Chinese Democracy in 08 = Free Dr. Pepper for All!

[CS10029]

Re: Chinese Democracy in 08 = Free Dr. Pepper for All!

It's like a $1.39 plus deposit. Who is that broke?

[Misfit]

Re: Chinese Democracy in 08 = Free Dr. Pepper for All!

That's weak that they're mailing out coupons, they should just have something up allowing you to print it for one day. Obviously, they figured that would cost them too much hence the 4-6 weeks turnaround which should discourage most of the potential participants.

The new GnR single is meh, at best. It sounds like an intro type of track which makes it puzzling why they would choose to go with that as the first single. Still, I have my copy pre-ordered for pickup on the 23rd. Its too big a rock record to ignore so I'll give it a chance (though my expectations are pretty low).

[jmood88]

Re: Chinese Democracy in 08 = Free Dr. Pepper for All!

It's like a $1.39 plus deposit. Who is that broke?

Anyone who would complain about waiting 4 to 6 weeks for something that they're getting for free.

[madscientist]

Re: Chinese Democracy in 08 = Free Dr. Pepper for All!

Anyone figure out how to print more than one of these coupons? I was able to order mine fine, but I have been unable to get one for my wife and mom.

[gta95]

Re: Chinese Democracy in 08 = Free Dr. Pepper for All!

DONE!

[boomhauertjs]

Re: Chinese Democracy in 08 = Free Dr. Pepper for All!

Anybody buy it yet? Best Buy had it on Sunday (does being released 2 days early make up for years of delays?). I'm going to pick it up on my way home from work tonight.

[Fresh Tendrils]

Re: Chinese Democracy in 08 = Free Dr. Pepper for All!

I tried to get my free Dr. Pepper a couple times yesterday but was unable to get past the registration page to the actual coupon.

[Misfit]

Re: Chinese Democracy in 08 = Free Dr. Pepper for All!

I finally got through at 4:30pm today. Mind you, I never sat in front of a PC trying to get through I just tried off an on while at work.

I bought the album. I could easily rattle off 5000 words on it as a review after listening to it about a half dozen times at this point. The album does not live up to the hype, that is an impossible feat given how long this thing was in development, but if one goes in with the right mind-set it is an enjoyable and (dare I say?) good album.

Appetite for Destruction came out over 20 years ago so even if the whole band managed to stay together there was no way Chinese Democracy was going to sound like that record. It is easy to make comparisons though between Chinese Democracy and Use Your Illusion. The UYI double album was merely a solid effort, a case of quantity of quality. AFD was the band's only great album (and I don't use the term great loosely, I'd argue it was the most important release of the 80's and last great rock record) and their flashy persona and constant turmoil elevated their fame through the UYI era. By then Axl was the only member not sh!t-faced and high 24/7. Aside from a few Izzy Stradlin tracks and one Duff track, UIY was mostly an Axl show (and reason why there were a lot of ballads). Given that, I would argue that Chinese Democracy is a logical progression for the band, even if it is an Axl solo record.

There are hits and misses on the record, and the ratio of rock tracks to ballads is about 1:1, so if you hated disc 2 of UYI you probably won't care for Chinese Democracy. I'd say Axl's voice has held up better than expected over the years. I'd imagine that isn't the case for his live performances but in a studio it's a lot easier to hit the precise notes. He uses a "new" voice for the song Madagascar that takes some getting used to. There are also a few tracks where he tries to compensate for the loss of his trademark rasp by singing in a higher voice, which sometimes works (Prostitute) and sometimes doesn't (If the World). There are some electronic/industrial elements but nothing as over-powering as Oh My God from the End of Days soundtrack (way back in 1999). Shackler's Revenge is probably the most industrial and I imagine most people have already heard that number. The guitar work, even without Slash, is actually very strong and far from a weakness. The drum tracks are the biggest weakness on the album as most sound electronic and lack punch. My personal favorites off the record (in no order) would be Shackler's, Prostitute, Street of Dreams, and This I Love. Three of the four of those songs happen to be ballads. I don't have a problem with ballads as long as they're well done. I'd actually like to see Prostitute get released as the next single (following the title track and Better) as the lyrics suggest it's about the last 13 years and trying to find the right time to release Chinese Democracy.

