Chinese Democracy (studio album)
by Guns N' Roses

I feel this album has been given a bad rap. Axl Rose has an unmistakable voice which at times can sound very whiny. But the good thing with this is that he seems to have toned it down on most songs. And since he was the only original member on this, the songs have a slightly different sound and feel. It's not bad but also nothing memorable. It's basically heavier edged background music.

Makes Metallica’s St. Anger sound like Led Zeppelin IV in comparison. Not a good album at all.

From llibnanoon 09/22/2020 16:57 | #258543

This is so far from "Appetite For Destruction"! It is almost on another planet. Very few highlights. Disappointing after waiting for so long. Rating (73.21)

From TheDude85 08/19/2020 15:45 | #257210

Two stars only due to Tommy Stinson's bass playing. With no Stinson - no stars.

I don't think it's as bad as others make it out to be, but it's not really a great album. The title track is the best song, but it's a really unfocused album. Axl really needs Slash, Duff and Izzy to restrain him and help him out.

Buckethead and Axl are a great combination. This is a very good/ excellent album despite its reputation as a failure in some circles. Every track with Buckethead is first rate. A truly under appreciated album.

Whether it's good or bad is almost irrelevant(it's bad, by the way), but the main thing is it's NOT Guns'n'roses, it's Axl Rose on the most expensive and long drawn out ego trip ever.

The "Guns n' Roses" tag hindered this album on release, with everyone still not over the "classic" line up. Had it been released by "Axl Rose & The Papercuts" or similar, tracks like "Shackler's Revenge" & "If The World" may have had critics applauding Axl for not resting on his laurels & moving with the times. It doesn't always work perfectly, but much rather this than them endlessly trying to remake an instant classic, the way Rage Against The Machine did (although "Street of Dreams" is admittedly a vintage Axl ballad, but a good one!)

What a mess...

Don't get the bad rating. This is sure very different from old GNR but it brings fresh meat on the table. Axl wrote some beautiful songs for this record like: Better, There Was a Time and Catcher in the Rye. The only thing is that not all the songs are strong enough to build a very solid album. For the ones who approach this album, remember: this is not a easy listen and the album will grow on you if you give it enough time. Finck and Buckethead on guitar are supreme and Axl's voice is not bad at all!