GnrDaily.com

11/29/2008 | 1:08:09 AM by Ola

I like what I see

11/29/2008 | 1:15:01 AM by Ironhorse

why do people care about sales? why is this topic such a big deal? People seem to get all worked up over whether an album sells or not. I like GNR. I love the new CD. I don't give a rats ass if it sells 1million copies or 1 copy.
Enjoy the music. F**K the politics.

11/29/2008 | 1:40:21 AM by Brandon

Unfortunately Ironhorse, the labels DO care about sales, as that is where their money comes from. As a fan, all we really care about is the music....but for the labels, a lack of sales means a lack of money for them, and they tend to dump bands for not putting up enough numbers.

11/29/2008 | 1:50:52 AM by Ironhorse

If the label (and GNR camp) really cared about sales, then why the f**k would you sign an exlusive with bestbuy where only a few people shop. ACDC did so well because 'everyone' shops at walmart. I did not even know acdc had a new album, went to walmart to buy cat litter, saw the album, though 'wow cool a new acdc album' and popped it in my cart!
For GNR I had to drive 60 miles to get to a bestbuy...your average music fan is not going to do that.

and you think if they really want this bad boy to sell, why not put copies at every checkout counter of every major retailer in the us, from walmart, target, and bestbuy to your local grocrey store!

anyway, the music is great and the album will do fine in the long run.

over

IH

11/29/2008 | 2:13:36 AM by Brandon

Hey Ironhorse. The reason you have the exclusives is because it gets the band a huge amount of money up front. For example, The Eagles deal with Walmart got them about $30 million from Walmart to sell the thing. Walmart bought 3 million copies for 10 each, then resold them at a higher price to make a profit

I imagine GnR got the same deal, if not better. The downside to that type of thing is the band does not have to do shit for that money, and the retailer gets stuck with the losses if the disc does not sell. No return policy for the store that sells them, as the label will not take them back.

Personally I don't care for the exclusive deals. I have yet to buy an album like that. I live in the U.S. and got CD from an independent record store. That same store was also selling Black Ice.

11/29/2008 | 2:22:36 AM by Brandon

Also, Best Buy has been promoting the disc.

The label (and GnR management) have also.

Axl and the band? Not so much

11/29/2008 | 2:46:42 AM by Mudhorse

why havent anyone mentioned that VR has been droped because Liberated did'nt sell shit?

11/29/2008 | 2:48:50 AM by Rob22

So what does everyone think of the album? Brandon, I haven't read your opinion on it?

I'm sitting on my couch, pissed as a bollock. writing very slowly because I cant read properly.

Opinions??

11/29/2008 | 2:54:44 AM by bgrebel

The album is fantastic.
7 Songs are astonishingly excellent:
Catcher in the Rye, TWAT, Better, This I love, IRS, Madagascar, Street of Dreams

The rest of the songs are very solid. Maybe the weakest link is Shacklers Revenge and i love that song... it rocks so hard.

Axls vocals are so so so so so good. Guitar work is better than UYI albums.
I am more than satisfied with this album.
CHINESE DEMOCRACY STARTS NOW.

11/29/2008 | 3:00:34 AM by Rob22

Deadly! You know what I love about this album? Everybody loves something different about it. hate I.R.S. and Catcher in the Rye but other people love em!.

The Piano on Prostitute, The Guitars in Shacklers, The Smashing Pumpkins-esque feelings in Sorry, Axls's double voice in Scraped, The sher force of Chinese Democracy, the bombardment of sound in There Was a Time and Street of Dreams, The magnificence of Madagascar, the utter amazingness of Better, the force of Riah and the almighty joy that only Axl can bestow!!!!

11/29/2008 | 3:12:22 AM by Brandon

No one mentioned it because they weren't technically dropped. They asked to be released from their contract back in June after they fired Weiland. The record label just made it official. Not to worry, because they will get a new deal after the solo things and they find a new singer.

Hey Rob22. There are six songs on this disc that I love: If the World, TWAT, Sorry, Madagascar, This I Love and Prostitute.

3 good songs: Chinese Democracy, Better and IRS.

2 songs that I may or may not switch the station on: Shackler's and Street of Dreams.

And 3 songs I cannot stand at all: Scraped, Riad and Catcher.

11/29/2008 | 3:22:24 AM by Darko Brownstone

Ironhorse,because we love Axl !!!

