Oh My God: It’s A New Official Release From Guns N’ Roses

noah | October 22, 2008 9:00 am
AP06063002126.jpg

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!

Chinese Democracy – Guns N Roses