Chinese Democracy RELEASED!
UPDATE: Just minutes ago, Chinese Democracy was actually released. The most anticipated album of all time was delayed for countless reasons for well over a decade. The album is now available exclusively at Best Buy. Read Fishpork’s Chinese Democracy review for more details.
November 20, 2008
UPDATE: If you happen to take a stroll over to MySpace today, you will notice that Guns N’ Roses (aka Axl Rose) has decided to stream the highly anticipated Chinese Democracy album three days before its official release date (in its entirety). Album reviews are already in, and they’ve been mostly positive. Fishpork’s review is coming soon, and it may shock you to hear what we have to say about the album. Stay tuned!
October 23, 2008
In what has shaped up to be the most delayed, most expensive and most anticipated album of all-time, Guns N’ Roses (aka Axl Rose and his new band) will release Chinese Democracy to all physical and digital outlets on November 24 of this year. Best Buy stores will be selling the album a day earlier. The formats will include CD, vinyl and digital download. The album marks the first by the hugely successful band in over 17 years.
The album has been in the works since 1994, even before the departure of guitarist Slash and other members. Recording began with Rose’s new band, which included Robin Finck on guitars and Josh Freese on drum. Both are currently on tour with Nine Inch Nails. Axl and company toured new materials from the album sporadically between 2001 and 2007. With numerous rumors of release dates and countless battles with production budgets have surfaced over the last ten years. The New York Times reports that the budget for Chinese Democracy has surpassed $13 million.
Several of the album’s tracks have been leaked to radio stations and the Internet since 2003. These tracks were all unfinished demo versions of songs that were heard live over the years. In 2007, the studio version of Magagascar was leaked, as well as mixed versions of three additional tracks. The tracks were first streamed on music blog web site, Antiquiet.com. The owner of the blog site has since been arrested by FBI agents and awaits prosecution. Later in the year, demos of nine additional tracks were leaked.Only three titles on the current tracklisting have not been heard in one form or another (“Scraped,” “Sorry,” and “Prostitute”).
The published tracklisitng includes most of the tracks cited, leaked and played live over the years. However, several tracks have been left off the final listing, including Silkworms, a track collaborated on with former Lusk frontman, Chris Pittman. Here is the official tracklisting on Chinese Democracy that will actually see the light of day in one month:
- Chinese Democracy
- Shackler’s Revenge
- Better
- Street Of Dreams
- If The World
- There Was A Time
- Catcher N’ The Rye
- Scraped
- Riad N’ The Bedouins
- Sorry
- I.R.S.
- Madagascar
- This I Love
- Prostitute
http://www.myspace.com/gunsnroses
Chinese Democracy: At Least Listen to the Fucking Thing, Pitchfork and Stereogum!
So, am I expected to post an uppity music snob review ripping Chinese Democracy to pieces? Is it not hip to like this album? Well, that’s not what I’m going to do, because Chinese Democracy is probably the best Guns N’ Roses album in the epic discography. Yes, I said it. Sure, some of the songs sound a little dated, but that’s because they’ve been sitting on the shelf for 15 years. On the other hand, there are a handful of songs that give GNR a new edge to their classic sound, trumping most of what you will find in today’s overrated mainstream music scene.
I’m not going to go into great detail about the history of Chinese Democracy, because I actually want to get this thing posted by Sunday’s release date. If you really want a history lesson, check out the Wikipedia page or do a Google search. There are years’ worth of articles, rumors and interviews. It was a messy journey, and Dr. Pepper is paying for it (or so they want you to think so). Don’t forget to collect your free coupon from Dr. Pepper on Sunday. They’re only giving them away for one day. According to Dr. Pepper, the offer applies to everyone but Buckethead and Slash.
The first two tracks, “Chinese Democracy” and “Shackler’s Revenge,” the latter of which now appears on Rock Band 2, work just fine as album openers. The build up in “Chinese Democracy” is quite tense. And I’ll admit I got the chills when the guitar riff kicked in. Axl’s voice is shot? I think not. I guess they must have really manipulated it in the studio for it to sound this good. “Shackler’s Revenge” is the heaviest track on the album, and I thought I was listening to Fantomas (one of my favorite bands) when it first started. The opening guitar is just intense. The song calms down a bit with this fabulous screeching guitar coming and going. The guitars and solo in the second half of the song had me asking myself, “Slash who?” (I’m sorry, but Velvet Revolver wasn’t for me).
