Album Of The Week: Chinese Democracy by Guns N Roses

I have decided to cover an album for the album of the week that was a but controversial when it came out. The album that I chose for you guys is the last Guns N Roses record to be released to date in their sixth studio album Chinese Democracy. The very album that fans waited 13 years for Guns N Roses to release when it finally came out in November of 2008. The reason I chose the album is because of the fact that I bought the Axl Rose Funko Pop and I went on my Spotify that day and decided to listen to the album once again. The album besides Axl Rose (Vocals) features an army of musicians that worked on it like Robin Finck (Guitars), Ron “Bumblefoot” Thal (Guitars), Buckethead (Guitars), Paul Tobias (Guitars), Richard Fortus (Guitars), Tommy Stinson (Bass), Bryan “Brain” Mantia (Drums), Frank Ferrer (Drums), Dizzy Reed (Keyboards), Chris Pitman (Keyboards), and Josh Freese (arrangements). The album was successful around the world as it went number one in eight different countries and it went number one in the European Top 100 charts as well as peaking at number three on the Billboard Top 200 charts. The album also went platinum and sold over a million worldwide.

1. Chinese Democracy– The opening track on the album that was inspired by the film Kundun which was about the Dalai Lama. This track and the words contained in it is the reason the album is banned in China as we speak. 5/5

2. Shackler’s Revenge– A track dipped heavily into Industrial metal which is about all of the school shootings in America and how the media tried to pin one on Guns N Roses and their song Mr. Brownstone. 4.5/5

3. Better-An amazing electronic rock track that sees Axl singing in a falsetto style. There’s this one part in the song at the 2:30 mark that is absolutely killer and heavy. The song also contains a killer solo in it too.  5/5

4. Street Of Dreams– the track was originally titled The Blues before the name change and it’s a straight up pop piano rock song that definitely has some Elton John influence in it. 5/5

5. If The World– This is a very sexy song that features Buckethead playing the Flamenco guitar in the beginning with the funk and neo soul influences in it combined with some Nu Metal. 5/5

6. There Was A Time– An epic track on the album that is personally one of my favorties with the heavy orchestral sound with the mellotron, violins, etc. I feel the song is about how we change because we may grow distant with someone. 5/5

7. Catcher In The Rye– A song that Axl Rose wrote in tribute to John Lennon after watching a documentary on Mark David Chapman where Rose criticizes the book in the song. 4.5/5

8. Scraped– The track takes us to that Industrial Rock sound that a lot of people were talking about when it came to this record. With lyrics like, “Don’t you try to stop us now” and “All things are possible, I am unstoppable.” Rose is telling you, he is here to stay. 4/5

9. Riad N’The Bedouins– Axl talked about the track saying, “Riad is the name my one time momentary brother-in-law of Erin Everly went by when I knew him. Of part Lebanese descent and a former student of Pepperdine University, he claims to be an international arms dealer.” 4/5

10. Sorry– Sebastian Bach described the song saying, “There’s this one song called ‘Sorry’ that’s almost like doom metal with Axl singing really clean over this grinding, slow beat that is fucking mean, I cannot get it out of my head.” Rose said the track is about, “anyone talking nonsense at mine and the public’s expense.” 4.5/5

11. I.R.S.– The song starts off a little bluesy before some cool heavy guitars come in during the chorus. 4/5

12. Madagascar– Another track on the album that is one of my favorites. It kind of has the same kind of message as Civil War as it features quotes from films like Mississippi Burning, Casualties of War, Cool Hand Luke, Braveheart, and Seven as well as some excerpts from speeches by Martin Luther King Jr. over some Trip Hop styled sound.  5/5

13. This I Love– Supposedly the song dates all the way back to 1992 as it was a piano ballad written by Rose to one of his former loves. 4.5/5

14. Prostitute– A power ballad with that is actually a cool track that is not about actual prostitutes, but rather him telling you that he wouldn’t pimp the band out just for money to have in his pocket. 4.5/5

My Final Thoughts– In my opinion, this was an excellent release from Axl even though it took forever to come out. The question that was on everyone’s mind then was whether the wait for the new record was worth it. You have to listen to it yourself and just be the judge for yourself, but I love the album. I am going to give the record 4.6 star out of five for a final grade.