This was meant to be quick and dirty but it didn't come out that way, oh well. In short, I would say if you're a GN'R fan that can handle listening to a new GN'R record without the original cast then definitely pick this up. If you're a rock fan in general, then I would also reccommend getting this album as there hasn't been a high-profile rock release like this really since GN'R's last album, Use Your Illusion (those of you old enough to remember, that record was hotly anticipated and shipped multi-platinum to hordes of rabid fans). It can't compete with Appetite for Destruction, but I think it stands with the rest of the band's catalogue and does the best that it can.

[roadman]

Re: Chinese Democracy in 08 = Free Dr. Pepper for All!

I finally got through at 4:30pm today. Mind you, I never sat in front of a PC trying to get through I just tried off an on while at work.

I bought the album. I could easily rattle off 5000 words on it as a review after listening to it about a half dozen times at this point. The album does not live up to the hype, that is an impossible feat given how long this thing was in development, but if one goes in with the right mind-set it is an enjoyable and (dare I say?) good album.

Appetite for Destruction came out over 20 years ago so even if the whole band managed to stay together there was no way Chinese Democracy was going to sound like that record. It is easy to make comparisons though between Chinese Democracy and Use Your Illusion. The UYI double album was merely a solid effort, a case of quantity of quality. AFD was the band's only great album (and I don't use the term great loosely, I'd argue it was the most important release of the 80's and last great rock record) and their flashy persona and constant turmoil elevated their fame through the UYI era. By then Axl was the only member not sh!t-faced and high 24/7. Aside from a few Izzy Stradlin tracks and one Duff track, UIY was mostly an Axl show (and reason why there were a lot of ballads). Given that, I would argue that Chinese Democracy is a logical progression for the band, even if it is an Axl solo record.

There are hits and misses on the record, and the ratio of rock tracks to ballads is about 1:1, so if you hated disc 2 of UYI you probably won't care for Chinese Democracy. I'd say Axl's voice has held up better than expected over the years. I'd imagine that isn't the case for his live performances but in a studio it's a lot easier to hit the precise notes. He uses a "new" voice for the song Madagascar that takes some getting used to. There are also a few tracks where he tries to compensate for the loss of his trademark rasp by singing in a higher voice, which sometimes works (Prostitute) and sometimes doesn't (If the World). There are some electronic/industrial elements but nothing as over-powering as Oh My God from the End of Days soundtrack (way back in 1999). Shackler's Revenge is probably the most industrial and I imagine most people have already heard that number. The guitar work, even without Slash, is actually very strong and far from a weakness. The drum tracks are the biggest weakness on the album as most sound electronic and lack punch. My personal favorites off the record (in no order) would be Shackler's, Prostitute, Street of Dreams, and This I Love. Three of the four of those songs happen to be ballads. I don't have a problem with ballads as long as they're well done. I'd actually like to see Prostitute get released as the next single (following the title track and Better) as the lyrics suggest it's about the last 13 years and trying to find the right time to release Chinese Democracy.

This was meant to be quick and dirty but it didn't come out that way, oh well. In short, I would say if you're a GN'R fan that can handle listening to a new GN'R record without the original cast then definitely pick this up. If you're a rock fan in general, then I would also reccommend getting this album as there hasn't been a high-profile rock release like this really since GN'R's last album, Use Your Illusion (those of you old enough to remember, that record was hotly anticipated and shipped multi-platinum to hordes of rabid fans). It can't compete with Appetite for Destruction, but I think it stands with the rest of the band's catalogue and does the best that it can.

I haven't heard the whole disc, I think the last song I heard was Street of Dreams. I liked Chinese Democracy, didn't think much of Shackler's Revenge, sort of liked If the World.

I thought Street of Dreams was very November Rainish. I'd agree, so far, it sounds more like UYI, but I didn't think much of the double disc set. I thought they could have put out all the good songs onto one disc, I thought some of the others just didn't feel right, especially the last one, Psychopath.

