Can you feel the excitement of millions of Americans about to enjoy a free can of Dr. Pepper? The dream inches closer to reality today with the addition of Chinese Democracy‘s title track and first single to rock radio playlists around the country. No one cares about FM radio, of course, but the event signifies that Interscope is going to release this album whether Axl is ready or not. Music-wise it’s what you heard when much of the album leaked in June. But now, if you like it (or are feeling nostalgic), you can actually pre-order the album at BestBuy, where it will be sold exclusively 11/23. Have a listen:
Official stream is at q1043.com if you prefer a less user-friendly interface.
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11 years and 1:19 seconds before the least interesting GNR riff of all time. Sounds like mid 90′s Ozzy.
This would have been cool in 1996.
But with them being out of the limelight forever this feels one balding head short of a “we need money” reunion.
No.
It doesn’t sound like mid 90′s Ozzy. It sounds like The Scorpions’ “Rock You Like a Hurricane.”
It’s far from the best track on the album.
ROCK YOU LIKE A HURRACAINE!!!
Why is this on Stereogum? This has nothing to do with indie music.
Further validating my reason for always hating Guns n Roses.
I don’t think Stereogum has to be limited to covering shitty indie bands. They can also cover bloated, past-their-prime bands like GnR and Metallica.
Anyway, I do think it’s newsworthy, not because the music is any good, but because nobody believed this album was ever going to come out.
Between Palin, the stock market meltdown, and now the imminent release of this album, if I were a religious man I’d swear the Apocalypse was upon us.
ten years ago i might have licked this
You don’t need to lick it. It does a fine job of licking all by itself.
It sounds like they’re playing two shitty songs at once.
I wouldn’t lick anything that GNR has touched, or I mean, Axel Rose has touched.
I might even lick this in 2008, Gene Simmons style. Though that depends on if I buy the physical album or not. Kind of hard to lick Mp3′s. Do you think it tastes like Dr. Pepper? That would be the craziest cross-promotional marketing scheme ever.
It’s pretty much damn near impossible to review this song without thinking of the incredible back story. Band members have come and gone, producers dropped left and right, failed tours and chances squandered. Forget all that shite and let’s focus on the actual tune.
Axl has always been a fan of making things sound dramatic and epic, and this song certainly tries for that. A 90 second ambigious grouping of whispers, guitar and animal calls lead into a huge Axl scream which kicks open the tour to an industrial sounding riff. The riff is dirty and fat and it sounds pretty classic to begin with. The duel layered Axl vocal sounds a bit much and there is a lot going on in the background as well. I count two rhythm guitar parts and one lead playing over top of that…and this is the verse.
Lyrics of missionaries, visionaries, chinese stews and the falun gong are pretty obtuse and I am not exactly sure how it all ties in, but at least it isn’t Velvet Revolver lyrics.
The guitar solos are loud, up front in the mix and played with precision, Axl was wise to get guys who sound nothing like Slash but are pretty incredible in their own right. Comparisions to old GNR sound are pointless because this sounds absolutely nothing like old GNR in terms of guitar tone, melody or Axl’s voice which sounds familiar yet brand new at the same time.
Overall the song sounds really experimental and ostentatious. I give it kudos for trying to push boundaries and not resting on what he was famous for. I on the same note I take away from it because it is trying a bit too hard and sounds convaluted.
Overall. 6.2/10
thanks, james
ha ha ha ha! i get it! you were joking, right?
Damn right James…
This sucks just like all the rest of GNR’s music. Axel needs his ass kicked and this piece of shit shoved back in it.
If you think Appetite sucks you are a true idiot. People from all sides of the fence acknowledge that record as a game changing brilliant work.
Axl’s voice is bad ass. Im into it and will buy the record for sure.
are there actually any drooling 80s/90s idiots out there who are still excited about this fucking album? i’d be surprised if it sells more than 100k the first week before it quickly disappears. this song sucks.
