'Better' and 'If The World' take the listener on a musical journey. Better starts off with some very R&B (even hip hop) drums before settling in for the night with a typical rock riff. The song then takes another level with the heavy chorus and then later about a million different riffs (ok slight ott from me there) but it's very Axl Rose to be so unpredictable.
If The World is Guns N' Roses doing R&B. No rap (Thankfully) but a very R&B riff makes this a standout track. The Solo is there in the end but this is a very very good song...if you disagree with the R&B infulence, then please feel very free to keep that opinion to yourself!
The album does not get through this review scott free. First of all 15 years is a very long time, secondaly if you were expecting a new 'Appetite For Destruction' then you will be disapointed and thirdly it is basicaly a Axl Rose solo project...there is no Slash and no Duff.
This is being very picky to be honest, which i know alot of people are and have been. For me this is a very good album. Not the best rock album of 2008, that goes to Whitesnake, but i really do feel that this is a very good album.
Saying that, i still feel that there is something missing. I wouldnt give it 10 out of 10 but then again im not sure why not. Its a confusing thing, maybe that is what Axl Rose wanted? Who knows and to be honest who cares!
On a final note...If you read throughout the million pages of thankyou's in the CD booklet, Axl Rose thanks Ferrari Formula One driver Kimi Raikkonen...Random!