I think I will end up liking Chinese Democracy.

[MC Fatigue]

Re: Chinese Democracy in 08 = Free Dr. Pepper for All!

Would have been cooler if they actually mailed out all the Dr. Pepper's (although, impractical). I'm not big on using coupons at stores, so I won't bother registering one.

[SportsTop]

Re: Chinese Democracy in 08 = Free Dr. Pepper for All!

I finally got through at 4:30pm today. Mind you, I never sat in front of a PC trying to get through I just tried off an on while at work.

I bought the album. I could easily rattle off 5000 words on it as a review after listening to it about a half dozen times at this point. The album does not live up to the hype, that is an impossible feat given how long this thing was in development, but if one goes in with the right mind-set it is an enjoyable and (dare I say?) good album.

Appetite for Destruction came out over 20 years ago so even if the whole band managed to stay together there was no way Chinese Democracy was going to sound like that record. It is easy to make comparisons though between Chinese Democracy and Use Your Illusion. The UYI double album was merely a solid effort, a case of quantity of quality. AFD was the band's only great album (and I don't use the term great loosely, I'd argue it was the most important release of the 80's and last great rock record) and their flashy persona and constant turmoil elevated their fame through the UYI era. By then Axl was the only member not sh!t-faced and high 24/7. Aside from a few Izzy Stradlin tracks and one Duff track, UIY was mostly an Axl show (and reason why there were a lot of ballads). Given that, I would argue that Chinese Democracy is a logical progression for the band, even if it is an Axl solo record.

There are hits and misses on the record, and the ratio of rock tracks to ballads is about 1:1, so if you hated disc 2 of UYI you probably won't care for Chinese Democracy. I'd say Axl's voice has held up better than expected over the years. I'd imagine that isn't the case for his live performances but in a studio it's a lot easier to hit the precise notes. He uses a "new" voice for the song Madagascar that takes some getting used to. There are also a few tracks where he tries to compensate for the loss of his trademark rasp by singing in a higher voice, which sometimes works (Prostitute) and sometimes doesn't (If the World). There are some electronic/industrial elements but nothing as over-powering as Oh My God from the End of Days soundtrack (way back in 1999). Shackler's Revenge is probably the most industrial and I imagine most people have already heard that number. The guitar work, even without Slash, is actually very strong and far from a weakness. The drum tracks are the biggest weakness on the album as most sound electronic and lack punch. My personal favorites off the record (in no order) would be Shackler's, Prostitute, Street of Dreams, and This I Love. Three of the four of those songs happen to be ballads. I don't have a problem with ballads as long as they're well done. I'd actually like to see Prostitute get released as the next single (following the title track and Better) as the lyrics suggest it's about the last 13 years and trying to find the right time to release Chinese Democracy.

This was meant to be quick and dirty but it didn't come out that way, oh well. In short, I would say if you're a GN'R fan that can handle listening to a new GN'R record without the original cast then definitely pick this up. If you're a rock fan in general, then I would also reccommend getting this album as there hasn't been a high-profile rock release like this really since GN'R's last album, Use Your Illusion (those of you old enough to remember, that record was hotly anticipated and shipped multi-platinum to hordes of rabid fans). It can't compete with Appetite for Destruction, but I think it stands with the rest of the band's catalogue and does the best that it can.

Quality review.

You hit the nail on the head. Good job.

[Hooe]

Re: Chinese Democracy in 08 = Free Dr. Pepper for All!

So I just got this today on a whim; I was curious. Listening now (with really, no prior expectation on how GnR 'should' sound; I have some singles by them but no albums prior to this one, for better or worse).

It's not rubbish, I'll give it that much at the very least; four tracks in and it's had my toes tapping.

I forgot to register for my coupon, though

[BTB]

Re: Chinese Democracy in 08 = Free Dr. Pepper for All!

I'm a little disappointed but it sounds about what I expected after reading all the articles about Axl's "vision". Some of the songs sound like they have potential to be classics but then take weird turns - for example "Better" is really good until the chorus IMO. Axl's signature rasp is gone as noted above, but oh well. There aren't really any of the signature Slash style riffs, nothing really that catchy. But the album is certainly not bad. The album just kind of makes you wish the band never broke up cuz they would have been amazing throughout the 90's.