11/29/2008 | 3:41:08 AM by GnRLIARS

my fav's are If the World, Riad, Sorry, and T.W.A.T., seriously though, i've said this before, how f'n bad ass are the drums in the outro in Catcher in The Rye?
The guitar in sorry is awesome, TWAT is still sooooo strong, and the final version of If the World is so different than anything out there today. The chugging guitar, the screeching vocals. I love it!

11/29/2008 | 3:44:43 AM by Chris "You"

Brandon, I just do not get why "GNR the band" is not out promoting this album???? I was just with family this week and my young cousin (19) who is pretty into music and is a GNR fan had never even heard of Chin Dem??? Axl and Co. should be on the cover of every freakin magazine out there promoting this thing. BUT they are not and sales have and will continue to suffer because of it. Another example is my best friend who is also a big GNR fan from back in the day, he also tells me "Chris if it were not for you, I would never have known GNR had a new album." Freakin ridiculous!

11/29/2008 | 4:10:01 AM by Brandon

We can only speculate, Chris. It does seem odd to me that there is nothing from the band about this album. I have respect for Bumblefoot for showing up at the listening party. That was very cool. At least he appears to give a damn about the disc. Axl is another story. Shit he worked on this thing for 15 friggin years, and it comes out to silence from him.

All we are left with is a "maybe" the band will get together in January???? And a press release stating that Axl is pissed of at Dr. Pepper.

To me that doesn't sound like Axl is supportive of the release for one reason or another. Maybe the label rushed it out ahead of his wishes????

11/29/2008 | 4:11:07 AM by Rashcke

Axl and Co. really hurt themselves 'sales-wise' by not doing more to promote this album, in my opinion.

Taking myself as an example, I had given up on GNR after the rest of the band split, Axl hid himself in his mansion and the terrible 'Oh My God!' was released.

But last year they did a successful tour of Aus. and NZ. I had my doubts about going, I was really worried they would suck ass. I had last seen the original GNR play at the Tokyo Dome in Japan in '91 I think it was, right at their peak.

But the concert rocked, Axl and the new band were awesome, I loved the new songs they played.
That's when my faith was renewed and I started seriously following Chin Dem's production.

Axl just hasn't been around enough in the states. He hasn't completed a successful tour there in how long?? He's been out of the public eye. Then not to say anything when his long awaited album is released..... I think that's why the sales are so low.

11/29/2008 | 4:36:23 AM by Brandon

I think album sales are low for a # of reasons.

#1, it isn't the Guns that people know and love. Gone are the days of songs like Jungle, Paradise City and Patience. The new stuff is cool, but Axl can never write songs like that again, since the band is gone. For example, This I Love is a great song, but it is nothing compared to Estranged or November Rain. Think of how you loved U2's The Joshua Tree only to hear all the albums that came out after it??? I haven't bought a U2 disc since Rattle and Hum.

#2. It's been 15 years since they released anything new. That's a ton of time to be away from the public eye. The public has a short attention span. You disappear for more than a few years and your career is bound to suffer for it, no matter who you are.

#3. It is a complete departure sound wise. The public might be more forgiving if it sorta sounded like the older stuff. TWAT is the only song that to me, sounds like the older stuff. What I miss most, is the bluesy rock sound the band always had. The Stones / Aerosmith type vibe.

#4. Axl himself. Look, the guy has an amazing talent for piano driven songs. That is not the problem. The problem is his attitude. People (outside of GnR die hards) are generally sick of the "rock star" diva bullshit. It was cool back when Axl was in his mid-20's to go off on rants and threaten to kick people's asses. Now that he's in his mid-40's? Not so much. I personally go to a concert to see a damn good show...not wait and wonder if the fucking star is going to show up. I have been criticized on here for that belief, but I will always stand by it. If you aren't going to show up on time (since I managed to make it there on time), then I am not going to waste my hard earned money on you. It's as simple as that. In fact, I will not by a ticket to any Guns show until I can see that he cares enough to get to stage when he's contracted to do so, and not give me some bullshit story that he want's a 1970's type of jam all night concert. When you go to see a band, they are working for you. They are there to entertain YOU, not the other way around.

At least that is my opinion on it.

11/29/2008 | 5:56:42 AM by Kool Aid Man

Well written Brandon. You speak for most of us old GNR fans who don't have time for Axl's diva bullsquash anymore with the showing up late taking the stage crap.

