Same here. Australia is up on my list of future areas to visit. Hoping in the next couple of years to maybe pull off one of these locations with a few friends & family.  Along with Japan, England, Ireland, Russia, France, and Italy. It would be pretty sweet to chill with Monkey & Metallex when the time comes for some of us to be able to go down under.

Thought the track was ok. Has some energy and a little more manic than most Pearl Jam songs I hear nowadays. Hope for the best that the rest of the album kicks ass. I got to give them credit for sticking around for the last couple of decades.

Before I start I would like to thank ID for adding this topic for further analysis and discussion. It's good to go back to the past and see what could of been or and see why it didn't work out. As for Paul Tobias, I appreciate his contributes in the writing and recording process of Chinese Democracy and what went into it. I really liked his playing on Sympathy as well. It's one of my favorite covers and in my opinion it tops the original Stones version by a ton.

I would like to point out that even though I think Slash's substance problems were part of the main issue it was also him and the rest of the band losing two guitar players in not a period of time. Slash and the guys were disappointed with Izzy left and then they gelled so well with Gilby on tour. But Axl didn't like Gilby's contributions to the writing process and was let go. Which Slash and the others felt wasn't fair, they didn't have a say, and they were getting along so well with the guy. This is where Axl is the problem, he hires some guy who the rest of the band doesn't know. Only Axl knows him and they wanted Gilby back or someone who they could both jam and get along with. It seemed that Paul wasn't that guy for the band. He helped write great songs and contributed to a good amount of material after the original guys left; but that was the cost. Axl didn't discuss to the guys that he wanted Paul to be in the band. He shows up with the guy and there is confusion. Everyone has to have an equal say in the decision making process when a band is involved. Axl didn't do that. He wanted it his way and someone he knew that could work with him without any doubt or question.

As for Paul as a person/musician, it seems he helped Axl a great deal to get the initial album in a workable form and probably helped him just a friend to talk to. He played pretty well during the live performances of the Rio 2001 show from what I saw.  Would of liked to see more of the guy's playing and songwriting on later releases; but I doubt it will happen. Axl did say a couple years back that Paul is more comfortable in a studio setting and hasn't ruled out that he would be working with the band again.

Oh yeah I love and appreciate Caram's work and production on the album and know there will be more when that eventual album is recorded and finished. As for Rick Rubin, I could see him maybe do a heavier rock song that Axl is hiding in the vaults; but most of the songs on CD I couldn't see him get behind. Originally it was said that there were rumors that Eddie Van Halen wanted Rick to produce ADKOT which wouldn't be a good idea at all. Van Halen has a sound that wouldn't sound right with that kind of production. Glad that didn't happen.

For this band I think they are alright for the most part. Not great; but my bro has been trying for a few years now to get me into their music more. I think the musicians are great and M has some good vocals; but some of their newer material bugs the hell outta me. I'll give these tune previews a listen when I have the chance later on today.