I just listened to “Libertad” by Velvet Revolver and then put on Chinese Democracy. Not only does it confirm how good and deep CD is, it confirms how weak “Libertad”, and in whole the Velvet Revolver experiment, is. VR tried the AFD route on their first album and then were stupid enough to try it again on “Libertad”. Four good songs between the two albums. CD is solid and epic with no filler.

The album is awesome. It’s the best album to come out in 10-15 years. I can’t think of one memorable rock album better than this in the last 10 years. It’s better than Linkin Park, Staind, DMB, etc. I seriously cant think of a better rock album than this in many years. The haters are imbeciles. This is a great album.

I like Slash and Duff as much as the next guy but to me Axl is what made GnR special and this album confirms it.

I think the mix is horrible, very thin, and Axl’s voice is unbearable past the sixth song…..really, it’s not that good and I wish it was. Who decided to mix the tracks with the treble on level 74?

the China Demo may inspire the greatest wave of mash-ups since… The Grey Album?

This album may ultimately live on in a stranger form other than anything Axl or GNR could have ever delivered.

…those who wait. Whether or not it is groundbreaking or better than the old GN’R, it doesn’t matter — it is a very good album. I can understand it took 14 years or whatever to make this album, because when you put a whole new band behind the name you want it represented well enough, and have it live up to the name. Bravo Axl!

Great album , axl rocks

Where is Axl Rose? How are the total sales doing at the various shops and on I-tunes? No interview with the band anywhere to be found.
It’s a great album. Love it !! Maybe Axl and band A.K.A. Guns N Roses in 2008 will put out a statement soon. This first of 4 albums is great. Stop reliving the past and stop talking about old members. We do not know truely what happened the last years behind the scenes. All we know is what some reporting jealous morans with no skills reported. Like Axl Sings on the album:” I ‘m sorry for you, not sorry for me..”

Hope he will perform with the rest of the band soon. Thank you guns N Roses for delivering a great and fresh album, without hanging on to past albums. Thanks a million !!

P.s. “this I love” must be about miss Seymour I think. ???????

Be proud Axl.

Thank you for providing compelling music.

I appreciate the diversity of your voice, the instrumentation, and lyrics. Keep evolving!

Thanks for avoiding formulaic composition and production and not dumbing down for the general masses.

Chinese Democracy is awesome.

(and now for all the typical haters and counterpoints…see above) ;D

wow , Guns n roses new album is one of the most massively great big huge , unbelievable dissapointed that they took so long to make, fantastic album! Carnt stop listning , jeez

Dude,you should have pitched this whole project and started over with a new name.I am embarrassed for you.It is absolute rubbish.Is money really worth putting out garbage like this? i thought you had such high standards for perfection? WTF??? You pisse away your relevence a long time ago when you decided you were gnr.I think this effort pretty much capitalizes that.It is only a name now and it is severely tarnished.You’ve reduced yourself to fronting an elaborate gnr cover band.Dude..WTF?????

I had trouble with Itunes too. I pre-ordered and everyting. I ended up buying two copies of the record instead…one for the car and one for the office.

Anyone who thinks this album is either innovative OR creative must have lived in a cave since GnRs last album came out. This is garbage.

brilliant!

Is anyone else having trouble downloading on iTunes? I’ve been trying since yesterday morning.

Listen up! This album kicks ass! If the World is sex music! Most of the songs take a little getting used to for those who have loved GnR from the beginning….but most of the songs on this album are just amazing lyrically and vocally….IRS sounds wwwwwayyyyyy better on the CD and will givve me a new appreciation live. Ive been jamming this cd all day and I dont give a krap what any naysayers are spouting off about! If you’re writing things about the album then you care enough to write something which shows no matter how much you bitch and whine…you LOVE IT!!!!!!!!!

Just listened to the entire album in my car where my best speakers reside. I purposely did not read reviews prior to listening. All I had heard was the title track. The album is genuinely incredible! It’s much more melodic and musical than I expected- very creative, innovative stuff; the arrangements are interesting and complex, and Axl’s voice can still go from screaming on key to deep and soulful. Just played a few tracks for my wife at home and she had the same reaction. This is an epic album.

Excellent album. Needs a few listens to really hit home and to be appreciated both musically and lyrically. Best listened to loud. For anyone to dismiss or shoot down this album is incredibly ignorant and close-minded.

Excellent album. Needs a few listens to really hit home and to be appreciated both musically and lyrically. Best listened to loud. For anyone to dismiss or shoot down this album is incredibly ignorant and close-minded.

first of all, axl is the soul owner of the name guns ‘n roses because he threatened the original members of breaking up the band if they didn’t. Read up on his history. btw, it doesn’t take a genius 14yrs to make a cd.

I must agree with those guys that state that you cannot stick into the past… That’s ok. Every band needs to change, but I think that change must comes from true inquiring, from true motivation and not simply for “changing”, because that way you risk to ruin your career and reputation, and I think this is what Axl have done here. I feel this album as a deliverated effort to bring something new and different, and for that (maybe) it took so many years to finish it, because the focus was not on songs themselves, but in the album as a whole, but not as a concept album, but as a kind of product… which is what it is, a commercial product.
I cannot immagine the songwriting process as something personal, private, with inspiration-driven stuff, and you can clearly tell that on the album. And for that this album won’t ever make into the greatest albums, even in this decade. The best albums (regardless the genre) are the ones that can convey and transmit “that” passion, power, feeling, mastery, trascending their times and they can leave a trace in you and you can feel identified with them.
I give this album some months, and after the novelty is gone, the album will be soon discarted. Hit & miss.

