The problem with reviewing this album is that it's never going to be judged as just another album. Instead, it's always going to be the album that took seventeen years to produce and that swallowed up countless millions of dollars. It is the semi mythical album that many never thought would see the light of day and lead singer Axl Rose had put himself in a position where it was going to be pretty much impossible to deliver an album that would merit the hype, the spend, the delay and which would reclaim the glory of Guns N'Roses' crowning moment of glory, their hugely successful debut album, Appetite for Destruction. As we'll see, however, he's come pretty damn close to delivering the masterpiece that was in his head.
It's worth starting by stating that this album is a million miles away from the Appetite album stylistically. Back in the early Nineties, when Axl started planning this opus, the world was a lot different and musical styles were different. Grunge rock was all the rage, led by the trailblazing Nirvana. I recall that Axl was a fan of Nirvana and tried unsuccessfully to get them to open for the Gunners. Chinese Democracy certainly isn't a grunge record but it has industrial metal edges that one presumes came from the early Nineties and lots of other tricks, besides, that must have been a conscious attempt to reinvent the band. Now, though, Kurt Cobain and grunge are dead and industrial metal failed to rule the rock world. Therefore some of the stylistic edges on this record feel a little dated and don't score the coolness kudos that maybe Axl was looking for?
Nevertheless, it is an interesting album. Axl's voice is still unique and mesmerizing and a great deal of thought (as well as time) has obviously gone into this album. It's often been said that Axl is a perfectionist and that this trait has hampered the release of this and previous records. This album has grand ambitions, which probably only added to the difficulty of pulling it together to a standard that he was happy to release. Whilst Appetite for Destruction has a raw hungry feel, Chinese Democracy has much more light and shade and stylistic complexities. I think Axl is to be lauded for the bravery shown here. It would have been easier to replicate the Appetite formula and brought out a straight-up rock n'roll album. Maybe many Guns N'Roses fans might have preferred that but the chances are that it would have been regarded still as a pale shadow in comparison to Appetite for Destruction. What he's produced instead is an album that stands on its own and is a worthy addition to the Guns N'Roses catalogue.
Anyway, enough preamble. What of the songs? Here's a song by song overview:
1. Chinese Democracy:
The opening and title track starts with the background sound of Chinese people talking and then in comes a distinctive and spiky bit of keyboard playing, followed by some loud guitars, which are set against a sound that puts me in mind of wind blowing through a ghost town. It's as if we're waiting for something to blow into town and that thing is Axl's much missed voice. The song itself requires a few listens but is pretty good, although the lyrics are perhaps a little naff. The song seems to have irked the Chinese government, so way to go Axl, there's nothing like making powerful enemies!
2. Shackler's Revenge:
Many traditional Guns N'Roses fans are going to hate this one. For those who remember the experimental track "My World" from the Use your Illusion II album, this is a further step in that direction with all kinds of distorted special effects. Again, the song will grow on you but I can't help but feel that some of the special effects actually get in the way of what is quite a catchy song. The fast paced chorus is particularly catchy. Don't ever try to tell me / how much you care for me / don't ever try to tell me / how you are there for me'. Not sure who he's singing about but it's another in a long list of songs inspired by wanting to vent against someone.
3. Better:
At the moment, I think this my be the standout track on the album, though it's got some strong competition. It starts with some excellent softly sung lyrics by keyboard player Dizzy Reed., who sings "No-one ever told me when I was alone / They just thought I'd know better / better'. Then in comes Axl, telling us a story of broken hearts and trying to get over them. It's a great rock song but the little Dizzy Reed sung pop parts really give it a delightful quirkiness. I hope that this one gets lots of radio play.
4. Street of dreams:
This song starts with some gorgeous piano and it ushers in the first ballad on the album. Axl's always had a flair for writing ballads and this is no exception. There's some lovely changes of pace and the lyrics are great. Here's an example: "I don't know just what I should do / everywhere I go I see you / though it's what you planned / this much is true / what I thought was beautiful / don't live inside of you / anymore."
5. If the world:
A song title that sounds like it should be the theme tune to some James Bond film. It's a decent song but suffers perhaps from its close proximity to stronger songs.
6. There was a time:
This song has big arrangements and big intentions. It reminds me of November Rain, the track from the Use your Illusion albums that Axl had invested the most sweat, blood and tears to. November Rain was considered, however, by many to have been overproduced. There was a time, I feel, fares better and my only complaint is that perhaps it is a little overly long. Cutting back on the length of the guitar solos would have helped, as Guns N'Roses are at their best when Axl's singing. I like the opening lyrics of "Broken glass and cigarettes / writin' on the wall / It was a bargain for the summer / an I thought I had it all'.
7. Catcher in the rye:
The Catcher in the rye is, of course, a very famous American novel, that deals with a young man's disillusionment in the world and his attempts to make sense of it. It focuses on teenage angst and that's a topic well suited also to rock songs. The lyric that stands out most in my mind is this one: "When all is said and done / we're not the only ones / who look at life this way / That's what the old folks say / but every time I see them / makes me wish I had a gun." I wasn't expecting the gun bit! The song is expertly constructed and, like so many of the songs on this album, expertly welds together both heavy rock and pop.
