Millions

For those of you who have this, what do you reckon??? (This isn't a request for a link, by the way, I'm happy to wait a couple of more days).

1 hour ago, Gimpy Hewitt said:

What pisses me off is they left the first note of the guitar solo in there from the 90s demo of this song. It’s just pretty depressing how they’ve been back together for going on 8 years now and we just get a couple Chinese leftovers with slash pasted over top them. It’s negativity but it’s the truth.

I mean - yeah, this is just so fucking weird, eh?

I just can't understand what they were thinking. Is it : 

a) a sloppy cut and paste?

b) Do they just think it sounds good?

c) Is it an artistic statement? (Ie, a musical version of : 'right, fuck off Robin, let's bring in Slash'). 

 

1 hour ago, Gimpy Hewitt said:

What pisses me off is they left the first note of the guitar solo in there from the 90s demo of this song. It’s just pretty depressing how they’ve been back together for going on 8 years now and we just get a couple Chinese leftovers with slash pasted over top them. It’s negativity but it’s the truth.

I mean - yeah, this is just so fucking weird, eh?

I just can't understand what they were thinking. Is it : 

a) a sloppy cut and paste?

b) Do they just think it sounds good?

c) Is it an artistic statement? (Ie, a musical version of : 'right, fuck off Robin, let's bring in Slash'). 

 

Does anyone know what style of song this is supposed to be? A ballad? An up-tempo rocker?

I'm assuming that if there's  orchestra backing, its not going to be one of the heavier GNR songs.

I posted yesterday about being underwhelmed, but this version of the song is definitely a grower. Its a definite improvement on the old version. In particular, I like how they've removed the guitar part over  the 'But how would I know how it feels' line. That guitar line kinda hid that chord change - and one of the main hooks of the song's melody. So its a definite improvement for me. Any thoughts?

The original solo is definitely quite a bit better though, I wish they'd left it intact, or just had Slash do a version of that one. 

But overall, I'd give it a solid 7 out of 10.

What's the consensus then? Is this song Axl reflecting on his regrets about how he acted towards Slash?

In my opinion, for what its worth, its just...... okay. Just a kinda bland, forgettable mid-tempo plodding rocker. 

If a new band came out with this as their first single, it wouldn't excite me. I'm only listening to it because of the GNR name. 

I had to look up who the producer is, because they did a terrible job with the cut and paste of that guitar solo. And why even change the solo if Slash is just going to half-ass it and phone it in like that? As someone else said, if you removed it completely, it would make zero difference. 

Having said that, there are some nice touches, and some decent little melodic parts. I'm happy that we have it, as I love this band, and I'm grateful for anything we can get from them, but let's just say I'm not blown away. Its not going to be getting played on repeat like some of their earlier stuff, and even some of the highlights from Chinese Democracy. 

I actually like the dolphin sounds just after the solo (if that's what they are). Gives some consistency to the Illusions era, haha.

I wonder if the start of the solo only sounds weird to us as we've all listened to the demo so many times. 

Maybe if we hadn't we wouldn't even notice that detail?

I just don't understand the talk here about doing  new covers. The band has already done enough covers to fill 2 albums. The ratio of covers to original material is already a bit embarrassing. More covers is the last thing they need.  

'Following  recent confirmation that the band will headline the Glastonbury festival this summer, there have been reports in the British media today that audiologists are highly concerned. Fans who intend to attend the Guns N Roses show have been urged to wear earplugs or alternative ear protection during the band's performance, after fears that the lead singer's notoriously high-pitched, Mickey Mouse-like vocals can cause hearing damage. 

In particular, audiologists have noted a statistically significant rate of tinnitus among fans who attended the band's recent tour.  This is a medical condition which involves permanent hearing damage,  and often causes a permanent buzzing type sound for sufferers. It has been speculated that the high volume of the speaker systems, the  prolongued duration (the band's performance often goes on for over 3.5 hours) and the unusually high-pitched vocals (often compared to Disney cartoon character Mickey Mouse) create a so-called 'perfect storm' , leading to the debilitating condition.'

