MJRoses23

Just now, GNRRHCP98 said:

Re: GNR account’s most recent post showcasing concept art from the music video… am I the only one who thinks it gives more credence to the theory that “TG” and “Monsters” were supposed to be released together? 

100%

1. Cleveland 2017 - No words for this show. 

2. Pittsburgh 2016 - First time with OG members. Just epic

3. Hammerstein night 1 - I've never been closer to the band. Waited in line all day to be right up front.

4. Hammerstein night 2

5. Pittsburgh 2023 - This was an especially fun concert. First time Perhaps was played and I dont know that I've ever seen the band happier.

6. Cleveland 2007 - The night of Pigeons of Shit Metal lol

7. Cleveland 2002 - First time seeing them. I was 15 and just being in the same arena as Axl was something speical.

8. Youngstown 2011 - Day they got inducted into the HOF. Fuckin marathon set. 

11 minutes ago, downzy said:

I'm fairly certain that version was only played once by most stations.  My local stations played the longer intro as part of its promotion, but shortly there after played the shorter version.  So not sure if that really made a difference.  

It's not a great lead off track.  The guitar riff sounds like it could replace the intro to the show 90210.  The chorus is just kind of meh to me.  It's not a bad song.  But not the right song to reintroduce a band that has been completely upended.  Guns needed to hit it out of the park.  Better would have been a much better choice.  I don't think it would have changed the overall perception.  But from personal experience, the only reason why most of my friends gave it a chance is because I made them listen to songs like Better and TWAT. 

100% agree that Better was the choice. No idea why they abandoned that idea. It was clearly going to be. The leaked Harley ad from 06 seems to confirm that. The people I played the leak to immediately said this is a radio song. 

Maybe it was just my area that continued the long intro way after the fact. 

On 1/26/2024 at 3:47 PM, downzy said:

CD certainly would have done better if Slash was on it, but it would still have needed the right launch. 

Chinese Democracy serving as the first single (with no video) - with or without Slash - was always going to be an underwhelming opening salvo.  This I Love and Better are in the top 25 listened to songs of all time; not bad for two song that got next to no promotion.  They have been listened to more than You're Crazy, Double Talking Jive, Coma, Dead Horse, The Garden, Locomotive, and other songs that are held in high regard by GNR fans.

Axl was already handicapping himself by calling the band Guns N' Roses without Slash.  But I think people were still curious what he had been working on all those years.  Re-introducing the band with the title track killed all the interest in new music.  Personally, I know when I band I generally like releases a new album with a bad first single it kills a lot of enthusiasm I have.  I've got to imagine that most people felt that way the first (and likely only) time they heard Chinese Democracy.  

 

You know what I think hurt the first impressions? The extra long intro on CD. If they had kept the same intro as from the locker leaks I think it would have done worlds better. A minute long intro on the radio was rough for people. 

10 hours ago, tboneman said:

Vinyl rip. 

 

 

Well that sounds about a million times better.

16 hours ago, colonizedmind said:

I'm finding it difficult to critically process "The General" and be pragmatic about it's merits and flaws...

Why?

For many reasons -I think it's a small miracle we have this song in our collection now and it sits on Guns official channels. It does show that the Axl we've commented on and deduced from the last year or so, is an Axl in quite an obviously different mental state and place than perhaps forever. His entire demeanor has shifted/altered, or rather gone back to the more confident times but with a new twist of modesty and gratitude. He total showed up Slash and Duff and the rest (whom normally are known as quite fan friendly) over the years worth of touring, he stopped many more times to talk with fans, sign shit and take a pouty photo or two...he even looked genuinely moved at a woman saying they named their son, Axl, after him and went in for hugs to name a few examples. His stage presence is at an older age peak, his movement was noticeably less ridged and telegraphed this year...Yes he was in better shape but he seemed more at ease and chill with himself and his position, which came through in his stage chats and banter which has been minimal 2016-22 until this year...

