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Track Listings
| 1. Chinese Democracy |
| 2. Shackler's Revenge |
| 3. Better |
| 4. Street Of Dreams |
| 5. If The World |
| 6. There Was A Time |
| 7. Catcher In The Rye |
| 8. Scraped |
| 9. Riad N' The Bedouins |
| 10. Sorry |
| 11. I.R.S. |
| 12. Madagascar |
| 13. This I Love |
| 14. Prostitute |
Product Description
Product Description
The sixth studio album from hard rockers, Guns N’ Roses, Chinese Democracy was the first album from the group in 15 years. The 14 track album has received mixed reviews from critics and despite receiving high sales during its first week, the record undersold expectations.
Review
In the 15 years it's taken for Axl and co. to get these 14 tracks together the costs have spiralled so precipitously (and downloading habits have changed the market so massively) that Chinese Democracy will, in all probability, never make a profit. So, weirdly, in refusing to be hurried, and despite turning it into probably the last great rock folly of our times, now-46-year-old Axl Rose may have actually done something quite significant: struck a blow for the artist. Of course, this all hangs on whether Chinese Democracy is any good. At a work rate of less than a track a year you'd expect something awesome, wouldn't you? Well, it IS. By this we mean it's epic, preposterously overarching and all the things you'd expect from the ego that ate Sunset Strip.
This is an album with literally a cast of thousands. collaborations begun, dropped, seeds of ideas, mere trains of thought, they all get name checked in the sleeve notes. So yes, guitar freaks, Buckethead's here, and so is Brian May (Catcher In The Rye), and so are about twenty other guitarists. Piano ballads (Sorry), sweeping strings (adding just the right amount of throat lumpiness to Madagascar), multi-tracked shredding mayhem - it's all on tap. And on top the grizzled yelp that seems just as good as ever.
And don't let anyone tell you that Axl hasn't been keeping up with trends. A song like Better, starts with an r 'n' b-lite loop under a lonely voice; If The World's skittering beats and spanish guitar make it most danceable: expect a few illicit remixes to hit the clubs sometime soon. But that was always GnR's strength - they rocked hard, but they also had a canny eye on the big prize. Watching whether their universal brand still holds good after all this time will be a fascinating game to play in the weeks leading up to Christmas.
Of course there are times when Axl's perversity does over-egg things. Some tracks take a good minute or two setting up just the right mood while Madagascar's samples of both Martin Luther King AND Coolhand Luke are perplexing. But then you're dumped headfirst into the metal mayhem of something like Rhiad And The Bedouins and you remember why you loved this band all those years ago.
At the centre of all this sits Rose, suddenly big news again and amazingly able to hold up Chinese Democracy as at least the equal of all the talk its creators have been bandying about. No, it won't change the world and it doesn't contain any major innovations. But it's still a huge triumph in the face of overwhelming odds. You can breathe again now... --Dennis O'Dell
Find more music at the BBC This link will take you off Amazon in a new window
Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
179 of 191 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD
Right first off I'm going to put aside all the stuff about the nonsense and millions that went into making this album as it serves no purpose and detracts from the music - yes it happened - yes Axl Rose is a bit mental and has gone OTT, but what's new? If we put such a high mantle on our artists and musician then mental is what you get, people. If I had to like every man behind every piece of music before I could enjoy their respective tunes I would have a very small CD collection indeed, so onwards and upwards.
Now then, here is my, hopefully, not overly long, down and dirty, review of Chinese Democracy in a cheeky little list format that I hope won't take up too much of your time with pretentious musings. (Please note I am not reviewing for NME who seem to think every piece of indie tosh that heads their way is a `masterpiece' and `totally astonishing` - I am assuming everyone who reads this will be from camp realism.)
PROS -
- The vocals are top notch and harken back to the days of yore when I used to launch myself around my bedroom as a rebellious teen shouting the lyrics to get in the ring (when my parents where well out of earshot of course - rebellious, yeah - starting a rebellion, not so much.) There are even some points here where I think the vocals definately surpass what has passed. Bonus.
