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[Angry Grimace]

Can't say I'm overly impressed with the album.
Before I get eaten alive, lemme try to explain...


The songs aren't bad (well, some of them are).
It's just.... they don't really sound like GnR.... at all.


Some of the songs are quite heavy, and some of them are quite soft. There's no real... edge.
It's kinda hard to explain.
They simply don't sound like GnR.

Why should they? Today's GN'R has about as much to do with the GN'R you're thinking of as Starship has to do with Jefferson Airplane. You knew that going in. They're good songs, taken out of the Guns N' Roses context.

 

[I_D]

Why should they? Today's GN'R has about as much to do with the GN'R you're thinking of as Starship has to do with Jefferson Airplane. You knew that going in. They're good songs, taken out of the Guns N' Roses context.

Well, they *should* because it's under the GnR name.

This sounds more like an Axl side project (which it basically is).

Again, the songs aren't bad, aside from a few low spots. I'd just rather have another Appetite, which this isn't.

 

[Buckethead]

I wasn't trying to sound as negative as you've obviously perceived it. It's not a great album. It's a good album, but has questionable choices, and a (arguably) questionable production.

Calling it a "ripoff" was very strong, hence the explanation. I can do fine with "4 Stars" and "Good album".

But the reason "Appetite" is so legendary is because it's aged that way. When it came out it was to controversy and a good amount of people overlooked it. You may say there's some "questionable choices" but AFD had some mid-card tracks as well.

Like you said WTTJ, Nightrain, SCOM, etc made that album. This album has some pretty great tracks on it. But has some weaker tracks (IRS, Riad) but so did "Appetite" (You're Crazy, Anything Goes, etc.).

So whether or not it's a great/legendary album is yet to be determined. That will be something that will be debated for years to come.

This sounds more like an Axl side project (which it basically is).

Again, the songs aren't bad, aside from a few low spots. I'd just rather have another Appetite, which this isn't.

Well I agree, it doesn't really sound like "AFD" era Gn'R, its a different/new sound however it's pretty tough to make that statement. The album sounds very modern and is kinda like jumping from "Meet the Beatles" to "Sgt. Peppers".

A lot of time has passed and a lot has changed. So calling it "not Gn'R" is a little unfair, imo.

 

[jett]

I agree that the inclusion of random snippets of Bumblefoot is distracting in nearly every single case...for now. Maybe it'll take some time to take used to it, having being accustomed to the leaks for the last couple of years. Nothing has been fundamentally altered though...but yeah right now Bumblefoot's "participation" in the recording seems like an unneeded afterthought...which it probably is.

 

[Fuzyfrog]

Its crap and im not surprised

 

[Teddman]

It does sound like GnR. Think of songs like Garden of Eden, My World, Shotgun Blues... The band was already moving in this direction for some of the rockers on Use Your Illusion. And the ballads on Chinese Democracy are not that different from classics like November Rain.

 

[shantyman]

Its crap and im not surprised

Great review.

 

[Buckethead]

Great review.

No, this is a great review. Doesn't let bias and bullshit get in the way:

Ultimately, Chinese Democracy is the only record Axl Rose could have made. He was never content to stay in one place, but he is a rocker at heart, and the ambition and scope of this music puts the warmed-over cock rock of Slash and McKagan’s Velvet Revolver to shame. Rose’s hermetic behavior, years of delays and false promises, and erratic live performances have made him rock’s most worn-out punchline, but on Chinese Democracy, Axl gets the last laugh.

www.onethirtybpm.com/2008/11/18/guns-n-roses-chinese-democracy/

 

[jett]

Yeah I'm loving this album!

Coming from someone who's not a die-hard GnR fan btw...

 

[smokeymicpot]

I like it so far.

 

[Angry Grimace]

I agree that the inclusion of random snippets of Bumblefoot is distracting in nearly every single case...for now. Maybe it'll take some time to take used to it, having being accustomed to the leaks for the last couple of years. Nothing has been fundamentally altered though...but yeah right now Bumblefoot's "participation" in the recording seems like an unneeded afterthought...which it probably is.

There was a degree of sterility in the old tracks. The problem is that a re-record with Bumblefoot doing the tracks in the first place is what was needed, and the label wouldn't be down with that :lol

So instead it's just layered on top, and sounds weird.

Listening to "Catcher in the Rye" again, I'll revise my judgment on it. It's a very good song once you get into it.

