themadcaplaughs

1 hour ago, EvanG said:

I think it's just an error in the booklet. Slash has said before that the only lead part Izzy played on UYI is the intro to Back Off Bitch.
What made it an interesting discussion is that the solo sounds a bit uninspiring if it is Slash. You would have expected him to play it more like the way he plays it live.
But it has Slash's tone and why would he play it live if he doesn't play it on the record?
I think one of the arguments was that Izzy could have played it with Slash's guitar and amp settings and that live he left it up to Slash because it turns into a prolonged solo and Slash is the noodler in the band after all.

 

This. There's a thread somewhere here about it. Certain pressings of the CD and cassette list Izzy as lead guitar on the song, but other say Slash. It's 100% Slash. 

Voted for "The Garden" again, but "Don't Damn Me" would be next. Surprised there are people who do not like "Perfect Crime", I think that's one of the most badass songs they've recorded. 

Now we're starting to get tough; gonna have to go with "The Garden". 

For as much as people talk about the Use your Illusions album containing filler (and admittedly, the Use Your Illusion II seems a little bit more guilty of this than Use Your Illusion I), after eliminating these first three songs, it has actually made me realize how solid of an album this is. I am going to have to go with "Live and Let Die". I consider it a completely serviceable cover, and always killer live (the one song Axl has never faltered on), but the band doesn't put enough of their "stamp" on it to make it stand out. Like others said, it came down to this or "Bad Obsession" at this point, but I think "Bad Obsession" has enough of the GN'R "soul" that I am willing to let it live another day. 

Did not even have to think: "Back off Bitch". 

With Appetite, I had a general idea of where things would go, even if it was not my personal opinion (i.e., I am a huge an of the Appetite version of "You're Crazy" but know it is not well-loved). Lies came out swinging with one of the songs I assumed would go towards the end being knocked out early (or was it even the first one to go): "Reckless Life". 

Looks like Use Your Illusion I will follow the "Lies" trend. I certainly did not expect "Bad Apples" to go first (as it's looking). I personally love the song, but figured it would at least make it half-way. In complete seriousness, what makes "Bad Apples" worse than, say "Back off Bitch", one of the most boring songs in the GN'R catalogue? 

Maybe it's because it remains a Guns N' Roses song I overlooked for years (so it has not "worn out" to me), but I actually consider "You Ain't the First" one of the highlights. 

"One in a Million" making it as far as it did was like when Alabama almost elected that guy to Senate a few years back; the one who openly had relationships with young teenage women. I am, of course, glad the forum ultimately made the right choice, but the fat that it rose as high as it did still causes concern. 

In regards to the lyrics, I get - as do most people - that Axl wrote the song from the point-of-view of a character/stereotype. It does not take a genius to understand that. It does not change the fact that the lyrics have been cringe-worthy since the day the song dropped. It reminds of a teenager trying to sound edgy. Even ignoring the lyrics, I never understand the choruses of "this is a great GN'R song". To me, it's absolutely C-level alongside something like "Shotgun Blues". They have a certain tossed off charm, but are nothing I will actively seek out. 

It is telling that the band has done everything possible to simply forget this song and move on. As Slash said, it was not even a debate. 

For the record, I am all for Axl being able to release the song. I am also for people being able to call him out on it and decry the song's general mediocrity and offensiveness. 

3 hours ago, alfierose said:

I'm surprised how many votes Reckless Life is getting. It's not GNR A list but I consider it a decent song.

This. Even if it is not an "A" tier song, I consider it one of those songs that defines the band's sound. I went with "Mama Kin": safe cover of a relatively uninteresting Aerosmith song. 

18 hours ago, mystery said:

I always thought it was odd they only had one show booked that year without a warm up gig beforehand. I think Buckethead could handle being in a huge rock band just fine. I think it just became extremely stifling creatively, especially for someone as prolific as him.

I do not think a huge rock band would have ever been his thing to be honest. I think the GN'R experience made him realize he is happier being a niche performer who can do things exactly his way, and to be fair, he's made a great career of it. I do believe he would have come to the same conclusion no matter how professional and consistent the band, but I do have to imagine it was a culture shock to be in Guns N' Roses from 2000-2002; possibly the most chaotic period of the band in terms of uncertainty. 