This tune rocks, but like Velvet Revolver circa 2003 ( ex. “Slither”). The only really impressive characteristics of the song are Buckethead’s whammy pedal-propelled licks and flashy riffing (and yes, you can tell that is Buckethead, at least on the flashy guitar parts). So I’d give it a B (if I had to give it a grade at all).
…And the point of this tune is…?
Well, if that’s the way you see it then…what’s the point of any tune for that matter? New Motto: Stereogum, where people who can’t play music sit on their fat asses and complain about people who play music.
I would like to see the orginal band members together on tour, then one would see something comparable to Metallica sell outs. I will buy the album in support of Axl and hope that the band stays alive….don’t all of you remember the amusement the past albums have brought you…memories for a life time.
Douchey LaRue
sux sux sux
You know the Todd Palin’s of the world will love this thing. I’m betting it becomes the intro song to every sports championship for the next year.
This sounded a lot better when it didn’t exist.
this is not a good song. Even the guitar sucks.
There Was a Time blew me away… that sounded more of old GnR than this.
it had great guitar too.
I don’t think this is totally terrible, it’s just plain old mainstream rock. I was hoping for something that was innovatively bad. This isn’t even fun to listen to.
it sounds like really generic videogame background rock
What a let down. It will be huge. Sad.
It’s a brilliant song. Has lots of energy to it. I’m not entirely sure why everyone is predisposed to hate this album. It’s a class song, and Axl is a genius. Anyone who has ever listened to estranged knows that. I think the whole album is quite creative and full of energy. It’s quite good. I’m assuming most of the people who hate the track are either motley crue and poison fans (whom gn’r never ever sounded like), or they have just never really listened to some good axl tracks before.
“Axl is a genius”
yeah, you’re right, brandon, they are all clearly motley crue and posion fans
I resent that, I listen to both Poison & Motley Crue and I’m also a HUGE Guns N’ Roses fan and i love this song can’t wait till it’s released,Gonna buy 2 copyies of the LP & CD.May buy more if they are still gonna do the different covers, (other than gettin it for some of my friends n my 12 year old son for christmas)
Yeah, wow. It’s really cool that there are still hardcore hair metal fans around. I was worried that when bands like Nirvana and Meat Puppets bust onto the scene that the rawk that is hair metal would completely disappear.
It’s so cool that there are still people out there that can appreicate this style of in-your-face rawk an roll. I’m even more excited that you’re going to get your 12 year old son into this stuff!
I have a better gift idea than a copy of Chinese Democracy:
A FUCKING 144TH TRIMESTER ABORTION YOU FUCKING NEANDERTHAL.
Dear Guns N’ Roses,
It’s too little too late.
Love, Amy
bullshit
*prays to god GnR does not make it on the Coachella 2009 lineup*
I think a story like this is indeed worthy of discussion. Dr. Pepper, months ago I wrote The Rose of Pepper. This album will stand the test of time among the true fans and be remembered for what it is, a great album though long delayed. My friend Scott Mattingly has perfected something he calls the Axl Rose Big Finish where he screams. With Axl’s music, the ending is almost always something epic.
I wish Axl and his bands the best. He’s done some great things and is a real rock star.
Also, I feel that the content of this website is questionable at best. There is a lot of great music discussed, some of the best for sure. Although, great underground bands and bands like The Brian Jonestown Massacre and Wintersox are never discussed. In fact, a previous comment in discussion involving Wintersox, providing a link for people to see what is happening in rock and roll, was deleted. How absurd!
Real news about rock and roll isn’t allowed here? Shame on you.
Remember the name Wintersox. Go read the Other Music Forum at Keep Music Evil! and you will understand. You settle for commercial garbage a lot of times while you ignore what is really happening. You pretend to know. You don’t really know.
when dinosaurs ruled the world!!!
Why do most people on here seem to have such closed minds??? this song has good guitars, drums, bass and the vocals are awesome!!! but then i suppose it’s not “indie” enough for the music snobs, tell yoiu what, why don’t you put a mirror on the floor, drop your pants, squat so you can see your ring and climb on in.