To me, this is like asking - what's the favourite shit you've ever taken? It makes absolutely no sense. Although I get that its probably just because as fans, there's not much else to talk about.

But this is a band who have lacked creativity and any kind of artistic value for decades of doing nothing. Why would we encourage that with mediocre cover versions???  I want less cover versions. I actually think its pathetic and a bit cringey that the band still does Live And Let Die, and Knockin On Heaven's Door. Its a sad reflection of their own output. 

 

Just the complete lack of any creativity whatsoever.

Everyone knows that hard rockers reach their musical peak in their 60s - and that's usually when they start releasing their best stuff.

Exciting times!

Someone mentioned in the last couple of pages that Axl, Slash, and I assume Duff too, were working on new stuff in around 1996. I totally forgot about this. And apparently Axl thought highly of this material.

Does anyone know if this stuff was ever used? Did it become incorporated into Chinese Democracy or Velvet Revolver? Or does it just need a wee spit and polish for the current version of the band for release?

Favourites : Better, Shackler's , TWAT

Least favourite : Scraped, Rhiad

Favourite leak : Goin Down

A lot of fans here are criticizing Niven for what he said. But if you are honest - what part can you genuinely disagree with?

Are there particular live versions of Slash and Duff doing these songs that are recognised as being definitive? Or at least close?

I think the plan to release a song at a time is a good one. It stops the whole process being overwhelming - like a a huge, impossible task that is going to be so massive that you just don't know where to start. I think it was Bumblefoot who initially suggested this approach - so I'm glad someone listened. 

Has his voice deteriorated? Maybe. But we still have the old vocal takes he recorded during the chinese democracy sessions. And he could use his lower registers on any new music - which I have always wanted more of. 

I think the fact that he released Absurd and Hardskool shows that he doesn't want the band just to become some cheesy old 90s tribute act. 

22 minutes ago, El Guapo said:

I threw up a little reading that.

Yeah - but it worked - if you have to kiss a bit of buttock to get some info, fair enough. He should be praised for taking one for the team. 

The next stage, kissing a bit of Brazilian peepee in exchange for information, might be a step too far. Might be. 

I'll be honest - I have a ticket to see them in London in May, but if the tour is cancelled because of this virus, I would be delighted..... as long as they use the time to get busy in the studio. 

Imagine if Slash comes up with something really good - some brilliant riff, solo or song melody. At this point, with all the uncertainty, what is he likely to do with it?

Is he gonna give it to GNR, knowing it might be buried and disappear for ever, or will he use it with his solo career with Myles Kennedy??? Axl's bullshit is now in danger of directly affecting the quality of any forthcoming album. We're in danger of Slash and Duff getting to the stage where they just phone-in their live GNR performances for the cash, and use their solo careers to express themselves artistically. 

It might be an unpopular opinion, but I don't think anything we've heard is nearly good enough for a single. A couple of them would be okay filler, or maybe as 2nd rate songs - but there are no big hitters yet. 

Good - I totally support this. It IS boring. 

I'm sure if you polled the fans on this site, a massive majority would prefer new music to more touring.

One thing that I wonder..... Slash is a creative, productive guy - and always has been. He writes all the time, including on the road. Axl is the opposite, as we all know.

So let's imagine Slash has been writing some stuff for the last year or two, and that some of it is decent. What happens to it? Does he give it to GNR, knowing it might never get out to the fans? And meaning his work with Myles Kennedy is just the left over crap that GNR doesn't want? 

Or does he give it to GNR knowing that if it ever gets made and released, Axl and Duff can probably take it to another level completely?

What would you do???

I have to say I prefer the official version of the album. Some of the production changes are slightly better ; some slightly worse. It more or less balances out. But this rough mix version lacks Shacklers, This I Love and Better - 3 of the best songs on the album.