The Review: Guns ‘N Roses Drops “Chinese Democracy” But Who Will Catch It?
Thursday October 23rd 2008, 8:41 pm
Filed under: Beanstockd

Axl Rose

If Guns ‘N Roses drops their first single since ’99 but nobody cares, does it make a sound? Literally, it does make sounds. Many of them. In fact, “Chinese Democracy” includes a full minute of people-talking (in, presumably, Chinese) before we even get to the electric guitar riff that precedes Rose’s vocals. But, who’s buying? The last time Axl Rose released an album of new material was in 1991, and his sound seems to have stayed in the ‘90s.

Though an enjoyable walk down hard rock memory lane, I don’t see there being lines around Best Buys on November 23 to sit “in a Chinese stew” with Rose. Considering that 100,000 pounds of cds become outdated, useless, or unwanted every month, it seems like a silly idea to launch at Best Buy instead of with an online vendor, especially, when you take into consideration Amazon.com’s pre-sales for the #1 ranked Twilight soundtrack expected out on November 4. “Chinese Democracy” does become better with repeat listening but Axl won’t be winning over any new fans with it; he’s just playing to the old ones.

LD

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11 Comments so far
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You are crazy. This is one of the most wanted albums in a long time and will sell like crazy. Even people that have never liked GNR will get this just to hear what was never going to come out. This “article” makes no sense.

Comment by Tyler 10.23.08 @ 9:18 pm

This album will rock! These are happy positive times for evryone, not negative! AXL ROCKS!
Chinese Democracy rocks!

Comment by Raulinc 10.23.08 @ 9:46 pm

Are you kidding me? The younger kids are eating this up, it’s #1 for a second night in a row on Sirius Octane, is on pace to set records for spins in one week on rock radio, and K-Rock in New York (arguably the most influential rock station in the country) has a poll up, and over 80% of the people love it! BTW, quit trying to act cool, by hating on Axl, that is so 2002…. It’s 2008, and when you listen to this a few times, you will realize this song grows on one faster than crab grass can take over your lawn! This song rocks!

Comment by Chester 10.23.08 @ 10:33 pm

Bring it on I cant wait for the whole album and have already pre ordered it woot go hard Axl

Comment by John 10.24.08 @ 3:24 am

Chinese democracy (song) is Awesome, Shacklers revenge is just as amazing. This album is going to Rock the World, and thats what music needs

Comment by Aaron 10.24.08 @ 11:52 am

Chinese Democracy is one of if not the most anticipated album of all time; people are obviously interested in the album and therefore are going to buy it. I need not say anymore the facts speak for themselves.

Comment by Stacey Smith 10.25.08 @ 3:02 am

Are you kidding? You’re just another critic. This album will sell like hotcakes. Statistics do not lie. People are eating it up!

Comment by Sam 10.25.08 @ 3:20 am

Oh i like how you said his sound seems to have stayed in the 90’s. News flash Axl doesn’t need any new fans in his heyday every time the Roses released tickets for shows their were sold out within hours. Chinese Democracy might not be the album we’re all hoping for and maybe Axl should have got it on the download circuit but the man is still by far one of the greatest rock n roll front men in history. Plus so what if his sound seems the same AC/DC’s sound never changed and there still one of the most popular rock bands in the world Black Ice isn’t perfect but its still better than their albums of the 90’s. You know what i wanna see, just in spite of you i want to see people pack best buy around the country just so Axl was able to make you eat your words. Axl Rose may have most of the music community against him but when you have a fanbase like he does and songwriting talent to boot i think Chinese Democracy is gonna put all those people in their place.

Comment by Liam 10.26.08 @ 4:34 pm

This album won’t sell? You’re an idiot.

Sure, Axl’s a tool (therefore an easy target for self-appointed judges such as yourself). Sure, this album should have been released a decade ago and maybe some of the songs on it would have sounded more relevant back then……. but Axl is a rock frontman with an enormous fan-base (I’m in Australia and didn’t see any promotional stuff for the recent Guns tour which sold out every city) and a song-writing gift the likes of which the author of this article can only dream of possessing.

If Velvet Revolver could reach #1 in several countries with far less build-up, I can only imagine what Axl and his cronies will manage.

Comment by capnles 11.02.08 @ 12:06 am

Guess what? No one fucking cares about your opinion. You are just some loser who wants to be a critic. Your best bet is to critique the album when it comes out. I am sure you will say its outdated also, but then again…who cares. By the way, have you heard the music from the last few years? Its fucking horrible. Rap is dead and rock is dying. Its nice to have something back that we all enjoy. Grip time losers…grab it.

Comment by CJ 11.06.08 @ 10:15 am

[...] who knew there were so many Guns N’ Roses fans among the Beanstockd readership? After our review of their new single, we’ve gotten a lot of feedback from some pretty devout GNF’nR [...]

Pingback by Beanstockd 11.11.08 @ 5:13 am



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