Another reason Axl may not be promoting this album - Axl hates criticism. Hence the last 25 years surrounded by "Yes" men (that includes Slash and Duff and the gang).

Lastly, could be Axl's management saw the wisdom of keeping Axl OUT of the public eye right now. Too much room for a temper tantrum when some reporter says the wrong thing to him. And that could hurt sales for the very reasons you listed - the older fans don't want to spend money to support an A-Hole - so I'll bet Axl's management have recommended he lay low, which was probably alright with him anyway - he'd rather sit back in the shadows right now and see the public's reaction to his creation. I sorta don't blame him in that regard.

11/29/2008 | 6:20:22 AM by orange

this i love is better than estrange

11/29/2008 | 6:21:00 AM by justinpysznyj

axl your a genius...

11/29/2008 | 6:52:46 AM by nando

1. Chi Dem-C
2. Shackler's-B
3. Better-B+
4. Street of Dreams-A-/B+
5. If the world, havent listened to much-C (maybe it will grow on me Better did)
6.TWAT-A+ awesome
7. CITR-B+
8. Scraped havent listened to much-D
9. Rhiad-C-
10. Sorry-A-
11. IRS- B+ liked it more and more each time i heard it
12.Maddy-A-
13. This i Love, i admit havent listened to it much, but dont love it yet-C+
14. Prostitute- havent heard it a lot yet either-B/B+
The only songs i would not listen to much are Rhiad and Scraped, but i havent listened the album that much yet cause i was on vacation and there was not much time so my opinion might change, overall i would give it an A-/B+ its really good and its good he is back (Axl), not many albums out there have as many good songs as this one, i cant think of any right now, so as the songs are heard, people will buy it, i think, there is a large stigma attached to it right now

11/29/2008 | 7:04:36 AM by saturnine

i'm a hardcore fan but the silence is drivin me nuts!

11/29/2008 | 7:48:10 AM by fake pat

couldnt be more right brandon..

11/29/2008 | 8:32:21 AM by DTJ

Brandon your right on..Kool Aid Man I just don't think your right..For one the label is not trying to keep Axl concealed because any time the guy does anything, tones of articles are written and that's great publicity..Axl is not doing anything because Axl doesn't want too.

Brandon is right to a certain degree..Axl was 26-32 when the band was at their height..Being 46 and away from the public eye doesn't help..I'm 22 and have been listenin to gnr since I was 9 but most of my peers don't know a whole lot about Guns..This is why they should be doing a shit load of promotion so my generation can get acquainted with the new guns..

Personally, I love the cd but Brandon is right, nothing on it compares with illusions or appetite. Even though This I Love is incredible I keep on comparing to November Rain on mistake...Honestly their isn't a song I dislike on the entire record, however I'm at a loss of words for why the cd doesn't have a few additional tunes on it..Truthfully I wish axl had just released all the material they had originally did and just get it over with..I literally have zero connection with any of the new members..Their cool and really talented but you can't compare their talent, image, style, charisma, and personality to the old band..It's almost blasphemy..

11/29/2008 | 8:38:17 AM by DTJ

Remember how everyone thought that once this cd was dropped, Axl would be literally on top of the music industry? Not quite true..

Axl will always be considered one of the best front man ever, but the only thing that will put him back at #1 is if he gets back with Slash, Duff, and Izzy and creates an album..That's it..

11/29/2008 | 9:20:28 AM by Rob22

I go back years as a fan (I'm not 22 :)) and I have to say, I still love Axl's 'Fuck You!'' attitude.

Axl's attitude is one if the things that keeps Guns N' Roses from turning into Motley Crue or Poison. I also love the new sound, it's so far removed from the old stuff and I love it. If he cam out with an album of Welcome to the Jungles it would be boring as hell and they would sound pale in comparison to Appetite. Instead, Axl has released something that can really be compared to anything else they've done.

As for the old question, 'Where's Axl Roses?' He'll show up when he feels like it.

11/29/2008 | 9:36:04 AM by FIDODIDO

JUST BOUGHT THE CD YESTERDAY,,20 FUCKING EUROS, DIDNT BOUGT IT BEFORE COZ AT THIS MOMENT I HAVE NOWHERE TO LISTEN TO IT, MY APPARTMANT IS IN A MESS, REARANGING THE WHOLE PLACE, AND MY CAR CD BROKE DOWN(7 MONTHS OLD BTW), WELL YESTERDAY I DECIDET TO HOOK UP THE HIFI AND TAKE A LISTEN TO CD WHILE I WAS PAINTING MY TOILET...

