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- monkeychow
- Rep: 661
Re: Alice's take on Axl
I don't see Axl as lazy or procrastinating....I think it's just a tough thing to do...like to write songs as good as the ones he writes....it's a gift...but not necessarily something he can do on command or on timeframes that suit the normal album cycle etc.
Re: Alice's take on Axl
I don't see Axl as lazy or procrastinating....I think it's just a tough thing to do...like to write songs as good as the ones he writes....it's a gift...but not necessarily something he can do on command or on timeframes that suit the normal album cycle etc.
He can't do it because he doesn't have the same formula he needs to be really successful. I'm not saying the new guys are bad musicians, but not one of them is well known for their writing - or really anything for that matter. They may be good to very good musicians, but none of them bring anything special to the table. People on the street couldn't name a single person in GnR currently - not even Tommy. They can play the great music that's already there, but just don't have the creative talent to help Axl make new great music...and contrary to some people's opinion, Axl didn't make any of the original band's songs what they were by himself.
Guns n Roses was great because Axl wrote (for the most part) good/great lyrics with and song structures. Izzy took that and wrote riffs that were straight up rock n roll and fit the song structure perfectly, Slash wrote amazing solos and played rhythm parts that complimented what Izzy was doing perfectly, and Duff added melodic bass lines that really complimented the music. They all complimented the music. That is the biggest thing that I think is missing from the new band. I'm not blaming anybody for it, but the fit just isn't there for whatever reason. I can't think of any song not named My World that didn't fit together musically. Even TSI was a good album musically because they made the songs their own and made them fit the GnR sound.
The ONLY song from the new band that came close to fitting together was TWAT. Even Robin's crappy playing over the verses fits the song, and BHs solo is amazing - not just because it is fast playing, but it really fits the song musically and in feel. The rest of the album just seems forced to me - trying to fit the round peg into the square hole. That doesn't mean people can't like it, but it just isn't special like GnR used to be.
This is just my opinion. Axl can't do it all himself and nobody inspires him. Axl used to admire Slash (and maybe still does in some ways). Slash inspired him to greatness (and Axl inspired Slash to greatness).
Re: Alice's take on Axl
Good post buzz. I see where you're coming from, and respect that. But I love CD as a whole as much, if not more, than any other GNR release. So obviously it works for me on a different level. All in all, it was worth the wait.
There are many people who hated CD before they even heard one note, and for obvious reasons. There are others who gave it a fair shot and it just didn't work for them. Then there are some who were going to love it no matter what. Pretty much the same for any album, though this one was much more publicized and scrutinized. Any future releases will be received in pretty much the same manner, which might be a reason that there's absolutely no rush to get any new music out there.
Re: Alice's take on Axl
I don't agree with the people in that video in terms of the music. I don't think their music is up to par with the old shit, but it's still amazing and Chinese Democracy certainly fared better than later albums from many of their peers.
The late starts, I don't care what his excuse is, there is no excuse. All he has to do is come out at the time printed on the ticket. Open your doors at 10:00 instead of 8:00, simple. No defender of Axl is right on this shit. If 10 000 people pay to see you do your shit, how many of those people came from out of town? Hired babysitters? Took the day off from work? Spent lots of money on a cab to the venue? Paid for a hotel? Blew gas money to the town? Blew money on road food? I mean, when I saw Gunners in January, thank God it went off without a hitch, but I'd have been out $300+ if Axl would have pissed the crowd off and they started throwing shit. It's not just about the ticket refund. Most people get this, but Axl doesn't. And Bumblefoot's tweet of "everyone has a story for being at the show" is even better.
I don't mind retarded primadonna tantrums, throwing spaghetti at walls and getting plastered because rock n' roll is rock n' roll, but just be on time when 10 000 people's dollars are riding on you because that's common respect and the difference between being a rebel able to get away with badass shit from your stature and being a complete douchebag. Everyone likes a badass, few like a douchebag.
I don't know who is right and wrong in this particular instance, but that's my general stance for when Axl is late. If the promoter was required to get additional permits, then it's their fault.
Re: Alice's take on Axl
monkeychow wrote:I don't see Axl as lazy or procrastinating....I think it's just a tough thing to do...like to write songs as good as the ones he writes....it's a gift...but not necessarily something he can do on command or on timeframes that suit the normal album cycle etc.
He can't do it because he doesn't have the same formula he needs to be really successful. I'm not saying the new guys are bad musicians, but not one of them is well known for their writing - or really anything for that matter. They may be good to very good musicians, but none of them bring anything special to the table. People on the street couldn't name a single person in GnR currently - not even Tommy. They can play the great music that's already there, but just don't have the creative talent to help Axl make new great music...and contrary to some people's opinion, Axl didn't make any of the original band's songs what they were by himself.
