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#11 Re: Guns N' Roses » Axl Rose/Dexter forum chat discussion thread » 864 weeks ago
The last few days have been nothing short of epic.
IMO, the conventional (corporate) media took another major hit this weekend. I think Axl (a mega huge icon) breaking his silence on fan forums, will have major ramifications that will not be fully realized for years to come. Axl is definitely a trailblazer. I think he did a huge service to his fans and the "little" man in general. I'm guessing that this type of promotion (PR or whatever) is going to catch on fast.
The Axl vs. Slash saga is very captivating material. I bet an Axl autobiography would actually out sell CD. How cool would it be to see Slash start visiting some of these same forums. Even better yet...imagine being able to see Axl and Slash communicating in a closed chat on one of these sites.
The breakup of the original lineup seems very confusing. You can pretty much throw common sense out the window when you get lawyers (or any other third party) involved. Of course both sides believe they are right, the lawyers wouldn't be doing their job if they didn't have them convinced otherwise (worded bad..but you get what I mean).
The 2nd mygnr postings reinforce how prominent a figure Slash still is to Axl. Axl may be pissed at him, but he wouldn't have given him so much attention if it wasn't someone he held dear. The Slash "breakup" seems to weight heavier on him than any of his female breakups.
Unfortunately, I don't think an original lineup reunion will ever happen, despite the many positive factors that would seem to favor it. All the original members respect each other musically. They also seem very dedicated to the band...its like the name "guns n roses" is more than a name to them...its like a symbol for what they think music should be (Axl even stated as much in his postings, and look at how hard the other memebrs fought to retain their assciation with the name.)
The only thing that seems to be holding the reunion back are the character flaws of Axl and Slash. Notice the turnover rate in Nuguns and in Slash's projects. They both seem to lack the ability to give and take...at least in regards to conflict resolution. They seem to be more caught up in determing who is right, than in trying to resolve the real issues. This inability to repsectfully disagree with each other (and move on) ultimately leads to resentment on both sides. Just like a marraige, once resentment sets in, Its over.
#12 Re: Guns N' Roses » The lack of guitars/riffs » 865 weeks ago
I think you might be right about the lack of guitar riffs (hooks)...I would also add that there is a lack of bass and drum hooks.
Axl seems to be purposely avoiding the use of memorable hooks on CD. Most of the hooks are based on some kind of synthesizer beat. A few rely on vocals such as Raid and Scraped. Street of Dreams and This I Love use piano based hooks. Madagascar uses an orchestral hook. I actually think the guitar hook in IRS sounds a bit Santanaesque (made that word up).
The lack of memorable hooks is probably why CD sounds so average the first few listens through. I think Axl was trying to develop multilayered songs that built momentum as the songs progressed (Just check out the song credits if you want to see how many different instruments are used on each song). The only way to put emphasis on his additional layers was to leave the hook bland....For Example: This I Love uses a single piano in the intro and as a hook through out. The orchestra is later added to build momentum, and the song really starts climaxing when that beautiful guitar work is added....
I would say each song finishes much stronger than it starts (both musically and vocally)...and I think that is why this album grows on you so much.
I think CD is an ambitious and intelligent masterpiece, and I'm glad Axl isn't afraid to evolve and take chances despite the flack he gets from his diehard AFD fans. Im so annoyed with Metallica...the way they keep trying to recreate the same sound from their glory days. Evolve and move on already.
#13 Re: Guns N' Roses » Chinese Democracy Elimination Round 1 » 865 weeks ago
Chinese Democracy
#14 Re: Guns N' Roses » What did you expect? » 865 weeks ago
Dude, nothing on this album is a hit. Nothing.
At least not enough of a hit to drive album sales. People - don't - care.
I think you might be underestimating the album. I didn't even know it was coming out----I just happened to be looking on iTunes for something else and saw the advertisement up on the top of the page. I read some reviews and about a third of them seemed to say that the album grew on you the more you listened---I got it and tend to agree.
Street of Dreams just seems like the kind of song that will be a hit. I don't even know why they picked Chinese Democracy for their 1st single, because I think its one of the weaker songs---the same way I never understood why Don't Drink the Water was the first song released for Before These Crowded Streets or Too Much for Crash (both by DMB).
#15 Re: Guns N' Roses » What did you expect? » 865 weeks ago
if a more mainstream single comes out and catches on with the younger people, that had never even heard of gnr, it won't matter because to them cause it will be the only gnr they know but the fairweather fans then exist in more relevant numbers and it becomes more debatable on what they think about it about it all and if it ffected their decision. personally, i don't think the fairweather fans are the ones that care about the poilitics of gnr brand name.
That mainstream single will definitely be Street of Dreams. If this song gets radio time it will be a huge hit.
What did I expect?
I didn't know what to expect, but Im not much of a diehard (I had never even heard a leaked or live version of any of these songs). I was hoping for something in the area of Lost Dogs (Pearl Jam)----A good album---That spanned a decade+ of style changes and at least had a few good songs that probably didn't fit together too well.
CD turned out to much better than I had hoped. The album actually would have been nearly perfect IMOP if they left off the 1st two songs---which really don't go along with the vibe of the album (though they are pretty decent). Every other song seems deeply personal----a real window to the inner and outer turmoil that has been consuming Axl all these years.
If Axl would go on Howard Stern (or other big media outlet) and talk about some of the real stories that inspired the music of CD, the sales and interest would definitely shoot up.
This isn't really an album that jumps out at you, but it has really grown on me the more Ive listened. I can't get enough right now. ---As a point of reference---I bought Contraband when it came out, and though I tried, the songs never really grew on me (even though I did like listening to Slash play...the songs seemed to lack that deeper inspiration ---this is different.
