El Guapo

When BB King improvised, for example, you would hardly call that noodling, would you?

It is what it is, Slash improvising these days doesn't appeal to me either, not at all. 

Richard is more interesting to listen to to me as well, no need to put him down to make Slash look better.

I can't bring myself to watch/listen to any of these current vids. I don't wanna see this. New recorded music or trying to ignore it all, that's where I am right now. It's depressing.

Lets face it, the only time where there was serious hope for Axl to change his ways was when Slash and Duff rejoined. He sounded good that but it didn't last long

Now, it is what it is and it will not get any better I think.

On 28.10.2018 at 1:10 AM, Azifwekare said:

 I was just listening to that track today, it's got that dirty distorted southern thing going on and her voice has a kind of Joplin-esque rasp to it, and I thought to myself 'I wonder what Axl would sound like on something like this...'

Random thought of the day.

It's a great album and a great song for sure.

12 minutes ago, soon said:

Maybe its overlooked because whenever one listens they find themselves distracted by Duffs talking bit at the end? That overshadows the song. What is he saying? I hear "Yo, we aint talkin' bout no worm eyeballs gnome missing riffs, ya hear?"

Which is weird if he is saying about "missing riffs" because to my ears the riff is kinda missing in this song. Perhaps its notes and dynamics are lost to the shitty UYI mix, over indulgent guitar tone and especially on this track the sound effects? But the riff seems to lack direction, its like a sloppy rendition of revving an engine.

You sure you like Guns N' Roses?

Always loved everything about it! 

Loved Road Rash!!

The ALG artwork is by some german guy named Krüger I think. He did a lot of similar stuff for german metal acts like Tankard.

Yes, he really should do an album like that!

Then put him in a room with a grand piano, lots of candles, his cats  and some cameras, let him play that whole album by himself and put it on youtube, please.

Maybe a guest spot by Slash.

What about Robin's solo album, is it ever coming out? Does anybody have any infos on that? I always thought that might be very interessting since Robin's studio work for Chinese was so good and creative.
While he was in Guns I pretty much hated him back then. He was really, really bad with Slash's stuff plus the goofy stage moves, skullets and all that.
Ashba was the worst, doesn't even matter how or what he played. Shame.
 

3 hours ago, AxlSlashthebest said:

"I heard Axl has been working really hard on his vocal delivery and sounds like he did in 2016 again and that they will open with a new song. Locomotive replaces Coma and the shows will be shorter (less solos and bloat).
Then I woke up"

is it a hope or you really heard that ?
 

"THEN I WOKE UP."
Sorry, mate!

On 8.10.2018 at 3:59 PM, Italian girl said:

OMG, NO!!!

Fuck, that pretty much means nothing will happen next year regarding Guns writing new stuff.
A whole year wasted on a shitty solo album is something to be pissed about at this point, imo.

I heard Axl has been working really hard on his vocal delivery and sounds like he did in 2016 again and that they will open with a new song. Locomotive replaces Coma and the shows will be shorter (less solos and bloat).
Then I woke up.

4 hours ago, appetite4illusions said:

It's only in the guitar community that technique matters or is really given any prestige.

Average music listeners want melody. They want a guitar part that has a melody that they can remember, follow and embrace. They appreciate it in the context of the song and how it makes the song better.

It's why people like David Gilmour have become universally loved. 

Agreed. 

It depends on how hard they are willing to really dive in and find the monkey.

Both Axl and Slash.

Street of Dreams (I wish they kept The Blues as it's title) would be much better than TIL at this point. Plus, it sounds good without rasp.
IF they go for it, let's just hope Slash puts in a bit more effort with the solo instead of noddling along as fast as he can.

Ain't life grand

Contraband

Libertad

Slash

It's five o clock somewhere

Apocalyptic love

World on fire/ Living the dream

Look for GNR rig rundown on youtube if you want to learn more about it and see it. Slash's rig is super complicated and technical these days.

7 hours ago, DieselDaisy said:

I have noticed that he has adopted a far cleaner/thinner tone in recent years - not sure of the technical specifics. 

This is kind of the typical change for many players over the years - think Clapton, for example. 

As a player myself, when you're young you tend to use more distortion and go for a big, fat humbucker tone. Later on, you try to use less and less dirt and many start to appreciate single coil pickups, Strats etc. because it's more musical and has more clarity. I used to play Les Pauls, then Teles, now Strats.

