Guns N' Roses - Chinese Democracy (2008)

Everyone has an opinion on Axel Rose—genius, loon, obsessive perfectionist, prima donna, unstable mad scientist... the list goes on. However, I will spare you the omnipresent psycho-analysis, and attempt to simply evaluate Chinese Democracy for what it is: a astronomically hyped, but restorative hard-rock album. Emerging from all the mythology, ridicule, speculation, back-story and unparalleled expectations is a pretty solid and compelling collection of songs. Nearly every track reaches for that "epic" echelon/moniker, in a "November Rain"-"Civil War" sort of way, something Axel pushed for with the original group, but was often reigned in. Here Axel's aspirations run wild: lead and backing vocals are stacked and staggered in dramatic, and sometimes unnecessary fashion, with most choruses building like massive tsunamis. Axel undoubtedly sings his ass off. The multitude of guitarists shred. Solos abound. Creativity & originality is present throughout, and although it comes off as pretentious at times, it doesn't overshadow the quality of most tracks. The production in a number of stretches is probably excessive, but not unexpected from Axel's "the bigger, the better" approach. Wouldn't it have been even more inexplicable and unsettling if after 13 years of production Chinese Democracy was simply a collection of conventional rocks songs, or simply a regurgitation of the "traditional" Guns N' Roses sound? That would have been unforgivable, and I'm glad the time was allotted for something I have never heard anything like before.

It is inevitable that Guns N' Roses fans will argue the quality of this album to the death, but the debate should be more a matter of perspective than opinion. Just as there is nothing normal about Axel as a person, there is nothing normal about this album. It is difficult to ignore the history and hype, as well as many fans' deep-rooted allegiance to Guns N' Roses as its original entity, but if that static can be set aside, there is no reason why Chinese Democracy cannot be enjoyed and respected. So, for those of you who flat-out cannot find something enjoyable out of Chinese Democracy, ask yourself, "Would it be better if Guns N' Roses' last album ever recorded was "The Spaghetti Incident?" ?!?!

Current favorites: "Prostitute," "There Was A Time," & "Madagascar."