EVEN THE JOB WAS FRUSTRATING I ENJOYED THE WHOLE CD, SOUNDS VERY GOOD EVEN BETTER THEN I EXPECTED...
:)

11/29/2008 | 9:41:12 AM by dude man

DTJ, where would they put these extra tracks?! The album is 75 minutes long already! :P

In a few years (or when Axl dies, eventually), I wouldn't be surprised if a Chinese Demcracy-era box set. Even if there's another 2-3 albums to come, it's bloody unlikely that there are tracks that just didn't fit or weren't *quite* good enough.

Give me 2-3 discs of demos and a DVD of live performances (or a single show), with nice artwork, rare photos etc and I'd shell out $150 for that, right there.

11/29/2008 | 10:19:15 AM by Jeff

"Axl's attitude is one if the things that keeps Guns N' Roses from turning into Motley Crue or Poison."

Rob22, How about the music or the singing ability Axl has. No offence to Brett Michaels or Vince but they can't hold their own musically to Axl when it comes to singing ability. If Axl had a better attitude at this point I believe it would only help his cause. I'm not saying become an angel, but how about show up on time for concerts and do an interview from time to time with a journalist of his choice. I understand the media in general has been bad to him, but he hasn't exactly done anything to help his cause of late.

11/29/2008 | 10:34:29 AM by Rob22

Ah yeah Jeff, Axl is leaps and bounds better than Poison and the Crue, but his attitude has never changed unlike most rock stars. The man is shit cool and he will never bow down to pressure. If fans want to hear what Axl has to say and doesn't just expect it, then they'll wait until he's ready.

11/29/2008 | 10:35:21 AM by nando

look just an opinion but there are plenty of songs on Chi Dem that could have been on UYI 1or2 and some songs are better than some AFD (sacraledge!) outa get me, right next door to hell, back off bitch,bad apples, get in the ring, shotgun blues, so fine, toss em all for songs like TWAT, CITR, Sorry, Maddy, Street of Dreams, gnr has put out shit songs in the past, Chi Dem ranks right up with the other CDs yeah its different, but after all this time if it was the same that would be pretty fucking lame.....and obviously axl wants to be in the lime light to some extent or he would just make music for himself or friends or not at all, and never would have come back, he'll be out there eventually (for better or worse) soon enough, the album is good to great, not the time to worry about who killed who, most people will find out over the next few weeks to months that the album is out there to buy and they will decide if its necessary to own, seems like it selling fine around the world, where is BP?????.....couldnt be more right Brandon.....the ebb and flow of this site is amazing(really funny too), if the album sold a million copies the first week would Axl be a genius for being mysterious??????

11/29/2008 | 11:47:55 AM by JASON

i totally agree with ironhorse up the top there we got the album so fuck polotics.

11/29/2008 | 12:49:50 PM by slane 92

Rob22, You are bang on! the album is so diverse that there is something on there for everyone I think,

I really like Scraped! I think its a class song, If that dont get your head movin I dont know what will!! I find it strange that so many people diss it on here! but thats the beauty of it I suppose, I have found that I can listen to Chi Dem from start to finish no bother at any time.

Where is Axl though!!

11/29/2008 | 1:20:07 PM by saturnine

chinese democracy update!!
album still stompin' my balls,scrotal area somewhat numb.
all in all 5/5 +++++

11/29/2008 | 1:57:09 PM by Bosna

i hope my CD will be soon in my hends
my girl mali to me yesterday from fucking usa:(((

11/29/2008 | 2:23:19 PM by jc

I like Chinese Democracy,Shacklers Revenge,Better,T.W.A.T,Scraped[ the beginning is kind of comical but the rest of the song rocks] R.N.T.B,Sorry,and This I Love.I got a feeling if this album does not land the #1 spot here in the U.S.,there will be no videos,no tour,and not even another album,I hope I'm wrong.

11/29/2008 | 2:54:15 PM by impassive

Poland: #3

http://muzyka.onet.pl/0,1871410,newsy.html

11/29/2008 | 5:18:37 PM by Kalle

Guns N Roses: Still rocking?

