I would have kind of liked both intros for The Blues. The original then slip into the new one,
kind of like Breakdown.

I always liked the heavy synth version of The Blues from 02.

James, you're taking this a little personal. I didn't call you a child, and of course you can view
this anyway you want to. But imo it is childish to make this thing an issue. I'm sure in the bands
minds they have made something very special. And I guarantee you other fans who listen to it
will agree. Some will think it is mind blowing and earth shattering. And you perhaps won't. But
it is a matter of opinion. I've heard established critics who I respect immensely, like Fricke from
Rollingstone, heap praise on the songs. Just because you don't see it that way, or that you felt
lied to or mislead by your quotes above, doesn't mean everyone will. So this is a pissing in the
wind type of argument.

And reguarding the quotes...  Some of them I recognize as being made by people outside the
band. And I'm sorry, I don't feel they are responsible for those "expressed opinions" of others.
And who am I to say that Fortus and Stinston don't feel like this is mindblowing music? Like I said
before, I'm sure there are going to be many fans who agree with their statements.

People can judge CD on any criteria they feel fit. And its our own personal responsibiltiy to sift
through them and judge it for ourselves. Because a lot of opinions are going to be based in bullshit.
And yes, there will be hissy fit type reactions.

And I'm taking any statement, on a record or apple pie at face value. Because it is someone
elses opinion, one that I might not share.

Where I can stand with madgas on this is that it's up to the fan to decide whether or not to take
comments with a grain of salt. All artists are going to say their next record is their best. I've never
heard one artist say their next release was lame, no good, okay or just "Eh.."

Bands always make outlandish claims, and I have to say, I never once heard Axl feed into this. He
was always very wary about describing it. Even to the point of saying it's not going to sound like
a typcial Guns record and people should like at least a few songs on CD. That's not exactly claiming
its "earth shattering."

The biggest hype came from people outside the band, not so much the band themselves.

Do they share some blame for the hype? I guess you could say so if you were so inclined, but its
not their fault people bought into it. I think everyone should approach an album with a skeptics eye
or more times than not, you're going to be disappointed. That's the fans responsibility not to be
duped by a marketing machine.

Like Prostitute, people built that song up in their own minds, themseleves. I never once heard the
band specifically talk about this song or hype it. People outside the band did and the fans jumped
on it. I don't think it was Axl's fault people were let down because it wasn't the greatest song ever.

Goddamn it, I put this in the wrong fucking thread.

Forget the part about having any real sense.