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- metallex78
- Rep: 194
Re: The Positive CD Thread
Really digging Sorry at the moment. Love that classic Axl voice in that.
- metallex78
- Rep: 194
Re: The Positive CD Thread
If The World kicks ass too. I hated it the first time I heard it, but now it's amongst my fav tracks on the album.
Re: The Positive CD Thread
Now that we've had several months to sink the album in... let's see if some things change.
First, to all of those people - the final studio album is the most superior these songs will ever sound to your ears, so just tune those others out.
Here's the album...
1. Chinese Democracy - 4/5 - my opinion on CD stands the same, pretty much since day one. The final studio version is the most superior, and Frank's added drums give it the heaviest sound it's ever had. It's a great ass kicking opener. Maybe not a Welcome To The Jungle (AFD) or Civil War (UYI2), but this one is a memorable kick off. The extending opening, just gives it more depth.
2. Shackler's Revenge - 4.5/5 - this truely is an underrated rocker, that I actually prefer to CD, and think is one of the stronger rockers on the album. The industrial vibe of the song ages it, but it's more melodic, radio-friendly side, opens up it's ability to grab audiences more than an Oh My God did in 1999. It's a dated sound, period. Which is probably people's biggest issue with it. But this song grabbed me by the nuts from day one. It just does something to me. I get that energy pulsing through me, like I do when listening to Jungle. The lyrics are great too. Actually of ANYTHING on this album, this song has followed me the most. I find myself just humming it without even realizing it. I do it with this one, more than any other song on the album. Ron's guitar work is also to die for, and for me, where he really shines on the album. It's obviously a Buckethead-written solo, but Ron still tears it up big time.
3. Better - 5/5 - I think I called Better "the dumb man's song" once upon a time, because I got so sick of hearing how it was the greatest track on the album, and frankly I still get tired of hearing it... but it's a fantastic tune, and easily the most 'classic' in terms of anything to come out of the new era. Everything from top to bottom is memorable, and it is prime radio material. This song would've been a MUCH bigger hit with some promo, and a video. I think it's also a song, that everyone can relate to the lyrics, which are a step above your normal melodic rock song on the radio. Thank Axl for that.
4. Street of Dreams - 4/5 - it's amazing that even CD's B-sides are still pretty amazing tunes in their own respect. I think what drags Street of Dreams down, is being held up against so many of the other grandiose ballads on the album. The song has a real old Guns feel, and a timeless quality, without becoming too old. I think over-tweaking over the years dragged this song down. I still prefer the more guitar-heavy version from the 2002 live shows over this, but the studio version is nothing to shake your fist at. The outro is a little bleh, because it's obviously doing tricks in order to avoid the now 'dated' fade out, which this song needed.
5. If The World - 4.5/5 - one of the biggest departures for GN'R on the album, still has me wavering between 4-5 on a rating, any day of the week. Some days I think it's "okay", other days I think it's "epic". The acoustic guitar work by Bucket is terrific, and the song is certaintly something to chew on for fans, with an almost avant-garde flair. I'm not suprised it was used in a Ridley Scott film.
6. There Was A Time - 5/5 - THE track on the album. I piss people off with this statement - "Estranged's little brother". Really holds alot of similarities to that song, while holding it's own originality. The song has a deep start, which turns off alot of people, but when it gets going, it's as good as anything Guns has every done. Bucket's solo in the song is absolutely amazing, and just might be some of his best work in his career. and I personally would take and hold up to ANYTHING from Slash's heyday with the band. The Beltrami/Buckmaster added orchestral depth for the final version gives it such a richness. A masterpiece.
7. Catcher In The Rye - 4.5/5 - could've been another masterpiece on the album, and frankly I wish I had never heard the '99 demo at this point, because you just can't beat Brian May. May's guitar work on that one, gives it a timeless Queen-quality that only he can bring, and Ron's work on the final cut is very good, but just not up there with May's. A final studio version with May's guitar would've possibly put it on competing with There Was A Time. Still a fantastic song, that grows on me a little more with each listen. Just like fine wine. I always liked it, and like it more the more I listen, unlike some songs that lose their potency over time.
