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Guns 'N' Roses Chinese Democracy Nov 23 & a free Dr Pepper

post #1 of 28
10/23/08 at 9:06am
Thread Starter 
Chinese Democracy When

This is a great way to generate sales

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post #2 of 28
10/24/08 at 5:23pm

Re: Guns 'N' Roses Chinese Democracy Nov 23 & a free Dr Pepper

" ... masterpiece ..." *That* is still yet to be determined.

I think it's cheesy that they only give a 24 hr window to apply for the coupon. Hopefully I can remember!
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post #3 of 28
10/24/08 at 5:31pm

Re: Guns 'N' Roses Chinese Democracy Nov 23 & a free Dr Pepper

What cola company is sponsoring the Beatles remasters?
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post #4 of 28
10/25/08 at 7:27pm

Re: Guns 'N' Roses Chinese Democracy Nov 23 & a free Dr Pepper

I heard a song from the album yesterday.

Definitely sounds like GNR.

Never been a fan so I can't really say where it ranks compared to their past works.
Sounded good but didn't knock my socks off
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post #5 of 28
10/30/08 at 7:10am

Re: Guns 'N' Roses Chinese Democracy Nov 23 & a free Dr Pepper

It doesn't bad but I don't think I'm getting it. Nothing really impressed me either and I was never a die-hard GNR fan anyway.
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post #6 of 28
11/17/08 at 1:43pm

Re: Guns 'N' Roses Chinese Democracy Nov 23 & a free Dr Pepper

I don't know what song it is that I heard, but it sounded pretty good IMHO.. I will wait till it arrives so I can sample all the songs to see if I will pick it up or not.
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post #7 of 28
11/18/08 at 9:14am

Re: Guns 'N' Roses Chinese Democracy Nov 23 & a free Dr Pepper

Quote:
Originally Posted by Blair G
I heard a song from the album yesterday.

Definitely sounds like GNR.
Quote:
Originally Posted by barrydalive1
It doesn't bad but I don't think I'm getting it. Nothing really impressed me either and I was never a die-hard GNR fan anyway.
Too bad it's not really GnR. That's just a corporately-owned facade for a decade-overdue solo album from Axl Rose. It's a sham, folks. A forgery. A hype machine for nothing but a facsimile of what used to be. It's supposed to sound like GnR because they've taken 10 years to assure that it does. To me, it's really no different than the story behind the making of Pink Floyd's "Momentary Lapse of Reason" in that they worked hard to make it sound like Floyd because without Roger Waters (or Nick Mason and largely Richard Wright, for that matter) the first attempt at recording the album turned out sounding very much unlike Floyd and more of what it is: a David Gilmour solo album. I'll be surprised if this is a success since the business model definition of that would be recouping however many millions have been spent over the last decade on its production. However, nothing concerning the music business really surprises me anymore.
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post #8 of 28
11/18/08 at 3:57pm

Re: Guns 'N' Roses Chinese Democracy Nov 23 & a free Dr Pepper

There's a deluxe version coming out overseas with two bonus discs and a t-shirt; speculation is this package will become a Best Buy exclusive when CD gets a wide release in the U.S. Not that I think people would be too surprised by an inevitable reissue in a couple months but we've waited this long, why plunk down $12 on something that's gonna be redundant in the near future?
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post #9 of 28
11/18/08 at 5:52pm

Re: Guns 'N' Roses Chinese Democracy Nov 23 & a free Dr Pepper

Quote:
Originally Posted by Brian Magnuson
To me, it's really no different than the story behind the making of Pink Floyd's "Momentary Lapse of Reason" in that they worked hard to make it sound like Floyd because without Roger Waters (or Nick Mason and largely Richard Wright, for that matter) the first attempt at recording the album turned out sounding very much unlike Floyd and more of what it is: a David Gilmour solo album.

As compared to The Final Cut, which sounded even less Floyd-like and was a de facto Roger Waters solo album? IMHO MLoR sounds more Floyd-like than Final Cut.

