At Long Last, A Chinese Democracy Review (And I'm Not Kidding This Time)

I have a much different angle on Chinese Democracy than most of my blogging peers. When Use Your Illusion came out, I was probably sitting in front of a TV watching Sesame Street at the tender age of 2 years, 11 months (This is where I duck while my peers throw things at me for making them feel old). I haven't waited 17 years, endured the countless broken promises and trainwrecks that led to yesterday's unimaginable final chapter. I came into this story far later, as a music fan who discovered GN'R well after the original lineup abandoned ship, when the mythical album had already become a punchline. So for me Chinese Democracy's release is much more of a historically significant event, rather than the emotional release that Guns N' Roses fans of old might be feeling right now. But I digress. The point is, Chinese Democracy is real (the album anyway), and while those waiting 17 years might feel a bit let down, it's still a damn fine album, and certainly not lacking in anything fans want in a Guns N' Roses record.

The title track takes a full minute to get going, but by the 61st second guns are blazing. It's fast, it's dirty, and Axl isn't interested in easing people in. Rose may be 46 years old, but you couldn't tell from his voice. The song sounds dangerous, ballsy; like the GN'R of old. From there we get "Shackler's Revenge", which keeps things fast and rocking, but former guitarist Buckethead's avant-garde texturing bogs the track down. If someone wants to pick apart Chinese Democracy, they'd do well to start with Buckethead. His work is admirable standing alone, but on this record it takes songs that could be humongous rock songs and sucks the hook out of them, turning them into artsy, atmospheric sludge. Think Radiohead cranked up to 11. The worst example is "Sorry", a 6-minute would-be opus that has Axl bearing all, while the rest of the band does little more than mark time.

Rose, on the other hand, is in top form. The two ballads "Street of Dreams" and "This I Love" let Axl pour his heart out while the strings and keys play on. On the other hand "Riad N' The Bedouins" is a gem, a sign that the Guns N' Roses that rose to the top with "Paradise City" isn't gone forever. Second single "Better" gets better with every listen, the kind of track that modern rock needs to hear right now (take notes, Three Days Grace). The whole record feels very precise, as though nearly two decades of work went into every note, line and phrase of the album (wait...). More often than not Rose's perfectionism pays off, as the record manages to balance sounding clean and professional and being truly rock and roll. "Better" is a very polished affair, but still makes room for Axl's gut-wrenching growl to show through. "Madagascar"'s sampling of speeches in the bridge is pure production, but is among the best songs Chinese Democracy offers. As a whole, as Axl goes, so goes the album.

The simple fact that Chinese Democracy is on store shelves makes it a memorable release. The fact that its so excellent is just an added bonus. People who've waited 17 years might not find it to be all they hoped for, but that's a result of the lack of Slash, Izzy and Duff on this record. If you go in accepting the fact that you're not hearing the explosive lineup that sold millions of records in the 90s, you're bound to hear something truly enjoyable. Axl Rose can sleep soundly tonight knowing he's done well. Let's just hope I'm not 37 when the next Guns N' Roses album comes out.

Final Score: 9/10

==TJ==