Mikkamakka wrote:

russtcb wrote:

I've always heard about Axl's sharp wit and sense of humor. If he would do something that pokes fun at himself while still looking cool (again, I have to suggest an SNL, Fallon or Conan appearance) he would gain heaps of interest again.

Yeah, he's said to be witty and funny, but his lyrics are always 'very serious', sometimes whiney. A little distance from himself would help. But I'm afraid he's too self-centred and nothing suggests that any of his jokes would be self-reflecting.

I was listening to the Trunk interview again the other day and there were glimpses of it in there. Like when Eddie asked if Axl pays attention to stuff said on the internet and Axl was like "When have you ever known me to be reactionary?" like very smart ass and he knew he was knocking on himself a little bit. There were a few other bits like that during the interview as well.

Ali wrote:

I will say though, that the I think the final album tracks sound much better to me in many cases, in terms of mix and overall sound quality.  I love the final versions of "I.R.S." and "Better" with Frank's drum parts in there and their final mix and quality.

I agree. I prefer the final version of every track - the only one I'd even consider changing is catcher - and even that's not because of the Ron/Brian debate - it's because I liked how the paino used to dominate the opening and drive the song at the start and it's kind of hidden in the mix now. But that's a personal preference, and in general I think the final changes really did finish the songs.

As i said in another thread I think it was like adding paint or varnish to wood that's been sanded back and crafted...just completed the product.

Mikkamakka wrote:

I consider a 40-year old _talented_ guitar player lazy, if he has zero writing credit and doesn't show an ounce of interest to create something.

I actually disagree on principle with this, weather or not Richard has writing credits.

I beleive there are two kinds of musical ability, the ability to peform and render something, and the ability to create it.

Luckily many of our absolute most famous and loved musicians have both skills, but if a person, (and I wouldn't know about richard), has only one of those skills, that doesn't make them lazy.

For example, I think as a composer I could easily compose in my head guitar parts that are beyond my skill level to play, and I'm also sure that there's people out there with incredible technical skills in terms of their ability to move their hands - but who don't compose a melody as nice as someone like Slash for example.

I just see skill at the instrument and skill at composing as two distinct traits, that people have in varying amounts. In rock it's common for people to have both, but in other music forms - like classical music - it's common for singers and violinists and stuff to be famous from their ability to play music composed by people hundreds of years before them - there is no requirment for them to also be creative.

It's really the use of the word "Lazy" that I think is inaccurate. Someone with Richard's skill on the instrument can't be lazy - the amount of practise needed to be able to master the instrument to the technical degree people like him have involves a lot of effort and disicipline. He may or may not be creative...but I wouldn't say he's lazy.

But i guess you are saying you have a prefrence for musicans who compose more as well as peform, which is a valid as an opinion.

Ali wrote:

Mikkamakka wrote:

I consider a 40-year old _talented_ guitar player lazy, if he has zero writing credit and doesn't show an ounce of interest to create something. He's quite comfortable with playing other people's songs, be it Guns N' Roses, Thin Lizzy or whatever.

Perhaps you should educate yourself a little more on someone's history before making statements like you did.  You just made yourself look clueless and foolish.  There's a band Richard was in before GN'R, with Frank Ferrer actually, called Love Spit Love.  Richard co-wrote several songs on both their albums.

Ali

You are so extremely arrogant and stupid at the same time that I'd put you on my ignore list. But I've always fought against your kind, Axlite. I know Richard's pedigre quite well, thanks. Some songs he wrote in the 90s cannot justify his past 15 years of nothing.

Don't you miss HTGTH? That's your place, go back to the fellow brainwashed zealots.

Ali wrote:

WARose wrote:

the real problem is, that axl had the final say in this project all these years..  we`re really beating a dead horse here. all these things were discussed for years and years. the record was finished, even mixed at least 5 years prior to its release. the 2006 "demos" are chinese democracy as it should have been released. it boggles my mind to listen to perfectly mixed "demos" like better and irs from 2006 compared to the amateurish cut and paste job we got as the finisehd product in 2008...   anyways... i`m going to bed now, it`s too depressing to deal with all this bullshit

In your opinion, the 2006-2008 demos are how the album should have been released.  I don't entirely agree.  And, again, it doesn't really matter what we think.  Axl's view of what is right and ready for release is the only one that matters when it comes to actually getting a finished product in our hands.

Ali

So you agree that the album that was released is the "finished product" and there's no way it could've been released prior?