I’m so thankful to have heard the album on Myspace before buying it… I would have squander my money on it.
If you really like true rock, with power, soul, passion, emotion, groove, guitars, riffs, drums, etc; don’t buy this overproduced, sampled, computerized and overdubbed crap called “Chinese Democracy”. No “real” songs here, just a bunch of hypercrafted and overarranged artificial attempts. I don’t know how this magazine gave 4 stars to the album.

go buy this cd. it is so much better than the myspace and leaked versions. never thought i would say this but slash is not missed, buckethead did a great job.

Buckethead is awesome. That is all.

Heard it today, and with the exception of a couple of tracks its a very solid, impressive and eclectic record.
Its weighed down a little by the number of ballads - I thought ‘Catcher…’ was a distinctly average second rate Ziggy Stardust-era Bowie tribute but then ‘TWAT’ and ‘This I Love’ are soaring masterpieces.
Its a shame that ‘Shacklers Revenge’ has been chosen for Rock Band 2 as its frankly a botched abortion of overlayered synths and unfocused guitar shredding which should’ve been abandoned. Its fortunate then that the likes of ‘Better’ and ‘Scraped’ manage to deliver a far more impressive return for the old school head bangers - although the latter could’ve maybe been extended another minute or two, as it disappointingly seemed to have ended just as soon as it had begun.
Definitely worth a 7/10.

GN’R “CD” is good. No bias, no bull.

Picked up my copy. This album is Sick!!! Can’t stop listening.

This album is the greatest in years, axl you are a genious, and the new band members did a great fuckinf job, thanks for the best music,,Axl is time for you to show up, do an interview or something man…peace

Bought Chinese Democracy today. I wasn’t sure how it would turn out…but wow. It is really complex and worth picking up. There is enough music here to keep me busy for a while. I still need to digest all the songs and lyrics but I won’t be listening to anything else until at least Christmas.

I am 31 and listen to GN’R since I was 13. My first GN’R albums were vinyl. I might be a fool for not having heard the album on the net yet. But I chose to honor my generation and I will save my chills for this morning, when I drive to the nearest Best Buy. This feeling of excitment is something the further generations will never understand because everything is folly available on the internet. I know Chinese Democracy and a few other, but because I was one of the thousands on that Rock In Rio show in Brazil 2001 when the new line up first played. I was actually in the front line. Now…I am a big fan of Axl. I actually sing just like him. But I am a fan of Slash and the other folks too. I stand behind them. Because, without them, GN’R would have just been one in a million bands in LA that didn’t get anywhere. The new CD is a tribute to Axl and his geniality.
The trademark Guns N’Roses is a property of Axl and its use is intimately related to its mistique. The consequence is what is happening now. Good or Bad, everybody is talking about it. If Axl hadn’t used GN’R for Chinese Democracy, he would have probably faded, like Chris Cornell, (shortly)Mick Jagger and others did in their solo careers. GN’R and C Dem put Axl exactly where he was 17 years ago. Capitalizing with the name that is his property. Again, I as a fan of Axl as of the other guys.
Axl didn’t fire the band. Despite Matt (who I think was fired) The rest chose to leave for their own reasons. I am not here to discuss whether the use of the name GN’R is fair or not…but…honestly speaking… if you were Axl, what would you have done?

No doubt he is a professional. Just can’t get past the thought of his sounding like a melodic gnat.

Great album but the point I am trying to make is
why does Axl get the flak for being the only original member? Dave Mustaine is the only original member of Megadeth, hell there are no original members left in Napalm Death. so why does Axl get so much flak for it?

Stop calling it Guns ‘N Roses!!!
If Robert Plant was calling himself Led Zeppelin what would we say?
If Paul McCartney was calling himself The Beatles what would we say?

Ok, honestly at least give this album a chance. People just love to hate Axl. But honestly he’s a genius. This isn’t as good as Appetite, but this is brilliant, better than ANYTHING in a very long time. I mean if you’re satisfied to just listening to the Killers and Nickleback then go ahead and listen to generic, uninspiring, boring music or you can listen to the same themed rap song over and over again. Honestly it’s just popular, and easy, to bash Axl. Yes it took a long time, there’s no Slash, blah, blah, blah. Axl is like an athlete with a big mouth and amazing talent, you can bash him all you want, but he’s still an amazing talent. Just because critics of this album have had to deal with horrible rock music for a LONG time, doesn’t mean this is bad. It’s different, inspiring, heartfelt, meaningful, and refreshing. There haven’t been many great artists in a long time, and that goes for rap and rock. But everyone should be celebrating Axl’s return, not taking cheap shots at him.

It’s a really good record. It’s very different from what the original Guns N’ Roses sounded like, but it’s a great statement by Axl. Now you understand where he was heading all this time. It’s a record that the original Guns N’ Roses could never possibly make. And at the same time it just shows you how brilliant Axl is.

