Guns N’ Roses’ fourth full-length album, Chinese Democracy, has been one of the longest running jokes in the music industry. Even now, I can’t believe I’m writing this review because I never thought it would come out. The delays in the production and release of the album are enough to fill a sizable Wikipedia page. Guns N’ Roses shocked the world Nov. 23 by releasing Chinese Democracy, a multimillion dollar record, the production of which spanned 14 years.
The rumors for Chinese Democracy began in 1994 when Guns N’ Roses were reportedly writing material for their follow-up album to their double release Use Your Illusion I and II. As time passed, band members came and went, deadlines set by the record companies flew by, tours occurred — both successful and unsuccessful — and many, many rumors circulated the hard rock music scene about when exactly Chinese Democracy would surface.
Guns N’ Roses has seen many lineup changes during the past 14 years. The only original member left from the Appetite for Destruction days is their lead singer, W. Axl Rose, who has been less than cooperative with the media. Presently, the band enlists the help of such rock all-stars as guitarist Robin Finck of Nine Inch Nails fame, guitarist Bumblefoot and bassist Tommy Stinson, a member of the influential ‘80s punk band The Replacements.
Chinese Democracy sounds a lot like the band’s previous album, Use Your Illusion, but grander. Contrary to what many hardcore fans feared, the band still sounds like Guns N’ Roses — but with modern flares. The whole album sounds, for lack of a better word, epic. Rarely are songs on Chinese Democracy less than 4:30, and the arrangements help the album sound huge.
The title track kicks off the album with a vintage Axl Rose scream set against a hard-hitting, yet simple guitar riff. Axl hasn’t lost a step.
The song “Better” may be the best track on the album. It combines Axl’s signature howl with a blistering solo, a head-banging breakdown and an outro that you can’t help but sing along to.
Another great track off Chinese Democracy is “Madagascar.” Axl and company have been playing the song for years on tour. The mid-tempo rocker contains an interlude that combines various audio clips, including bits from Martin Luther King, Jr. speeches and the movie Cool Hand Luke.
While this album does its part for epic rockers, Chinese Democracy has its share of power ballads, such as “Street of Dreams” and “This I Love.” The latter could have never been written on any previous GNR album. “This I Love” features Axl Rose on the piano by himself singing a touching power ballad with a Robin Finck solo that soars.
For an album that took nearly 14 years to make, Chinese Democracy is pretty good. It’s nice to hear Axl Rose scream again, and the new Guns N’ Roses sounds like Guns N’ Roses and not “Axl and Friends” as may fans feared. All in all, it’s a great solid rock record that’s worth your money.
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