 |
 |
 |
 |
|
 |
 |
 |
 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Guns N’ Roses
Chinese Democracy
(Geffen Records)
When the Los Angeles, California-based quintet Guns N’ Roses unleashed their now-legendary full-length debut Appetite For Destruction upon what was then a largely unsuspecting public in 1989, few could have accurately predicted the seemingly unprecedented tidal wave of success that would follow in its wake. Following the release of the stunning ‘electro/acoustic’ G N’ R Lies EP in 1988 and the blockbuster ‘…one-two punch…’ of Use Your Illusion I and Use Your Illusion II in 1991, the group seemed destined for greatness. However, in the years that would follow, the group (or what remained of it, at least), quietly faded into obscurity amid a veritable avalanche of personnel and label turmoil(s), leaving a still burgeoning legacy and a legion of uniquely dedicated fans to ponder a bevy of unanswered questions. Now, fifteen (!) obnoxiously long years later, the group has once again returned to presumably kick our asses. The question is, are you ready?
On the stellar Chinese Democracy (2008), an expertly assembled fourteen song collection of ‘…highly anticipated…’ Hard Rock and Heavy Metal, each track, beginning with the soaring, multidimensional “Better”, and the oddly Jazz/Hip Hop-tinged (albeit highly effective) “If The World”, immediately commands the rapt and undivided attention of even the most jaded and unimaginative of listeners, myself most definitely included. Attempting, or so it would seem, to obliterate one’s understandably cautious expectations (Use Your Illusion I and Use Your Illusion II were, after all, issued quite some time ago), the group wastes little--if any--of the proverbial average listener’s increasingly precious time distinguishing themselves from their few remaining contemporaries via a razor-sharp array of towering vocals, blistering fretwork and surprisingly intricate rhythms, resulting in a collection of material easily worthy of the highest of critical and commercial accolades.
Continuing with the undeniably ambitious “There Was A Time”, and the delightfully hook-driven “Catcher In The Rye”, the arguably embattled combination of vocalist Axl Rose, guitarists Robin Finck (Nine Inch Nails), Ron ‘Bumblefoot’ Thal, Buckethead (Praxis and Science Faxtion, among others), Paul Tobias and Richard Fortus, ex-The Replacements bassist Tommy Stinson, ‘…sub bassist…’/keyboardist Chris Pitman, keyboardist Dizzy Reed and drummers Frank Ferrer, Bryan ‘Brain’ Mantia (Bullmark, Primus, Godflesh) steamrolls ahead at what can only be described as a carefully calculated pace. With Rose adapting the group’s once-trademark sound to reflect an apparently new-found sense of emotional maturity, the resulting sonic barrage, although far more diverse and adventurous than the group’s previous efforts (most notably The Spaghetti Incident?), pay homage to the group’s already oft-documented past whilst boldly swaggering forward.
Co-produced by Rose and the acclaimed Caram Costanzo (Pearl Jam, Rage Against The Machine and Stone Temple Pilots, to name only a few), other standouts, including the maddeningly infectious “I.R.S.”, and the impressively emotion-laden--if not outright overwrought--“This I Love”, while quite not necessarily in the chart-topping, multi-Platinum vein of yore, are deftly intertwined throughout with painfully brief glimpses of Rose’s the trademark lyrical and compositional brilliance that initially propelled the group to the dizzying heights of international success. Unfortunately, after nearly a decade of woefully inaccurate speculation and Howard Hughes-esque seclusion, only time will tell if Rose’s quasi-infamous brainchild (and thus the more than considerable time and energy devoted to its mysterious execution) will eventually ‘…pay off…’ commercially, a surprising and disappointing factor that would have once seemed unfathomable or at best largely improbable.
So what’s really wrong? That, my friend, depends entirely on who you ask. With the group no longer utilizing the talents of Slash, Izzy, Duff and Matt Sorum (or, for that matter, Steven Adler), the majority of the otherwise impressively bombastic wares contained herein often suffer from an overall lack of compositional cohesiveness and continuity (with the latter almost assuredly a byproduct of the long-overdue project’s inexplicably prolonged gestation). As a result, the stylistically varied behemoth that is the highly-polished Chinese Democracy ultimately lacks the ‘...streetwise…’ grit that fueled both Appetite For Destruction and G N’ R Lies. Despite this, the end result(s) of Rose’s obviously painstaking efforts will undoubtedly satisfy far more than they placate, making them a less than likely yet much-welcomed addition to the group’s already sprawling dynasty. Love ‘em or loathe ‘em, this, my friends, is as good as Guns N’ Roses 2008 is going to get.
Select Discography
Chinese Democracy (2008)
Greatest Hits (2004)
Live Era: ’87 - ’93 (1999)
The Spaghetti Incident? (1993)
Civil War (EP) (1993)
Use Your Illusion II (1991)
Use Your Illusion I (1991)
G N’ R Lies (EP) (1988)
Live From The Jungle (EP) (1987)
Appetite For Destruction (1987)
Live ?!*@ Like A Suicide (EP) (1986)