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Chinese Democracy: A Song by Song Verdict
By Edward Landa True Guns N Roses fans have been waiting for Axl Rose to ‘take [them] down to paradise city’ once more with an album fourteen years in the making. Much like its tentative title, Chinese Democracy was largely an unrealistic project. After the release of The Spaghetti Incident in 1993, a punk and glam rock cover album by the original line up of Guns N Roses, all started to ooze down. The band released announcements of a new album in the works, primarily written by Axl Rose as the rest of the members were beginning to lose interest in 1994 so the countdown began. With the upcoming album remaining a work in progress it seems most of the work was done through spoken word and not instrumental rock, as Slash (lead guitar) and Duff McKagan (bass) continuously released statements of disappointment with the band, loss of interest and simple agony at dealing with a man like Axl Rose. They soon left the band, never officially destroying it; leaving Axl with all the rights to carry on. Axl reacted to this as a simple change of personnel. He recuperated swiftly with establishing a new set up, even involving a few notable musicians in his work, including the likes of Dave Navarro and the now permanent Guns N Roses bassist Tommy Stinson, originally of The Replacements. The new Guns N Roses, at least the troupe which recorded Chinese Democracy, is comprised of Dizzy Reed (keyboards), Tommy Stinson (bass), Bryan Mantia (drums), Richard Fortus (rhythm guitar), Bumblefoot (lead guitar), and Axl Rose (lead singer). Even including Bryan Mantia, who drummed for Primus, Axl Rose still picks up the trophy for ‘most popular musician’ in the new Guns N Roses setup. Axl dressed a tight leash on song-writing and maintains that the process remain with him after the original band left. Since 1994, there has been promise of an upcoming Guns N Roses album. Finally on November 28, 2008, it was proudly displayed in the front vestibule of any local record store. Perhaps it was the messiah-like wait washed over the public or simply a growing curiosity of what could Axl possibly achieve without the face-melting guitar licks provided by Slash. Either way, the album was an interesting acquisition. Some bought it with genuine interest, while others bought it as a joke. Nevertheless, they bought it. The album kicks off with the title track, Chinese Democracy; the instrumental introduction is captivating. An array of foreign speech and alien sound effects fill the listener’s ears leading to the heavy knock of the power chord. That is all that is awe-inspiring in the first song, which manages to disappoint due to poor lyrics and a not-so-catchy melody. The second ditty, Shackler’s Revenge, is also a less then awe-inspiring performance. So far, the album seems to be a poor investment and calls for an attempt to locate the receipt in order to make a swift return. Yet, it is the third song which redeems the albums and renews -- or rather recycles -- the listener’s interest. Better, is a melodic track that features a grunge-like structure similar to the two tracks before, yet with a more consistent and powerful rock and roll spirit. Following its redemption, Chinese Democracy lays out the next track: Street of Dreams. This offers a more classic approach with a piano, a beautiful solo, and for the first time Axl Rose sings as he had with the original Guns N Roses. The song dies out with his roaring vocals and a new feeling established within the listener that maybe their favourite metal band isn’t quite dead yet. If the World comes next. It relieves the nostalgic beauty that was Guns N Roses with a new twist; a more evolved Axl Rose. The combination of Street of Dreams and If the World makes the listener rethink the impulsive plan of returning the album forcefully, if necessary, for a full refund. The guitar maintains its hard-rock feel with well placed outbursts to accentuate the hard work that Axl had put into it. The next meal that Chinese Democracy feeds us is one only a select few could digest with a smile. There Was a Time truly has a beautiful melody to it, until it reaches the chorus, where a very Urge Overkill-meets-Nirvana-esque guitar kicks in to provide a rather grungy feel. Apart from the chorus anyone can emote to the song, yet Axl’s call for grunge in this tune will only sit well with true plead-wearing listeners. Nevertheless, the song does not put a great dent in the album, as the previous three tracks seemed to secure a rather solid worth ratio of money to music. Catcher in the Rye is the first truly memorable song off of the album. Although it finds itself as track number seven it proves worth the wait. Like an investment in a slow stock that finally booms after a while Catcher in the Rye brings with itself a tone of redemption perhaps for Axl Rose; It carries the necessities of a pop song with a punch of metal and Axl’s new found love for grungy guitar riffs. Scraped follows Catcher in the Rye and is, for the most part, a decent metal track with a tune that the listener would come to know and accept as the meat of Chinese Democracy. It is important to note that much like in a three-star restaurant the meat may have been overcooked. The next track, Raid N The Bedouins has spent too much time in the oven, and like its predecessor failed to amuse. Then comes Axl Rose’s attempt to once again regain his footing with his album. Sorry, a touching song, takes a road not yet taken by Axl on this album. With a mellow and sweet melody, the song exhibits Axl’s intriguing vocal range and manages to redeem the album and once more re-establish the value equilibrium. Perhaps Axl is apologizing for the handful of less than entertaining tidbits that meander cycle through the album. His apology does not go unfulfilled as he provides a truly rockin’ track, I.R.S, loaded with gain and all the beautiful guitar bits we have come to appreciate. The only suggestion for such a well-rounded rock and roll track is perhaps a better name. Madagascar is great track to help support the weak foundation of the album. The track truly captures a memorable guitar performance from Bubmblefoot and Axl’s long-loved vocal intensity. Then, what better way to push towards the end of the album, then with yet another well orchestrated slower melody, This I Love. It is through these moments that Axl Rose truly shines on the album. Axl emotes for his lost love and truly places a memorable tune in the listener’s head. So far, the road seems relatively clear for the album aside from a few mundane tracks. For the most part, there are quite a few saving songs. It all seems clear for the last track to finish off an altogether good album. Yet Prostitue, much like the name suggests, seems overused. The melody follows the same prototype set up by previous slow tracks on the album and fails to amaze. The track in itself has a good melody and a pleasing performance on the vocals, yet because it is incredibly similar to so many other songs on the album it hinders their ability to shine on, leaving only a handful of memorable tracks. Chinese Democracy has proved a decent album, and definitely is worth a listen. Although the long wait and the inevitable hype that was to come from the anticipation proved to play against Axl. He provided the public with a variety of tracks which he had been re-mastering and re-writing over the last decade or so and thus failed to capture a moment in time; a certain emotion or an overlapping power. The album compiled more as a mere collection of songs over a long period of time or a series of great-hits, of which only one or two would really live up to the name, than a powerful continuous motion in music. With such key components missing and the occasional feeling that songs seem repeat themselves, Chinese Democracy is a large chunk of its merit through post-hearing reflections. The album appears as a one-night-stand with only Catcher in the Rye and If the World living a life past the one-time encounter. The verdict, unlike the album, appears within a short term of reflection. Chinese Democracy is a testament to three things: Axl still has his pipes in check, the new Guns N Roses still exist within the shadow of the good ol’ days of Slash and company and although the album is not great, it embodies a great potential that must be harvested in time for their next album. If I had half a thumb I would give it to the boys behind Chinese Democracy along with another one. |