I have taken the time to listen to the album in whole. I figured maybe the songs would grab me the second time around but they did not. While I do understand that a bands sound evolves and changes overtime to change this dramtically and retain the GNR name is beyond me. The album is not epic and its not bad to me it is average. I expected more from a talented and brilliant man such as Axl Rose. The only point that I was trying to make was to release an album with the Guns N’ Roses name without the orignal members and a dramatically different sound is never going to get the recognition it deserves. I am sure that there are people like myself who thought is was going to be a epic and great album but ends up leaving you discontent and unsatisfied and not craving more.

poster below said they skipped thru tracks , then said they like to listen to a an entire album - maybe u should listen to it straight thru without skipping before u judge…

ct0416864, what you have to realize that it ISNT Guns n roses. its different members, different songwriters, its two decades later, you cant expect it to sound much like the old gnr.

if you judge this album while not comparing it to the old gnr, i think most people would be pleased.

I was very skeptical about listening to this album. I didn’t want the Guns N’ Roses name to be ruined for me but, regardless I listened to the record and true to what I thought I was disapointed. I expected an epic record after 10+ years, millions of dollars, and numerous musicians. I found the record to be dull and monotonous. There was not one song that stuck out in the whole bunch. I found myself skipping through songs which is not something that I do. I love music I love getting a new album and listening to it in its entirity absorb every sound. For this album to be released under the Guns N’ Roses name is a disgrace. True fans will certainly be floored by the fact that there is nothing Guns N’ Roses about it except for Axl retaining the whiney voice that is legandary but has become less then impressive over the years. There is no collective sound on this album and that is the true let down.Guns had a sound that was specific and allegorical almost historical and that sound is nowhere to be found of the album. I am not saying this album is a bad record by any means I am just saying that it is a disgrace to be released under the Guns N’ Roses name

i heard some of this c.d on my space. its allright

To me, Appetite For Destructindon is quite possibly the best album front to back I have ever heard. Any genre. I have to respect Axl for knowing that the original lineup could never do better. If they stayed together they would have become the next AC/DC. Release a new album every few years with 8 to 14 songs that sound only slightly different from everything on Appetite. Sure it would sound good, but really, how many of you actually listen to Flick of The Switch or Fly On The Wall regularly anymore. But I guarantee Back In Black is always in your rotation. Just like Black Ice will only hit your speakers if you hit shuffle on your Ipod 2 years from now. Axl realized this and decided he didn’t want this for Guns ‘n Roses. He knew the limitations of the musical style that the band fit in, and knew the shelf life would be limited. They were never a band like Rush or Genesis that have so much going on musically that they can release record after record that sounds fresh. Honestly, if the original GNR recorded today, it would be another Psycho Circus and that would be it except for the nostalgia tours.

Where does Axl fit in this world? I’ll put him in the same category as Prince and Neil Young. Here’s two guys that realized that to stay current you have to change it up. Both of these guys have had careers that have spanned four and five decades and have sounded completely different each time. They know that their fans won’t dig everything, but most of their output has been great for what it was. Axl has decided he wants to play ball on their court, and with Chinese Democracy, he didn’t make a backboard shattering dunk, but rained a 3 from the corner. Understand the difference?

What do I think of Chinese Democracy? I love it. is record that I will happily play in my den, sitting at my bar, while I enjoy a glass of Bushmills on the rocks and the enjoy the company of my wife. Appetite is couple shots of Jack and a few beers with my buddies in the back yard or tailgating before a concert, a football game or a race. It is the music of my high school and college years. I never expected Chinese Democracy to be that record. From the second I heard the album title for the first time. I expected it to be this type of record, and for this type of record it is fucking phenomenal. Will it replace Appetite in the playlist? Hell no, but none of us rieally expected it to. At the end of the day Guns n Roses will always be remembered for Appetite. But isn’t every artist truly remembered for one record?

It’s ok, but not great. I would rather listen to Chinese Democracy than any of the new gay shit the radio plays.

Velvet Revolver, take note.

Yeah, the Fireman is O.K, but it’s not the White Album. And don’t try and call this the Beatles, Paul!! You are nothing without John, George, and Ringo!!

(tongue planted firmly in cheek)

sorry, bur i don’t like the album. i know that it should be different from the old GN’R but some of the sons are really bad, some are very cool, but the bad songs destroy the image of GN’R, one of the worlds best hardrock bands from the 90s
what a pity

WELCOME BACK AXL THIS ROCK…THANKS

WELCOME BACK AXL THIS ROCK…THANKS

RS,u`ve got to put Axl on the cover!(And if u convinve him to give an interview,the magazine will hit record sales,guarantee)Good or bad,Chi Demo IS one of the most anticipated albums in rock history.

MySpace didn’t confirm figures?? Why not just go to the page and look beside each track title? Lol. Lazy journalism ;P Over 1.1 million listens for the title tack now!

For those of you saying that Axl shouldn’t have used the name GN’R and gone solo….GET OVER IT!!! So do you not like the songs because of this reason? Bands move on all the time, it’s not like GN’R is the first band to lose members and keep the same name. You should like it or dislike it for the music, not because the name, or Axl, or Slash bla, bla, bla. And since Axl and Izzy started GN’R with Traci Guns before Slash and Duff were even in the band, I personally think he has the right to do so.

