^ I think a hybrid lineup would be lame.  It's either the original 4 plus any old dude on skins or its New GN'R.

For madagas too - just in case I was one of the others due to my earlier comments.

I think the RS review reasonably accurately reflected my thoughts on the album (for what my opinion is worth).  That said I also made the point that I wasn't surprised the review was positive.  The reason for that is two fold:

1. It's a good album from what I've heard so the review should be pretty decent.

2. Rolling Stone had to make a commercial decision regarding this.  If the album was pretty crappy I still think their review would have been pretty positive.  RS mag is a commercial business and it's all about increasing circulation of their mag which in turn means they can charge more for advertising revenue etc.  The GN'R brand still holds some type of enigma and is still a proven seller from what I can tell (even outside of the harccore fans).  If RS's first review of CD was scathing, I doubt that will bring them any favours from Axoff (intentional typo ) and co.

I recall on MSL's blog at the time of the Skewerl leaks (before it was taken down) that he had been contacted from someone at RS magazine stating that Azoff had bascially threatened them that if they mentioned anything in the mag about the latest leaks etc then they would not get any interviews, advanced copy of the album etc etc.

Now think about it - interviews with band members (potentially even Axl for the first interview in years), that's a lot of dollars they would be pissing away for the sake of an honest review.  I don't blame them - they are running a business they have shareholders to answer to etc etc.  They make a commercial decision and play the game.

I also don't want the album to fail, that's why in another thread I was lamenting the fact that there has been didley squat promotion of the album in Oz.    I simply want it to get a fair run.

That said I agree with Bono - the fans have been shat on from a great height for quite some time - used and abused.  Karma can be a bitch when it comes around.

^ My understanding was there was massive CD stacks of demos for EACH song (I read that in an interview somewhere) So there would be a plethora of different demos for them to choose to intentionally leak if that's what they wanted to do.

But just coz Bach can't hear is bloody voice doesn't mean it's fake.  Build a bridge Sebastian and get over it and when you get to the other side go and talk to Brian May - he was supposed to be on Catcher too, but I don't hear him calling the Catcher leak fake.

^ Cheers for clarifying that, I thought it was something to do with them and not just a fan site.

That was a good post Monkeychow, I have felt the same way about the lack of promotion here in Oz.  I am still yet to even hear the song on the radio (not that I listen to commercial radio a lot).  But I haven't heard or seen squat about CD coming out anyhwere else either.

As you say if this is symptomatic of what is happening in a lot of countries around the world then I think it's piss poor and will have an impact on sales (or lack thereof).

Looks to me like Azoff is simply clearing the decks of the album and doing very little to promote it.  A cynic would suggest that this strategy guarantees the album has the lowest chance of making a big impact compared to a much larger marketing campagin. 

Therefore by guaranteeing a medicore response to this album it helps him to firm up the money move - reunion.  Not that CD will be a commercial failure but if it doesn't "shoot the lights out" it really forces Axl's hand to a certain extent.  Besides, where does Azoff make the big dollars?  Not from the CD release but presumably from touring.  But how much $$'s do you think he can make from a third CD World Tour with likely a third "different" lineup for such an event.

Azoff ain't here to help Axl out of his predicament, or earn small change on another CD tour - he is here for a major payday. 

Sorry I don't want to drag this thread off track nor want to start bashing NewGNR (personally I think it's the wrong time for a reunion and would like to see CD released properly with a decent campaign behind it).  It's just that the longer this half assed release campagin goes with CD being treated like the red headed step child (no pun intended) the more everything points to another bigger game being played out.