Album Of The Week: How Will I Laugh Tomorrow… by Suicidal Tendencies

When it came to deciding what album I wanted to cover for the album of the week, I took to Jamey Jasta of Hatebreed’s podcast The Jasta Show for some much needed inspiration. That is when I saw that Mike Muir, the legendary singer of Suicidal Tendencies, was the guest for his podcast in one of his episodes and I instantly made my decision right then and there. The only question is what album would I pick and I chose How Will I Laugh Tomorrow If I Can’t Even Smile Today because it was the first record I ever picked up from them. It was a monumental step in a direction the crossover thrash legends were heading at the time as they shed their punk rock roots for a more metal sound. The band at the time was made up of Muir (Vocals), Rocky George (Guitar), Mike Clark (Guitar), R.J. Herrera (Drums), and Bob Heathcote (Bass) who was replaced by Robert Trujillo the very next year. The album was also the debut of Mike Clark who added that metal element to the band as he was in a band with Muir that was supposed to be an all metal project. It also allowed Rocky George the chance to work on more lead guitar duties as well and this also marked their major label debut for Epic Records. The album peaked at number 111 on the Billboard Top 200 charts where it stayed for 11 weeks.

1. Trip At The Brain– This is definitely one of my favorite tracks on the record that exemplifies the change over to the more metal sound the band adopted for this one. It has those razor sharp thrash like riffs with some amazing guitar leads and Muir gives it enough of a punk flare to his vocals that it fits perfectly. 5/5

2. Hearing Voices– Another hard charging thrash classic from the cycos as the sing is credited to original bassist Louiche Mayorga and Mike Muir in a track about exactly what the title says. 4/5

3. Pledge Your Allegiance– This is the ultimate song to pledge your allegiance to one of the coolest bands in crossover thrash history. ST!!! The song at one point features a killer bass line followed by a killer guitar solo. 5/5

4. How Will I Laugh Tomorrow– The title track is the perfect anthem for the youth who look at what is going in society and ask the question how will I laugh tomorrow?

5. The Miracle– at some points in the song, the riff sounds very similar to early Metallica thrash riffs while at other times having it’s own flavor. 4/5

6. Suicyco Mania– This track is exclusive to those who own the CD version of this album as this was not featured on the original vinyl or cassette. The riff to the song will melt your face off as it’s razor fast. 4/5

7. Surf And Slam– This is an instrumental track on the album with surf and slam being repeated a bunch of times during parts of the song. 4/5

8. If I Don’t Wake Up– This is one of those songs that reflects a lot of what we think when we are growing up and going through changes. We are always asking if anyone will care if we die and so on and so forth. 4/5

9. Sorry?!– This has a pretty kick ass straightforward metal sound to it as Muir describes a situation where he meets the one, but she leaves him. When she tries to come back after he plan fails, he is obviously too mad to take her back. 4/5

10. One Too Many Times– Another track that has more of a rock sound to it then a thrash sound as Muir is trying to reach out, but he was let down way to many times. At one point the band even gets a little bluesy for the track. 4/5

11. The Feeling’s Back– This is the last track on the record and it starts off sounding like another straightforward metal tune until they turn it up a notch with a little punk flare. 4/5

My Final Thoughts– This is definitely the best album in my opinion that the band put out as it demonstrated exactly what the band could do. Out of all the crossover thrash bands of the 80’s they were definitely my favorite and still are today. I would definitely pick up this album if you want to hear some stuff from Suicidal Tendencies. I am giving the album 4.2 stars out of five for a final grade.