CHINESE DEMOCRACY IS NOW!

[Shawn]

lame

 

[vi edit]

I gave it a spin from their myspace page and this is a definite *AVOID*. The only song I really do like is Chinese Democracy. I want a 10:1 rock to ballad mixture with my G 'n R. This is more like 1:10.

 

[LikeLinus]

It just sounds like an over processed and poorly written record. It doesn't even sound like GNR on most of the songs!!!

 

[sdifox]

Oh nose, the PRC doesn't like it. I am so surprised

http://www.theglobeandmail.com...0081124.wgunsroses1124

 

[ballmode]

There was a time...
There was a time...

DIDNT WANT TO KNOW IT ALL

DIDNT WANT TO KNOW IT ALL

Iiiii dont' want to know it nowwww


I WOULLDDDDD DOOOOO ANYYYYTHING FOR YOUUUUUUU

Theeerrreeeeee wassss aaaaaa timeeeeee


*badass guitar solo*

 

[Capt Caveman]

Lame that it's exclusive thru BB and they're charging more for it than other new releases.

 

[Ktulu]

I HATE alot of their opening like the opening to "Better". WTF kind of lame shit is that?

 

[Ns1]

listened to 6 tracks off their myspace

too many ballads, but I appreciate the guitar work

 

[Reckoner]

Some awesome tunes on this album, not sure what some of you are smoking...

Chinese Democracy, Better, I.R.S., Sorry .... all good stuff. There's definitely some "filler" tunes on this, but overall a solid album.

 

[Tooncesthedrivingcat]

I wonder how many tracks are buckethead?

 

[rbV5]

I must say, I think it f'ng rocks :shocked: I finally had a full listen of the entire release album and I was pleasantly suprised with what I thought was an excellent album. The guitars were stellar if you ask me, and I've heard far worse warbling from Rose. I enjoyed it quite alot.

 

[Skel]

Originally posted by: Balt
Meh, you could turn on any modern rock station and hear something similar. Too many studio effects and too over-produced.

I was thinking the same thing on the too many studio effects and being over-produced. While it's not the worst album I've ever heard, it's missing that edge that made GnR so good. Guess that's what happens when you start worrying more about what people will think (shown by the long long delay even after the songs were recorded), rather then making the music that you want to make.

 

[SludgeFactory]

I've listened to this all the way through for several night in a row now, and it occurred to me today why I keep coming back to it. It's not brickwall limited and compressed to hell. You can listen to 70 minutes of this and "shitty, fatiguing mastering, must turn off now" never crosses your mind.

I'm utterly *stunned* by that.

 

[Chiefcrowe]

Personally I love it! It has a lot of awesome songs and there is a lot to absorb and get into. Sometimes there is too much going on but on headphones a lot of it can be grasped better. I think this is a grower, you really get into it after listening to it for a while.
My favorites right now are: There Was a Time (just Epic!), Sorry, Street of Dreams, Better (still catchy after listening to it many times), Prostitute, Chinese Democracy.
The favorites change all the time.

A lot of people bash it but if you give it some time, give it a fair shake, and realize that it's never going to be like their old stuff you may find that you actually like some of it!

SludgeFactory - nice observation about the compression, that is impressive!

 

[SludgeFactory]

Originally posted by: Chiefcrowe
A lot of people bash it but if you give it some time, give it a fair shake, and realize that it's never going to be like their old stuff you may find that you actually like some of it!

SludgeFactory - nice observation about the compression, that is impressive!

I'm really liking this album right now, don't know how long that will last, but I doubt I would have given this more than one serious listen if it had been like most mainstream rock that's ruined with hypercompression.

Like Death Magnetic.

I was curious what other people were saying about the mastering on this, found a huge thread at SteveHoffman forums, they seem pretty excited about it. Bob Ludwig apparently mastered Chinese Democracy (as well as Death Magnetic!), and this blog entry he wrote is very interesting.

http://www.gatewaymastering.co...teway_LoudnessWars.asp

The trial disc I submitted to the producers had 3 versions: The one I personally liked had no compression that was used just for loudness, only compression that was needed for great sounding rock and roll. Then, knowing how competitive everything is these days, I made two more masterings, one with more compression and another with yet more compression, but even the loudest one wasn?t remotely as loud as some recent CDs. Hoping that at least one of these would satisfy Axl and Caram Costanzo, the co-producers of the record, I was floored when I heard they decided to go with my full dynamics version and the loudness-for-loudness-sake versions be damned.

This confirms that Axl is permanently stuck in the 90's.

I will actually plunk down money for this CD (gasp), because it is not mastered like dog crap. Are you listening RIAA douchebags?

 

[Chiefcrowe]

thank you. that article was very interesting.. too many bands out there these days are compressed like crazy and it really shows after listening to Chinese Democracy.

Nobody makes songs like There was a Time anymore!!!

 

[Capt Caveman]

Finally bought and listened to it today. I like it. But it's not G N'R, I'd rather Axel Rose use his name for the band.

 

[NoStateofMind]

After listening to the full album for the first time the other day, I thought it was good. Not great but good. Then a day or so later I listened again and decided it was pretty good. Still not great, but definitely one of their top albums. I listened to it today and decided its a great album, on par with use your illusion. Yeah, its that good, er, great. It grows on you like a mushroom. Not there one day and all up in your face the next. Bravo Axle, you proved something with this album! Just make sure you tour the US and not just foreign lands! Chinese Democracy gets two :thumbsup: :thumbsup: from me

 

[SludgeFactory]

Originally posted by: PC Surgeon
After listening to the full album for the first time the other day, I thought it was good. Not great but good. Then a day or so later I listened again and decided it was pretty good. Still not great, but definitely one of their top albums. I listened to it today and decided its a great album, on par with use your illusion. Yeah, its that good, er, great. It grows on you like a mushroom. Not there one day and all up in your face the next. Bravo Axle, you proved something with this album! Just make sure you tour the US and not just foreign lands! Chinese Democracy gets two :thumbsup: :thumbsup: from me

Agreed, it's a real grower. Unfortunately the sales aren't going to be that good (Axl doing zero promotion isn't helping). The reviewers who are unloading on this have no clue. I had no expectations going in, maybe that helps.

Axl still sounds like Axl. The guitar work is top notch, I am so glad they didn't compress the shit out of the mix, so that you can actually hear those great chunky rhythm parts in the background. Buckethead is phenomenal on this album. I knew he was a mega-talented freak, but I had no idea he could co-exist this well in the framework of more conventional songs in a "normal" band, if there's anything normal about G n' R at this point. Too bad he's not actually in the band now.

 

[wheresmybacon]

I think this is a great album. I've had it going for a couple weeks now in my car and I'm not even remotely tired of it.

Extremely surprised at how much I'm enjoying this.

 

[OutHouse]

Originally posted by: ElFenix
wtf Chinese Democracy is actually coming out? next thing you know Duke Nukem Forever will be on store shelves.

surely a sign of the end times

shake it baby

 

[Zim Hosein]

Originally posted by: SludgeFactory

Axl still sounds like Axl.

That still amazes me to be honest SludgeFactory! :Q

 

[Rudee]

Buckethead is one talented guitarist.