Guns n roses is back on top!! there should be a big article on the BAND and not just axl in the next mag. axl is a genious, but bummblefoot and the guys helped him out! this album is amazing! 5 fucking stars!

incredible album. cant stop listening to it!…love love LOVE it. ROLLING STONE!!!! you NEED to give AXL a cover…it has to be done… this is easily the best album of the year

Hands down the best rock n roll record of the new millenium.

To: David Fricke,

Good review of Chinese Democracy but I must object to your overall rating. Four out five stars doesn’t do this album justice. This is easily 4.5 stars but probably a 5 star album. The songs There Was A Time, Sorry, This I Love, Prostitue, Catcher In The Rye, Madagascar and Street of Dreams are bonafide MASTERPIECES! Half this album is made up of absolute masterpieces.

Rolling Stone, correct this injustice with a GN’R cover and a minimum of a ten page spread on the BAND, not just Axl.

I LOVVVE it! Consider me a new G N’ R fan

EXCELLENT album! I didn’t want to listen to a G N’ R album without Slash and Duff but this is top notch work. I do not believe the band could have made a better album. Best Buy. Sunday. 9am. I’m there!

17 years!! 17 years!!!Can’t say it was worth the wait…with the exception of a few great songs….If the world…is totally stuck in my head..axl’s voice in that song is awesome! Also like most of the other songs IRS…not crazy about the last half of the album…but from what I hear…there was plenty more material so hopefully when the next album comes out it will be a rocker! I totally agree that it shouldn’t be GnR…Axl should have done a solo thing to see what the value really was for his material.
Overall…I like it…but don’t love it. Guess we will only be friends.

Whereas Axl Rose can take 16 years to make a record, still keep his record label, after 16 years of having various studios on hold around the clock, and make it work. He’s finally put the record out and already broke a record. Who else could do that? Nobody.”

Chinese Democracy is a GREAT album. TRUST ME. We should be thankful that a true genius like Axl is releasing such an epic album. All of the insulting detractors are fucking insecure people that will never themselves ever know the thrill of either victory or defeat.

from ramania y love you axl

Cant wait to hear it!

I gave it a chance. I listened to each of the songs a couple of times.

It’s clear that Rolling Stone is working hard to put hard rock back in its rightful place, but this new GNR is pretty bad. The new AC/DC is OK, but all the songs are mid-tempo rockers, and the riffs sound trite. Not a single killer hook to be found.

And don’t get me started on Kings of Leon. Their last two albums have been crap.

About the only thing they got right was the new Metallica, which kicks ass.

Sorry, Axl, but Chinese Democracy is every bit as bad as I expected it to be.

that you listen to GNR and comment on RS’s page

Well no worries about Axl not releasing het album. I’ve got a copy right here. In the Netherlands it’s released today, november 21. Today alone over here it sold over 30.000 copies. So if Axl decides to pull back, it’s too late.

Ok, so I get that the music biz (like everything else) is hurting, and they are counting on this stiff to bring in big holiday money, I get that Axl’s people are using his name recognition in hopes of a hit, but please. I have always been a fan of the band, but this is an abortion dressed up as GnR. The vocals used to be verille, now they just sound like a Muppet doing an impersonation of an opera singer. The band WAS a Rock and Roll band, now it’s just like wallpaper, it’s there, but you prefer not to notice it.
I really hope that this forces Axl into another 15 year hibernation, because the dude just isn’t any good without the old band. Axl, didn’t you learn anything from Mick Jagger?

The rest of the guys from GNR must be laughing their asses off.

In my opinion this crap put out for public consumption and rolling stone removing my comment about them prove that both axl/gnr and rolling stone are both way over rated and nearly irrelevent to music in this day and age.Axl lost his mojo and rolling stone well…irrelevent

Think about this: This is the first Guns N’ Roses album with original material that has been released since Nirvana released Nevermind.

The first song I heard of Chinese Demo was prostitue and I don’t know If it was just me but the vocals sound exactly like Chris Cornell except for the occasuinal howlin from axl. I definiteley was into the guitar solo though. I think the rest of the album will be great considering some of the other records that have geen coming out lately.

polar opposite reviews. Axl is the Howard Stern of Rock and roll. Whether you like him or hate him, you’re gonna listen and you’re gonna buy. There is probably no point in following rock music this coming year unless you get this record. I give it a solid 8 out of 10. “Scraped” is a little out there, and “Riad n the Bedouins” is a snapping little rock number that seems a little out of place in the overall scheme of the record, but every other song on this record is a majestic departure point from what came before in the GNR pantheon, while still retaining the epic flavor of “November Rain” “Estranged” and “Coma”. There definitely is no denying that Axl’s musical tastes and ear for multi-layered arrangements outgrew the AFD GNR. To anyone stuck in the past and burying your head in the sand, you are missing out on a great record.

