Album Review Guns 'N Roses-Chinese Democracy

Alright I think it's finally time. I wanted to let this one soak in for a few months before I could give it a fair review. The result: far from the greatest album ever, but still enjoyable.

You see, Guns N Roses are like the ridiculously hot chick you dated in high school (or at the very least dreamt about dating). Appetite for Destruction was when you first met her freshman year. The feeling was intense. You were absolutely floored at how perfect she was. Over the next few years, the dynamics changed and you found out she was a little crazy, but still appreciated her attributes. Then you had a nasty break-up just before you left for college (probably because you refused to remove your top hat), heard gossip about her through friends, but didn't actually see her until your 15 year class reunion.

When you hear she is there, you are reminded of all the old memories and how perfect things were in high school (even if they all weren't) and seeing her again is kind of a disappointment. But then you take a step back and look at it objectively. She's definitely still crazy and has a few more years on her now, but she's still more attractive than almost every other women there, If you would have randomly met her in a bar, you would think it was a big score. The expectations were bigger than the reality though so it's a bit of a letdown.

Chinese Democracy is that woman at the reunion. There's really no reason to expect another Appetite For Destruction or even Lies or Use Your Illusion, but you can't help but be disappointed anyway that it's not. There are some good songs, some bad songs and some in between songs on this disc. Knowing the aging curve of musicians especially ones that lived as hard as Axl and co, it's really ludicrous to expect another masterpiece. Nobody expected Paul McCartney to make another Sgt. Pepper's in 1982 so why should we expect a 40 year old musician to re-create one of the top 5 albums of all time.

I may sound like an Axl apologist, which I very well may be. Guns N Roses was one of the first bands I remember liking when little, even if my 7 year old brain didn't understand Mr. Brownstone was a drug reference. Street of Dreams (a.k.a November Rain II) is one of the finest Guns N Roses songs I've ever heard. Catcher In The Rye is well, catchy and IRS and Better are among the highlights too. After 3+ months this disc is no longer in my car rotation, but a few select tracks are still on my iPod when I need a GNR fix. It's not groundbreaking or great, but it's better than 99% of the other drivel that goes for rock and roll these days, so have some patience, lower your expectations for another Appetite and just enjoy a good solid rock album.