 

[hokahey]

I just can't stop hearing what sound like nu-metal and industrial leanings. This album sounds inspired by late nineties rock trends to me, which is not good at all.

 

[jett]

There was a degree of sterility in the old tracks. The problem is that a re-record with Bumblefoot doing the tracks in the first place is what was needed, and the label wouldn't be down with that :lol

So instead it's just layered on top, and sounds weird.

Listening to "Catcher in the Rye" again, I'll revise my judgment on it. It's a very good song once you get into it.

I like Bumblefoot, but he wouldn't have done justice to Buckethead's already recorded material.

edit: WTF at the above post. CD sounds nothing like nu-metal.

 

[Teddman]

I just can't stop hearing what sound like nu-metal and industrial leanings. This album sounds inspired by late nineties rock trends to me, which is not good at all.

If anything, it's a Helmet influence (Axl is a big fan) which would put it at early 90's. Nothing wrong with that, they started all the nu-metal stuff, and did it best.

 

[hokahey]

Everyone is entitled to an opinion, but I challenge your opinion. Very strongly challenge it.

"There is nothing new under the sun". It's ridiculous to claim this album is unoriginal.
You know why Appetite for Destruction was good? Because it melted AC/DC with Aerosmith and Thin Lizzy but put a fresh, new spin on the situation.

There are roots and origins in everything not just Guns N' Roses.
"Rocket Queen" sounds like something from mid-period Queen. So is that song a ripoff too? What about Zeppelin that clearly drew from many blues artists? Are they amateur ripoffs?
Or what about Van Morrison, Velvet Underground, or the handful of other acts that influenced pretty much every great rock band to come?

This isn't even mentioning that Chris Pitman's synth/strings contribution is very modern and that there's some incredible string arrangements by Marco Beltrami and Paul Buckmaster. That's not a luxury that very many have....

Your a silly, silly sally.

And what are the inspirations for this album? Korn? Stabbing Westward? Ugh. Give me some down and dirty L.A. rock songs please.

 

[Buckethead]

And what are the inspirations for this album? Korn? Stabbing Westward? Ugh. Give me some down and dirty L.A. rock songs please.

It's not 1987 anymore. Axl isn't down and dirty living the strip anymore.

Appetite was a incredible record, but it was made by a group of young guys scraping the bottom of the barrel living for sex, drugs, and trying to make it in rock n' roll. Those days are gone and will never return. It would be dishonest to be something he's not. He's writing songs that he is okay with, that he believes in. Some may not like it, but he's not appealing to the lowest common denominator, he's not making an album for cheap pops.

That being said, "Scraped" is a pretty rockin' track. But it follows the direction of the Axl these days: mature, reflective, complex, moody. And as far as inspirations there are many: CITR and Madagascar have a Queen vibe to it with the latter carrying Tom Waits-esque vocals, the title track is like NIN meets Nirvana, Sorry could be compared to Pink Floyd with a tinge of Metallica, and Riad N' The Bedouins is like Praxis and Zeppelin had an illegitimate pissed off child, and Prostitute is like Guns N' Roses by the way of U2's Achtung Baby and the best Genesis track.

But all these inspirations are irrelevant, it sounds fresh and distinctly Guns N' Roses. While there ARE influences like the ones listed above, it doesn't ever sound like a rip-off or Axl trying to be someone else he's not. Some guitar may be more on the technical and a bit on the industrial side but to me it seems like Axl is dipping his toe in uncharted waters.

That's one reason I really like this record: it says "oh you want this.....fuck you and fuck your expectations" there's this air of "I do the fuck I want, either support it or don't" to it. So regardless that half of the album are these epic/ballad type songs, it's dangerous, very rock n' roll. That's something that's been missing for far too long.

 

[jett]

Yea fresh is the correct way to describe this album.

edit: fuck listening to This I Love again....it's seriously awesome.

 

[Buckethead]

Yea fresh is the correct way to describe this album.

edit: fuck listening to This I Love again....it's seriously awesome.

"This I Love" is like the little brother of "Estranged", I love it.
It's very direct, straight to the point, and has this great operatic/broadway Elton John type vibe to it.

 

[I_D]

So "Shackler's Revenge" is definitely my song of choice from the album.
It completely outshines every other song.
However... I'm a huge metal fan, and this definitely has metal leanings.


The other songs feel so convoluted compared to it, especially the later-half of the album.

I'm warming up to it, though. It's kinda hard to get used to something different, since it's still Axl's voice; but it gets better with each listen.