OK I went to the site and gave it a chance. honestly this time.

glad to know the ei eieieieieieie master is still at it…

Street of Dreams ranks up there as almost more annoying

could this be any more overblown? or over produced.

and the count down thing…typical of his self importance or maybe it’s just best buy…spare me

I’m an original GNR gangster. I love A F D, Lies, U Y I, since that tine the band has been dead to me. So i give the new album a listen and something crazy happens, I here Guns N Roses… Are my ears playing tricks on me, or did daddy Axl really find a way to bring back what i once so loved?

I simply could not bear to listen to anymore than the 1st 25-30 seconds of any of these songs.I wanted to be wrong because i like music and i would love for something new and fresh to come out so i may have some hope for the music scene today.Each song was just horrible.The vocals are so buried in the mix and triple tracked to form the illusion that the guy can still sing.I find it very sad indeed that this is the best he could come up with but not surprised.No wonder this crap hadn’t been released.It is a sonic pastiche in which the elements don’t match.The attempts at incorporating modern influences are just pathetic.The dude should be embarrassed as hell.

There are a ton of people who were never going to give the album a chance in the first place, no matter what. It could been Dark Side Of The Moon and they would call it garbage. So yeah, that is an agenda. Most of the posts criticizing it are infantile and just use vague, predictable blanket criticisms that don’t even qualify as a real opinion. “Axl sucks blah blah it’s not GNR blah blah Slash.” It’s so transparent and obvious that these people were never going to give the album a chance and a lot of them probably didn’t even listen to it before slamming it.

Maybe it’s just me but I don’t waste my time listening to, discussing, or whining about music that I know I won’t like. I’d rather seek out stuff that I think I’ll enjoy. But it’s obvious that a lot of people will go out of their way to listen to music that the WANT to hate. It’s incomprehensible

I have enjoyed what I’ve heard so far. Go Axl!

Not going to be part of the “Axl is the messiah,” “Axl’s the devil” talk, but the outro of “Catcher…” may be the greatest thing I’ve heard from rock this decade…

I just got so emotional from reading all these positives reviews and listening the album at the same time, that I start crying. It’s amazing!

Since when is it a crime NOT to like a piece of music simply because you don’t? It’s amazing to come back to this article the next day and see people trying to make sense of why some people have heard it and simply don’t like it. And why the fuck do you automatically have to listen to Nickelback if you don’t like this? Does that make some people more secure in their choices of music to put some kind of bullshit measuring stick against other people’s taste?
If you like, love it, rub one out to it or hate it, make it for your own reasons and respect the fact that others aren’t gonna hear it the same way.
I have zero agenda in saying I think the album sucks other than wasting a few minutes of a boring work day.

I can’t believe I’ve turned into a message posting loser but…oh well. After reading comments here I searched out other reviews including Spin, the LA Times and a few others. Rolling Stone isn’t alone in giving a positive review. In fact, the review here is not as flattering as others. These are people who do this for a living and don’t say, “I hate Axl Rose so this sucks.” These songs are intricate and vastly different than most other things out there. I had to listen to “Sorry” three times to really get a feel for it. I hope this record does really, really well. It should.

Axl delivers a great album yet some people who made up their mind they’d hate it before hearing the first note are the first to criticize. The agendas of these people are really transparent

I just think it’s sad that in an era of generic garbage like Nickelback and Hinder are ruling the airwaves people are actually complaining about a great rock album coming out because they have their own little agendas and refuse to admit they were wrong.

Just listen and stop your fuckin dick!

Is it just me, or does this sound like nu metal? Wasn’t most of it recorded when Limp Biscuit was all that?

Terrible record.
Some people call it Art, but this is so far from art as their fart.
Yes there’s nothing atristicall on Chinese Democracy, but a lot of it is fartistical.
The record is gigantic, smelly fart.
Can’t believe some people call it Art.
Do you have ears?
The commercial type of song like If the World, Prostitute can only be compared with Michael Jackson or Michael Bolton.
As there is no art, also there is no rock and roll on record.
A collection of over produced, sugar pop songs.
Waste of time to listen it, waste of years to record it.

Hey, Axl, I hear Velvet Revolver needs a singer. But after hearing your burned-out whining and mewing on this disc, they probably wouldn’t give you an audition.

I have to say is a very good album, and the wait worth it, how many people all ready say it so. for me is not like “oh when will be the new album of guns of roses”, its just another album more in the mainstream so… whats the problem bitch if u dont like it dont buy it.

who cares about frickin axel.

Go out and buy The Fireman.

Great stuff Paul, keep it up!!!

Rolling Stone-please put Axl on the cover! he deserves it more than any person out there right now.
album of year, song of year, artist of year….CD is truly an epic masterpiece.

If Axl had any guts, he’d have used his own name on this CD and officially made it a solo disc, which in essence it is. Does anyone remember the OTHER Clash that put out “Cut the Crap”? Thought you didn’t. This thing will tank hard. Sounds like a bad Queensryche album.

Let’s face it: The time, the money and Axl’s sometimes deserved reputation will cause people to say that hate the record no matter what. I strongly suspect some of the haters will really be buying it. I heard the whole thing last night and loved it. It’s different and there’s some experiments on there. Axl can’t make “Welcome To The Jungle” over and over. I loved after two listens. Great songs, great production and almost worth the long wait.

