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#421 Re: Guns N' Roses » Chinese Democracy Chart Positions Thread » 863 weeks ago
If you look at the breakdown between iTunes and physical CD sales, a lot of people still buy Cds. Unfortunately, a lot of people only download individual tracks as well.
#422 Re: Guns N' Roses » what are we disappointed with? » 863 weeks ago
I think there are many parts to this equation and people here have picked up vital reasons why this album has not caught on. I believe what is going on is the downward marketability of Axl's GnR. Not just for this record, but for pretty much the rest of the journey....unless he can change perceptions of who he is, what this new band is, and what happened to the old band.
Back in 91/92, each UYI album sold 1 million copies first week, an astounding number. No one ever believed that this record could do that business, but few of us really expected the magnitude of the drop off we are now seeing in 2008.
1. I really think as many as one out of every two GnR fans in 91/92 were essentially riding the wave of the band's success. And when the bandwagon came to a halt, so did their support. It is not unreasonable for me to consider a 50% rate of attrition in fanbase over the last 15 years essentially due to shifting tastes, maturation, and/or latching onto the next big thing. See Gwen, Kanye, L'il Wayne...ect. This loss is at no fault t.o the album's musical selection or quality
2. The portion of the GnR fanbase enthusiastically supportive of Slash did not show up to support this new record. The schism in GnR has never really healed and there are still fans who take the side of Slash/Duff in the break up.
3. The perception that Axl was the cause of the break up due to his enormous ego has really found traction in the perception of many music fans. The fact that he dared take the name and move forward without the old guys no doubt has fueled concerns that GnR suffered through a tyrannical military take over and really is nothing more than a vanity project.
4. Axl has self inflicted severe wounds to his own reputation since the new band was launched : 2002 VMAs; 2002 Riot show; 2002 tour cancellation; departure of Robin, Bucket, Brain. . . Each one of these incidents has fueled the perception that he is mentally or physically unable to function any more, perhaps even to the point of being washed up.
5. The marketing of this opus has been dreadful. No pressers, no videos, no performances, tepid print and TV media campaign, average first single, lack of push for the second single. . . Even the exclusive deal was a disaster in waiting; BB rolled out an army of knockdown displays and within a week they were dismantled. Both the band and label went out of their way to make the album hard enough to find then never gave anyone a reason to get it.
This is not to say that quality isn't there. The album is truly a thoughtful and grand vision with many different styles but ultimately bound by the sound of a prototypical GnR record. But the facts may be that Axl has little control over the perceptions in the music world today and that the market for an Axl led GnR is substantially smaller than the one he took for granted 15 years ago.
#423 Re: Guns N' Roses » Chinese Democracy Chart Positions Thread » 863 weeks ago
IF GNR had any upcoming plans, they have most likely been derailed by the lukewarm reaction to this album.
Not sure about that. I think Robin's departure had a huge effect on the upcoming tour plans.
Axl can still release the second record but the amount of backing and expectations he receives has changed. The marketing of the second album has changed significantly with this rather tepid market.
#424 Re: Guns N' Roses » Chinese Democracy Chart Positions Thread » 863 weeks ago
killingvector wrote:Considering the spelling, grammar, and reasoning errors in your above post, I'll let others decide which post reads like 'crap'.
My point again is that you cannot make the case that this album does not appeal to enough people when your argument is littered with subjective judgments on the quality of the album itself such as 'mediocre ballad' in reference to This I Love.
I get it, you don't like the album. But why do you insist on explaining why millions of others don't like it either? Many people impulse buy music once they have been hooked onto a single track. Others simply will never look for a piece of music if they haven't had their attention grabbed by any part of it. There are far too many other factors at play here than simply: the music stinks, the people have spoken. Such reasoning is beyond simplistic, it's laughable. You can break down any underselling album by generic themes and make that same case regardless of reality.
:haha: yeah o.k. buddy. Spelling errors? Yeah that's relevant. Lets' see what other irrelevant topics you can hit on seeing as though you have nothing but excuses. You are one big excuse. "not enough people have heard the album" Boo fucking hoo! Not enough people heard U2's Pop either and that album was dubbed a commercial failure selling roughly 6 million copies. U2 has a name, U2 has selling power but people didn't like what they heard from the Pop album so not nearly as many purchased it as your regular U2 album. Chinese Democracy is no fucking different. People haven't liked what they've heard so people aren't gonna buy it. Get that through your skull. It's not a matter of people just not being exposed to this album. Hell man this album has been exposed since 1998. WAKE UP!
