ARTIST: Guns N’ Roses
TITLE: “Chinese Democracy”
WEB DEBUT (OF THIS VERSION, ANYWAY): Oct. 22, 2008
ONE-LISTEN VERDICT: The final, really-for-real version of the title track of Guns N’ Roses 15-years-in-the-making Chinese Democracy is here, and while it’s definitely the same song that debuted in May 2007 and resurfaced back in June, there are tweaks–most notably, the double-tracking of Axl Rose’s vocal tracks between “shrieky ‘Welcome To The Jungle’ Axl” and “menacing verses on ‘Mr. Brownstone’ Axl” for the verses, which sound suspiciously like they’re about the making of the record itself. There’s also the guitar solo, which is much more straightforward in a Slash way, which would indicate that any trace of Buckethead has been erased from the album. Will rock radio embrace it? Well, it’s long, and has a bit too many electronics for the purists who frequent rock radio’s audience to take. (By which I mean one.) But it’s definitely hookier than Axl’s last foray into new-music-land, “Oh My God,” and given that people have been waiting for this album since the Clinton administration, I’m sure it’ll get quite a few curiosity spins, at least.
WHERE TO HEAR IT: Time for another Clear Channel “exclusive” premiere! (Hooray for near-monopolies!) It’s at the Web site of CC’s rock station in New York City, Q104.3. The page asks people to “help Guns N’ Roses promote their new song.” I thought all of the media who reported on this album’s every non-move (this reporter included) were doing that already?
UPDATE: Hey, look, a stream!
It sounds like RTX.
You can take the singer out of the studio but you can’t take the studio out of the singer.
How long did it take to make this album?
I wonder how long it took to write this song . . .
I wonder how it took Dylan to write “Knockin’ on Heaven’s Door,” which is a more memorable G&R song.
Give me my Dr. Pepper already
I like the parts where it says “Music On Demand”, that’s pretty cool…otherwise, meh.
I’m a bit confused as to why the classic rock station in NYC has this and not the (sort of) Active Rock station (K-Rock)?
I don’t hate it. But my expectations were low.
If the rest of the album sounded like this, I’d be excited. But I know better, and it doesn’t (based on the leaks).
Dammit, it’s mediocre. That’s no fun at all. I wanted something that was gonna blow me away, or I wanted a complete and utter trainwreck. You’re useless, Axl. Except for the Dr. Pepper I’ll be getting.
I’m with Tim et al: F the album, where’s my carbonated sugar water?
I dunno about the Buckethead comment you made… there are some things in there that he’s definitely big on, like what appears to be the rapid tapping of a killswitch (like his big arcade buttons he puts on his guitars). But yeah, it wasn’t the overwhelming nonsensical facemelting one is used to hearing come out of buckethead. And that being said, I obviously have no clue who played the solo ferreal.
That being said, it’s one of the better Velvet Revolver tracks I’ve heard OH SNAP!
I’m drinking a Dr. Pepper at this very moment.
Where’s the chorus?
I never understood why anyone cared about Guns and Roses twenty years ago. That people care now really baffles me.
Wow…is this really happening…?
I would rather have heard more of an evolution. Why else did it take so long?
But I will probably buy it. I did once back the man a birthday cake for god’s sake, and I’m nothing if not painfully loyal all ’round.
@ObtuseIntolerant is just another pro-Obama Halfrican playin…: errrr…*bake*, not back.
@2ironic4u: It sounds more like classic rock than anything current. Why wouldn’t they try and evolve a bit? It’s 2008. I mean is this still what rock sounds like? I don’t know.
@moomintroll: Perhaps you’d prefer it with more of a Hinder influence or maybe even a Chad Kroeger cameo? ‘Cause if I’m judging by my radio, that is what “rock” sounds like now…
The thing that surprised me the most was how mediocre it was. Aside from Axl’s sort-of distinctive vocals, there was nothing about it that sounded like GNR. You could remove his voice and you’d have a hard time telling it apart from Nickle-hinder-trapt-cherry-back.
holy shit!!! this sucks.
First leaked in 2007? Try 2001 at Rock In Rio. Sounds good though.
@Thierry: yeah, ok. So maybe going back in time isn’t a bad thing…
It’s….better than Godsmack?
This song rocks! How can you nay-sayers, which are probably a bunch of snot nosed kids anyway, say it wasn’t worth the wait? What where you expecting? A vibrating sensation in your groin area when you listened to it? Come on folks! It’s Axl, on the radio again! And it’s not the same old tired songs we’ve all worn out since 1993! I feel it has a new and exciting sound and dynamic to it and I’m not afraid to say it out of fear of not impressing some 19 or 20 year old that listens to GARBAGE like Parkway Drive that has Cookie Monster as their lead vocalist!