The album gets epic when we finally come to “Better.” I heard this song years ago, and even on the radio when DJs were playing it. Back then, it sounded like classic Guns N’ Roses and has kept my interest up in CD’s release since. Robin Finck’s brilliant guitar work here convinces that Axl has always been the driving force of GN’R. “Street of Dreams” (better known as “The Blues” to those who downloaded leaks) is a beautiful ballad track that begins with Rose’s grand piano. Axl writes everything from a piano, and this song is a great example of his masterful songwriting ability. It’s also the first time you will hear “the voice.” Axl has that classic rock voice, and it shines on this track.
“If the World” reminds me of Faith No More’s “Evidence.” Again, Rose is at the top of his game vocally in this smooth, bluesy track. “There Was a Time” is the next track and may just be my favorite song on the album. As a kid, “Sweet Child O Mine” was my favorite song (and probably still is). I’m immediately brought back by this track. The song is absolutely perfect. The percussion is badass (electronic or live drums, I still can’t tell). Rose has such great range in his vocals, and the guitar breakdowns are breathtaking. Let me warn you. The second half of this song represents everything you ever loved about Guns N’ Roses. I’m in shock that some music reviewers are listening to the same song when they diss it. Axl hits the high notes and the guitar solo lasts for two-plus minutes. Then, the song retreats back to that opening beat with the sound of a children’s chorus.
We don’t get a chance to catch our breath, because “Catcher in the Rye” provides much of the same. This time, we are treated with breathtaking guitar solos, melodic vocals, and a “na, na, na” chorus that will have you bobbing your head, because you realize that Guns N’ Roses sounds as good as ever. Things get heavier again with “Scraped” and “Riad N’ The Bedouins.” Axl gets angry at middle eastern nomads in the latter with the line, “had a plan and thought they’d win, but I don’t give a fuck about them, cause I am crazy.” No one knows how to make a chorus sound better than Axl, and he does so here with what follows the angry rant. “Sorry” seems a bit out of place between “Riad N’ Bedouins” and “I.R.S” and may also be the weakest track on the record. “I.R.S.” is another song that’s been around for a while. Axl is at his best vocally, and the twangy guitar breakdown at 2:19 is a highpoint. Again, the guitar solo during the last minute will make you forget about that former guitar player. What’s his name again?
“Madagascar” is another classic GN’R gem. Axl’s voices hits the bulls-eye on all notes. I do think the mix of MLK’s speech with Cool Hand Luke’s “What we have here is a failure to communicate” line feels a bit forced. It worked with Use Your Illusions II’s “Civil War” and Living Colour’s “Cult of Personality” in the 80s but feels unoriginal and dated here. “This I Love” is an endearing piano ballard with Rose hitting high notes throughout. A guitar solo kicks in at 2:30, and the song hits a 2-minute climax. The track would have been the perfect closer, which is my only complaint about the last track, “Prostitute.” It’s a revealing track for Axl who asks, “What would you say if I told you that I’m to blame?” This is the strongest song lyrically but feels a bit out of place. Maybe it would have been better suited somewhere in the middle of the album. But then again, the theme of the song does provide a final summation of Axl’s struggle for years to release this album:
Ask Yourself,
What I Would Do
To Prostitute, Myself,
To Live With Fortune And Shame
Ooh, Yea,
When You Should Have Turned To The Hearts Of The Ones
That You Would Not Save,
Ooh, Now,
I Told You
When I Found You
All That Amounts To
Is Love That You’ve Crippled For Fortune And Fame!
Chinese Democracy was released 16 minutes ago at your nearest Best Buy store. If you’re not ready, the entire thing is streaming on MySpace. I highly suggest you pick it up (the legal way). After all, it did cost millions to make.
http://www.myspace.com/gunsnroses
Nine Inch Nails @ Wachovia Center
I avoid arenas at all costs ever since The Mars Volta played an inaudible set opening up for System of a Down a few years back at the Wachovia Center. Generally speaking, large venues like outdoor festivals and arenas do not produce the sound or intimate setting one desires when seeing your favorite band. Although I still believe in that notion, recent events have made me realize that certain acts can pull it off. My last concert review raved about the sound that Radiohead was able to achieve at their recent All Points West headlining gig. This past Friday, Trent Reznor and company pulled off what I thought was just not possible at the Wachovia Center (and I’ve been there a bunch times).