I am even surprised myself that I voted for "Nightrain", but I would actually rank it beneath "My Michelle" and "Out ta Get Me". 

"Think About You". 

Pleasant enough song in it's own right, but feels completely out of place on the album. I missed round one. Never understood the hate for "Anything Goes", and I may be the sole person on the planet who prefers the Appetite version of "You're Crazy" to the Lies version. 

1 hour ago, GnR Chris said:

One reason would be if they were still holding out hope for a reunion with Slash, they'd want to maximize dollars on a new record simple called GUNS N' ROSES.

Per the rumors at the time, this was the more realistic reason. IIRC, the "official" reason was that the label felt the band should still promote Chinese Democracy. The "real" reason was a mix of wanting Slash/Duff back to market the record. Against all odds, the label made a profit on Chinese Democracy with the Best Buy deal, and did not want to sink even more costs into pressing and promoting a follow-up album to Chinese Democracy, which in terms of actual units moved, was well below expectations. 

Again, going off the top of my head, @Blackstarcould probably help here, the album shipped platinum (as in Best Buy bought 1,000,000 copies), but SoundScan numbers (which tracks actual purchases) indicated it sold somewhere between 500,000 and 600,00 physical copies. 

4 hours ago, Pele said:

Fair post.

I tend not to use the term 'insiders'.  Obviously a real insider would be a source close to the band.  The forum definition 'insider' I'd say relates to a certain type of poster (basically someone who posts vague clues/info without a source and 99% turns out to be bullshit.

I've always been clear - there is another type of poster.  Absolute ass-lickers who spend all day posting support of Rose on Twitter/Insta, who send messages of love to the Lebeis/Santos family, who run and tell tales to them whenever someone posts anything mean, who (genuinely) turn up to shows with presents for Fernando's sister etc.  There are 2-3 of these who have direct access to Beta (and the family) and converse regularly.  They aren't 'insiders', they are just super-fans who are occasionally given nuggets of info (not that there is ever anything exciting worth knowing - however one was informed when Rose called Hudson).

I believe there was a plan to release a 2010 album - and the album consisted of completed songs (Atlas/Perhaps/General/ Going Down), new versions of existing songs (TIL), and songs he wanted to complete (Tonto/Soulmonster/Zodiac).

Shades of grey exist.

I don't believe Tonto/Soulmonster/Zodiac etc were finished.  You and others may do.

Slash has helpfully told us what's happening - songs Axl had done vocals on will be released.

So let's see.

So, for a point of clarification, you believe said former wrestler was incorrect when he said a new album was ready to go in 2010/2011? He made it very clear that, had the record label said yes at the time, a completed album could have been turned over the next day. He even said the plans were to make it self-title (either Guns N' Roses of GN'R). Based on your previous post, you believe that was not the case? 

21 hours ago, Pele said:

Most of them I don't believe.

If you're talking about the wrestler - he doesn't have completed songs that we haven't heard.

And I've no clue on which members excite me so much?

The "sexual" aspect was tongue in cheek, but you have spent a notable amount of time trying to get information on the individuals on those different forums via private messages from members of this forum (myself included). Furthermore, when you began all this nonsense, you made a huge deal out of saying you believed the majority, if not all, of what those people said. I think you said those "other forum" people should even be considered "insiders" (God I hate that word now) or, at least. people whose word could be taken as pulling some weight about the inner workings of GN'R during that era. 

So, to repeat the question you did not answer last time (I did not ask you how many songs the "former wrestler" has), what do you make of the statements he made that a full album was "in the can" as early as fall 2010, and that at least a few songs beyond that album were ready to go? Are you saying he was lying, that he was misinformed, or that (like most other scenarios with you) you just chose to ignore what didn't fit your thoughts? Again, if you could answer the question without deflecting, that would be appreciated. 

On an even more serious note, I do not necessarily even disagree with your thoughts on the number of finished songs available and think you hold a valid viewpoint, even if I do not agree with it entirely (I tend to think there are more than four songs in the can, but agree that what's truly ready to release or to be prepared for release is WAY less than any comments from Axl or the band). I think what bugs me about the situation (beyond hijacking every thread) is that you seem unable to acknowledge any shades of gray that may exist, and then treat other people like imbeciles for enjoying what the band has put out or having a sincere belief that more songs may exist. 