I bought Chinese Democracy today,and have been listening to the album all day long!Love it!Axl has matured so much, and I am even glad he no longer sings only about sex/drugs etc.I think this record is one of the best in the last decade, I just wish people would give up bitching about all the circumstances around it!!!Just enjoy this brilliant music,it`s fantastic!!!
PS.And come on guys,MOVE ON!Every one of the original band has moved on,so why don`t u give up bitching about the past,and move on too?

While I could probably find some good tracks on this album, the over-production of it makes it almost unlistenable. What is wrong with the sound of rock albums these days? Very sad.

I have listened to the album all the way through two times now and can say without a doubt that this is a MASTERPIECE and is definitley the best album of the decade!! The songs ‘Chinese Democracy’ and ‘Better’ sound extremely more rocking and crisp on the CD version. This piece of art will require time to fully comprehend, both lyrically and musically. Wow, is all i can say. WOW.

‘Sorry’ & ‘This I Love’ are masterpieces and enough for me to buy the whole album.

This is my first blog ever, and will be my last ever…GNR is in my opinion one of the top 3 bands ever-next to Zepplin and Sabbath. Chinese Democracy is not GNR, but i now understand why Axl couldn’t make this record with the old GNR we’ve grown to love over the last 20 years. Is it the best record ever or worth the 15 years, NO, but it is one hell of record. There are 5 or 6 amazing songs, 4 or 5 really good songs, and only a few that have yet to grow on me, but with each listen they grow more and more. If you look at this record with an open mind as the “AXL ROSE PROJECT” which it really is and not GNR you will see that this is a beautiful album. The lyrics are amazing, both bleeding heart and an FU to his haters. Its a complete ALBUM not 1 or 2 singles like most albums put out today by shitty bands like fall out boy, nickelback, theory of a deadman, hinder. These bands are crap, and have contributed nothing to rock music except making it a cess pool of wanna be rock stars. Axl shows at 46 he can blow away any of these bands!…PS this blows away either VR album, and i enjoy those albums, which are good rock records. Welcome back AXL!

I was scared to listen o this as a lifelong GnR fan. I wasn’t sure if Axl was completely crazy or what. I mean this album was supposed to come out when I was in high school 10 years ago, but its good. I’m glad his story and music has progressed. And as always when Axl’s back in the public eye, it always makes things a little more interesting. Welcome to jungle people.

Loving this so far. Can’t wait for Sunday.

Will you forget about the old Gn’r already! This is something so much better. This is not a bunch of troubled drunks trying to rebel against the whole world anymore. This is Axl: his pain,dreams,hopes,visions,ambi tions!

I’ve never liked Guns N Roses. I always thought they were a band who released five great songs and a bunch of sucky ones. In my mind they were one of the most overrated bands of all time. So–then–what the hell am I doing listening to Chinese Democracy? Hype I guess. The 14 year wait. Whatever the reasons–I’m glad I checked it out. Don’t be deceived by the 1997 rock radio singles, this CD is a journey. An uneven one, yes, but listen to “Street of Dreams,” and tell me you’re not at least interested. It’s a by-the-numbers classic ballad but when he can do it this good why shouldn’t he? The CD is all over the place and better for it. Axl has put a LOT of work into this thing and it has payed off.

Wow.. I had low expactations to this, but WOW! I will definitively buy this album, seems very very good to me. Sorry, Better, This I love, Irs, Scraped, If the World, Prostitue and mind-blowing There Was A Time are my favs. Not to forget Catcher in the RYE.

Thank you Axl!

I love it!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!!! !!

Like the part in the wizard of oz when everything goes from black and white to colour.

I love it!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!

Like the part in the wizard of oz when everything goes from black and white to colour.

I love it!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Like the part in the wizard of oz when everything goes from black and white to colour.

I love it!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Like the part in the wizard of oz when everything goes from black and white to colour.

This album is awsome!! the lyrics in these songs are awsome! screw the haters thats ever doughted guns n roses!!!

This crap isn’t GnR.

I know what you mean Max, a lot of great influences can be heard in this masterpiece…EMF, Jesus Jones, Yngwie Malmsteen and a little album from 1978 called “Gene Simmons.”

This is one AWESOME RECORD!!! I hope its true that axl already has 3 other albums watiing to come out!!!!

What happened to Axl’s voice?” It sounds ok on some songs; “Chinese Democracy”, “Shackler’s Revenge”, “Better”, and “Prostitute”. However, most of the other songs sound kind of bizarre. Specifically, “If the World” contains a high pitch voice that sounds weird at first, but overall the song is good. Also, it’s a crime for Axl Rose to call this band Guns N’ Roses which clearly isn’t. In fact, this is an Axl Rose side project because 6 different guitar players contributed to this album. Overall, the whole album is all over place and lacks consistency. In addition, many hardcore fans will definitely tell the absence of Slash and Duff who made their presence felt on every Guns N’ Roses song they threw down. In the end, not everyone is going to like this. Some people that aren’t too familiar with Guns N’ Roses may take a listen and like it. On the other hand, hardcore fans may listen and say “WTF?” Although is sounds like I’m trashing the album, I’m not. I think different but it’s good. But hey, we should be grateful because this could be the last material we ever get from Axl Rose unless he and former band mates put their differences aside. I’m not a ratings kind of guy, I either think it’s good or bad. So with that in mind, I’d give it a 7.5 out of 10.

