You can just skip this post if you read the next sentence. Chinese Democracy is the Titanic of rock albums. Its massive, overbloated, has errors in its construction, and most importantly, was doomed for failure before it set sail.
Lets start this review out with some logic. We all know that this album has been stuck in production hell longer than it takes Axl to actually get to a concert. So I ask you this, if the album was any good when they started working on it, do you think that Axl would have taken 17 years or whatever to release it? NO! He woulda gotten that bad boy out on the streets as fast as he could produce it. And another thing, too many cooks not only spilled this soup, No, they argued over it and spilled it on the ground. Axl has chased off every last person that embodied GNR (except for himself) yet retained their mark on the album. Still reminiscent Slash bits will ring in your ears after listening to Chinese Democracy, but what the heck is that instrumental synth rock crap that is smothering the beauty? And on some of the tracks that Axls vocals are literally burning up, their so enveloped in numetalpopalternativeindustrialrock junk that he cant shine through. Honestly, this post is going down the toilet in much the same style of the album. I mean well, I have a plan... It's complicated, but i want to surround you in my creations and communicate my emotions-do you see what I mean? Can you see that in Chinese Democracy?
Lets start this review out with some logic. We all know that this album has been stuck in production hell longer than it takes Axl to actually get to a concert. So I ask you this, if the album was any good when they started working on it, do you think that Axl would have taken 17 years or whatever to release it? NO! He woulda gotten that bad boy out on the streets as fast as he could produce it. And another thing, too many cooks not only spilled this soup, No, they argued over it and spilled it on the ground. Axl has chased off every last person that embodied GNR (except for himself) yet retained their mark on the album. Still reminiscent Slash bits will ring in your ears after listening to Chinese Democracy, but what the heck is that instrumental synth rock crap that is smothering the beauty? And on some of the tracks that Axls vocals are literally burning up, their so enveloped in numetalpopalternativeindustrialrock junk that he cant shine through. Honestly, this post is going down the toilet in much the same style of the album. I mean well, I have a plan... It's complicated, but i want to surround you in my creations and communicate my emotions-do you see what I mean? Can you see that in Chinese Democracy?
But enough of my personal vendetta against Axl for ruining Chinese Democracy, and more importantly I believe, ruining GNR, lets get down to the nitty gritty.
Looking at the album as a whole, its a collection of extended, swollen, and metastasized old GNR tracks. All opinions aside, it's still Guns N Roses, but just in Axl Rose "perfected" form from where he slaved on these tracks all the years. I like the idea of these rock soundscapes, but I don't think they come together here. I found myself trying to skip or repeat to a particular part.... then even taking out the left earbud to just get the guitar bit in the right pan. One of the places where the "over-the-topness" works is in "There Was a Time". Here, the melody actually works with the metal soundscape. The verdict is still out on Madagascar for me. I don't like the trip hop thing, but it almost works, but its not GNR.... ugh... a track like that shouldn't even be attempted by the #9 rock band in the world (according to the culture idiots). The light and bright "Catcher in the Rye" actually disappoints me (though I've heard others like it). Again, this isn't a perfected GNR Axl, no matter what you thought. Scraped is one of those songs where I dig the vocals, put its murdered by funky blown up and out grunge. I.R.S. is good, but was leaked about 7 years ago, which shows on the song. Some of this songs were created in different generations. One article I read pointed out that if you went back the 17 years to Use Your Illusion, then went another 17, you'd barely even have metal for Rose to tinker with. Your back in the proto-punk days. The final two tracks, "This I Love" and "Prostitute" are some of the best. Definitely different, and don't shoot me, but almost Queen sounding.
Forgive me for the comparison, but I believe Chinese Democracy is actually similar to the album that beat it on the charts, Kanye West's 808s & Heartbreak. While one is overproduced and armed to the teeth and the other stripped and cut of all but vocals and beats, they both expose the artists beneath to a degree. It becomes apparent throughout Chinese Democracy simply how much time and how many events Axl Rose has gone through. Music has changed and we've seen the Clinton Era, dotcom bubble, its bust, 9/11, ensuing war, housing bubble, its bust, and so much more. I'm not saying the album is outdated, but time shows through the tracks, which are not worth the hype. The album exists. That's the bottom line and Axl and whoever else better realize that. It is interesting, but almost more for the character behind it than the music itself. This is the first of a trio of new GNR albums.... we can only hope Axl Rose learns from his mistakes... and that we don't all die before the trio is done in 34 years.
Final Grade: 51
Vocals/Lyrics: 12
Music: 10
Production: so hard.... do i fail for the overuse of such or pass for the fact that some parts were good? ummm.... 9
Creativity: 11
Value (Was it worth the listen?): 9, only because the new GNR album requires a listen
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