Yeah, I know we've heard this before over the past decade or so but this time it's for real because the band signed an exclusive deal with BEST BUY and licensed songs to Rock Band 2 and a major motion picture, so this has got to be the real deal.
Of course, if you're a hardcore GNR fan you probably have most of the album already as 11 of the disc's 14 songs have been passed around the internet in demo/live/allegedly completed form for quite a while.
Among the disc 14 tracks (really, 10+ years for 14 songs?), only 3 of the tunes Scraped, 'Sorry and Prostitute, will likely be unfamiliar to the GNR faithful.
Here's where you can pre-order your CD, Digital download (say, how much analog music downloading is going on these days?) and Vinyl (with a free umm.. digital download) copy of the album:
www.BestBuy.com/chinesedemocracy
Here is the official track list for Chinese Democracy:
Chinese Democracy
Scraped
Shackler's Revenge
Street of Dreams (reportedly the final version of recent concert staple The Blues)
If the World
Better
This I Love
There was a Time
Riad N' the Bedovins
Sorry
I.R.S.
Catcher
Madagascar
Prostitute
Will the album live up to years of hype and speculation?
Well, probably not, but that's nearly impossible at this point
Does it really have to?
No, no it doesn't. I think most fans will just be glad that Axl and his (hired) Guns N Roses is back in the mix with a solid collection of songs and hitting the road again to rock their world and local arena (assuming Axl actually shows up).
Hey, here's some high-quality hyperbole from a couple of guys Axl Rose pays to spit out hyperbole:
"The release of Chinese Democracy marks a historic moment in rock 'n' roll," GNR manager Irving Azoff and co-manager Andy Gould said in a statement.
"We're launching with a monumental campaign developed by Gary Arnold and the Best Buy team that matches the groundbreaking sound of the album itself. Guns N' Roses fans have every reason to celebrate, for this is only the beginning."
Oooh, all that marketing talk has got me ready to rock.
{ 5 comments… read them below or add one }
Chinese Democracy was Produced By Axl Rose and Caram Costanzo. Caram Costanzo (also the Recording Engineer and Mixer of the Record) is an Akron, Ohio native and Copley High School Graduate.
[10/10] Here it is, the most anticipated record ever. The most expensive album in history. The product of Axl Rose's borderline psychotic perfectionism. A landmark in rock music history that will still be talked about in 50 years by teenagers now experiencing the thrill of owning a new Guns N' Roses record for the very first time.
This album is not without its detractors, but mudslingers and naysayers fail to understand that Axl Rose is making an honest attempt here to give the fans a great record. He's waited and watched as Metallica produced half-ass record after half-ass record. Check the RIAA charts. In five attempts, Metallica has been unable to issue a record that's sold more copies than Appetite For Destruction. Deep inside, Rose has always known that Chinese Democracy would have to be an epic, masterpiece record. He's known the fans deserve that and he has demanded it of himself. Rose has high expectations of himself and as a result, his expectations have been reflected upon those around him. Axl realized the importance of doing this record right way back in 1994. He didn't want to be a part of a half-assed production repeating itself again and again, doing exactly what everyone expected, riding the success of prior fortunes off into the sunset.
Rose wanted to do something better, to create an album with significance. Something that fans would never forget. Here it is.
If you didn't enjoy Guns N' Roses to begin with, Chinese Democracy is not likely to change your mind. But for the millions upon millions of worldwide fans who idolise Rose, finally having this record in their hands is a moment they will remember for the rest of their lives. You can't put a rating of x out of 10 on a piece of art like this. The years of effort and dedication to success shines through on each and every track. For an artist to spend such a large portion of their career in making sure a project would be executed to a tee says a lot about them. Simply because other artists choose to crank out platter after platter without taking the time to think things through and make the project the best it can possibly be is a symptom of everything that's wrong with record "cycles" and repeated attempts of labels to score big with whatever sticks against a wall when it's thrown at it.
Chinese Democracy is an example of the power of perseverance, the strength of a single man's will against all odds, and the realization of a deep-seated passion to be a champion. It's a monstrous, momentous event, it is the occasion to seize an opportunity that many believed to be unattainable. It's the extension of Axl Rose's desire to be the best in everything he does.
It is nothing less than the very best rock album to be issued in 2008 and most likely 2009.
Boy Malcolm, that's a pretty lame cookie cutter review. Did you hear the record? I bought this record on Sunday when it came out expecting to hear a train wreck from Axl and the new Guns. I've never been more surprised by a record in my life.
I never thought Axl could do it on his own. I was 100%wrong. The record is simply amazing and really beats out any rock music I have heard in many, many years. Its a very deep, layered record that needs several listens to really grasp, but the emotional content is real and the sound is stellar. IF you enjoy ANY kind of music and appreciate great musicianship and songwriting, buy Chinese Democracy. Its SIMPLY AMAZING and WORTH THE WAIT. 5/5 stars from me, when I was expecting 2 at best.
GNR were/are poseurs. What we need is more real rock & roll ala Akron's own Jerry Ramone and the High Plains Drifters!
Wow, comparing Guns N' Roses to Jerry Ramone. That's like comparing a beat up huffy with a Ferrari Enzo.
You made some good points there. I did a search on the topic and found most people will agree with your blog.