[boomhauertjs]

Re: Chinese Democracy in 08 = Free Dr. Pepper for All!

Listened to all of the album except the last two tracks. It takes me several listens before I can get a true feeling about an album, but so far, I'm really liking it. I've been a fan of "Madagascar" since I heard it live back in 2002 and "Shackler's Revenge" has grown on me. Being a big NIN fan, I like the incorporation of elements of industrial rock. Have a feeling I'll be listening a lot to this one during the next couple of months.

[CaptainZombie]

Re: Chinese Democracy in 08 = Free Dr. Pepper for All!

I finally got through at 4:30pm today. Mind you, I never sat in front of a PC trying to get through I just tried off an on while at work.

I bought the album. I could easily rattle off 5000 words on it as a review after listening to it about a half dozen times at this point. The album does not live up to the hype, that is an impossible feat given how long this thing was in development, but if one goes in with the right mind-set it is an enjoyable and (dare I say?) good album.

Appetite for Destruction came out over 20 years ago so even if the whole band managed to stay together there was no way Chinese Democracy was going to sound like that record. It is easy to make comparisons though between Chinese Democracy and Use Your Illusion. The UYI double album was merely a solid effort, a case of quantity of quality. AFD was the band's only great album (and I don't use the term great loosely, I'd argue it was the most important release of the 80's and last great rock record) and their flashy persona and constant turmoil elevated their fame through the UYI era. By then Axl was the only member not sh!t-faced and high 24/7. Aside from a few Izzy Stradlin tracks and one Duff track, UIY was mostly an Axl show (and reason why there were a lot of ballads). Given that, I would argue that Chinese Democracy is a logical progression for the band, even if it is an Axl solo record.

There are hits and misses on the record, and the ratio of rock tracks to ballads is about 1:1, so if you hated disc 2 of UYI you probably won't care for Chinese Democracy. I'd say Axl's voice has held up better than expected over the years. I'd imagine that isn't the case for his live performances but in a studio it's a lot easier to hit the precise notes. He uses a "new" voice for the song Madagascar that takes some getting used to. There are also a few tracks where he tries to compensate for the loss of his trademark rasp by singing in a higher voice, which sometimes works (Prostitute) and sometimes doesn't (If the World). There are some electronic/industrial elements but nothing as over-powering as Oh My God from the End of Days soundtrack (way back in 1999). Shackler's Revenge is probably the most industrial and I imagine most people have already heard that number. The guitar work, even without Slash, is actually very strong and far from a weakness. The drum tracks are the biggest weakness on the album as most sound electronic and lack punch. My personal favorites off the record (in no order) would be Shackler's, Prostitute, Street of Dreams, and This I Love. Three of the four of those songs happen to be ballads. I don't have a problem with ballads as long as they're well done. I'd actually like to see Prostitute get released as the next single (following the title track and Better) as the lyrics suggest it's about the last 13 years and trying to find the right time to release Chinese Democracy.

This was meant to be quick and dirty but it didn't come out that way, oh well. In short, I would say if you're a GN'R fan that can handle listening to a new GN'R record without the original cast then definitely pick this up. If you're a rock fan in general, then I would also reccommend getting this album as there hasn't been a high-profile rock release like this really since GN'R's last album, Use Your Illusion (those of you old enough to remember, that record was hotly anticipated and shipped multi-platinum to hordes of rabid fans). It can't compete with Appetite for Destruction, but I think it stands with the rest of the band's catalogue and does the best that it can.

I agree, this fits with the music that was produced on UYI I and II. While there are a few songs I dislike, this album is a solid effort. If you are going in expecting AFD, then you will be sadly disappointed. One thing that would have benefited this album a lot would have been cutting out some of the songs. There is some filler here, but I can understand that he wants to get out as many songs as he can since its been a 10 year hiatus.

My favorite song on here is Better and it was my favorite almost 2 years ago when the demo disc was going around the net.