Interesting production and arrangement, it’s like he’s trying to make the Sgt. Peppers of hair metal, which I would suggest is a terrible idea to begin with.
Sounds like big dumb fun to me. I find it strange how white people get excited about dumb movies like Spiderman 2, or The Matrix (onstensibly becuase they liked this kind of stuff when they were kids); yet when it comes to “blockbuster” music, they’re sitting there with their arms crossed, like, “no”. There’s nothing to reconcile for the white person who enjoys both indie films and blockbuster movies (notice the use of ‘films’, and ‘movies’) but with music it’s irreconcilable…unless of course you’re talking about Journey, or the above mentioned Scorpions, because what, there’s a safe distance from it, and you can be ironic about liking it -rocking your $50 vintage t-shirt (soooo 2003)? Why not enjoy something just as gay which also happens to be NEW?
No album, no matter how good should ever take as long or cost as much as this one; it’s absolutely nuts (not to mention hilarious). If you can ignore that, ignore your hypocritical tendencies toward pop culture, pop open a Dr. Pepper, shut the fuck up, and just listen to the album (really loud), I’m sure you’ll find a smile on your face.
I hope to follow my own advice on this one.
No offense, but isn’t that the same excuse that every single pseudo-intellectual/wannabe hipster uses to “ironically” justify having shit taste in music? If you like this shit, fine… but stop projecting your love of hair metal on others. No, this bullshit doesn’t put a smile anywhere near my face. Please don’t assume that everyone else gets all giddy over this crap just because you do.
it’s glammeatl/hard rock/heavy metal
not hair metal, glalm metal is what i grew up with so dont be bashin it, i seriously douth you was even born then
it alot better than that bullshit crap that out now,(Green Day,Fall out Boy,HIM,Slipknot,wolfmother, and all them others) the 80′s rocked and kicked ass and still do rock n kick ass.
music and bands today blows and if like that crap you really dont have no real tatse in music at all
Hey – GREAT response – I voted but accidently voted negative versus positive and cant see how to reverse it. At any rate, you are exactly right, people LOVE to hate big rock. Its such an easy target.
Kid Rock hit it huge this year, and the same people who liked “Rock and Roll Jesus” will LOVE this. They will also vote for McCain.
It’s Britney Bitch
Indie sucks
17 years waiting for this steaming pile of dogshit. What a joke! This is one of the worst songs ever created, period. I can’t believe it cost Axl 13 million dollars to produce something that sounds like a cheesy “rock you like a hurricane” cover.
Shame on you.
Did anyone see that Hollywood Rehab show with Dr. Drew last night? Steven Adler (the original drummer) was on. He looks like total shit and he permanently talks with a lisp caused by all the drugs and drinking he’s done. I felt sorry for him but what a shitty show!
I heard the first song already, it sucks.
am I the only one reminded of the 90210 theme song by that opening riff?
Axl fans, it’s been a long time coming for you guys, so enjoy it. But don’t think the rest of the world is going to get excited about this. It took over a decade, but this just sounds like Corrosion of Conformity’s “Clean My Wounds” from 1994. So while Axl was in hiatus, bands kept making this kind of music until it died. If you’re going to make a big comeback, you can’t just do it by making music that sounds like what we all remember growing tired of 10+ years ago.
Here’s that clean my wounds song, if you care to compare. It’s not identical, but if I played them both, you wouldn’t know one was made 14 years after the other…http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BRf7fzkSIrA
(Also, I’m not a big “CoC” fan, so my apologies if I’m not showing them enough respect or anything…)
No offense taken. I get it: my soaring rhetoric has no effect on you. Can I have your Dr. Pepper?
These comments are funny.
this sucks. thats all i have to say.
