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#171 Re: Guns N' Roses » When do we hear Hardskool? » 202 weeks ago
Who knows when vocals were first done? But at least a couple of songs would’ve been ready in 1999 at minimum.
Doesn’t the James Barber “just a lead vocal” quote originate from 1998?
Anyway, ancient history. I guess the real vault is the seed songs and shadow band from 96-98. It’ll never be released because of money and liability and Axl will unlikely finish vocals on ones that could use it. We need Danny Ocean to pull off a heist.
I just hope Axl gets inspired somewhere along the line or throws caution to the wind and releases music consistently.
#172 Re: Guns N' Roses » When do we hear Hardskool? » 202 weeks ago
The timing is interesting for a lot of reasons.
On Axl’s end he seemed to get cold feet a lot. GNR logo treatments were done in advance of Woodstock 1999 which New Guns were slated for and we only recently saw that logo when it popped up on eBay on a tshirt. On the record companies end there’s Sweet Child O Mine 1999 in Big Daddy and then Oh My God in End of Days. And then there’s the Ridley Scott Black Hawk Down rerecorded Welcome to the Jungle debacle a sneeze later in 2000. So effort is being put into legacy Guns and new Guns in varying degree.
So there’s a lot of activity on both sides. Was Oh My God just Axl’s first power play of getting the album out like the later interview with David Wilde in 2000? The Chinese Whispers point to Axl bailing at the last minute and messing up people’s hard work. So where does the truth lie? I’m sure Axl got inspired with End of Days and whatever abuse charity stuff he was supposedly up to in the early 90s but the song was around in some form with Duff and Matt. So maybe 2 years at least?
In Axl’s mind he could be Axl of classic Guns and Axl of New Guns. He didn’t see a conflict. It’s the artists mind vs. the consumers mind. I love Absurd and know it’s flaws and like classic material and what not. I’m glad it all exists. But others aren’t so broad minded which is why AC/DC is a thing.
In my book you can tighten it up, sweeten it, and give it a better mix but after that you’re defacing a Top 15 GNR song. Axl is into it and it’s UYI III in terms of style and lucidity of his lyrics. I enjoy CDs abstraction but get the impression that was part writers block.
#173 Re: Guns N' Roses » When do we hear Hardskool? » 202 weeks ago
Here would be my stab at it….
Guns N’ Roses
Stay of Execution
Hard Skool (4:12)
Perhaps (4:03)
Atlas Shrugged (4:20)
Oklahoma (4:21)
State of Grace (4:10)
Circus Maximus (4:40)
Zodiac (4:47)
Absurd (3:23)
Oh My God (3:43)
The General (6:40)*
Soul Monster (5:49)
Seven (6:16)**
Running Time: 56:00 minutes
* Estimated at longest running CD track "There Was A Time"
** Estimated at second longest CD track "Prostitute"
Rationale:
We're taking a journey through time and Axl's psyche. Start with the hard rocking "Hard Skool" which is reflective and narrative and leads right into an examination of these observations on "Perhaps", the solidifying conclusions on "Atlas Shrugged" and "Oklahoma".
The first couple tracks function as a Single EP set of the string of lead singles for the album and make sure that new listeners are gradually introduced to more potentially alienating material. The back half are the meaner, more experimental songs providing anger but ultimately emotional catharsis and satisfying acceptance of the past. This, granted, taking a shot in the dark on the lyrical and tonal content of "Seven".
Considerations:
While I think the set provides some great lyrical and sonic diversity, in the words of The Dude, a strong ballad or epic would really "tie the whole thing together". What we've got is a killer set of unrelentingly awesome material but seems to be missing the transcendent highs of a "November Rain" or a "Better". It would be nice if it were there but I wouldn't really care either way. I like “Going Down” and always wanted to hear “Down By The Ocean” but don’t see a fit here.
Next album: Guns N Roses Was Here box set
#174 Re: Guns N' Roses » Will GNR release new music in 2021? » 202 weeks ago
I’m a bit worried no liftoff until 2022 but I guess we’ll see in the coming weeks
#175 Re: The Sunset Strip » Most Recent Movie You've Seen » 202 weeks ago
Pig with Nic Cage is damn good. Rewatched Spirited Away and Paprika a couple days ago since I remember watching those like over a decade ago. Pretty great animated features!
Pig was awesome.
The Donut King last week. Entertaining but a bit generic.
The Hunt this week. I dug it.
#176 Re: Guns N' Roses » Wtf happened to…Prostitute » 202 weeks ago
Didn't someone say that Buckmaster did more work but Axl scrapped it?
On this and The Blues?
Hooks are overrated. Art vs. commercially-acceptable.
Prostitute is the former.
Perfectly said.
#177 Re: Guns N' Roses » GNR Release 'Absurd' Single » 202 weeks ago
"We got a new song out. If you don't like it... that's okay, we're gonna play it anyway. It's called Absurd".
-Axl, Fargo 2021
#178 Re: Guns N' Roses » When do we hear Hardskool? » 202 weeks ago
Circus Maximus is sneaky good.
#179 Re: Guns N' Roses » GNR Release 'Absurd' Single » 202 weeks ago
In my book Hard School is their closest approximation to YCBM we’ve heard.
Not as good but it’s in the ballpark.
But even if they don’t hit their 90s highs, close isn’t bad and something is better than nothing.
The more attempts at bat, the more chances you have to knock it out of the park.
Thus ends my post and my string of baseball metaphors.
#180 Re: Guns N' Roses » GNR Release 'Absurd' Single » 202 weeks ago
I don’t entirely get the reaction.
Absurd is an acquired taste in a lot of ways, something by the way of Prodigy and UK Subs but it also has shades of It’s So Easy and Garden of Eden. Am I surprised? Not really. Hardcores made up their minds. Classic rock types will scoff it isn’t 1980s power chord schmaltz. Take a demographic poll and guarantee Gen X and onwards give it the fairer shake.
And it’s a smart play. Release a simple punk rocker, get some juice into your tour, and keep the ball rolling. Collect $1.29 a head off of your least remarkable song. Continue to cash checks.
And it is an easy target for the usual suspects to get their anger out on. Then they can release Hard School and your positive momentum continues to build from there. Just hope it continues in September (or sooner) so we can keep our fists pumping.
