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Posted on 06/19/08 at 05:50:11 pm
Some of the newly-leaked tracks from Guns N' Roses' 'Chinese Democracy' have just gone on the office stereo, prompting gales of derisive laughter - particularly over the title track, of which we heard a 90 second snippet.
Opening with portentous thunder-and-lightning sound effects, before settling into a laughably lightweight electro-rock groove, the song floats the alarming possibility that Axl Rose has spent 14 years and $16 million creating something that sounds like a Jesus Jones B-side.
The leaked tracks are rapidly disappearing from file-sharing sites – presumably because the overwhelming global response has been "Er, is this it?" – but you can hear the Jane's Addiction-style funk-metal workout 'Rhiad And The Bedouins' below.
Meanwhile, here's a compilation of eight 'Chinese Democracy' demos:
For the most part they sound as you'd expect songs a decade and a half in the making to sound: fussy, over-produced, painfully tentative. You can almost hear the panic in Axl's voice: "Is this any good? Have I still got it? Can I release this? Should I just hit 'delete' and start the whole thing again?"
The irony is, Axl was always paralysed by creative doubt, even back in Guns N' Roses' heyday. 'Don't Cry' was on the shelf for five years before it surfaced on 'Use Your Illusion I'. Former GN'R guitarist Tracii Guns recalls Axl tinkering with 'November Rain' as far back as 1983. At one point, the song had swollen to 25 minutes in length.
The difference is, Axl had songwriting talent back then. And now he doesn't. Which makes the whole 'Chinese Democracy' saga less a rib-tickling tale of rock n' roll hubris and more a dispiriting lesson in the grim inevitability of getting old and losing your edge. Poor Axl.
Permalink
the high king [Visitor] //June 19 2008 at 19:54
your an idiot,the songs are fantastic
Billy the mod [Visitor] //June 19 2008 at 20:07
After listening to the clips - I find it hard to judge an album on fuzzy and poor quality snippets - come on Axl - let's here it - surely we have waited long enough!
Let's face it - how many bands replicate past glories? Will NME slam R.A.T.M when their new material fails to match their debut - defo.
Jamie [Visitor] //June 19 2008 at 21:55
You're an idiot. Go listen to your shitty indie crap, these songs are great.
jas [Visitor] //June 19 2008 at 22:15
sounds good to me!
sparks [Visitor] //June 19 2008 at 22:16
No, its not old days gunners but compared to todays guff, its far superior. Everyone expects it to be AFD but its never going to be. It's new, rocking and I will stay pay for it and pay to see them again. Live, they're immense, new or old.
Wiggy [Visitor] //June 19 2008 at 23:34
I thought it was all quite good!
John [Visitor] //June 20 2008 at 01:25
Haha, you guys are funny.
This was probably written by some tosser who thinks the Arctic Monkeys are the ultimate.
Axl will have the last laugh!
jarrad [Visitor] //June 20 2008 at 03:51
this sh*t is good. i don't know what the f*ck you're talking about.
Ali [Visitor] //June 20 2008 at 05:10
What a trash review. These songs have not been a decade in the making. There has been a bunch of songs written in that time, not one album's worth. "Don't Cry" was intended for release on Appetite, but was shelved because Tom Zutuat convinced the band not to have too many ballads on their first record. It was finished years before it was released. The title track kicks ass. End of story. The leaks have actually gotten lots of praise across the net. Don't misrepresent the truth in order to try and make a point. It only makes you look bad.
slashnburn90 [Visitor] //June 20 2008 at 05:39
Most of the demo songs (the 8 in the compilation video) are pretty good in my opinion, it's a shame that Chinese Democracy will be the first one people search out since its the title song, since it's the worst one. But a lot of the other ones, although overproduced (some of the earlier demos were better), have good melodies, good lyrics. Madagascar for example. Better sounds bizarre at first, but it's probably the best one-and Rolling Stone loved it, even though that magazine generally sucks.
And as for Rhiad and the Bedouins, it's not that great, but apparently it isn't even going to be on the album
Sam [Visitor] //June 20 2008 at 06:06
Fuck you , thats a load of shit of a review , 70% of the people who have heard this stuff have loved it , including guns fans , so your seriously out of it , betting your favorite band "the dashboard confessional".
biased load of shit , this is why people generally dislike NME.
..!..
Santania [Visitor] //June 20 2008 at 11:14
It is like a highschool talent show were they let everyone be in it even the bad ones.
Kronos [Visitor] //June 20 2008 at 11:54
You sir do not know a shit about Guns N' Roses history nor their sound. End of story. People like you should not write review of these tracks.
Oh Dear NME sucks [Visitor] //June 20 2008 at 13:43
Oh Dear, once again nme proves why it hasn't a clue about decent music and does nothing but promote sheeplike fad bands.
and for the record the new leaks are NOT the final songs from chinese democracy and all of these songs have NOT been confirmed to be on the album even.
typical nme though will post any internet rumour as news though.