Anyhoo, as one of those 'overseas', I guess now I'll wait and see what sort of 'deluxe' version actually shows up in the shops. It's been 17 years, what's a few more days or weeks?
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post #10 of 28
11/18/08 at 8:51pm

Re: Guns 'N' Roses Chinese Democracy Nov 23 & a free Dr Pepper

Quote:
Originally Posted by Yee-Ming
As compared to The Final Cut, which sounded even less Floyd-like and was a de facto Roger Waters solo album? IMHO MLoR sounds more Floyd-like than Final Cut.
Say what you will about TFC, but at least it had all four of the principle members of the band playing on the album. I think you're missing my point. Even David Gilmour has referred to MLoR as a solo album. And how can it not be when Nick Mason and Wright barely played on the album, let alone had any writing credits. My point was simply that this new GnR has what, 21 or so (reported) different musicians in the studio (and who knows really which of them will actually be in the final mix), and none of them are Slash, Duff, Izzy, Adler or Sorum. It's like Steely Rose.
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post #11 of 28
11/20/08 at 1:52am

Re: Guns 'N' Roses Chinese Democracy Nov 23 & a free Dr Pepper

Quote:
Originally Posted by Brian Magnuson
Say what you will about TFC, but at least it had all four of the principle members of the band playing on the album. I think you're missing my point. Even David Gilmour has referred to MLoR as a solo album. And how can it not be when Nick Mason and Wright barely played on the album, let alone had any writing credits. My point was simply that this new GnR has what, 21 or so (reported) different musicians in the studio (and who knows really which of them will actually be in the final mix), and none of them are Slash, Duff, Izzy, Adler or Sorum. It's like Steely Rose.
I understand your point to an extent. There's always debate about when the line is drawn as to when a band is no longer that band any more. The Eagles of today is barely representative of the original lineup. The same with The Who, The Beach Boys and even Led Zeppelin depending on your point of view. I agree that this really is no longer GNR. Having said that, I've heard most of the album and I think it's great. I'll just ignore what they're calling the band and enjoy the music. I'll be buying this next week.
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post #12 of 28
11/20/08 at 6:11am

Re: Guns 'N' Roses Chinese Democracy Nov 23 & a free Dr Pepper

Quote:
As compared to The Final Cut, which sounded even less Floyd-like and was a de facto Roger Waters solo album?
That's how I've always thought about that album, solo Waters. My favorite "PF" album, in any event. Love Waters.

I've enjoyed what I've heard from Chinese Democracy. It's not "Guns and Roses", no, but what they call it doesn't matter all that much to me. G 'n R is one of my favorites, and their shows were some of the best I've ever been to. I'll certainly pick it up to see what Axl's been up to.
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post #13 of 28
11/20/08 at 8:48am

Re: Guns 'N' Roses Chinese Democracy Nov 23 & a free Dr Pepper

I want to make sure everyone in this thread realizes that I'm not bagging on the music. I'm not really interested in it, but from what I've heard it's pretty good stuff. I'm just appalled at the hype machine calling it the "long-awaited, 10-years-in-the-making, return of Guns N' Roses," etc., when it's really an Axl Rose solo album. However, everyone here and the record company knows it will garner more interest and sell more if it's called Guns N' Roses instead of the Axl Rose Project.

And, yes, I am one of those few who love The Final Cut. I always thought it sounded like more of a subdued sequel to The Wall than merely a Waters solo album. Yet, it does sound more like The Pros and Cons of Hitchhiking than it does The Wall. But its theme of war and the psychological effect on the children of those who die in them is all Waters. "Take all your overgrown infants away somewhere and build them a home. A little place of their own. The Fletcher Memorial Home for Incurable Tyrants and Kings." Brilliant!
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post #14 of 28
11/20/08 at 11:06am

Re: Guns 'N' Roses Chinese Democracy Nov 23 & a free Dr Pepper

Quote:
Say what you will about TFC, but at least it had all four of the principle members of the band playing on the album.

From my understanding, Richard Wright was fired during the recording of "The Wall" and was brought back only as a paid musician for the tour of "The Wall". I don't think he had any part of "The Final Cut" (even as a paid musician).
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post #15 of 28
11/20/08 at 11:55am

Re: Guns 'N' Roses Chinese Democracy Nov 23 & a free Dr Pepper

Quote:
Originally Posted by Brett_B
From my understanding, Richard Wright was fired during the recording of "The Wall" and was brought back only as a paid musician for the tour of "The Wall". I don't think he had any part of "The Final Cut" (even as a paid musician).
You're right, I had misplaced that thought all these years, which reduces my point completely to ashes blowing in the wind.
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post #16 of 28
11/21/08 at 10:09am

Re: Guns 'N' Roses Chinese Democracy Nov 23 & a free Dr Pepper

Quote:
I'm just appalled at the hype machine calling it the "long-awaited, 10-years-in-the-making, return of Guns N' Roses," etc., when it's really an Axl Rose solo album. However, everyone here and the record company knows it will garner more interest and sell more if it's called Guns N' Roses instead of the Axl Rose Project.
Understood, agreed.