Just a side note, I’ve only listened to the album one time so I may like other songs more than others after multiple listens.

you probably dont because your ego is soooo far into outer space now…..but he used to be your drummer….and he is in a pretty bad way right now….

but you dont care about anyone but yourself….which is very evident with this piece of shit new record…..

i bet all the other original members of GNR are laughing at you right now…..loser

you are a piece of shit axl…..you used to have friends….and bandmates….now you have rejects from other bands revolving in and out of the band….

Steven Addler could use the gig….but your ego is so far gone you probably dont even remember him do you?????

or how about slash…not that he would have anything to do with your dumb ass anymore….

youa re a joke….this record is a joke….i hope you choke on it!

I love this album! It sounds like a lot of cool things…Rob Zombie, Joe Satriani, 80’s Genesis…

all you haters are gonna buy the album cuz you are curious
this shit is gonna sell like crazy
it is an epic album and it would not have worked if slash and co. were still in the band

We should applaud the efforts of an artist whose primary goal is clearly the art he creates. This guy puts nothing ahead of his music. In this day and age that is extremely rare. He gives a fuck about nothing but his art!!

This is a brilliant album plain and simple. Anyone who denies that wasn’t going to like the album regardless of how it sounded and that’s a fact. Anyone who can not see the brilliance in the music and lyrics to songs like Sorry, This I Love, Prostitute, Catcher In The Rye and There Was A Time has no business commenting on quality art. This is a great fucking album! This album was worth a 15 year wait! This album blows away anything that has come out in the last 10 years easy!! Maybe 15 years. This album is filled with passion, depth, conviction and truth. Axl’s ability to express himself and get to the core and truth (even if it’s only HIS truth) of the emotion is unparalleled by modern day artists. this album touches on emotions, insecurities, rage, defiance like no other in recent memory. Enjoy this piece of work for what it is and it’s one artist’s 15 year battle to communicate and emote.

Great–a solo album by Axl. That’s basically it. AFD came out in 1988 and cannot be compared to!

how much did AXL pay you guys at RS to give this shit a good review????

ive taken shits that sound better

This album is mind blowing.
Phenomenal effort, worth the 15 year wait.

Axl has a masterpiece on his hands. The haters which are just a few must be nickelback fans who just can’t grasp what is an epic music album. This album has it all! Slash is a great guitar player but he doesn’t have the imagination nor the creativity that Axl posesses. Axl, I thank you and the world thanks you!

After the first two songs, I thought this would be complete garbage. But the record gets better as it goes on. I wish it wasn’t so overproduced, but oh well. I’ll buy some of the songs on iTunes and ignore the ones I’m not fond of.

Chinese Democracy is an extremely good album. Stunningly good in places. I have to admit I’m surprised, and I’m big enough to say when I’m wrong.

One line from this album says it all. “I’m sorry for you, but I’m not sorry for me.”

Great album, Axl!

I love all the haters who only look to the past and compare compare compare. Look at this record for what it is today… It is such a breath of fresh air that will ultimately thrive. Unlike a ton of music snobs who think they know all… I listen to everything from Timberland to Prince to RHCP to Goo Goo Dolls to Radio Head to Ac\Dc to 2Pac… Ect. Appreciate it for what it is and if you don’t fig it cool. But quit with the whole “Comparisons” already. This is going to win Record of the Year… you heard it hear first!!!

…has made three versions of the same song on 3 different albums. GNR cant do that. And they shouldnt. AFD will never be reproduced. Boston tried to reproduce their first album several times and could not. CD is almost the complete opposite of AFD, the other end of the spectrum after the lights are out and the hangover sets in and you wonder now that we have conquered the world, loved and lost, where do we go from here? Axl has captured that so well on CD.

I tried, I just can’t like it. No way this can even be compared to AFD. You couldn’t pay me to listen to it again. What a disappointment.

You people criticizing Axl and this new album are clearly not listening with an open mind. You already have the preconceived notion thats its gonna suck based on the fact that the original lineup is not involved. News flash…Velvet Revolver sucked ass. The lesson learned her is Axl doesnt need slash and the rest of the crew. They need him. Unbiased i can say this is the best rock n roll album in years.

Well well well, it is finally here……

The only song I scratch my head on is “Scraped” and that’s because of the vocal effect. No one writes epic rock songs like Axl Rose, regardless of what musicians play on the album. “Better” “Street of Dreams” and “There Was a Time” are all well worth the wait. But the absolute masterpieces of the album are “Sorry” and “Madagascar”. Axl Rose has taken a genre that he redefined in the 90’s and turned it on its ear with these gems. Look, everyone is used to Axl’s voice on albums like AFD and UYI I and II. AFD caught lightning in a bottle, a snapshot portrait of the last gang in town, a band determined to lay waste to an entire scene with a collection of feverish, paranoid, epic, hard rocking, whiskey and cocaine fuelled songs. UYI double album extended that mission with more instrumentation and production and vision, a somehwat jaded retrospective on where the blurry-fast rise to fame that AFD brought them. And now, CD continues that mission, telling the world where he is now, and where he wants to be. Axl is the master of the “fuck you”, he realizes on this album that he doesn’t have to scream it. This is Axl’s rock and roll. If you want something groundbreaking, challenging, different, rockin, lyrically amazing, heartfelt, and epic, pick it up. If you want something you dont have to think about, Hinder just came out with a new album.