Poor NME [Visitor] //June 20 2008 at 13:54
you have no clue what you are talking about AS USUAL
Congratulations [Visitor] //June 20 2008 at 14:40
Congratulations to nme on another unbiased well written review - NOT.
nme [Visitor] //June 20 2008 at 14:42
NME SUCKS --- hire some new journos who have a clue
don't cry comment [Visitor] //June 20 2008 at 14:44
do some research, you don't know what you're talking about
Rob [Visitor] //June 20 2008 at 16:19
Everyone's right. I read your review and didn't want to listen, but after reading the comments, I did. And, I'm glad I did. Considering these songs aren't even close to finished and still need to be mastered, they are pretty good. Your shit article confirms why I am about to unsubscribe to the NME e-newsletter. You guys suck.
crap article [Visitor] //June 20 2008 at 16:52
maybe you should write about something other than music because clearly you have no idea what you're supposed to say. the easy option is be critical -- well done you took the easy option. but then again how could you say anything good about this when it doesn't sound like the muck called music today - your friends at nme probably wouldn't talk to you anymore.
nero [Visitor] //June 20 2008 at 20:31
I liked 'em...
D.G. [Visitor] //June 20 2008 at 21:42
No, they're right. This music is pathetic and weak sounding. Admit it, GNR fans..it's shit.
Kramer [Visitor] //June 21 2008 at 04:53
Wow this stuff is awesome. Much better than anything from the last 10 years! What on earth is this reviewer talking about.
Rob Dunmore [Visitor] //June 21 2008 at 12:47
A bit harsh NME? Like most people seemingly, I love AFD but to expect the fella to return with a modern update of that body of work would just be plain ridiculous. And do Kerrang magazine's opinion really represent 'the global response'?.
Oh, sorry, anyway... I think its rather good!
Big Bo [Visitor] //June 21 2008 at 12:47
14 years in the making and this is what tt sounds like?! Its not bad but its not that good either. Behold the ultimate studio musician Axl Rose. Record every note over and over until it loses any semblance of individuality.
Kaneda [Visitor] //June 21 2008 at 13:01
The only thing laughable over at NME are paychecks handed out to some of the worst journalists on planet earth. These songs are incredible and well worth the wait. You are an idiot.
real music fan [Visitor] //June 21 2008 at 15:11
these songs are bloody great. this album is gonna be huge. who cares if nme don't like it. who cares about nme, haha - they only like bands that come in herds.
jones [Visitor] //June 21 2008 at 16:40
great songs Axl!! fuck the journos, leave the fans be your judge
fantastic songs [Visitor] //June 21 2008 at 16:45
i really like these songs and cannot wait to buy this album. there are 50-60 songs recorded and there will be at least 3 albums coming once the shit is all sorted out. people who judge the songs based on the time the album has taken to come out don't realise it's at least 3 albums that's been done. axl will come through.
the writer of this article should take the artic monkeys cd out of his car stereo, throw it out the window and reverse back over it cos that's the most rock n roll thing that could be associated with them
RJ [Visitor] //June 22 2008 at 00:36
With reviews like this is it any wonder Classic Rock is out-selling NME these days?
"'Don't Cry' was on the shelf for five years before it surfaced on 'Use Your Illusion I'. Former GN'R guitarist Tracii Guns recalls Axl tinkering with 'November Rain' as far back as 1983."
Do some research and you might actually find out why these songs weren't put on Appetite. Really, if you're writing a review you should probably know what you're talking about.
As for the new songs, they're all somewhere between "good" and "the greatest thing i've ever heard"
Lisa [Visitor] //June 22 2008 at 01:18
You people are out of your goddamn minds saying this music is not good. Go back to listening to whatever crap passes for music nowadays and give up writing about it because you have no clue.
Will [Visitor] //June 22 2008 at 03:56
NME you show such negativity, you should piss off and listen to the Fratelli's.
Good way to get traffic [Visitor] //June 22 2008 at 06:52
Everyone knows there are tons of people who have been waiting since 94 for this piece of crap, GNR wasn't ever good and this is no different, it's even more boring, Axl is so overatted by hardcore GNR fans they take this so personally, and really it's just a great way to get traffic to your site, mention how GNR sucks which they do, or Ron Paul, or whatever the top search words are right now. I digress, let's pretend this album will come out before he dies of a drug overdose, even if it gets to the top of the charts and sells out tours again because people want to hear the old bad songs, it does not make them good. Popularity isn't a measure of quality, GNR have always proven that, just because you want it to be good does not make it good. My one word review of the new leaked songs is Boring!
lol @ this crap [Visitor] //June 22 2008 at 14:59
14 years and we get shit like this? dear lord Axl go back to the studio and burn these tracks. This is pure shit and worthless
bearosmith [Visitor] //June 22 2008 at 17:49
Actually, they're not bad...for a collection of Guns 'N Roses songs. They sound like an overlaboured attempt at the "Guns 'N Roses" sound, albeit 20 yeara later. The thing is, Appetite for Destruction was a product of its time,in a banal wasteland of glam metal, and then Nirvana happened, etc. etc. At this point, it strikes me as unnecessary.
