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The only one close to the level of Dylan is probably Tom Waits in my opinion. Tom Waits lyrically is close to dylan and is superior musically. There is a great youtube video out there of Brain talking about playing with Waits and how he would challenge him musically.

Michael Jackson is the furthest thing from a musician. He was a singer and a performer. Quincy Jones wrote the lions share of his stuff along with lional Richie. Jackson is one of the most overated "artists" of all time...on top of being a child rapist, of which im not a fan of either.

Prince is not my thing but is highly talented.

One name that fails to be mentinoed enough in the "musical genius" debate is Frank Zappa. Dude played someting like 26 instruments and covered the whole palet of musical styles.

thats my 0.2 cents

My AFD story. (if anyone is bored)

I grew up in a house where music was played often and loud. No one in my family could play an instrument but they all loved music. From a very early age I would be putting around the house, He-Man and Hulk Hogan action figures in tow, with the back ground music being played by the likes of the Rolling Stones, Bob Dylan, Bruce Springsteen, Peter Frampton and many more.

My father had a bit more eclectic taste for music than my mother. Hot Tuna, Roxy Music and most of all Frank Zappa and the Mothers of Invention. So from a very early age music was a very important part of the day.

I was a severe asthmatic as a child and missed many days of school. One particular day in late fall of 1987 I was in the bus line waiting to go home and most likely play Super Mario Brothers. My friend behind me was talking about his older brother who worked at a record store. He kept talking about this song that started out slow and got really heavy. He continued to hum along while smacking his thigh..pop....pop...pop pop...pop....pop...pop pop. I turned around and asked him what was the name of this song or band. He just replied "I don't know, but there is a bunch of skulls and a cross on the cover."

As fate would have it the next day I was home sick. My father came into my room after he got out of work and said I have to go to the mall with your sister so she can get a tee ball glove....you need anything? Well I had been dealing with this pop....pop...pop pop...pop....pop...pop pop sound in my head for over 24 hours now and was excited to hear the song for real. "Yeah Dad, can you get me a tape?" Sure he said, which one? "Ahh, I don't know...it's got skulls on it and a cross". I could tell by the look on his face that the look on my face that he knew this was something that I needed.

About one hour later my father returned with a plastic bag that he tossed on my bed. "Here you go kidd-o. And by the way, the name of the band is Guns N' Roses." Now knowing the name of the band I couldn't contain myself. I tore into that bag like it was Christmas morning, only to be with the same disappointment which everyone had when getting a new cassette tape back in the day....that fucking plastic security thingy which was impossible to get off. However, that day, I was not to be denied. I ripped that fucker off like I did the panties of my prom date seven years later.

I quickly went over to the corner of my room and placed the cassette into the one speaker boom box which I kept on a side table as if it were a trophy. That sound....the opening riff to WTTJ took my breath away, literally (remember I was asthmatic). I listened to the whole album twice before mandatory lights out. Rocket Queen made the most lasting impression, and it still does. 25 years later I am in my mid thirties and this album has been my favorite and most consistently played since the day I got it. Albeit that I have owned three cassette copies and two CD's. I listened to the cassettes so often that they tape actually snapped. The days that happened my parents were kind enough to make "emergency trips" to the mall for me to retrieve another copy.

This is the perfect album. The edge has never gone away. I have never had to skip a song. The sound has never been replicated, by anyone even GNR. It also keeps surprising me. Recently about a year ago. I decided to purchase a Bose Wave radio to replace my Bose iPod docking station. I put a copy of AFD in the CD player and again I got chills and it took my breath away. The production on the album is incredible and now that I had a system which was capable of properly exploit the quality of the recording, it was like a new album. I can't foresee every not having this masterpiece on regular rotation in my house or car! AFD has prepared my for basketball games bitty ball through college, AFD was with me on graduation day in high school and college, and it was with me on my wedding day. My wife looked at me as we were planing our wedding, "which Guns N Roses song do you want to come out to?" she said. That right there is true love my friends!

Happy Birthday Appetite For Destruction!!

Since everyone had decided to give their 2 cents worth on all the recent GNR on goings I figured that I would join in.

First off, I still have a hard time understanding why people have such a hard time with the way the RnRHOF went down. I have never understood the need for fans to have their favorite bands music loved by others. This is so odd to me. What is gained by knowing that a bunch of old white men deem that GNR is worthy of being anointed as a "Hall of Fame" act?

Furthermore, it seems that they were mostly inducted based on the merit of AFD. That entire album in my opinion is a pure rock n roll album, it is a gritty, dirty middle finger to society. It was not an album that encouraged one to conform to what society wants. So I find it ironic that everyone is so offended when Axl has the same outlook 25 years later. Axl not showing up was the most rock n roll event of the night. As a fan since early 1988 when my dad bought me AFD, I was neither insulted nor offended by Axl, Izzy or Dizzy not showing up. In fact I did not give two shits.

Since I only post about once a year I'll mention on more thing that pisses me off ( to the three of you that have continued reading this far.) Who cares what Axl or any of the other members wear for clothing? This Kardashian-esque reality TV era outlook is ridiculous. Most posts start off with this non-sense then finally a few things are mentioned about the music. Instead of bitching (like me now) we should all appreciate the fact that this version of GNR is a tight friggin band musically, and that over the past few years we have had ample opportunity to see them live!!

I don't blame anyone for not wanting to have shit thrown at them. Am I in the minority? It seems to happen more frequently outside of the US for some reason. I did however see it happen at a Manson concert about 12 years ago. He had a lighter thrown on stage and it hit Twiggy. Manson left the stage and then came back about 10 minutes later. He started playing again and asked security to kick the guy out. As they pulled the guy over the guard rail just in front to the stage Manson yelled for them to stop. Manson had about 5 full bottles of water and just started drilling this dude off the head at about 2 feet away. It was classic.

There are alot of things I have a difficult time defending, this however is not one of them. I bitch about Axl taking the stage late too, but at the end of the day everytime I see them I sitting there waiting. I still get a good return on my entertainment dollar.

the cookie makin satan haters

Since I have been listening to the 4 new tracks in addition to ‘The Blues and Madagascar’ I can’t help but draw comparisons (lyrically at least) with Dylan’s ‘Blood on the Tracks’ album. I think that ‘Chinese Democracy’ in a way is going to be Axl’s ‘Blood on the Tracks’ album.

Anyone else see this or am I just pulling it out of my ass?

Also a note toward the discussion regarding whether or not the mainstream is going to accept CD. Yes I think they will but not as quickly as some of us. You have to remember that AFD did not do well until it was released for over a year or so. The make up of today’s music scene is lacking quality music much like the mid-80’s when AFD came out, so it will take a while for it to sink in--

I would love to see Zakk Wylde at lead (I know that this is mostly wishful thinking), he was almost added to the band once and is a friend and fan of Axl. on his Blessed Hellride album the song Dead Mellow is about Axl and in an interview on WAAF a year or two ago he said that he would love an opportunity to play with Axl.

given his solo career and Axl's work ethic, he would be able to put out 3-4 albums of his own material in between Guns albums.....just my two cents worth.

thanks

what is the best program to use to burn DVD's? just got a burner and would like some good pointers.

thanks