8. Scraped - 2/5 - the piss take on the album. The throwaway song. Get In The Ring for Chinese Democracy. Instrumentally good, but vocals are laughable and cliched. Sounds like something an 80's power rock band would do, if it wasn't for the industrial-tinged guitars. Oh My God is better than this. "Okay"
9. Riad N' The Bedouins - 2.5/5 - Instrumentally the song is ace, but is dragged down by the hokey vocals. Just have never gotten into this song since 2001. Could've been an instrumental, and I would've liked it more. Axl's the weak link. I do like the added intro however. CD's Shotgun Blues. Silkworms is better. "Okay"
10. Sorry - 4.5/5 - I know everyone focuses on Axl with this song, but I think it's Bucket's soulful solo that elevates it to being a solid effort. Axl's lyrics are pretty much what everyone wanted to know if they listen closely, with a memorable chorus that can be an anthem for anyone. Not quite the masterpiece I originally thought, but still an extremely good song.
11. I.R.S. - 3.5/5 - like with Street of Dreams, I.R.S. is the B-side rocker on the album for me. Illusion I fans will appreciate it, as it sounds like something that could be on there. A song that has greatly depreciated since I heard the original leaks in 2005/06 (can't remember). At the time I thought it could be one of their best, based on the great guitar work, but once again the vocals kind of are just 'meh'. There's better songs on the album, and that will happen. A good song, not a great song.
12. Madagascar - 5/5 - a song that has been the reverse for me in compairson to everyone else. Back in 2002, everyone LOVED this song almost, and I thought it was okay. I loved Street of Dreams. Now, in 2009, I think Street of Dreams is okay, and Madagascar is one of my favorites on the album. The song ended up being a soundtrack to my own life, and for that, it'll always hold a very special place in my heart. I think alot of ways, the song's overexposure since 2001 (has been a band staple in setlists), combined with so many other ballads on the album, as with as placing '12th' in the tracklisting, makes it a forgotton cut on the album. I also enjoy Axl's blending vocals on this final version, unlike so many others. I also enjoy the sampling. There is a great Buckethead solo underneath, and the thing is, both are terrific. With the solo, with the sampling, it don't matter - it still kicks ass. One of my favorites on the album.
13. This I Love - 4.5/5 - ahhhh... what to say. A great song, that could've been a masterpiece is a good way to put it. Solution? Have Robin's solo BACK the orchestra, and turn up that beautiful, stunning orchestra, would've made it one of GNR's top efforts. Close to November Rain in attitude, this is Axl being Axl at his truest. The vocals are stunning and heartful, to almost a haunting feel, beautifully captured by Axl as well as his piano. This could've just been him and a piano and would've been a piece of art. I'm Monday morning QB'ing the whole thing, but the song as it stands is extremely good.
14. Prostitute - 4.5/5 - maybe not the masterpiece I once thought, but one of the top-tier efforts on the album, if not sitting under There Was A Time for best. The opening vocals are unneccessary, but the piano is beautiful. The more rocker-like midsection of the song give it a different approach from the rest of the songs on the album, making it a bit more unique. But that I can't get past is that stunning, heavenly outro. The most appropriate closer in the history of GN'R (okay, Coma was a good one too), but the outro is the best piece of music recorded on the album imo. Better than Bucket's There Was A Time solo, yes.
GN'R rank:
AFD
CD
UYI I & II (tie)
GN'R Lies EP
TSI
Re: The Positive CD Thread
I've gotta stand up for "Scraped". I love that tune. One of the few songs on the album I liked right away. In fact I liked the intro of the song on the Best Buy ad, and the complete song didn't let me down at all. Love the message it sends. This has been said before, but I could see that being played at stadiums during sporting events like WTTJ, and Paradise City. Before anyone gets carried away, I'm not saying it's as good as those songs, but the theme of the song goes well with sports. "Don't you try to stop us now!" You feel me?
Re: The Positive CD Thread
I really can't stand the song, but for as much as you love it, I respect that.
"Don't you try to stop us now" gets you going
"I've got an itchy finger, and they'll be hell to pay" gets me fuckin' pumped
I think that's the general reaction to Scraped and Shackler's. Some are like WTF is this, and others are like "I love this."
Personally I think both are good songs even though the Shackler's solo is a bit wild.
But Scraped is amazing. some of the best vocals on the album. The intro really gives Axl a way to show off.