Guns n Roses was great because Axl wrote (for the most part) good/great lyrics with and song structures. Izzy took that and wrote riffs that were straight up rock n roll and fit the song structure perfectly, Slash wrote amazing solos and played rhythm parts that complimented what Izzy was doing perfectly, and Duff added melodic bass lines that really complimented the music. They all complimented the music. That is the biggest thing that I think is missing from the new band. I'm not blaming anybody for it, but the fit just isn't there for whatever reason. I can't think of any song not named My World that didn't fit together musically. Even TSI was a good album musically because they made the songs their own and made them fit the GnR sound.
The ONLY song from the new band that came close to fitting together was TWAT. Even Robin's crappy playing over the verses fits the song, and BHs solo is amazing - not just because it is fast playing, but it really fits the song musically and in feel. The rest of the album just seems forced to me - trying to fit the round peg into the square hole. That doesn't mean people can't like it, but it just isn't special like GnR used to be.
This is just my opinion. Axl can't do it all himself and nobody inspires him. Axl used to admire Slash (and maybe still does in some ways). Slash inspired him to greatness (and Axl inspired Slash to greatness).
Amazing post, and dead on.
I don't buy the argument that Axl's gifted and it's not something that can be forced and is really hard to write songs to the quality that he does.
Ever look at Cornell's body of work? He wrote a good portion of Soundgarden's songs, has 2 solo albums written almost entirely by him, and wrote a good portion of Audioslave music as well.
And you can see with Cornell that the musicians around a person contribute greatly to how the music turns out. Soundgarden are amazing, Cornell's first solo album was amazing, Audioslave were great.
GNR worked so well because of all the tension between them. Conflict inspires creativity. When you remove all the conflict you end up with something that is lackluster and with a hell of a lot of lost potential (as is the case with CD). Most people who listen to that album will admit that with the talent that wrote that album, it could have been way better, and should have been way better.
Axl was the one who liked the synth parts and using pianos. Izzy and Slash both liked down and dirty rock music. Duff brought a punk feel to it. Right there you have 3 different musical styles that were brought together in a way that worked amazingly.
- mickronson
- Rep: 118
Re: Alice's take on Axl
You you two got it right the friction and tension in the group is gone, its like a sexless marriage
and the other guys are suffering battered wife syndrome
Re: Alice's take on Axl
Which is why I've been talking a lot about Buckethead n Axl. It had the potential to be all of that in a new form.
However, don't think DJ Ashba can't write songs. I'd take him and his song writing any day over current day Slash which simply bores me to death. At least Axl got the right man in the band for some song writing now, he's been lacking one ever since Buckethead left. Ashba ain't Bucket, but he's hungry and passionate (when he's not selling toilet seats). I'd rather have that than Slash which last song I liked was a whooping six years ago.
I loved Sixx AM and Saints of Los Angeles, Ashba's stamp is all over it. Some don't like that stuff at all, but I dug it all and never even bothered with Slash, Duff or Izzy's stuff. Ashbas' the man.
Re: Alice's take on Axl
Which is why I've been talking a lot about Buckethead n Axl. It had the potential to be all of that in a new form.
However, don't think DJ Ashba can't write songs. I'd take him and his song writing any day over current day Slash which simply bores me to death. At least Axl got the right man in the band for some song writing now, he's been lacking one ever since Buckethead left. Ashba ain't Bucket, but he's hungry and passionate (when he's not selling toilet seats). I'd rather have that than Slash which last song I liked was a whooping six years ago.
I loved Sixx AM and Saints of Los Angeles, Ashba's stamp is all over it. Some don't like that stuff at all, but I dug it all and never even bothered with Slash, Duff or Izzy's stuff. Ashbas' the man.
I enjoyed Sixx AM. Some good songs on that album.
Having said that though, Ashba is not what GNR needs. He's too busy sucking Axl's cock all the time. Where's the tension going to come from? He's Axl's lap dog. Whatever Axl says or does is "fucking rock and roll" to DJ. Axl could go out and kill an old lady and DJ would probably say it's rock and roll because no other singer would have the balls to do that.
It's not that I don't think DJ can write, it's that he can't provide GNR with what it needs to be a great band once again.
Re: Alice's take on Axl
I loved that sixx a.m. album, I think the girl with golden eyes is one of the best songs I have ever heard. Ashba sounded sweet on that one too very subtle performance. I love the intricate little riffs he added to the Sixx A.M stuff.
Just listened to it again. Have to share it incase some people here haven't heard it. It's a dirty little trip.