- The riffage and solos on offer within are some of the finest I've taken in in a good long while - sure Slash is a brilliant guitarist but there are other equally brilliant guitarists out there, and I'd say quite a few of them have racked up points on this album.
- There are a vast range of styles and ideas from track to track and as the album moves on you are constantly passed from pillar to post in terms of what you're hearing. A tune for every occasion.... Read more ›
Now then, here is my, hopefully, not overly long, down and dirty, review of Chinese Democracy in a cheeky little list format that I hope won't take up too much of your time with pretentious musings. (Please note I am not reviewing for NME who seem to think every piece of indie tosh that heads their way is a `masterpiece' and `totally astonishing` - I am assuming everyone who reads this will be from camp realism.)
PROS -
- The vocals are top notch and harken back to the days of yore when I used to launch myself around my bedroom as a rebellious teen shouting the lyrics to get in the ring (when my parents where well out of earshot of course - rebellious, yeah - starting a rebellion, not so much.) There are even some points here where I think the vocals definately surpass what has passed. Bonus.
- The riffage and solos on offer within are some of the finest I've taken in in a good long while - sure Slash is a brilliant guitarist but there are other equally brilliant guitarists out there, and I'd say quite a few of them have racked up points on this album.
- There are a vast range of styles and ideas from track to track and as the album moves on you are constantly passed from pillar to post in terms of what you're hearing. A tune for every occasion.... Read more ›
22 of 23 people found the following review helpful
By J. M. Green
VINE™ VOICE
Format:Audio CD
I have to say that, apart from one or two tracks, I've not really been much of an admirer of GNR - however, for my birthday, my eldest son purchased a copy of Black Ice for me - which, unfortunately (for him!) I had already got in my collection - so he said he'd go and get me a surprise.....and came back with a copy of Chinese Democracy. Well, I have to say that it took me a couple of days before I actually gave it access to my car CD player and then when I did give it a spin, the first and second tracks went by, with me just thinking that I knew why I was never really that much enamoured by this band - But then "Better" started up, grabbing me by the throat demanding my undivided attention - great riffs, voice box mashing vocals and some really stunning guitar soloing - this was something completely different, and most unexpected. I played this track a couple of more times and then went on to complete the album and, I have to say that I had more than a grin on my face.....this album truly ROCKS!!
I have since given this album a great deal of listening time as "background noise" and also with a set of cans on and I am now even more impressed with this strong and complicated album which is capable of being "dived" into at any level because it covers all the facets that an excellent rock, or indeed, any type of album should serve up....be it fast paced raucous rock or just plain beautiful ballads, technically brilliant musicianship or just simple melodies, this album delivers it all!
The real test of course will be how long the follow up will be in the making and will it ever be able to eclipse this truly brilliant album....
I have since given this album a great deal of listening time as "background noise" and also with a set of cans on and I am now even more impressed with this strong and complicated album which is capable of being "dived" into at any level because it covers all the facets that an excellent rock, or indeed, any type of album should serve up....be it fast paced raucous rock or just plain beautiful ballads, technically brilliant musicianship or just simple melodies, this album delivers it all!
The real test of course will be how long the follow up will be in the making and will it ever be able to eclipse this truly brilliant album....
25 of 27 people found the following review helpful
By Alli
Format:Audio CD
Like everyone else, I've waited a long time for the release of Chinese Democracy and on first listen, I was very disappointed. But then I remembered how I needed to listen to Appetite more than once to get into it, and I feel its the case with this album. The more I listen to it, the better it gets and the standout tracks for me are the four concurrent tracks starting from 'Better'.
