Chinese Democracy

[Shadow]

Well. I didn't think I'd be alive to see the release of this album, and I'm only 18.

http://www.rollingstone.com/rockdaily/index.php/2008/10/22/guns-n-roses-management-officially-announce-chinese-democracy-release/

http://web.gunsnroses.com/splash.jsp

Thoughts? Will it live up to the expectations? Will it be good? More importantly, will it be "15+ years in the making" good? Is it even Guns N Roses, or just Axl N Friends?

I'm sure it'll be good, but there's no way it will be as 15 years good, and it'll be very different to the old GNR sound, judging from the leaks. It'll probably cause a little buzz on release and then fade into the ether like most albums seem to do these days.

[Big J.G]

wow. that is all.

[mattheal]

Wow, there goes the but of all jokes in the music world :(

[Shadow]

Also, the title track has been rush-released to radio stations worldwide as the first single... and it's all over the web. Have a listen and judge for yourself:

www.myspace.com/gunsnroses (www.myspace.com/gunsnroses)

[Infiction]

who cares.
guns and roses suck.
the end.

[E.B.]

Thats it
I'm moving to the US and getting my free Dr. Pepper

[Neo]

It would be hilarious if it ended up being a huge piece of shit.

[Ben reed]

axl sucks my cock
if he wasnt such a cockhead then guns n roses would have lasted as a band as opposed to the travelling circus that they are now

[Deadcat Kaye]

oh man...Chinese democracy.

I think only Mel here will know a story behind chinese democracy XD

[drifta_21]

And I thought it would never happen while I was alive. It shall be an epic work or an epic failure. Damn Americans get to have their Dr. Pepper though, lucky bastards.

[Wild Turkey]

Nine Songs leaked way back in may.

Full On Studio ones.

And some of them are pretty good.

The Song Better is Unreal, Its got this amazing middle section.

There was a time is really good too.

And Street of dreams, A classic guns ballad, Like November Rain.

Chinese Democracy is not Bad (The Song That Is)... Took a while to like for me to get into, but i tell you now from what i have heard its far from the best thing on there.

I too can't believe its actually going to be released!

[tanguyen]

Thats it
I'm moving to the US and getting my free Dr. Pepper

Lol it was only a matter of time until someone made the Dr Pepper reference.

I'm on ultimate-guitar.com alot and they normally post alot of news up about this GnR album and after every news post, there's always a huge discussion. The discussion seems to always be about whether they like Dr Pepper or not. Thought you'd like to know :)

[Kev]

I've had a listen. Definetly think it will grow on alot of people.

Speaking of GnR, I found my Use You Illusion 1 & 2 albums today. They'll get a blasting me thinks.

[Craigels]

has anyone here had Dr. Pepper before? Is it good? What does it taste like?

[Neo]

Dr. Pepper tastes like really disgusting cough medicine. with a bit of fizz. think cherry coke but even grosser

[Deadcat Kaye]

Mel and I have made a pact, that we're not going to have Dr. pepper until we go over to America. :D

So few more years.....

[Kev]

I remember when it was first bought out here. All the takeaways/convienence stores etc had it.

Tasted like arse from what I remembered. And no I don't know what arse tastes like. I imagine its like putting your tongue on a 9v battery.

[Shadow]

I had some today, actually - Darrel Lea at Eastland stock it for $2.50 a can (and they're the only DL to do it, actually... strange). I didn't like it when I first tried it way back when they actually sold it in supermarkets here, but it's grown on me and it's not bad. Impossible to describe though. It's definitely got a cherry flavour to it, but I can't explain it.

I'll be in the US when Chinese Democracy hits, but apparently they're sending out the coupons for the free can to registrants 4-6 weeks after the album drops... so looks like i'll have to pay for one if I want one. I much prefer Cherry Coke.

[Wild Turkey]

Never Had Dr Pepper.

Dad said it tastes terrible though.

Pffft silly americans... kidding

[Kacky]

Mel and I have made a pact, that we're not going to have Dr. pepper until we go over to America. :D

You mean Canada. ;)

[Wild Turkey]

So has anyone got this yet?

Was wondering what people thought of it?

I liked it

[Shadow]

I've picked it up - not bad, not bad... by today's standards, a great album - but certainly not worth the decade-plus of hype and expectation. Putting that aside, I really enjoy the album and it's a brutal, honest look at the mind of Axl Rose. I like that the album FEELS like one continuous work, how it's all tied together by the theme(s) of love, loss, and forgiveness / redemption. The question is, where do GNR go from here? Will they tour again?

[Wild Turkey]

I've picked it up - not bad, not bad... by today's standards, a great album - but certainly not worth the decade-plus of hype and expectation. Putting that aside, I really enjoy the album and it's a brutal, honest look at the mind of Axl Rose. I like that the album FEELS like one continuous work, how it's all tied together by the theme(s) of love, loss, and forgiveness / redemption. The question is, where do GNR go from here? Will they tour again?

Thats very well said about the album.
i agree with you.

I think its a very very good album.

Its go some classic ballads like november rain and dont cry (But none never really surpass them)

Its got some absolute awsome rockers like better and there was a time.