I am one of the "fools" you keep referencing because, believe it or not, I genuinely enjoyed both songs and thought it would be neat to have some more GN'R music on physical formats. 

Honest question @Pele since I block out your shit for the most part. 

How have you responded to the fact that the people on another GN'R forum we're not allowed to talk about, and whose members seem to excite you on a borderline sexual level, claim that, as far back as 2010, the band had a full record in the can ready to release consisting of Chinese Democracy era songs and, per the man who used to run said forum, even had completed songs from the sessions that were meant to be the "follow-up" to the CD era (the man in questions said many songs were based on riffs Fortus brought to the band). 

19 hours ago, Tom-Ass said:

More like a nail in the coffin of any chance this band will ever write and release good music together.

BAM!!!!

Mine is apparently somewhere between Ohio and Atlanta. It was supposed to arrive on Wednesday; not it just says delivery date is pending. 

16 hours ago, Pele said:

I did.

He lied.

Or more likely, Rose lied and told him he was busy recording vocals.

Either way - Slash has told us they are releasing the songs Axl had.  

So we're gonna see if I'm right or not.

Ok, cool. Just wanted to verify that you weren't going to have a serious conversation about this. Looks like that is the case. I tried indulging you for a while, but enough is enough. 

9 hours ago, Nintari said:

I saw that Tom Petty's Wildflowers re-release actually improved on the dynamic range over the original so now, there's at least a little hope lol

I think the reissue of In Utero a few years back did the same thing re: improving the dynamic range. 

I finally got my updated on Saturday morning. It will still come from Michigan, but not set to arrive in Atlanta until Wednesday evening. 

I have been a fan of the Bucket since 1993 or 1994, so when he joined Guns N' Roses, it was a strange "worlds colliding" moment for me. I think someone's description of "awkward" was perfect to summarize his time in the band. Bucket is a guy who does things his own way, and I imagine he would have had a rough transition in even the most well-oiled rock n' roll band. That he managed to record such good parts and play live with Guns N' Roses (already a notoriously chaotic band) during one of the most topsy-turvy periods of its existence was a small miracle. As a huge fan of both parties, I do no think it was ever going to be a "good fit", and to me was on par with had the band gone with Dava Navarro or Zakk Wylde; a cool idea that would have produced good music, but not necessarily meant to last. 

As much as DJ gets on my nerves, I do think he probably came across a lot harsher than he meant. Sometimes things get lost in translation between the tone of the words and text. He seems to have complete respect for Buckethead, but acknowledges that, for many fans, his "shtick" was a hard thing to overcome, and only added to the idea at the time that Axl had lost the plot. Richard Fortus and Robin Finck both said similar things about Bucket as Ashba. I think Robin even dimissed Bucket, to a degree, as a "stunt player" in the last interview he did. Even on a musical level, Buckethead's playing stands about as opposite from the Slash/Izzy dynamic as you could get. To me, it was really fun seeing Buckethead running wild with Appetite/UYI material and putting his spin on it, but again, I could see how many would see it as a poor fit. 

My memories of Buckethead were that, while many appreciated his skill as a guitarist, even the most dedicated fans had mixed feelings about his presence in the band. I do not think the love for Buckethead in GN'R came until a few years later, when Bucket became slightly more of a public figure due to Guitar Hero and collaborations with other artists. 

9 hours ago, Twinaleblood said:

I would be happy with a new in-depth interview from Axl almost as much as I would be happy with new GNR music, really.

Same. I honestly found that China Exchange talk he did in 2016 to be one of the most interesting this he did in some time. 

The first list I remember being aware of was the one about "last time played", and I will whole-heartedly admit I actually found it informative and fun. Everything else was, to be diplomatic, unnecessary and speculative. That being said, I have gotten amusement out of the fact that @CubanSkies Dummy seems to have lost complete track of of how much of his persona on this board remains a joke, and how much has become serious. He resembles a method actor who lost complete knowledge of when he is out of character or in character.