Guns ‘N Roses   ^{♫♫♫♫♪}

Chinese Democracy

2008 Geffen Records                                                  

     “Chinese Democracy”, the first single from the long awaited Guns ‘N Roses album wet all our whistles with teasing anticipation of what would come. And after fourteen years of empty promises, Axl Rose finally delivers.

     I don’t intend to make digs about expecting to see democracy in China before Chinese Democracy; it’s too easy. Besides, it looks like China is already taking offense to the title track. While the lyrics might point an antagonizing finger at the Country’s authoritarian rule of its people, I perceive it as a killer song with a great title.

     Axl’s penchant for epic songwriting is fluent throughout this album. It is exemplified in tracks like “Street of Dreams” and “There was a Time”. The latter of which, I could easily see gracing a James Bond soundtrack. The guitars, while cleaner than I’d hoped, further fuel this epic feel with the precision of every track.

     Unprecedented time and cost are invested into this album, with it come lofty expectations.  The fans won’t be disappointed.

     “Chinese Democracy” and “Shackler’s Revenge” have a reminiscence of Guns ‘N Roses circa 1989, opening, what is actually a great Axl Rose album. The legitimacy of this as a Guns ‘N Roses album is fuzzy for me. There have been too many cooks in the kitchen. And the Cheeseburger I expected came out looking more like a Filet Oscar. Good thing is; the Filet tastes a hell of a lot better.

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