Im pretty sure that they are going too do a massive tour for the next two years.

Then release album 2 then tour then album 3 then tour.

They didnt just record this.

In interviews they have stated that they have over a hndred finished songs!

All of this is fantastic... but i would still give anything too see axl, slash, izzy and duff up on stage. Anything

[richiestreasure]

Fatso. Skinny legs. Four-eyes. Touchy words can be best left unsaid or sometimes very amusing to bring up. In any case everybody has a deep inner flame that is like a ticking time bomb, waiting to explode.

Today if you asked China’s ruling Communist Party what its most touchy word is, it would probably reply “Chinese Democracy” - the title of Guns N’ Roses’ long-awaited and controversial new album.

Days after its release Chinese state-run media published articles, accusing the band of “viciously attacking” China. Chinese bloggers responded to these articles with highly nationalistic overtones, similar to that seen when protests shrouded the Beijing Olympic Torch relay. Comments such as “bull,” “despicable” and “American trash” could be seen. Some even went so far as to criticise Westerners for their obsession with “sex, drugs, and violence.”

But let’s not forget the true intention behind the song was not to be hostile in the slightest. Anyone who has seen the music video and knows their history is likely to say that it blends footage of the Iraqi war, Tiananmen Square protests and some Falun Gong exercisers, to give hope that one day there may be a true democracy in China with more personal freedoms.

Why is the Chinese leadership so touchy about this song then? Part of the answer lies in the 17-year delay in the song’s release. Nowadays few young Chinese deeply understand both sides of the highly propagandised 1989 Tiananmen Square massacre events. Many of them also feel uncertain over the potential success of a Chinese democracy, even though many will admit they felt intrigued and even a bit excited about the US presidential debate.

China’s biggest sore point, however, was the reference to the state’s arbitrary detention and relentless thumping of exercisers practicing Falun Gong, a banned and suppressed spiritual practice resembling tai chi or yoga, based on truth, compassion and tolerance. “You [i.e. the Chinese leadership] think you got it all locked up inside, and if you beat them all up they’ll die,” the lyrics read.

Despite this, it seems that more Chinese are mustering the courage to openly criticise bungles and corruption at the hands of their own government officials. A couple of bloggers urged others to be more “open-minded” and conceded that both the Chinese government and its people are “indeed imperfect.”

Perhaps I am a bit of an idealist in how I try hard not to lose hope that people will be able to overcome their touchy side, admit people have faults and, in turn, become more accepting of others.

[paulvroc]

while my opinion probably isn't of much importance here...
personally, i'm not a fan of GnR at all. first and foremost, i just dislike their sound. the over-indulgent anti-climactic end pieces at the end of almost every song they did in the Slash era annoyed me, and most of all i just hated Axls voice!
i also hate seeing a 'band' undergo this many changes and keep the same name. it just shows the frontmans pigheadedness and misunderstanding of what a band truly is (i use Pearl Jam here as an example of a band who have brilliant chemistry and have lasted 18 years, only changing drummers).
i can't respect a band that has had that many line up changes, and still holds the same name! similar to The Smashing Pumpkins' Billy Corgan, who has done a similar thing, Axl is a real dick of rock and should learn what a band means.
i won't be buying the album. and i think its a joke that they spent 15+ years on it...and from what i hear...its not even that great
Led Zeppelin released their first four albums in less than four years, and those albums are legendary.
put that up against Axl and his latest bunch of misfits and you see what you're looking at...

[Wild Turkey]

while my opinion probably isn't of much importance here...
personally, i'm not a fan of GnR at all. first and foremost, i just dislike their sound. the over-indulgent anti-climactic end pieces at the end of almost every song they did in the Slash era annoyed me, and most of all i just hated Axls voice!
i also hate seeing a 'band' undergo this many changes and keep the same name. it just shows the frontmans pigheadedness and misunderstanding of what a band truly is (i use Pearl Jam here as an example of a band who have brilliant chemistry and have lasted 18 years, only changing drummers).
i can't respect a band that has had that many line up changes, and still holds the same name! similar to The Smashing Pumpkins' Billy Corgan, who has done a similar thing, Axl is a real dick of rock and should learn what a band means.
i won't be buying the album. and i think its a joke that they spent 15+ years on it...and from what i hear...its not even that great
Led Zeppelin released their first four albums in less than four years, and those albums are legendary.
put that up against Axl and his latest bunch of misfits and you see what you're looking at...



Your opinion is important mate.

I thought you brought up some very good points.

15 years is riddiculous i agree.

Its far too long and just stupid.

Zeps first four albums is a great example of how you dont need years too make a great album.

[Shadow]

Apparently no-one has seen or heard anything from Axl since two months before the release... rumours are swirling that he may be attempting to corral the original lineup together. If there's any truth to it, then it's probably the best thing he can do right now. The album itself has sold poorly in the US and UK, peaking at #3 and #2 respectively, behind The Killers in both countries.

[Wild Turkey]

I heard that too.

would love it too be true but im pretty sure its a load of crap.

Axl is a weird and complex man... and if you get on his bad side then your in alot of trouble.