NME Reviews

Guns 'N' Roses

Guns N Roses
Axl Rose

Guns N Roses Axl Rose

Chinese Democracy

So approximately 54 years, $123m and 72 guitarists later, it’s finally here, and it’s... kind of everything we could have hoped for. Loads of hair-metal twiddling and a high-pitched Axl going “WRRRAAAAAAAAAGGGGHHH!” at the beginning just like he did on ‘Welcome To The Jungle’. Could the braided one actually be about to pull it off?
HM

7 out of 10

Comments (18)

Add a comment

acedrums 

Nov 3, 2008

hahaha. As a massive Guns N Roses fan, (and I hasten to add that this new band is simply not Guns N Roses) I cant help but snort with a considerable amount of satifaction that this song, and probably album really are as shit as anyone with a brain knew they were destined to be. This song is a generic crappy riff, with total lack of melody. The guitar solo, though of course technically good, is uninspired widdling. This is like some Axl Rose meets nu metal monster. I would rather listen to Westlife than this drivel. Finally we have the convincing proof that without Slash, Izzy and Duff, Guns N Roses are nothing. Axl had a great voice and was a great songwriter with the controlling influence of the other members, but this song goes to show that left alone Axl is destined to write shite.

nickster007 

Nov 3, 2008

He's got nice carpet hair tho..

theo28 

Nov 3, 2008

This is pretty good. Very excited about the album - been a long wait. From what ive heard so far it will be a damn good album. he still has a great voice and im confident that this will be successful critically and commercially - good luck Axl! prove the doubters wrong.

bruce bogtrotter 

Nov 3, 2008

He's back, what better way to announce it than with the dramatic axl scream

somethingpersonal 

Nov 4, 2008

hes back but hes crap, acedrums you know score...enough said... GNR = BOS ( bag o shite!! )

theo28 

Nov 5, 2008

ace drums, you listen to westlife its more than you deserve. the 'influence of the band?' are you on crack? they were just good session musicians - talented yeah any input? negative. you claim to be a fan as well. borrowing your dads copy of appetite doesnt cover it. 'something personal' youre just a typical dogs cock, slagging something before youve even heard it. Axl Rose IS fucking GNR and always will be. you want proof listen to velvet revolver. technically brilliant yeah. less soul than an estate agent. Do your fucking homework fore you come on here spouting shit.

Phil16 

Nov 5, 2008

jesus people really hate each other online

adno11 

Nov 5, 2008

Well said theo28. The guys gifted and has bags of talent, lyrically he's a genius & pisses over most things out today, his songs have meanings. New material on the album is very good.

acedrums 

Nov 6, 2008

wow, theo28 you seem to be doing your best to make yourself out as an idiot. I dont listen to Westlife, perhaps you should take a lesson in sarcasm. Equally may I draw your attention to my final sentence 'Axl had a great voice and was a great songwriter with the controlling influence of the other members, but this song goes to show that left alone Axl is destined to write shite.' That to me is a sentence that portrays Axl positively. What greater compliment could a musician want than a 'great songwriter'?? And no, if only my dad was cool enough to own Appetite! Sadly it would seem very out of place alongside Chopin, Mozart and Beethoven!

acedrums 

Nov 6, 2008

I am sorry to hear that you take my dislike for the new GnR music so personally, perhaps you should re-focus your abundant personal angst on a subject more worthy of such bile. And no, I am sorry to say Theo but not one member of the original GnR line-up which I was quite clearly referring to was a session musician. That was what made them so great. They backed up Axls amazing, paranoid and angry lyrics about street life with gritty music that came from the soul. Velvet Revolvers lack of soul has just come from the fact that the members are old wealthy rock stars who have nothing to be angry and passionate about.

whatawasteoftime 

Nov 6, 2008

GnR are fucking shite and this wank record serves only to underline the fact

theo28 

Nov 7, 2008

yeah acedrums sorry mate. was pretty pissed when i left last comment. probably did come off as idiot. good point about velvet revolver. certainly session musicians is not an accurate description of original line up . im just fucked off with every one wanting this to fail when ive waited a long time for this and been impressed by what ive seen so far. just a lesson in not drinking and commenting i think lol sorry for any offence caused to any one although i stand by the fact this album will rock ! peace and love theo x

cancelmysubscription 

Nov 7, 2008

theo you're talking fucking garbage. guns will never ever ever ever reach the dizzy heights of appetite, if you think they will then you're kidding yourself mate. get out of axls arse, hes become embarassing now, which pains me to say. the picture accompanying this review makes me sick, he looks like a wigger. what happened to the angry homeless rockstar prancing round in leathers? it died with the spaghetti incident, thats what.

somethingpersonal 

Nov 7, 2008

ive tried to like it BUT I DONT!!!!!!

IndieWriter 

Nov 10, 2008

i think this is alright - nothing on proper guns and roses, and the other member were very important, just read Slash's book, it's quality. This is just alright tho, nout special

Thurston28 

Nov 25, 2008

So many bands churning out quick thrills then heading to the bar for coke and pay cheques ...I'm impressed to see someone thinking about music rather than product. If it sounded like old GnR people would complain he was stuck in the past, if it was stripped down people would complain too. In an era of the budget band who make music as if its a day job Axl deserves credit for not just pressing repeat on Sweet Child forever more.

somethingpersonal 

Dec 29, 2008

dogs cock eh theo? hahaha just realised what you called me, hahaha, better than being stuck on axl's red pubes matey,,, go back and listen to lies, appetite, and illusions PROPERLY , then come and tell me that the new stuff is ANYWHERE near as good as them albums...without the original memebers axl aint got what it takes no more, and its not just because of that, he's lost the plot, end of.. rant over ..merry xmas lol

cigar 

Jan 3, 2009

love it or hate it, its different to all that is going on in the mainstream, im a huge gnr fan and to be honest it took me a few listens to the album before i came to the conclusion that axl is genious song writter. some people need to give it a chance, open the mind and forget the old albums ever existed and let the new album be rated on its own. now if you care, it took a year for appetite to reach number one anywhere let alone in the top ten thanx to sweet child and a few years after that it became one of the best selling rock albums of all time. chineses democracy just needs some more time too, appetite was released at the right moment, a time where rock music was dead and with the help of a softer song got the majority to listen to whats going on around them and act, same thing happened with nirvana and grunge, korn and nu metal. Now i think is the time for a change and maybe axl will do it again maybe not either way i like it. who knows if i manage to

Add your comment

NME Alerts

Get NME news delivered direct to your desktop. Find out more

Please sign in

Forgot your password?

Register with MyNME

Every Tuesday and Friday

  • Up-to-the-minute news stories
  • The best new music and free downloads
  • Video interviews, photo galleries, competitions and more
  • Album and track reviews for the week ahead
  • Essential gigs in your area