Karma_Police

Smashing Pumpkins were a weird band. I have all their albums but the thing is I don't think they make great albums. They have some really great songs and some absolutely terrible songs. There doesn't seem to be much inbetween with them. Either the song is great or it sucks. The great songs are great enough though for me to own all their albums which is good enough I suppose. I think their best album is Adore but strangely enough I don't think it boasts any of their very best songs. It just works for me as an album.

It won't happen mainly because nobody from either camp would ever let it happen. To be honest though the Velvet Revolver album would be an after thought on almost everybody's mind. The anticipation for Chinese Democracy is huge even if the general public can't really see it or feel it yet. We feel it obviously but I mean the hype is based on mostly a rumored album and it's mostly hype from diehard Guns fans. The general public could care less at the moment. Having said that once an official release date for a Guns N' Roses album, regardless of who makes up the band, will be huge. The name Guns N' Roses alone stirs up excitement. So it doesn't really mater who releases albums the day of Chinese Democracy's release. all albums will be lost in the hype and frenzy of Chinese Democracy. At least for the first week or so. This is of course assuming the first single is a knock out. After that the album will have to be speak for itself. Nobody in the music industry wants to release an album on the same day as Chinese Democracy. It's like nobody wants their movie released the same weekend as a Star Wars movie or a Peter Jackson movie.

"People will hear music this year"

Amazing! Quite possibly the truest most reliable quote out of the G n'R camp(in any form) in the history of the band. Of course people will hear music this year Axl! And good for you for telling the flat out truth. See the thing is Axl never said we'd hear Chinese Democracy this year but with the aformentioned quote he implies we will. Though by not having said it we can only be angry with ourselves when it doesn't come out. We're the ones who have jumped to the conclusion that Axl said Chinese Democracy will be out this year. He's basically promised the album without actually promising us anything. Good move on his part. This allows the fans to remain faithful while at the same time keeping non fans intrigued, at least a little bit. It also shows that he does intend to release an album at some point, when though is anyones guess. The problem is, at least as far as I can see is that Axl is likely shooting for the stars with this album. And not stars in our galaxy even. This is the be all end all for him as far as Guns N' Roses and more importantly his music career goes. I honestly believe that there is no way in hell Axl intends to release a great album. He doesn't want to release the best album of the year or even the best album of the last few years. He wants to trump everything ever. Especially everything Guns N' Roses. The problem is great albums just happen, they aren't made. Though this album may be the exception. It wouldn't surprise me if this album has been heard and will be heard by hundreds of people well before it's ever released. Obviously Axl has a thing with confidentiality contracts so there isn't a problem there with people talking about what they've heard. What I think is happening is that Axl and Co. probably intend to release at least 75% of the songs on the album as singles if not every song. Therefore every song is probably being written with the intention of it being a top ten, top five or even a number one single. Whether that's the right way to go about writing songs is up for debate. Hundreds of people are probably listening to these songs and not untill the songs get say at least a 90% approval rateing will they be considerd final cuts fit for release. The other problem is I doubt Axl wants to release an album that can be associated with a certain time in history. He doesn't want this album to become dated. So now you have the task of writing 8 songs at the very least that will remain timeless while at the same time going to number one. Now those are some lofty goals. Of course this is only my theory. I haven't spoken to Axl in a while, well ever to be honest so who's to say what the real agenda/goal for this album is. Though an epic all time classic will no doubt be worth the wait, my fear is that the songs may implode on themselves and nothing good comes from it. I hope not. If nothing else the fact that Axl is out and about and speaking of Chinese Democracy can only be a good thing. Here's hopeing 2006 is finally the year.