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- Me_Wise_Magic
- Rep: 70
Re: Bumblefoot not happy? Speculating....
I don't think the vocals are lazy.
I think some of the things you guys hear - like the voices in Madagascar and Street of Dreams - are done for artistic effect as Axl thought it suited the song.
There are also vocal passages in the album (twat screams) that are stupidly hard to do.
Any other vocal issues are probably due to changes in Axl's voice.
He hasn't sounded the same live in a long time. And there's obviously a reason why some nights he comes out in mickey-mouse mode and other nights like in japan in 2010 he can scream the building down.
If they are the demo takes...it could well be because they turned out to be the better takes...
Have a real listen to Axl's voice in 2012, stepping back from the excitement of a show, once you listen clinically if you can find it in the mix at all, because in the last TWAT boot the vocals were totally absent in the verse almost, you can hear serious issues - tell me which of the songs you think he could realistically nail better than the album? The album takes may not be perfect but he sounds more like Axl than he has live in 2 years at least.
I agree with the hodge podge guitar work. There's moments of excellence and moments of nothing much. And the whole thing is seriously edited and rejigged to a point where it's loosing it's feel. It feels sloppy in places, and I'm not a fan of the mix work either. So much seems buried all the time.
But the songwriting itself in terms of Axl's bits is amazing. Catcher is a genius song for sure. And it's not alone. Basically I think the production of the album kinda sucks - but the songs themselves are great.
THIS! I love the songwriting as well, Monkey. The production sucks because there was too much over editing and re-recording that there wasn't a final direction or flow that the album was going for. It's going through so many changes in tone with the many takes and added instrumentation that the public got turned off by it. I know Axl wasn't a 100% happy with what got released and neither was some of the alumni that participated in the writing and recording of it. Despite problems with management, contracts, the excuses, and interviews, it shouldn't of taken that long to release a 14 song album. If it came out before 2002, then it would been a whole different story. Axl should of stepped up to promote it instead of using that promo money to shove more production onto CD and other session work. I still love the album dearly and it has alot of great songs; but it didn't need those extra guitars and synths in the background of the songs.
Re: Bumblefoot not happy? Speculating....
I listened to Chinese Democracy this weekend after shelving it for 2.5 years, hoping that a fresh listen would make me like it more.
I hated it more than ever.
It sounds so thin!
Axl's voice is OK, and I agree with Monkey and MWM that the songwriting is good (particularly Street of Dreams), but there's just not much there to enjoy.
Lots of synth noises and little noodles, several great solos -- TWAT, ITW, but not much else -- none of the riffs or choruses that made AFD, Lies & UYI I&II my favorite albums.
Some of the tracks: Catcher, Shacklers, etc. are the worst songs in my entire music collection. :shrugs:
- Me_Wise_Magic
- Rep: 70
Re: Bumblefoot not happy? Speculating....
I personally love Shackler's and my friend who is a casual fan found Shackler's and Better to be his favs when he listened to some of the album a few months back. I let him borrow it and see if he liked any of the songs. It's not my favorite track on CD; but It's a cool track to rock out too and it shows that Axl wanted to try different sounds like Industrial music instead of hard rock. Catcher has alot of problems in terms of production; but the lyrics and some of the guitar & keyboard work are quite impressive. Would of been a joy for everyone if they released the '99 version with Brian May. That sounded more complete and accurate then the final studio cut.
- monkeychow
- Rep: 661
Re: Bumblefoot not happy? Speculating....
I liked that mix on the old version of catcher.
It felt piano driven - whereas the opening now seems too guitar focused.
I like bumbles solo and all that as well, so I'm not against the new version. it's just the demo had the mix of the instrument sounds working better I think.
- Me_Wise_Magic
- Rep: 70
Re: Bumblefoot not happy? Speculating....
Agreed! Personally the only songs that shows Axl's piano skills completely in the "final" mix are This I Love and Prostitute. It's so completely drowned out in the studio version of Catcher with what's going on in the production. 99' version displays everything without overindulging and one instrument overpowering the other. Has a raw sound to it that I like. I enjoy listening to the studio version as well, Monkey. Bumble's solo is awesome and does the song justice. Bumble did some great solos and rhythm parts on CD that at times feel unappreciated. The problem is there is just too many rhythm tracks that's it's hard to tell who's doing what after the main lead player has done the solo whether it be Robin, Bucket or Bumble on a particular song. It must of been difficult for 4tus to record his guitar work. I appreciate Paul Tobias's contributions to the album.
- Me_Wise_Magic
- Rep: 70
Re: Bumblefoot not happy? Speculating....
I listen to most of my favorite tracks from CD on my ipod while on the bus heading towards the metro to get to my campus area.
Re: Bumblefoot not happy? Speculating....
I listen to the demos more than the album. THAT album is great, imo. I tried listening to the studio version of CD and there's just so much lost on it with Ron (no offense). I do think the studio version of ITW is better than the demo.