Fans have been raving about the lights, set lists and sound on Nine Inch Nails’ recent Lights in the Sky over North America tour. I had seen YouTube videos of the lights, read set lists on EchoingtheSound, but was reluctant to believe that good sound was possible in that building. I don’t like to admit it often, but I was wrong. And I wouldn’t expect anyone else to shut me up. Let me just say that sound was mixed to perfection. Although you can’t overcome all of the downfalls of playing in an arena designed for sporting events, it just worked this time. Take notes System of a Down, The Mars Volta and Tool.
On a poor tip I overheard at a parking lot tailgate, we planned to enter the arena at 8:30 in time to hit the general admission floor at 8:50. As we entered I heard the opening riffs of 999,999/1,000,000 and rushed to the gate and entered the floor. It actually sounded so good, we first thought it was the PA system. “What arroagant bastards would play their own songs before a show?” I thought to myself. That was not the case, as an amazing 31-song set list would follow the opener.
The lights were something I’ve never seen used before. And, honestly, I could not explain how they worked if I tried. There are some YouTube videos that highlight some of these techniques but will not do them justice. You simply have to experience this for yourself. I’m posting one of those videos here anyway:
My favorite was when the lighting tech used a flood light to erase the images on a screen that is dropped in front of the stage. It makes me wonder how much money all of these lighting rigs cost.
The setlist was as satisfying as any NIN show I’ve been to (and I’m in double digits now). I’ve never heard Down In It played live before, and it was certainly a treat. Trent introduced it, saying,”This is an old song, a really old song.” Down In It was the first NIN single ever released. It came out in 1988 and preceded the 1989 release of debut album Pretty Hate Machine. Another rare track that surprised the crowd was Reptile. From what I can remember, it received the loudest cheers, both as the song began and after it was finished. Several songs from the Ghosts I-IV album were performed in chunks, highlighted by Trent playing a giant xylophone and new bassist Justin Meldel-Johnsen (formerly of Beck) on stand-up bass.
The new players represent the strongest overall lineup of the live band. Robin Finck plays a much meaner lead guitar than Aaron North did. North’s acrobatic antics on stage lost their novelty rather quickly, and Finck’s presence is menacing. Meldal-Johnsen is better known as being Beck’s bassist for years and looks a bit strange with his super-fro dyed black. However, he has a lot more energy than Jeordie White (formerly of Marilyn Manson) presented in the last incarnation. And what can you say about Josh Freese. This guy is on something. It’s not because of his physique but his relentless intensity. Some of the songs played on this tour have some complicated percussion arrangements that not many drummers would be able to pull off so effortlessly night after night. For now, I will forgive the fact that Josh is also the studio drummer for the Inidigo Girls, Daughtry, Kelly Clarkson, Avril Lavigne, and Miley Cyrus.
Trent looked awkwardly buff as usual and should definitely be tested for steroids. He’s sporting a dark beard now, which could only explain that he is hard at work on Year Zero 2 and the HBO project (and doesn’t have time to shave). He was more talkative than usual and described how he had tried to escape Pennsylvania for 18 years as a youth and now finds himself back where he started. He went on about how at the beginning there were all dudes at his shows, and now he notices more chicks (which I’ve heard him say at least three times before). He also mentioned that he talks too much and will stop at future shows.
Overall, the show was great, especially considering the size of the Wachovia Center in Philadelphia. It’s interesting to see how the theatrical side of NIN live, as well as the lineup, has evolved over the years. And it’s difficult to imagine how Mr. reznor will possibly top these concerts. Then again, I remember saying that two years ago. Here is the full set list:
1. 999,999 [Intro]
2. 1,000,000
3. Letting You
4. Discipline
5. March Of The Pigs
6. Head Down
7. The Frail
8. The Wretched
9. Closer [The Only Time Breakdown]
10. Gave Up
11. Me, I’m Not
12. The Great Destroyer
13. Ghosts 5
14. Ghosts 17
15. Ghosts 19
16. Piggy [Ghosts]
17. The Greater Good
18. Pinion [Interlude]
19. Wish
20. Terrible Lie
21. Survivalism
22. The Big Comedown
23. Ghosts 31
24. Only
25. Down In It
26. Head Like A Hole
ENCORE
27. Echoplex
28. Reptile
29. God Given
30. Hurt
31. In This Twilight