Is it a masterpiece? Only time will tell, but in my opinion, its close and Chinese Democracy is the most interesting album I've bought in a long time (apart from Muse's 'Black Holes & Revelations'). I now can't stop playing it. Yes, I think we all wished Slash could be on this production, but let's not dismiss the guitarists who are - they are all superb and deserve recognition for their talents, and maybe if the old band members had been involved, the album would never have seen the light of day. Axl Rose is a genius and his voice is amazing. It takes you back to your school days, but at the same time it's new, modern and totally different from anything else out there in the bland production of today's music. Perfection for me would be for Axl to ditch the corn rows and goatie, start promoting this album, and give us a world tour worth waiting for.
Is it a masterpiece? Only time will tell, but in my opinion, its close and Chinese Democracy is the most interesting album I've bought in a long time (apart from Muse's 'Black Holes & Revelations'). I now can't stop playing it. Yes, I think we all wished Slash could be on this production, but let's not dismiss the guitarists who are - they are all superb and deserve recognition for their talents, and maybe if the old band members had been involved, the album would never have seen the light of day. Axl Rose is a genius and his voice is amazing. It takes you back to your school days, but at the same time it's new, modern and totally different from anything else out there in the bland production of today's music. Perfection for me would be for Axl to ditch the corn rows and goatie, start promoting this album, and give us a world tour worth waiting for.
4 of 4 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD
Listening to this has catapulted me back to the time when I used to buy an album and simply couldn't turn it off which is a rarity these days. There is no singer akin to Axl Rose and hearing his incredible vocals once again was a really special moment. To me, this is his solo album after the GnR break-up. I guess the song writing wasn't as strong but the musical diversity and complexity makes this an eclectic album that's great to listen to. Just don't leave it so long till the next one... please.
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3.6 out of 5 stars
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
1.0 out of 5 stars
Did OI really buy this?
I have no recollection of purchasing the item - please give me details e.g. copy of invoice etc.
Cheers for now.
Cheers for now.
Published 2 months ago by herbert Anderson
5.0 out of 5 stars
Brilliant
I don't know why I listened to all the bad press about this album when it first came out. My dad told me it was rubbish . He couldn't be anymore wrong . Absolutely Brilliant. Read more
Published 3 months ago by Ms. Victoria Thomas
3.0 out of 5 stars
okay, so i dont 'hate' it..
As many reviews have already said this is not guns n roses as people know... so if you have your heart set on guns n roses 2 this is not the album for you... Read more
Published 4 months ago by Tomz
1.0 out of 5 stars
zzz...zzz...zzz
When are the people taking potshots at the original line up of Guns 'n Roses by saying that the current band are better musicians, going to get it through their thick skulls that... Read more
Published 4 months ago by arrant knave
5.0 out of 5 stars
Worth the wait
Please ignore all the verbal bashing of Axl Rose or the band in general. There are some amazing musicians that contributed to this album and each one brings a different sound to... Read more
Published 8 months ago by Stupie1982
1.0 out of 5 stars
Self indulgent
I was & still am a huge GNR fan , from first ep onwards, however this is not worth the wait. Self indulgent, over blown, more prog rock than rock. Read more
Published 9 months ago by Mr. P. Kettlestring
4.0 out of 5 stars
What a surprise!!
I'll be honest. I LOVE the old Guns N Roses and I used to want to be a professional guitar player from 14 to 21 years old because of Slash, I wanted to make other people feel the... Read more
Published 9 months ago by C. A. Gonzalez Villalobos
2.0 out of 5 stars
not new item and not sealed
I was supposed to get a new cd and sealed, but unfortunately it looks like old and used, it is not new and it was not sealed. Read more
Published 12 months ago by cat
2.0 out of 5 stars
not happy with what it was supposed to be new
I was very dissapointed to receive this vynil. I thought it would come sealed and look like new...but not at all! Read more
Published 12 months ago by cat
3.0 out of 5 stars
why use the name????
Whilst this is not the worst album Ive ever heard....it's certainly better than Velvet Revolvers second offering.....it's not the best either.... Read more
Published 13 months ago by chris cummings
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