Are you seriously that dense that you haven't noticed I've pointed out the other factors that have contributed to the weak sales than holy shit pal. In case you haven't noticed I called This I Love awesome. In my album review I gave it a 4 outta 5. I also called the music an average piano ballad which Axl's voice evelvates to an amazing song. Talk about picking you spots. That's all you do. You're obsessed with looking for anything you deem slightly negative and then feel this insane need to defend the album. Get over it. You honestly sound like a joke when you can't admit the music has played a big part in the poor sales. This bullshit that will live in your mind forever that the album just did't get enough exposure is crap. So what? A video for CD kills it and album sales spike by a million? Axl does an interview and people think "gee that guys' still alive? I should check that album out" causeing it to surge back into the top ten.
You're living in La La land Killingvector. You honestly sound like an obbsessed fanboy who blames the commercial faliure on this album on everything other than the music.
Oh but I forgot. 75 of Manchester's police departement to a man absolutely love the album Sure they do.
How was my spelling in that? Do tell cause I mean it's relevant to the topic at hand. Seriously man by bringing up spelling you look like an ass.
If you think that quality is measured by the number of units pushed then you really should be ranting on the Britney Spears board.
btw, your spelling still needs work, as does your prose. Plus I never read your album review nor do I have an inclination to.
#425 Re: Guns N' Roses » what are we disappointed with? » 863 weeks ago
The only version of this band I cared about included Bucket. He's gone, but on the album. I got to see them live together and on CD.
What disappoints me is Axl has taken his fans for granted again. Sales, singles or awards will not validate my opinion that CD is a great record. Nothing can. It's good enough for me, but the same can't be said ab out Axl's behavior.
Sales don't validate the album, but the band's future is a reward thus given. I hate to have to worry about units pushed or spins, but in reality we may not hear another record from this band if this album does poorly. Or we may not hear a record of this quality from GnR ever again. There is a lot at stake here and unfortunately it depends on these kids buying the record.
#426 Re: Guns N' Roses » Chinese Democracy Chart Positions Thread » 863 weeks ago
killingvector wrote:My thoughts exactly Smoking. It still lags CD in total spins because the label isn't pushing it.
The problem is not the label, the problem is Axl. Axl is not supporting his own album and he is the one who doesn't push it. We fans seem to care more about CD's success than the creator. Guess none of us should give a fuck, but I still have some sad feelings about it. Not much, but still some.
I think there is something wrong in the GnR camp. He and the band have had nothing of substance to say about the situation. Doesn't sound good.
Is there still a band?
#427 Re: Guns N' Roses » Chinese Democracy Chart Positions Thread » 863 weeks ago
I didn't misunderstand you. If you are expecting this album to be a huge hit, but then saying it requires digestion, the public will have forgot about it by then.
If there had been promotion from the beggining, it would have been different.
But if they were 'digesting it' then they would have bought it already.
Three or four spins is not asking too much especially after a purchase.
Regardless the album wasn't promoted so it has sunk.
#428 Re: Guns N' Roses » Chinese Democracy Chart Positions Thread » 863 weeks ago
buzzsaw wrote:killingvector wrote:Personally I think Better is a very good single. Unfortunately, it hasn't had the same push from UMG which CD did. But I do agree that, pound for pound, this album requires digestion in order to appreciate. However, I do not agree the material is not marketable or lacking enough quality to sell. In fact, I think it is quite good.
"I think Better is a very good single" + "this album requires digestion in order to appreciate" = no killer single that will get people interested. It's simple math.
I have to agree with you here.
Something that "requires digestion" does not equal a hit single. If it takes time to digest, then my guess is the radio station will be changed by a lot of people. It's gotta grab people by the balls.
In this case, it's not negative, it's realistic.
Why are there so many people getting defensive and angry anyway? The reactions of the general public shouldn't change your enjoyment (or lack of) at all. It certainly doesn't change my enjoyment of the album.
Maybe you misunderstood me, Better is a good single. The album requires digestion but it is very filling.
#429 Re: Guns N' Roses » Chinese Democracy Chart Positions Thread » 863 weeks ago
My thoughts exactly Smoking. It still lags CD in total spins because the label isn't pushing it.
#430 Re: Guns N' Roses » Chinese Democracy Chart Positions Thread » 863 weeks ago
If you look at what the radio stations are playing, they is evidence UMG hasn't pushed Better as hard as they did for CD. Evidence that they too are pulling their punches.
15 years is a long time. Considering Axl's rep, he needed people to rediscover their interest in GnR for this album to be successful.