 

[Sin]

Album is amazing.

Buckethead has it right, listen to the album with an open mind, this isn't 1987 anymore and as every GN'R fan should know, Axl was, is and will always be a forward thinking guy, he isn't stuck in the 80's like Slash to a certain extent. (don't get me wrong, I LOVE Slash)

If you went into the album without this notion than I can see how one might be disappointed on a first listen and dismissing it.

It will get lots of low scores because most reviewers will look at the album with an already set negative agenda which is total bullshit, but whatever, that's the music industry.

I'm a hardcore GN'R fan, but I have very broad musical tastes and Chinese Democracy, always imo, is A M A Z I N G.

 

[Hitman]

The album is soooo fuckin good. I'm pissed at myself for having listened to the leaks. If I had'nt heard the leaks before hearing the whole album i think my head may have blew up from the amount of awesome on this album. Really.... amazing... the non leak songs are just as good as the ones that leaked. And the ones that leaked sound so much better than before, alot of the things that made me cringe while listening to the 9 song leak have been removed or dummed down.

In any case I feel like i need to write a proper review for this album one day... today i cant just gather my thoughts yet.

 

[Hitman]

'Sorry' is so amazing. Sounds ALOT like Alice in Chains

 

[Jesus Carbomb]

The album is soooo fuckin good. I'm pissed at myself for having listened to the leaks. If I had'nt heard the leaks before hearing the whole album i think my head may have blew up from the amount of awesome on this album. Really.... amazing... the non leak songs are just as good as the ones that leaked. And the ones that leaked sound so much better than before, alot of the things that made me cringe while listening to the 9 song leak have been removed or dummed down.

In any case I feel like i need to write a proper review for this album one day... today i cant just gather my thoughts yet.

I managed to avoid all leaks, save for "Better" and went into the album with zero expectations. So glad I did... I'm kinda blown away from what I'm hearing.

"There Was A Time" is a stand out track for me right now, especially that second half... holy shit. So good

 

[Hitman]

I managed to avoid all leaks, save for "Better" and went into the album with zero expectations. So glad I did... I'm kinda blown away from what I'm hearing.

"There Was A Time" is a stand out track for me right now, especially that second half... holy shit. So good

I couldn't even imagine how I'd feel if I hadn't already over-listened to some of these songs. It'd be like overload. You are very lucky for not giving into the leaks.

 

[bananabread]

This album isn't as good as Appetite, but who expected it to be?

It's a rockin record that blows away pretty much any mainstream rock music released in the last 10 years.

 

[thefro]

This is an amazing record as long as you 1) Don't expect it to sound like 1987 GNR and 2) don't mind extravagant/overblown production.

 

[Angry Grimace]

It's not 1987 anymore. Axl isn't down and dirty living the strip anymore.

Appetite was a incredible record, but it was made by a group of young guys scraping the bottom of the barrel living for sex, drugs, and trying to make it in rock n' roll. Those days are gone and will never return. It would be dishonest to be something he's not. He's writing songs that he is okay with, that he believes in. Some may not like it, but he's not appealing to the lowest common denominator, he's not making an album for cheap pops.

That being said, "Scraped" is a pretty rockin' track. But it follows the direction of the Axl these days: mature, reflective, complex, moody. And as far as inspirations there are many: CITR and Madagascar have a Queen vibe to it with the latter carrying Tom Waits-esque vocals, the title track is like NIN meets Nirvana, Sorry could be compared to Pink Floyd with a tinge of Metallica, and Riad N' The Bedouins is like Praxis and Zeppelin had an illegitimate pissed off child, and Prostitute is like Guns N' Roses by the way of U2's Achtung Baby and the best Genesis track.

But all these inspirations are irrelevant, it sounds fresh and distinctly Guns N' Roses. While there ARE influences like the ones listed above, it doesn't ever sound like a rip-off or Axl trying to be someone else he's not. Some guitar may be more on the technical and a bit on the industrial side but to me it seems like Axl is dipping his toe in uncharted waters.

That's one reason I really like this record: it says "oh you want this.....fuck you and fuck your expectations" there's this air of "I do the fuck I want, either support it or don't" to it. So regardless that half of the album are these epic/ballad type songs, it's dangerous, very rock n' roll. That's something that's been missing for far too long.

Scraped has a pretty lame vocal track on it. Axl's rapping to himself in this weird Ozzy sounding voice where he's using his chest voice out of his range. Shoulda stuck to the head voice for the whole verse.

