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Chinese Democracy may become the most underrated album in history.


Ace Nova

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I think it's a very creative album. One of my biggest complaints is that it sounds too clean, as in: the digital recording medium. Now I know it's naive to say "well i wished they would have recorded it on analog," but... that's what strikes me the most. It lacks a certain warmth. I don't know enough about recording stuff to be more articulate about it. Oh well, I still dig it, and I hear it's kind of a big deal they didn't compress the hell out of it (loudness wars), so that's cool.

I hope we get to hear the rest of the songs from that era. Several people directly involved with CD have said there's more.

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I think it's a very creative album. One of my biggest complaints is that it sounds too clean, as in: the digital recording medium. Now I know it's naive to say "well i wished they would have recorded it on analog," but... that's what strikes me the most. It lacks a certain warmth. I don't know enough about recording stuff to be more articulate about it. Oh well, I still dig it, and I hear it's kind of a big deal they didn't compress the hell out of it (loudness wars), so that's cool.

I hope we get to hear the rest of the songs from that era. Several people directly involved with CD have said there's more.

There are about 20 more songs.....who knows if we'll ever hear them or not..... :shrugs:

Nah. Never gonna happen. It will continue to be a punchline and a cautionary tale. Nobody that isn't registered on this forum will ever give two shits about the actual music on Chinese Democracy. EVER.

Other than the modern day idiots.....20 years from now I could totally see myself listening to this record....at least 7 or 8 songs from it, anyway......

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Hah! No, no it will not. The album is good, the album isn't a masterpiece. The only ones thinking that are the ones who have brainwashed themselves into thinking it was all it was cracked up to be. Thats not possible.

It will never be one of the most underrated albums of all time. Its a bit underrated, but its so much higher on the "disappointing" list than it is on the "underrated albums" one.

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I think it's a very creative album. One of my biggest complaints is that it sounds too clean, as in: the digital recording medium. Now I know it's naive to say "well i wished they would have recorded it on analog," but... that's what strikes me the most. It lacks a certain warmth. I don't know enough about recording stuff to be more articulate about it. Oh well, I still dig it, and I hear it's kind of a big deal they didn't compress the hell out of it (loudness wars), so that's cool.

I hope we get to hear the rest of the songs from that era. Several people directly involved with CD have said there's more.

+1 I'm out of likes...

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I think it will eventually be recognised like Exile on Main Street was. Its basically GNR's Alternative record.

UYI although it sold pretty well it took 10 years to be fully accepted. It wasnt seen as as good as AFD. But that feeling is less pronounced.

The same can be said of CD, totally different production values distanced CD from UYI. But its very much a product of its time. Some seem to hate it more, I find something more every time I listen. It just gets better, as a record that is. As some kind of symbol some will never accept what it stands for and will say it out right sucks. But on its own terms its pretty bulletproof, 14 great tracks.

Edited by wasted
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I think it will eventually be recognised like Exile on Main Street was. Its basically GNR's Alternative record.

UYI although it sold pretty well it took 10 years to be fully accepted. It wasnt seen as as good as AFD. But that feeling is less pronounced.

The same can be said of CD, totally different production values distanced CD from UYI. But its very much a product of its time. Some seem to hate it more, I find something more every time I listen. It just gets better, as a record that is. As some kind of symbol some will never accept what it stands for and will say it out right sucks. But on its own terms its pretty bulletproof, 14 great tracks.

10 years to be appreciated? WTF? UYI was a monster hit and people liked it when it came out. If anything, people have backtracked NOW and downplayed how popular it was at the time.

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I know it sold a lot and had full video support. But many people who bought it said it wasnt as good as AFD, Axl was doing too many ballads. A bit like what Niven, Izzy, Slash said really.

But it had a lot of scope and appeal. So that now fans find it hard to pick the best 12 songs. I think bcos it was released into grunge, some of its tendencies were looked down on. But long term its seen more for what it is. Im not saying nobody liked it, just not as accepted as now. Deeer cuts get respect like Locomotive or 14 Years which didnt on release. Plus the nostalgia for that time has pushed them up to as classic as AFD. Nov Rain, Estranged, YCBM, are up there. Civil War as well.

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I think it was a fuckload more accepted in 1991 when it was the number one and two album in the country, rather than 20 years later when only a handful of people on the internet bother to discuss it.

Just cause some dorky kid just "discovered" GNR and registered here to talk about how awesome "Locomotive" is doesn't mean that anyone else continued giving a shit after 1993.

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Of the people I knew, metallers who like AFD, Metallica, Megadeth. They disowned GNR for UYI. But it came closer to me. Then the ballads and videos really connected to pop fans who just wanted SCOM more. And they got 4 or 5 more.

Critics also panned. Bloated, over production? Ring any bells? The timeless production seen as cheesy... it sold inspite of the critics.

But now its all looked back with rose tinted glasses.

The forums are a cross section of the attention UYI receives by rock community. Civil War gets picked out as a classic song. On release wasnt given much attention. UYI is seen as GNRs best work by mainstream. It showed they could write good songs about more than drinking and drugs. We probably more leaning towards AFD as the classic but UYI is now right up there, critically speaking.

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The backlash to GNR is pretty well documented. And it started in 91. from grunge bands, the media in general definitely turned. Even inside the band from Niven, Izzy, Slash there was dissent. Part of why the Illusion tour so glorious is that it was conducted in this tornado of hate.

But the sales and videos made us feel we were winning. That element was correct. The GNR and fans were great. But critically not so much. And it seemed both Slash and Axl agreed. Slash loved the demos, Axl has since said they were rushed. Thats them listening and responding to the various media. Axl even responded with CD. Its like he was chasing approval from those that hated on him. You have respect that. Even the less bloated CD, no more 10 minute songs.

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IRS is fucked due to Ron coming in over the top and filling every single space and gap with incessant, pointless noodling.

The skwerl/antiquiet demo kicks it's ass, it is allowed to breathe.

The Ron/Frank additions kill the title track, Ron's solo in Riad sucks many dicks and you can hear the cut and paste of the drums in better...

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I like what Ron did on Chi dem, dont notice any cut and paste on riad but IRS just didnt suit more stuff. But its still pretty awesome.

Theres always stuff you dont like, were only human.

For me Jungle is laboured, brownstone slow and clunky, youre crazy like not the best they could do, anything goes glossy. Flawed genius. Live irons out these things. Drums on illusion are plodding drum machine. Sometimes production is 2D.

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