I’m just guessing that most of the people bashing this CD probably didn’t like ANY of the “dinosaur” metal bands that released new cd’s this year…..All I can say to Axl Rose and the rest of Guns N Posers is that they have their work cut out for them, cuz all the new shit from the likes of Def Leppard, Motley fuckin’ Crue, The Scorpions, Metallica and the almighty AC/DC leave a pretty hard act to follow……I for one will pick up a copy or two, especially the vinyl (which I’ll frame and add to my collection of art) cuz face it, good or bad this will be worth something one day due to the sheer notoriety of it
Axl Rose needs to go back to cultivating a nice drug habit for himself and start getting on the reality show circuit. This whole music thing isn’t working out.
Do you happen to have a brain tumor or does Wannabebornin80′s syndrome affect your fingers in some way?
This is the biggest piece of brown, stinky leaking cum and shit I’ve ever heard.
YES! I CAN’T WAIT FOR CHINESE DEMOCRACY TO COME OUT. I PREDICTED IT WOULD COME OUT THIS YEAR AND ALL OF YOU DOUBTED ME! I MADE A BET WITH A FEW OF YOU, SO I AM GOING TO COLLECT! THIS IS WAY BETTER THAN ALL OF THAT INDIE CRAP THAT YOU COLLEGE KIDS LISTEN TO. GET INTO SOME REAL ROCK N ROLL!
GET OFF OF OUR BLOG, AND INTO THE GERIATRIC WARD GRAMPS!
ROCK N ROLL!
Very good. Is the first time i hear…Come visit my blog:
http://melhoresmusicas.blogs.sapo.pt
Buckcherry!
i like this song even though they jacked bucketheads solo and mixed it in with the final product but its completely different from the shitty blues driven guns n roses little poser kids listen to, to make it seem like their listening to good music when their just scratching the surface on awful blues music
how does one ride such bike
This album took along time coming, but well worth the wait gnr rocks best band ever just hope they reunite take the world by storm again
what a sorry excuse for a come back CD Axel just shoot yourself
It’s a mediocre song. Appetite is one of the best albums ever, probably my most played after Lateralus. There Was A Time is a classic, Better is decent, hopefully the rest of the album is better than the titletrack
Succkss,
I only like the original GNR lineup.
This new shit is… well, shit. Hah.
What!? 13 years for this, and we get this sad pity party?
I cant stand this.
AXLL GO GET YOUR WEAVE REDONE, DICKWAD
Cocaine is a hell of a drug
Absolutely horrible. This song is sooooooo bad. Axl’s voice is electronically altered because he’s done. Finished.
wholly shit people really care about this!
The money was clearly sqaundered on things exterior to the actual music. Like maybe, magicians, philosophers, prophets etc. Maybe Axl kept playing the songs to the prophet who kept telling him that the world would turn on him.
Axl: ‘Master, I have a new song for Chinese Democracy’
Plays song
Prophet: Axl, my dear dear friend, go away.
Axl: ‘Ok master, here is another 500,000 for your troubles’
anybody have the link to the album (shitty quality) leak form today?
yeah, make with the leak… i want to make fun of the rest of this album, not just the title track.
This song is garbage. All these years of waiting for this nonsense.
Slash Where Are you???Come Back
Who remembers all the haters when Metallica came out with Load? Well they did what they wanted and guess what? They are still selling every seat in the house.
Great track. I would?ve been disappointed if it sounded like another Appetite or Illusion
All of you are a bunch of ignorant asswipes. Go listen to Slash’s snakepit if you want the same old same old.
You all sound like all the hair metal douche bags when glam went away. Who the fuck are all of you?? My parents??
Fortunately for fans of MUSIC CHINESE DEMOCRACY will go multiplatinum and they will yet again tour all around the world supporting it.
New GNR for NEW FANS the rest can go listen to your old lies,lies,lies album while you remember how big your hair was.
This is great music. You are an idiot. Thanks to evolution $hit brainers like you will die.
I hate glam I guess that’s why this song rocks. so yeah Fk You
well fking said.
This album blows, and so does Guns’N'Roses after 14 years without an album. It sounds like it belongs in the late 80s, which is when it should have been put out. But come on, Chinese Democracy? Axl must have been having a serious case of writers block. Give it up old burnout rockers, you need to retire and stop putting out such shitty music that is way over promoted.