My point to this is....without his current mentality and mindset, I really don't think General gets released otherwise. Listening to it time and time again, reading the lyrics...WOW, it's such difficult and touchy subject and ultimately something, perhaps more than anything he's actually written, really close to the bone. It's obvious this part of his formative years has gone to shape the majority of his life (I'm sure if we get his book it will feature heavily, he often said when crazy shit happened, he had reasons...and one day he'd tell us, why this behaviour)..how he didn't easily trust folk and how loyality became THEE most important thing for Axl, it's quite clear, how his errors and mistakes have occured, manifesting from his own experiences and misfortune of having an abusive dick in the household. Clearly this fucked him up for longer than he'd care to admit...not one to regret, but he regrets "not taking the time to forget" (move forward with help)

Knowing how sensitive he is, firing Go to allow the world to hear THIS? Something that perhaps was more therapy for him to write and record, more than a song he planned at the time for us ...Is the real headline here...

Of course I understand our endless debates about the clipping, about our mismanaged expectations of what the song was, about our hyperbole, about everything really...we all do it. We've had 15+ years...but I can't do it now... just can't objectively criticise a piece, that is about such a personal thing...it kinda doesn't matter, its flaws may only add to what the whole picture is anyway...

I genuinely think it's a small miracle this is out and he gave the ok...

and in it's own little way, that's the biggest statement and takeaway from it all....

Man....just absolutely spot on. 

Did I miss someone mention this? On the Youtube version theres a note under the song that says this: 

Music video by Guns N' Roses performing The General (Audio). © 2023 Guns N' Roses, under exclusive license to Geffen Records

Then theres a link to Vevo. Wonder if a video is coming.

GNRs IG just posted a pre save for The General with a clip of the song playing. December 8th. 

10 minutes ago, Barlog said:

This is called The General

chills

 

Seriously. I've watched just that part 20 times. So many years in the making and hearing him say it. Damn.

I think the band knocked it out of the park this tour. Switched up the setlist, three new songs (one of which being the fucking General), and a music video. In GNR land you cant ask for much more. Great year for Guns. I hope they keep it going.

Oh and fuck me, they sounded good on The General. Axl went for it. 

8 minutes ago, Barlog said:

meanwhile me blasting the general at the gym

Hahahaha For real. I had it blasting on a run and in the car. 

17 minutes ago, Underhardy said:

Does it not bother anybody else how fucked these vocals are, for Axls standards.. the effects that he hides his voice behind.. the bizarre layering.. he has one of the best voices in music history, showcased on many CD songs… The instrumentals are absolutely amazing.. it’s the vocals that just kill it for me.. even the rasp used in the bridge of Monsters just doesn’t sound right at points.. sounds like an Axl cover singer.. just shocked 

I agree about Axl and the voice. However, it always seems like Axl is trying to take some unmakeable dream song he hears in his head and put it on a record. And that is when I love GNR the most. It’s like he tries to take all the things GNR has the capability of an etch it into a song. It’s something to be admired I think. 

1 minute ago, Skamos66 said:

**Breaking News**

the mixed and mastered version just leaked

Where?

13 minutes ago, evader said:

MONSTERS Lyrics

A tour-de-force of any old passion
A broken heart that was out of fashion
Dynamic duo keep your ..(figure).. crashing
My early warning was your satan(i)c laughing

I was there for you
Its all I had to do
Oh but its over now
Oh but its over now

I was there for you
Its all I had to do
Oh but its over now
Oh but its over now

The monsters......

You stole my soul with the devil's romancing
All alone in your bedroom, dancing
Thought I could feel somebody worth having
But in the end I guess you're good for the damning

I was there for you
Its all I had to do
Oh but its over now
Oh but its over now

SLASH

The monsters......

The more I did, what I did, I did with you
There's no excuses for the hell that you put me through
I never did, I was a kid, would I kid with you?
To make it better there's just nothin' that I wouldn't do

I doubt there's anybody left that wants to know the truth
The dirty secret that you hid away inside of you
Who ever thought I'd be around to shed a light on you
Well here's the story baby I got nothin' else ta do

I was there for you
Its all I had to do
Oh but its over now
Oh but its over now

I was there for you
Its all I had to do
Oh but its over now
Oh but its over now

I was there for you
Its all I had to do

I was there for you
Its all I had to do

I was there for you

Any chance you have the lyrics for the General? Some of the distorted parts I can’t make out. 

2 minutes ago, JAxlMorrison said:

I mean it starts out…Daddy don’t

and goes from there. 

Holy shit I didn’t hear the first word as daddy. Puts that whole song in a different light. What a raw song. So damn good. 

4 minutes ago, AtlasShrugged said:

These lyrics on General.. you almost feel guilty it has leaked. Christ. Raw from Axl

Curious as to what part are you referring to?