 

[Manics]

I really like the album, but then I went back to some of those demo tracks of songs I got, what 2 years ago? In some cases I like the raw sounding demo better than the polished final product. I dunno, some of the music sounds too perfect, I would have preferred a nastier edge to it. All in all it's a very good album though.

 

[hokahey]

It's not 1987 anymore. Axl isn't down and dirty living the strip anymore.

As a longtime Jane's Addiction fan this argument is surprisingly familiar.

Anyway, I understand it's not 1987 anymore. But your lot in life should impact lyrics above all, not songwriting. I have no issue with his lyrics. I take issue that it doesn't sound like I want it to. If you don't want it to sound that way, great. But I keep hearing Korn and that pisses me off. It's GnR. I want blues rock, not nu-metal. For instance, I like Better just fine until the chorus. Then it sounds like generic hard rock bullshit found on any modern rock station at any time.

Velvet Revolver sounds more like GnR than GnR does now.

 

[Angry Grimace]

As a longtime Jane's Addiction fan this argument is surprisingly familiar.

Anyway, I understand it's not 1987 anymore. But your lot in life should impact lyrics above all, not songwriting. I have no issue with his lyrics. I take issue that it doesn't sound like I want it to. If you don't want it to sound that way, great. But I keep hearing Korn and that pisses me off. It's GnR. I want blues rock, not nu-metal. For instance, I like Better just fine until the chorus. Then it sounds like generic hard rock bullshit found on any modern rock station at any time.

Velvet Revolver sounds more like GnR than GnR does now.

It doesn't sound like Korn in any aspect of the songs. That is simply preposterous.

If you think it sounds like Korn, you've eihter never even heard Korn, just use "sounds like Korn" as a generalized pejorative, or haven't heard Chinese Democracy. I'm betting on all three.

 

[SUPREME1]

Wait, Chinese Democracy won't be for sell on iTunes?

Is it exclusive to BestBuy???



W T F ? ? ?

 

[Manics]

Wait, Chinese Democracy won't be for sell on iTunes?

Is it exclusive to BestBuy???



W T F ? ? ?

 

[Angry Grimace]

Wait, Chinese Democracy won't be for sell on iTunes?

Is it exclusive to BestBuy???



W T F ? ? ?

Yeah, the song itself is already on there.

 

[Buckethead]

I love the mixing on this record. It's a little on the soft side, but that's why you get good sound systems and headphones.

But you can hear the dozens of layers on each song. My favorite part is on "If The World" when it goes "la, la, la la....la, la, la, la, la laahhhh" and they mix it so the la's start in the right channel then travel to the left channel like it's circling around your head.

Then the drums blare in. It's so fantastic. A shock to the system.

Fantastic drumming by Brain and Buckethead's 70s blaxpoloitation/James Bond spanish guitar is hypnotic coupled with Axl's pained croon.

So many great songs on this record. Could have done without "Riad", have some complaints about the poppy sound/vocal track on "IRS", and wish that Axl would have used his "Street of Dreams" voice on "Madagascar".

That being said "There Was a Time", "Sorry", and "Prostitute" are the highlights of the record. Unarguably 5 star songs. Moody, sweeping, epic. Most of the rest are in the 4 star tier with a couple 3 star average songs. But there's something on this record for everyone and like a review said:

"Still, I find myself impressed by how close Chinese Democracy comes to fulfilling the absurdly impossible expectation it self-generated."

8.75/10

 

[WrikaWrek]

Been listening to this, honestly, it speaks to me, i'm not only a huge Guns fan, but a rock fan in general also.

And hearing this, it's like hearing the narration of an epic album, and love how it strives for glory, and how Axel was creating what he felt, and not what was asked of him, this material is unusual, rare, and my reaction to it is like i'm hearing something that is a product of ambition.

My impressions are still very fresh, but i'm impressed.

 

[aznpxdd]

Holy shit @ There was a time. The 2nd half is fuckin' epic.

 

[hokahey]

It doesn't sound like Korn in any aspect of the songs. That is simply preposterous.

If you think it sounds like Korn, you've eihter never even heard Korn, just use "sounds like Korn" as a generalized pejorative, or haven't heard Chinese Democracy. I'm betting on all three.

And you'd be wrong. I know my music. You need not smugly suggest other wise.

The album is not good. Much of it sounds like generic nu-metal inspired by the likes of Korn and any other aggro rock bullshit from the late nineties.