Quote:
And, yes, I am one of those few who love The Final Cut. I always thought it sounded like more of a subdued sequel to The Wall than merely a Waters solo album. Yet, it does sound more like The Pros and Cons of Hitchhiking than it does The Wall. But its theme of war and the psychological effect on the children of those who die in them is all Waters. "Take all your overgrown infants away somewhere and build them a home. A little place of their own. The Fletcher Memorial Home for Incurable Tyrants and Kings." Brilliant!

I saw RW last summer and TFC numbers were the ones everyone took a chance to sit down and take a break during. Not I, however, and I suspect I was pretty annoying to those around me as I yelled "She bravely waves the boys goodbyyyyye again!" with Roger taking the low part. I was spot-on, thank you.
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post #17 of 28
11/21/08 at 2:04pm

Re: Guns 'N' Roses Chinese Democracy Nov 23 & a free Dr Pepper

Quote:
Originally Posted by Brian Magnuson
And, yes, I am one of those few who love The Final Cut. I always thought it sounded like more of a subdued sequel to The Wall than merely a Waters solo album. Yet, it does sound more like The Pros and Cons of Hitchhiking than it does The Wall. But its theme of war and the psychological effect on the children of those who die in them is all Waters. "Take all your overgrown infants away somewhere and build them a home. A little place of their own. The Fletcher Memorial Home for Incurable Tyrants and Kings." Brilliant!

I was always under the impression that TFC was actually intended to be a sequel to The Wall. Is that not the case?
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post #18 of 28
11/22/08 at 5:21pm

Re: Guns 'N' Roses Chinese Democracy Nov 23 & a free Dr Pepper

I heard all of Chinese Democracy, and I have to admit, it's pretty solid.
I really wanted it to be terrible, because I can't stand the way people still treat this band as if it's something amazing, when if you break it down, they released ONE great disc in the span of about a quarter of a century.

However, I think that Axl's vocal style in 2008 is the weakest link on the disc.
That sound worked in the 80's and early 90's, but it doesn't really play well now.
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post #19 of 28
11/24/08 at 5:09pm

Re: Guns 'N' Roses Chinese Democracy Nov 23 & a free Dr Pepper

I heard a cut on NPR with a quick review. Doesn't sound so impressive to me. Wasn't a HUGE GNR fan, but now I'm certain I won't ever be.
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post #20 of 28
11/24/08 at 9:20pm

Re: Guns 'N' Roses Chinese Democracy Nov 23 & a free Dr Pepper

I picked the disc up yesterday and have to say I thought it was better then what I expected. I wasn't a huge GnR fan growing up, but always enjoyed their music.

The songs are pretty solid, but there isn't a big hook on these songs that would make them stand out from anything on Appetite or Use Your Illusion albums.

As I listened to the album I was taken back on how laid back some of these tracks were. I tried to think of putting myself in an arena listening to some of these songs and only a few of them could I see really satisfying a rock n roll crowd. I think I would of liked a more aggressive sound from Axl on this album.

There is a lot of synthesized drum sounds and vocals that are altered. I wanted to hear a more straight ahead rock and roll record, but when you have 14 years to make these tracks, I guess you would have a time to fit the sound of the current music trend when the album finally is released.

Again I am digging the album, but it feels like it was lacking something.

Paul M
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post #21 of 28
11/25/08 at 3:44am

Re: Guns 'N' Roses Chinese Democracy Nov 23 & a free Dr Pepper

Grabbed it yesterday at BB along with new Rush BD. Some cool stuff on there, and Axl sounds better than I expected, although to Paul's point there appears to be quite a bit of manipulation of the vocals (Vocoder or such) that may have been needed to bring them on-key. I thought it went a bit overboard in some places, with Axl singing stuff he never would have even 20 years ago and getting too "busy" with notes/lines.

The guitar work doesn't have the meat that Slash used to bring to the proceedings...more flash. Even some sweep-picking...yay. Not bad, though.