Brandon [Visitor] //June 23 2008 at 03:00
You have not a clue, worst mag/blog ever.
James [Visitor] //June 23 2008 at 12:01
As per Usual N.M.E you prove to yourself that you have no F***ing idea what good music sounds like,oh yeah brit rock/pop is so much better than this(& im presuming ur loving the new coldplay album too),....YEah right.
True this isn't the best Guns stuff i've ever heard but it is better then most "big" bands have done in recent times & im saying this as a fan of the rock genre,not guns n roses!
N.M.E.....Employ some actual reporters who know there stuff & not some biased bullCrap.
You blantently know that when the guns album drops it will go straight to number 1 in most countrys and then where does your negative review put you then......A JOKE!
Me, innit. [Visitor] //June 23 2008 at 17:49
How has this reviewer taken the easy option, can I ask? Clearly to anyone with fully functioning ears, these new songs are tripe. Axl Rose isn't a tortured genius, or a victim of some Arctic Monkeys-led campaign against rock music, he's simply not very good at writing songs. And this new work is a prime example of this fact; a fact that the NME have quite rightly pointed out. Although, not to be biased in this 'GnR vs. NME' debate, because we all know the NME isn't worth the paper it's written on anymore. Maybe both parties should make themselves scarce.
stevo [Visitor] //June 24 2008 at 00:36
dont worry nme, i'll review it for you seeing as you can't be a*sed.
This is my honest view as a(repentant?) GNR fan,
First off, these leaked tracks are over mastered, just listen to them! Mastered to death. The synth sounds rigid and intrusive, the blazing yet out of place leads are ultimately rendered soulless and axl's voice has been mothered like a newborn panda- all warmth and softness. The trademark GNR grit and excitement has been pruned at a cost of millions!
As for the tracks themselves-drab extravagant (mutton dressed as lamb!) soft rock. They shuffle along without clear direction like a tired old wino. To sum them up, the extended worst bits of a cross between wacko's 'earthsong' and floyds 'division bell.' Past best, past worst and into new realms of the desperate and pointless.
Go and buy Slash's '5 o'clock somewhere,' logically the last GNR album. It's great and sounds 10 years fresher than this.
It seems that if you spend 14 years polishing a turd you end up with nothing but a mess. I'm not sure if it ever needed proving like this though. I implore you not to pay him for this embarrasment!
JD [Visitor] //June 24 2008 at 00:40
Sorry but this stuff is clearly better than anything around. Completely disagree with the blog.
Simmessa [Visitor] //June 25 2008 at 10:16
I like the songs in their WIP state, and I sincerely doubt they could make'em worse with a decent professional production & mastering.
It looks like either you feel the need to shoot in the crowd or Axl has ruined things in the last 3 months.
The first option seeming much more likely to me...
Anyway, an opinion is always an opinion...
Thanks for the heads up.
All the Best!
Simmessa.
dude [Visitor] //June 25 2008 at 18:10
the new songs are great...not the same as classic guns, but they are great in their own way.
if you don't think this new stuff is good, then you are just an axl hater who is trying to recruit more haters.
Colbag! [Visitor] //June 26 2008 at 18:29
I can't take any of NME's reviews seriously because I remember being told in 2002 that The Vines were the next Nirvana. HA! NME also said that The Others and Special Needs were worth listening to.
Anyway, as a long time old school GN'R fan, I was surprised to find myself actually enjoying these tunes. Alright, they're not as good as anything from 'Appetite For Destruction', and the fact that he allegedly worked on these songs for 14 years seems a bit much, but, deny it all you like, IRS is a fucking tune!! I can't wait for the album.
Lampard [Visitor] //July 1 2008 at 13:22
That was a pretty harsh review, I thought they sounded pretty good. Rather Axl than The Ting Tings surely?
sir lolington [Visitor] //July 17 2008 at 17:25
It was always gonna be complete pile of wang its GnR's the most over rated band to ever walk gods green earth...never was good never will be!
sir.LOLOLOL!
Richard [Visitor] //July 17 2008 at 23:55
Typical NME bollocks. Keep wearing your cardigans and tight skinny jeans and shove your gay, side parted quiffs up your ass and listen to the "demos". I'm not a huge guns fan but the new songs are very, very good.
Omar [Visitor] //August 9 2008 at 14:57
I've been a massive fan of Guns N' Roses over the years and like most true fans I was very excited about this much anticipated new album. I have to say, NME do have a point. These new tracks don't come close to Axl's former genius - Tracks like Novermber Rain, Don't Cry, Sweet Child, Estranged, Jungle, Coma etc. etc. are way better than this. I don't think the Appetite or Illusion albums will ever be surpassed by Axl and his new friends. I know it's hard, and I'm fully aware that most GN'R fans will be kidding themselves into liking the new stuff in the loyalty aspect - but let's face it, this new stuff is very average material. Sorry!
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