I know you really, really, want it to be good, but it's not.

 

[Angry Grimace]

I love the mixing on this record. It's a little on the soft side, but that's why you get good sound systems and headphones.

But you can hear the dozens of layers on each song. My favorite part is on "If The World" when it goes "la, la, la la....la, la, la, la, la laahhhh" and they mix it so the la's start in the right channel then travel to the left channel like it's circling around your head.

Then the drums blare in. It's so fantastic. A shock to the system.

Fantastic drumming by Brain and Buckethead's 70s blaxpoloitation/James Bond spanish guitar is hypnotic coupled with Axl's pained croon.

So many great songs on this record. Could have done without "Riad", have some complaints about the poppy sound/vocal track on "IRS", and wish that Axl would have used his "Street of Dreams" voice on "Madagascar".

That being said "There Was a Time", "Sorry", and "Prostitute" are the highlights of the record. Unarguably 5 star songs. Moody, sweeping, epic. Most of the rest are in the 4 star tier with a couple 3 star average songs. But there's something on this record for everyone and like a review said:

"Still, I find myself impressed by how close Chinese Democracy comes to fulfilling the absurdly impossible expectation it self-generated."

8.75/10

The phasing and panning effect you're referring to in "If the World" actually causes my ears pain. It's not the first time I've heard that phasing and panning effect used, and it always hurts my ears.

"Scraped" has ridiculous vocals. The song is a barnstormer, but Axl is doing this thing where he's trying to do a rap battle with himself, using his chest voice and head voice as dueling personas and it's a bit much.

Someone else was right, that was the band I was looking for on the chorus of Sorry, it sounds like Alice in Chains. As for the production, I'm less impressed than you are. It's almost incohesive. It sounds like the completed leaks from 2 years ago were overdubbed with some guitar playing by Ron Thal. It's like they tried to mix in him jamming to some already mastered tape; which sounds odd. He's trying to cop a "live" feel by playing out of time, but it's too much, the fact that his guitar doesn't mesh well with Finck and Carroll's guitars makes it sound glaringly off in places, i.e. IRS and Chinese Democracy.

 

[Angry Grimace]

And you'd be wrong. I know my music. You need not smugly suggest other wise.

The album is not good. Much of it sounds like generic nu-metal inspired by the likes of Korn and any other aggro rock bullshit from the late nineties.

I know you really, really, want it to be good, but it's not.

I AM suggesting that, in fact I'd go so far as to say that straight out. You DON'T know your music, and it's not a matter of smug, it's a matter of you saying "this sounds like Korn." What, do you think Metallica's Black Album sucks becuase it sounds like the Beatles?

The fact is, I dont' think anyone here will agree with you that Chinese Democracy = Korn. It sounds like lots of other bands in places, but never fucking Korn. Either you haven't heard Korn, you haven't heard Chinese Democracy, or you haven't turned on the radio in 15 years. I don't know how else to put it.

 

[Teddman]

Is there any sort of deluxe/special edition version of Chinese Democracy?

 

[Buckethead]

The phasing and panning effect you're referring to in "If the World" actually causes my ears pain. It's not the first time I've heard that phasing and panning effect used, and it always hurts my ears.

Your virgin ears need their cherries popped. Rock music has always been boisterous and loudddddd.

"Scraped" has ridiculous vocals. The song is a barnstormer, but Axl is doing this thing where he's trying to do a rap battle with himself, using his chest voice and head voice as dueling personas and it's a bit much.

Yeah I like that kind of thing. The song has two key ideas or whatever:
1. "Being stronger than the lies that they tell you"
2. Letting "the world be on top of (you) breaking (you) down... an endless monotony"

These two ideas clash and the vocals reflect that. I like them. Totally out of control, Axl sounds like a madman. Punk rocky only as Axl can do.

The negative side to all the hype/build-up to this album is that people are going to be hyper-cynical and not just dig the songs for what they are. They'll "look for the sermon in the suicide".

 

[Buckethead]

Is there any sort of deluxe/special edition version of Chinese Democracy?

Apparently there's been some Box Set stuff showing up but nothing about additional music. The only thing that is known is they come with T-Shirts, Keychains, etc.

 

[Angry Grimace]

Your virgin ears need their cherries popped. Rock music has always been boisterous and loudddddd.


Yeah I like that kind of thing. The song has two key ideas or whatever:
1. "Being stronger than the lies that they tell you"
2. Letting "the world be on top of (you) breaking (you) down... an endless monotony"

These two ideas clash and the vocals reflect that. I like them. Totally out of control, Axl sounds like a madman. Punk rocky only as Axl can do.