It's pretty laid-back overall, and does sound great based on my one listen.
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post #22 of 28
11/25/08 at 2:54pm

Re: Guns 'N' Roses Chinese Democracy Nov 23 & a free Dr Pepper

I enjoyed it; the five consecutive ballads at the end isn't a sequence I'm crazy about but the songs themselves are mostly good, if not great. (I can't get into "Sorry" at all though.)

Taking so long on the album actually hurt it IMHO--there are so many elements in some of these songs that are just unnecessary and feel like they're there for the sake of being there. The orchestra on "There Was a Time" in particular.
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post #23 of 28
11/26/08 at 12:23pm

Re: Guns 'N' Roses Chinese Democracy Nov 23 & a free Dr Pepper

I haven't had a chance to listen to it yet, aside from the first single. IT sounds alright, but really, how could it meet the expectations they are implying by saying it took 14 whatever years to make? I seriously doubt every day in that time was spent in the studio working on tracks, and suspect it was mostly personal issues that kept this from being finished for so long.
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post #24 of 28
11/27/08 at 9:24am

Re: Guns 'N' Roses Chinese Democracy Nov 23 & a free Dr Pepper

Quote:
Originally Posted by Russell G
I haven't had a chance to listen to it yet, aside from the first single. IT sounds alright, but really, how could it meet the expectations they are implying by saying it took 14 whatever years to make? I seriously doubt every day in that time was spent in the studio working on tracks, and suspect it was mostly personal issues that kept this from being finished for so long.
Yup, agreed. I suspect even Axl wouldn't spend a year on each song.

This album's growing on me quite a bit, and I'm really digging some of the tracks. "Better", in particular, is one I've gotten into quite a bit. As apparently processed as it is, I just really enjoy his voice. And the sound is very good, very punchy and full.
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post #25 of 28
12/4/08 at 6:18am

Re: Guns 'N' Roses Chinese Democracy Nov 23 & a free Dr Pepper

I have no problem with whatever name they call this "band." If Yes and King Crimson can get away with having a couple dozen members go in and out of their bands, then why not GnR? Personally, I didn't think it was GnR after they got that drummer from the Cult, you know, the guy who could actually keep a steady beat. GnR is *supposed* to be all slop, barely in tune, barely sober, and raw as hell. When they thought they could make Physical Graffiti II (aka "Use Your Illusion), that's when they lost it IMO (though I do like a couple tracks).

I will never forget being a sophomore in high school and hearing Welcome to the Jungle for the first time while going to an after school piano lesson! Needless to say, it was very difficult to think about Mozart after that. (Okay, sure, some of it had to do with the girl who was getting a piano lesson before me, and offered me a ride, and played WthJ on the way. ) After that, it seemed like an entire year of my life was lived to the soundtrack of Appetite for Destruction. I remember listening on my crappy car stereo while chasing girls in the fall, or my "boombox" at the pool in the summer. There was even a Pizza Hut in my tiny Bible Belt town that had "It's So Easy" on the juke box, curse words and all!

". . . Besides, you ain't got nothing better to do--and I'm bored."

I can't imagine them ever topping the irreverent genius of those days. But I'm curious to hear the new one.
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post #26 of 28
12/7/08 at 3:28pm

Re: Guns 'N' Roses Chinese Democracy Nov 23 & a free Dr Pepper

Really, really digging this now. It's become my #1 in the car. Despite (or perhaps due to) the apparent electronic manipulation, Axl sounds fantastic, and the vocal lines and melodies are really working for me. The guitar is all-around great, and the juxtaposed styles/tones fits perfectly.
The big thing that's surprised/delighted me is that there's not one song I automatically skip past.
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post #27 of 28
12/8/08 at 11:53am

Re: Guns 'N' Roses Chinese Democracy Nov 23 & a free Dr Pepper

You know what song has really grown on me? "If the World." At first I kind of wrote it off as some bad disco song, like inferior Bee Gees with heavier guitar riffs. And now I can't stop playing it. I'm not all that crazy about "Shackler's Revenge" but for some reason it gets stuck in my head and I play it constantly too.
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post #28 of 28
12/8/08 at 2:57pm

Re: Guns 'N' Roses Chinese Democracy Nov 23 & a free Dr Pepper

Funny, at first I found Axl's ending lines flat and bending up to pitch in "If The World" annoying, now I sing along at full volume in the car. Those opening lines are an example of how the electronics are helping loads, I think. His voice was never that pure in the upper reaches.
"Shackler's Revenge" and "Better" are my two faves at the moment.
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