8. Scraped:
Nice intro to this one, with Axl and another singer trading Ay-o screams. Then Axl comes in with "Don't you try to stop us now / cause I just won't let you." It's another me against the world song, and is lifted by Axl's vocal acrobatics, including multi layered vocals. Indeed, with some of these songs, you wonder how easily they will translate to the live arena as Axl (however talented) can't sing two lines on top of each other on stage!
9. Riad N' the Bedouins:
When I saw the track listings, I was intrigued to see what this song would be like! It starts with almost Led Zep style screeching and then in comes a really catchy fast-paced tune. The opening lyrics are "Riad N' the Bedouins had a plan / and thought they'd win / but I don't give a f*k about them / cause I am crazy'. Okay, I don't think there's going to be too many people disagreeing with Axl's proclamation of craziness! I guess this song could be seen as objectionable from a race perspective, something that Guns N'Roses have suffered from in the past. However, I think it's more aimed at the Al-Qaeda terrorists rather than the Arabic people, so I think it's okay to enjoy it without feeling guilty. It's also worth noting that this is one of the few songs on this album to contain any swear words. Certainly the swear count is markedly down on previous Guns N'Roses albums possibly a sign that Axl is maturing?!
10. Sorry:
Another song that I was eagerly awaiting, as I'd heard that Seb Bach (former Skid Row singer and close friend of Axl) was providing backing vocals. As it turns out, Bach has very much a supporting role, but I love the song anyway. Indeed, it's possibly rivalling "Better" as my current favourite. The arrangement is excellent, starting at a slow pace with "You like to hurt me / you know you do / You like to think in some way / that it's me an' not you / but we know that isn't true!". We get to the chorus and Axl tells us that "I'm sorry for you / not sorry for me / you don't know who you can trust now / or you should believe." Chuck Klosterman, in his excellent and very funny Chinese Democracy review , was tickled by the fact that there's one line ("But I don't want to do it") that Axl delivers in "some bizarre, quasi-Transylvanian accent". Klosterman is particularly interested in the thought process that went into this choice, saying "What finally made him decide, "You know, I've weighed all my options and all their potential consequences, and I'm going with the Mexican vampire accent." You know, though, it actually works and adds to the pricelessness of the song!
11. I.R.S:
Another of the standout tracks. There may be some old school Guns N'Roses fans who feel that this album is too much of a departure from previous output. However, I think they will like this song. It's one of the more out and out rock numbers and it's almost impossible not to get carried along and find yourself foot tapping and singing the lyrics. "Gonna call the president / gonna call myself a private eye / gonna get the IRS / gonna get the FBI". It also includes the lines "With all the rumors I could tell / somethings didn't work so well'. I guess that's maybe an admission that there have been mistakes in his past and possibly in the time it's taken to bring out this album? However, this track sure as hell has worked well.
12. Madagascar:
Is that a brass band playing in the intro?! I like it! Some of the flourishes on this album put me in mind of the experimentation that The Beatles sometimes went in for. Not all of them work but many do and I think Axl is to be praised for having the courage to try different things. This song also includes snippets from Martin Luther King speeches, interspersed with snippets from the film Cool Hand Luke. Axl of course, sampled Cool Hand Luke in the song "Civil War" from the Use your Illusion album, so that film must occupy a place close to his heart! The song ends again with the brass band. It won't be to everyone's liking and isn't one of the killer tracks on the album, but it's got a quirkiness that works for me.
13. This I love:
Another ballad. This is actually probably more powerful than "Street of dreams' and has beautiful arrangements. It's a song about having loved a girl, lost her but hoping that she still has feelings for you. I can see broken hearted people all over the world playing this, whilst trying to drown their sorrows! Here's a good example of this song's lyrics: "I hoped she'd never leave me / please God you must believe me / I've searched the universe / and found myself / within her eyes".
14: Prostitute:
The final track on the album, Prostitute is another song that is multi-faceted in terms of its design. It's probably not one of the most catchy songs but its still got plenty going for it. Indeed, as we get to the end of the first Guns N'Roses album for seventeen years, it's worth just reflecting on how great it is to hear that voice again. There are plenty of great singers in rock and pop but there is only one Axl Rose.
I hope that this album is commercially successful, as I believe that it deserves to be heard by lots of people. It won't be everyone's cup of tea but, for those prepared to give it a chance, I believe that many will be very pleasantly surprised by what's on offer. And, hopefully, we won't have to wait another seventeen years for the follow up!
Track Listing:
- Chinese democracy
- Shackler's revenge
- Better
- Street of dreams
- If the world
- There was a time
- Catcher in the rye
- Scraped
- Riad n'the Bedouins
- Sorry
- I.R.S.
- Madagascar
- This I love
- Prostitute
Sources:
http://www.avclub.com/content/feature/chuck_klosterm an_reviews