Von Solo wrote:

How would we like to compare him to Dylan? As a vocalist he's clearly superior. As a lyricist/songwriter, in my opinion, he's superior as well. I don't like Dylan. Actually, I fucking hate Dylan. I don't much like Hendrix either. Not my style. I think Duane Allman was a better, more inovative player around the same time who also died young and receives little to none of the recognition on the scale Hendrix does. I've got respect for Hendrix, sure, but I'm tired of people in all walks of life, be they critics or fans, making these assumptions about the untouchables, the greats, the ones you just don't fuck with. "Well, they're not Zeppelin!" Fuck Zeppelin, too. My point is that we shouldn't bother with the comparison at all. For as many people as would scoff at comparing Slash to Hendrix or Dylan to Rose, there are as many more who would see things the other way around. Everybody's got an opinion, but the idea of these gilded bands and artists really needs to die if music fans are ever going to be allowed the freedom of a real, intelligent debate. Until that happens, no point in comparing, it'll just turn into a mess.

Oh, don't get me started. Bob Dylan is one of the most overrated artists of the last century.

Paxcow wrote:

Axlin08 wrote:

I've heard that theory going around, and I just don't buy it. That's what Axl nutswingers say. Not saying you are one, but as much as I deem myself an "Axlite" i'm not so far out of reality to really buy into that theory.

The leaks had NO affect on age. None. The sounds are dated. Period. Even in 2001, when Madagacar, Street of Dreams, CD & Riad debuted through live performances - they were dated. Maybe not by the 10+ years they are in 2008, but even then i'd say they were dated by 5 years, when they were fresh.

I think you're missing the point when we're talking "age". We're not talking about the songs themselves waining in popularity. We're talking about the actual instrumentals "sound" on the album. The material is very good, but it's simply WAY past it's window...

you're wrong in my opinion. i think the reason you think the songs sound dated is because they actually sound like guns n roses, a band we hadn't heard anything from in many years. axl's voice is probably what dates it for you. you relate that sound to that time. and if i'm wrong.........what direction would you have guns n roses go to sound more currernt, in you're expert opinion?

HUH?!??!?!

This album sounds NOTHING like Guns N' Roses. That's the problem. Maybe with the sole exception of TWAT and This I Love, everything else is totally different. And there lies the problem.

If Axl was going to do a 'dated' album... then why not KEEP the traditional GN'R sound, and just do the material? Sure it'd sound dated, but it'd sound like classic GN'R. But instead, what he did was totally re-invent the sound of GN'R.... to something that was popular in the mid 90's.

Industrial-influences? WTF? If The World sounds like a Seal song, and even Riad is dated as far as techno goes.

He simply waited too long. This album would've been musically relevant, had it been released, by NO LATER than 2001, and I only say that to save Bucket's guitar work, which is probably the only thing in the album keeping it a bit modern.

I think what Axl should've done is modernize CD... AGAIN.... in order to be musically modern in 2008. If that means the rockers sound like Zombie, and the ballads sound like Nicklesuck... than so be it. It's really the only thing around being dated.

This album is dated, but not because it sounds like a GN'R album. It's because it doesn't sound like a GN'R album, yet at the same time, it's re-invented sound, is totally not modern either.

Some of the tracks sound like Queen. Catcher, This I Love... how will that appeal to a current audience? What's 'hip' about that? Those songs are throwbacks to the 70's, early-80's at the latest. SO... not only do they NOT sound like GN'R, they're also old too, for an entire different reason. You see where i'm going with this.

This is what a suit, sitting at Universal is saying, listening to Chinese Democracy, and having to tell HIS boss, WHY CD is underperforming.

The monkeys have taken over the zoo. The housekeeper’s son talks like he's part of GNR. Jesus Christ.

About three weeks ago, a poster on Velvet Rope said that two videos  were made for 'Better', both were sent up to Axl's lair and were subsequently rejected. This statement would appear to hold water now.

There is no video coming.

Axl is becoming increasingly divorced from reality and degrading his brand and legacy even further by allowing his fucking house cleaners to do his business.

I have been watching his activities for the last month with an increasing sense of bemusement and frankly a mild despair.

I know people were glad he came on line to talk to fans as Dexter but frankly more than half of it was rambling sanctimonious nonsense. Also, in context of who he is and the fact that he should be out there doing his fucking job i.e. working to drive the GLOBAL sales of CD instead of sitting at home taking on individual fans and calling them cunts for pointing out just how fucking wrong his attitude to his band and his fans has become. 

This guy loves being the gigantic fish in an ever decreasing pond, it’s pathetic to see such a talent wasting away on a frivolous and petty lawsuit with a soft drink company while being misrepresented  by a couple of Brazilian bottom feeders who’ll be flipping burgers if Axl ever looses interested in them.

It’s the ‘Nu Guns’ guys I feel sorry for, 10 years some of them have been there and this is how Axl decides to re-pay their loyalty. When CD gets put out he throws down his toys and fucks off home. They must feel utterly frustrated and demoralised.

There will never be a reunion and this version of the band will never get off the ground unless Axl has a complete overhaul of his entire life. That’s never going to happen. He’s steamed through 18 band members and 4 producers and three managers to get to here and like he did in St. Louis, Montreal, Vancouver and Philly he fucked off home when his band leadership was needed the most.

I think I’m almost done with this guy. It’s becoming too much like being a fan of Michael Jackson. I’ll just be along to watch how it ends.
.

The thing that messes with my mind is Axl Rose is even crazier now than he was before. At least before, he wanted to win and would fight to make art. Now, he sits in a mansion and if a little kid asked him "where's Slash?" he'd probably start crying. This isn't an attack on Axl, it's just the way it is.

I understand him being sensitive and odd, that in part is what makes him a good artist, but releasing what averages a song a year? Come on, now. Does anyone really think we're going to see another album from this guy? There's just no way. I don't care if he has 3000 finished songs in his vaults. I'd love him to prove me wrong, but somehow I doubt it. That tour that was spoken of? I can't even see that happening. Nothing else from these guy's mouths has come true.

I just hope VR finds a new singer so we actually have some music to listen to from the musicians we most identify with.