Chinese Democracy, by Guns n’ Roses
Some people who know me have probably expected that I would do such a review, but it is very hard to summarize and write about such an album that I have been waiting for years like many other fans. And it is also hard to judge songs as new when I have been listening to some since 2001 (with bootlegs from the Vegas shows, not to mention the 2006 Paris concert that I attended where 5 songs from the album only released last week were played).
Is this the best album ever made? I wouldn’t say so. Is it a good album? Yes, sure! Would it please a Appetite for Destruction-era fan? I wouldn’t bet on it. It somehow sounds like Guns n’ Roses, but with less a stone-esque, punkish sound. This is overall a really good rock album, but it is overproduced at times and contains last-minute glitches and dubious choices (most that can only be really heard by those who have been following the various leaks).
- Chinese Democracy: The title track. I used to prefer an older introduction for this song, where Robin Finck would play syncopated bent chords before slowly building up to the main riff. The current intro is more stadium-friendly, like Jungle. This is a good technical summary of the whole album. Multiple layers of voices (a good surprise compared to the leaks), of guitar wall building and wizardry (the sliding long standing rhythm guitar probably credit to Ron Thal is a nice touch).
- Shacker’s Revenge: it was previewed when released for the Rock Band game (and leaked also before that). This is a weird song, because of its disco-like chorus, but the low/high duet is usual from Axl Rose. Since this is a bucket song, I wonder what the solo used to be, sinced it was replaced by one by Ron thal (but whose taping solo is that?). My only problem with this song is that it doesn’t fit. It breaks the flow of the album.
- Better: a good song, melodic even though the robot bridge is still hard to take. This is one of the songs that suffers from last-minute modifications. The (right channel) melodic guitar would be nice if only it didn’t last for half a verse (and feels weird when listening with headphones). And the bridging slide sucks. I mean, it’s badly mixed and doesn’t provide cohesion with the following guitar part. Is that a 8-year-old who did add that with garage band or what?
- Street of Dreams: used to be known as The Blues. A good and nice song, even though Axl Rose sounds weirdly (or hurtly) at times during the first part although the ending is much better. The acoustic guitar in the introduction is welcomed, and the right-channel lasting rhythm guitar is nice (is that Ron Thal? Feels like a fretless, but I may be wrong with 5 different rhythm guitar players on this piece). Beautiful guitar solos by Robin Finck and the bucket;
- If the World: the least gnr-sounding song of the lot. Porno-guitar, spanish acoustic guitar, synth bass and strings. I had a doubt when listening to the leak, but the final version is really mind-blowing. The radio sounding nanana channel surfing and ended by big drums, love that! And Buckethead proves how soulful he can play.
- There was a Time: I used to think Estranged was the best guitar solo ever. It isn’t anymore. Melody, headbanging chorus, strings, and this ending solo following the voice: Just Woh! Highly technical (taping, shredding, killswitch, you name it) and as soulful. Also compared to the leaks, I must say I like the deep bass chorus.
- Catcher in the Rye: I used to love this beatlesque song with this beautiful guitar solo courtesy of Mr Brian May. There is a lot of vocal work again, with a lot of different layers. But also for guitars (usual) and piano (going crazy). And then, there’s Ron Thal’s solo. And it sucks. The ending chorus would be nice, but, hum, that’s the end, really? weird. I don’t know what’s better: That or the original fading end;
- Scraped: Is that a Guns n’ Roses song? Woh! What a start, this choir! And Axl Rose using this weirdly pitched voice. The whole song has a bucket feel to its rhythm.
- Riad n’ the Bedouins: Used to know it from the first leaks and (new) concerts. The intro is much improved compared to those. And again, this is not your usual guns n’ roses song, if you except the banshee screams. Speed funkish metal? Again, the knowledge of previous versions haunts me because I again think that the main solo (probably by Ron Thal) is noisier than it should be.
- Sorry: Slow grinding melody and voice; it took me time to get used to it. The lyrics are pretty harsh and the chorus guitar work is bucket-sounding. Buckethead who gives us again a bluesy and soulful solo (who did say that he can only shred? Eh!). And the ending drums are pretty good too.
- I.R.S.: Slow headbanging song with a simple rhythm. Weird guitar effects every now and then, but not that disturbing, and a good build-up for the ending chorus.
- Madagascar: Well, if one can accept the various historical and movie samples (is there a particular story behind Cool Hand Luke?) and the horns… But during that bridge, the drums are Grand: Think Led Zepesque Grand. And again, Buckethead shows is not just the shredder people reduce him to. And the multiple-voiced ending chorus is great.
- This I Love: I don’t like the intro. It’s just cheesy and cliché. I mean, piano, harp and strings? Seriously? And then, there’s again a build-up with the chorus which leads to the guitar solo. Robin Finck being sloppy? I will take it anytime, anyday. It just sounds that good.
- Prostitute: The perfect ending. Really. A nice dancing tune, And then, the chorus will pierce you ears before quickly going back to the nice verse. And this end… it tells you that this is the end of the record and it was such a well spent time.
This is not your daddy’s gnr record. I used to like the dual dueling guitar work and the simple punkish sound, but I have matured and so has Guns n’ Roses (or at least Axl Rose). I would only regret part of the work of Ron Thal: I like his rhythm guitar playing (or so I think that’s him playing those sketchy sliding parts all along the verses), but I really don’t love most of his solos. Ok, he can play fast. Too fast for me, and you think Robin Finck is sloppy? Well, I think Ron Thal is somewhat sloppier, especially when he does a solo with the fretless for which there’s too much abuse.
As for the other instruments, I think Tommy Stinson does a pretty good job on the bass: you can often hear him clearly and he takes over a lot the rhythm section on songs like Better. For what I can discern between the two, I think I prefer Brain over Franck Ferrer on the drums, even though the latter probably brings clearer sounding cymbals and a more powerful hit.
What I’d like to hear next? Chinese Democracy Decomplexed. Tear down the guitar walls, restore Brian May’s and Buckethead solos. I’m sure we would hear interesting things this way.