Not the most consistent album in terms of quality - but much better than I had anticipated. I want to hear these songs stripped down, live!

This is terrible!! wake up and realize that Slash was the brains behind the guitar sound of this band. He now has NIN rejects playing for him and it sucks! Axl’s voice sounds horrible. Get it on limewire because this stuff is horrible

This is garbage. Axl’s voice sounds terrible. The guitar sound like bad Nine Inch Nails. lyrics are real bad……

Awesome.

The best since Appetite.
Listen with an open mind, and forget the “classic line up” . This is the here and now. It kicks ass.

13 years and still unafraid to experiment…still pushing his limits…i think the review says it best.. its axl’s album and he doest care what you think…just enjoy the ride with him..

one for the collection

There’s about 4 good songs on it (and that’s being kind)… the rest is tunless bunk that is overproduced to the point where I felt like I was sitting in the middle of a 3rd grade class gone wild. Even ELO never went that far.

“Better” is the best song Britney Spears never wrote.

This album is really good. Get past 1992 and go get it on Sunday, because Chinese Democracy is a damn good album.

its the AXL rose solo project….and it blows!!!!

My God, this is a masterpiece. Axl is a genius who has created something truly unique. I think Axl has only begun to really make music. The variety of styles in this album is awesome.

how much better would this cd be if Slash were on it?

okay, I listened to the whole Chinese cd, while there were about 3 maybe 4 good songs, the rest was pretty ho hum. The band is pretty good but I was distracted by Axl’s vocals, or lack there of. Think I will pass this time, sorry Axl

I really think that people are upset that the album actually came out, regardless of how good it is. Its sacrilege to them that the “original lineup” (which wasn’t really the original lineup, that honor goes to Hollywood Rose) is not on this album and that the name GNR is used. A great record is a great record is a great record.

And to all those opposed….well?

The Bee Gees and NIN are like chocolate and peanut butter. Two great tastes that taste great together. “If the World” and “Madagascar” are awesome. The whole album flows very well. Its gonna do well and it should.

“If The World” is a great song. Very different, but very melodic with a great groove. Can’t wait to hear the final version.

Ali

Axl’s cd is horrible. What the hell is this? “If the World” sounds like the Bee Gees backed up by NIN. In fact most of these songs sound like Axl is trying to be NIN. This is a terrible cd. I am glad he posted it on MySpace, he just save me $15.
Time to get the original line-up back together Axl.

If you really listen to the lyrics of “Madagascar”, you’ll realize that the worn-down, rough voice fits the emotional context of the song perfectly. It was a calculated decision and a good one at that given the lyrics.

Ali

Not Rob J., sorry to disappoint.

Does that make everybody who says “Best album in 10 years” the same person?

chinese democracy is so fucking good

Chinese Democracy is way overproduced. Axl over-uses his “scratchy” voice, particularly on songs like “Madagascar”, which calls for his more gentle singing voice. Some good songs, but, for 15 years in the makings, it’s severely lacking hooks.

There are only two Guns n roses albums that will stand the test of time Appitite and Chinese Dem, Axl has hit the pinnacle of his genious with this album and any doubters are just biased because of a false idea that the original band would stay together forever, well guess what they didnt and Axl took the band the logical direction in order to put out one of the best records we have heard in the last 2 decades. This kills anything that any of the other members have done. No one in that group will ever make anything that equals or comes close to what chinese democracy is. Is is worth the wait, “Hell Yes” was it worth the money, “Hell Yes”, Is Axl one of the greatest muscial gifts that we have seen or heard in our generation, “Hell Yes”.

swingline and rob j are the same person

Axl’s album eats it. Fifteen years and $30 million for a bunch of crap.

Meanwhile, McCartney’s album rocks freakin’ hard.

The Fireman is damn good.

Have waited to keep as open of a mind as possible for the “Democracy”, gave it a listen, and think it’s trash.

this is by far the best rock album of the year!!! Axl=God!!!

3 entire CD listens so far. 1 of the Fireman. CD=awesome. Fireman=really good.

I’ve listened to a good amount of Chinese Democracy material with a fairly open mind, and I think its absolute overproduced rubbish. But to each his own.

The McCartney ‘Fireman’ album is far more interesting and creative, in my honest opinion.

As a huge Axl fan I’m biased, but Chinese Democracy is a really, really good rock record. Axl definitely gets the last laugh with this one.

I was not a believer. I thought he was a washed up joke. I’ve been proven wrong. Axl has released an album worthy of the Guns ‘N Roses name, and a damn fine rock album.

Axl made one of the best rock records ever made. Album of year easily.

chi dem - wicked album

The album is sick… go buy it. So what if it took forever??? You’re gonna miss out on a great rock record because of that?? BUY IT!!!! BUY IT!!!! BUY IT!!!!! like now… seriously.