The negative side to all the hype/build-up to this album is that people are going to be hyper-cynical and not just dig the songs for what they are. They'll "look for the sermon in the suicide".

Virgin ears? How old are you?

And I just think his chest voice sounds weird that high. Should have wailed the whole time and let the full power chords make that part "harder." The whole song has this sound like Axl isn't very comfortable doing it.

 

[hokahey]

I AM suggesting that, in fact I'd go so far as to say that straight out. You DON'T know your music, and it's not a matter of smug, it's a matter of you saying "this sounds like Korn." What, do you think Metallica's Black Album sucks becuase it sounds like the Beatles?

I haven't suggested that you don't know music simply because I disagree with your opinion. Your assertion that I don't know music is comical at best. If you knew me you'd understand. I am comparing a band with an aggro rock sound to pieces of music by another band. No, Axl isn't singing knick knack paddy whack give a dog a bone, but there are certainly portions in the songs I've heard that sound very similar in style to Korn and other aggro rock bands inspired by their sound. I'll give you that I'm using Korn as a bit of a catch all to define a genre, but an outright comparison isn't at all preposterous. Again, I'm referring to certain pieces of songs, which assuming you actually read before posting you'd know is my point. I don't think Chinese Democracy sounds like a Korn album. I think portions of the songs sound like they were inspired by that band and the sound they popularized. It's really not that difficult to follow.

The fact is, I dont' think anyone here will agree with you that Chinese Democracy = Korn. It sounds like lots of other bands in places, but never fucking Korn. Either you haven't heard Korn, you haven't heard Chinese Democracy, or you haven't turned on the radio in 15 years. I don't know how else to put it.

From the release notes:

CHINESE DEMOCRACY benefited from its long gestation period by incorporating bits of many post-SPAGHETTI INCIDENT subgenres, including nu-metal, electronica, new garage rock, and post-grunge.

http://www.clashmusic.com/reviews/guns-n-roses-chinese-democracy

Alas, it appears that Rose has spent much of the last 17 years in a bubble, oblivious to the ever-twisting trends of the music world. ‘Chinese Democracy’ is an album living in the distant past. Nu-metal has come and gone, the likes of Korn now a footnote in the evolution of rock ‘n’ roll, yet the second track here is an explosive echo of the movement – ‘Shackler’s Revenge’ chugs and grunts like drop D is the only tuning its makers have ever cared for. Elsewhere, efforts recall both Meatloaf and Pink Floyd – neither cutting-edge reference points likely to endear Axl’s squealings to an audience fresh of face.

http://sgrblog.blogspot.com/2008/06/chinese-democracy-first-review.html

Some of the songs on Chinese Democracy bear evidence of 15 years of shifting musical trends. The full-on rap-rock assault of 'If The World' has all the hallmarks of a very good Korn b-side.

I could go on. Disagree all you like, but I am entitled to my opinion, which for the record, I am apparently not alone in as you have suggested.

I think it's also interesting to note that one of the more famous events that Axl released Chinese Democracy info at was a Korn CD release party.

 

[Buckethead]

How old are you?

And that's relevant why? It was a joke.... meaning, your ears need exposure at high decibels. Toughen those fuckers up.

And I just think his chest voice sounds weird that high. Should have wailed the whole time and let the full power chords make that part "harder." The whole song has this sound like Axl isn't very comfortable doing it.

Yeah. I was explaining why I like it the way that it is and possible reasoning therein.

 

[Reave]

Some of his ballad singing is not so good. There's even times when he sounds like a deaf person trying to sing. Otherwise, I think it's a good album.

 

[Teddman]

I think a lot of reviewers (and PR) are reaching a little too far for genres to describe Chinese Democracy's sound. Nu-metal, new garage rock, post-grunge???

In the end, there are some traces there, but most of the record is a witch's brew that is truly not much like anything else out there in rock. The originality of its sound is one of Axl's accomplishments.

 

[shantyman]

If the World sounds like Korn? WTF

 

[Awsome_o]

But it's been
14 years of silence
It's been
14 years of pain
It's been
14 years that are gone forever
And I'll never have again
14 years spent making a mediocre album...

 

[shantyman]

The album is streaming now on myspace. I started with Shackler's and am surprised at the difference in the mix from the previous leak- much better. Love Bumblefoot's solo on that.