Thirteen years ago I was in year eight, and now in the year of 08, something brewing has finally made an impression on this Earth. I talk of the long-awaited (13 odd, tumultuous years) and much anticipated, already massively derided (hate you too haters) and soon to be very public release of Guns ‘n’ Roses’* latest album, Chinese Democracy.

*Using the name that made him an icon in the music industry when all but he have left, is something that brings Axl Rose much negative publicity, but I am not here to debate his rights and wrongs. The fact that he is great mates with another of my musical gods, Sebastian Bach, is enough for me. Love or hate Axl, this IS a Gunnas record.

Firstly, its just got to be said that theres something about Axl’s voice. It reminds me of different places, brings me back to other times. Makes me yearn for the times when I first got to explore my life with the band as my guide, free of care and wants and needs. Oh, to be a teenager again. Honestly, there is just something so right about hearing this album, hearing him wail, hearing strings, pianos and orchestras.

The searching, probing and adventurous guitar work compliments Axl as much as the great Slash ever did – it is a testament to the numerous axe-wielders on the record. I would guess that in some way, there was a desire to continually improve and push further with this record as each year that went passed, so too did the expectations soar. It even got to a point where noone cared, and I really hope that people don’t ignore this.

For all of his wrong-ness, Axl still knows how to write great medleys, sing his heart out and construct epic rock songs. It may not have the Deep Impact ‘everything-is-fucked-now’ kind of effect on me as Death Magnetic, but it is most certainly up there with the Armageddon ‘everything-is-fucked-and-cool-too-now’ sort of vibe. For what it is, it is exceptional. It is the Guns ‘n’ Roses album we needed ten years ago, not thirteen.

// Dr Pepper is giving EVERY US resident a free can now that the album is released!

This entry was posted on Wednesday, November 19th, 2008 at 9:42 pm and is filed under music. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.