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/7756211.stm

11/29/2008 | 6:13:09 PM by pack

i agree brandon. i like the new album but i want the old band back.like brandon said without them there'll never be songs like jungle and scom.those songs are the reason were even talking about this shit today.

11/29/2008 | 6:29:14 PM by bgrebel

Call me crazy but TWAT, This I love, and CITR are as good as anything on UYI...

What makes GnR such a great band is the fact that Axl is completely nuts.... He is volatile and you never know what will happen on stage..

Simply put... he is a little dangerous. That is what rock n roll is about and its missing today in other bands live performances (minus NIN) This is why he is so loved. Without that feeling of risk, there is no GnR. Its his craziness that makes them so great live.. you literally DO NOT KNOW WHAT WILL HAPPEN ON ANY GIVEN NIGHT..
AND OH YEAH... He is a musical genius.

Chinese Democracy is great. There is NOTHING out there thats new right now that sounds even close to this.

11/29/2008 | 7:14:13 PM by DTJ

Yeah I actually like those fillers on the UYI like right next door to hell, dead horse, so fine, shot fun blues..The only songs I dislike are my world (why even put this song on the record), and get in the ring..

11/29/2008 | 10:08:11 PM by Peter Pan

Then please take your sexual dysfunction directly to the NAMBLA website and spare us your gayness.

11/29/2008 | 10:50:02 PM by JF

@Peter Pan: Don't feed the troll. :)

11/29/2008 | 11:28:56 PM by dj

i agree there isnt anything out that can conpar  vwith the new gnr album

but what can i say rnb rap etc are takeing over and they are crap they are begin for black bond etc who is racist not us when we vote for them hipercrites

11/30/2008 | 12:22:02 AM by TAL

I do care for the sales so I know how much of this world truely cares and understands music . OH and it s nice to shaft the haters lol

11/30/2008 | 12:47:31 AM by Craig

They're lucky to be doing a 300 000 first week - they have been out of commission a decade plus. Imagine Madonna waiting 14 years to release a record, rock fans are a lot more forgiving and loyal than their country and pop music counterparts.

I'm on the fence - there's a decent chance I'll buy the record. I'm excited to hear the new tracks.

11/30/2008 | 8:22:40 AM by Raschke

"I am a gay 12 yr old" gets to stay and mine doesn't?

That's really fuckin uncool man.

11/30/2008 | 8:41:17 AM by Guns n Wasp

Oh My God i was gutted that SILKWORMS was not on the cd

11/30/2008 | 11:32:38 AM by Rob22

CHINESE DEMOCRACY Deluxe Box Set!!!!!!!

11/30/2008 | 3:50:22 PM by Shaneomac

Kanye West is ok, but nothing like the gunners. Axl and Co. are way out of Mr.West's league. I think like every one else, if Axl would have been out getting some press, Chi Dem would have blowin Kanye out of the water. Its Sad to see that the #1 music is RnB music....and not good RnB at that!!!

11/30/2008 | 8:32:53 PM by Cillian

I think its fucking class the way everyone has such varied favourite tracks off the album. Like there isn't one clear standout track that carries the whole album, its just all really strong material. Axl wasn't joking when he said there'd be at least one song on there that you'll enjoy :) legend!

11/30/2008 | 9:01:35 PM by JJ

UK CHART
GUNS N ROSES DEBUT AT NUMBER 2 BEHIND THE KILLERS, ON 30/11/2008

12/2/2008 | 3:12:35 AM by ldzeppelin

This is a very solid album. My only two complaints (aside from the old members not being on it! :) ) would be that 1, even though it is much more consistent in quality than UYI 1 (I loved 2 much more) it doesn't hit quite as high of highs as any previous GnR album. 2, this isn't a cohesive band's album. This is Axl hiring anyone who will suck him off and do what he wants them to do and play how he wants them to play. Now, obviously to an extent this worked, but it could have been better had he had some band members that jelled well and just did an album. The fact that he has kept a revolving door of members and he has always said he wanted it to sound a certain way proves this to an extent. I would have preferred him to call it a solo album mainly for that reason. All in all, this was a good album that I own two of (cd and vinyl, I own them all on vinyl!) and would recommend this album to anyone who was ever a true GnR fan. Not just the fanboys who just wanna think "Axl rules!". ;)