We have heard about the album Chinese Democracy since the 90's, many of us anticipating this album before you could even scarecly find any info on the (then fairly new) internet about this project.  When the music from this fabled album finally started materializing there was much eager anticipation from we fans.  Different years have brought different goodies, some good, some better, some forgettable.  What music from the new band (2001 to present) made the biggest impact with you?...whether it be bad or good.

The first music I heard  from the "new GNR" was Oh My God back in 1999.  To say I was disappointed would be a huge understatement.

The next music I heard was in 2001 (the Vegas Show bootleg) with The Blues/Rhiad and Silk Worms.  This recording was only so so but The Blues was excellent and Riyadh had moments that was good, especially the guitar work.  Silk Worms left me hoping that this song was only filler from the experimental direction Axl was going earlier and would be the last of this. 

A couple of weeks later came RIR III and now we got to hear Chinese Democracy, The Blues and a song called Madagascar in soundboard quality!!  The Blues proved to be even better than I anticipated, Chinese Democracy was a good raw grungy-tainted rocker and Madagascar (while I never really got into this one) showed the effect one Mr. Buckethead could have on a song.  He was going to make the new lineup legend instead of laughable.  This wave of goodies had me more than interested. 

During 2002 it looked like the album was really gonna drop finally and the Guns were ready to cut loose!  The VMAs happened and shot the momentum.  Soon after everything went southward.

Things for the most part became stale until about a year later when a group of friends of mine claimed they had a clip of a song from the infamous Mike Trunk show.  Although the quality was not so good it proved to be true.  Some people don't like it but I.R.S. is still one of my favorite songs from the new guys.  Hope was restored, followed again by devastating silence.

Then finally 2006 came...studio-quality leaks!!  These leaks in my opinion came from Axl himself.  The way he handled the whole incident at the club (the Stereo) followed by the leaks it looked very much intentional.  Better/IRS/TWAT all in studio quality and some great songs.  Better was tied for my favorite new Guns track, along with the Blues now.  Catcher in the Rye (although partially leaked prior to this) also was exposed through some rather odd circumstances and again we had yet another great song. 
*(other versions of these same songs leaked but for post-length's sake I'll leave it at this for now).

In 2007 we finally got studio quality leaks of Chinese Democracy, The Blues and Madagascar.  Chinese Democracy was much better than my wildest dreams, The Blues was an obvious hit waiting to happen and Madagascar was still so-so to me.

The biggest impact for me would have to be 2006, although I never thought I would be more excited than in 2001/2002.  The leaks were studio quality and Better was the heavier stuff I had been hoping would come.  TWAT was brilliant although unfinished sounding and IRS was in excellent form.  Catcher was in full and thanks to a good member in the community got "remastered" and we had another great song to add to our own personal Chinese Democracy collection.  Then we were made a "promise" of 2006 being the year.  Things were looking positive.  We all know the rest of the story.

What exposure to the new music made the biggest impact for you?