That being said, it's not always a change for the better. Many prefer Clapton's earlier, Les Paul stuff with Cream.

Personally, I loved Slash's UYI era tone and playing best, but I understand his journey to different tones. BUT the fast, noodling aspect of his playing these days just sucks to my ears. Since he is aware of it, it might change again for the better though, especially in the context of new Guns material. I hope so.

13 minutes ago, AxlIsGod. said:

I hope this album was just a play from slash to say "Look Axl lets do something or ill carry on putting this shite out" 

Yeah but, no.

45 minutes ago, Iron MikeyJ said:

I can tell you how I "stumbled" upon this. My 13 year old daughter LOVES Greta Van Fleet. I like them as well, but I have felt like something is "missing"  from their music. So I was listening to their From the Fires album, trying to figure out what was missing. That's when I noticed, their songs build, but then they take them back down, then they go to the solo.

Usually the guitar solo WILL be the high point of the song, so it's best for things to keep building until that point. Or if you take it back down, build it up again before the solo. Which Greta doesn't do good enough imo, they bring the song down, then jump into the solo. Which makes it feel a little forced or hurried imo. Which I then told my daughter "they need a better producer, to help them realize this". Which I FIRMLY believe Mike Clink helped Guns achieve this (the Appetite box set proves it). As far as Greta goes, I haven't heard much on their new album to make me think they fixed this, but I'm genuinely rooting for them.

So then I started listening to other bands (Zeppelin, ACDC, Van Halen, etc) and I noticed how they ALWAYS build the song to the solo, which makes the solo the high point of the song (dynamically speaking). When I was doing this "experiment" I was just listening to whatever song came next on my MP3 (which was on shuffle), I wasnt really thinking about Guns or anyone else in particular. Well then Nightrain came on, and like before, the song builds up to Slashs solo. But then I noticed something DIFFERENT, they kept building beyond the solo. So the solo WASNT the high point of the song, it was actually the last portion. Which got me thinking "man that's different from the other bands". So I started listening for MORE examples, and they have a LOT of songs like this. Then I went back and listened to Shoot to thrill (I figured that's a pretty rocking ACDC song), and nope, they dont do it. Then I did the same for Zeppelin and Van Halen, again nope... Which I didn't listen to every bands entire catalogue looking for this, but I listen for it now, quite often. 

Which I kinda came the conclusion, Guns does something BETTER than all the other great bands. Their dynamics are truly AMAZING. Which I'm not saying Guns is "without a doubt" the best rock band ever, but I DO thinks this helps make an arguement for them. 

Agreed. I never thought about it this way but your 100% right. Lack of dynamics like this make a lot of rock music boring. Guns had it figured out.

Would be interesting to know if only one of the bandmembers focused on this and, if so, who? Probably Axl.

On 2.10.2018 at 10:49 PM, Iron MikeyJ said:

I agree about the dynamics. That's why, imo Guns might be THE best rock band ever, even better than Zeppelin, AC/DC, or ANYONE else. It's all about the dynamics. 

Take Nightrain for example. When Axl sings the opening "loaded like a freight train..." he is using more of his midrange type voice. Which he keeps that throughout the first 3/4 of the song. It follows the same verse, chorus, verse, chorus, solo that most "classic rock" type songs follow. But then AFTER the guitar solo, Axl highers his pitch and REALLY starts belting it out. Then the WHOLE band follows that lead and goes into "over drive". Most other bands DONT do this. They follow the same dynamics established at the beginning of the song, including the mighty Zeppelin. Guns doesn't do this, the dynamics CHANGE as the song goes along. 

Other bands DO similar things, but they do one of two things. 1. They write a different musical part for the song (instead A, B, C they add a D section). Metallica does this often, they write a "new" final section of the song to change the dynamics. Which isn't bad or wrong, but it's not the same thing as what guns do. Nightrain doesn't change musically, just the bands approach (dynamics) do. Or 2. The singer DOES change his/her dynamics but the band has trouble following that lead. Aerosmith comes to mind here, Tyler can and DOES change his approach as the song progresses (in certain cases) but the rest of the band doesn't come along with him like Guns does. So the song doesn't reach this "over drive" gear like guns does. 

This is why I use Nightrain as the example of this, go listen to it for what I'm saying. After the solo Axl raises his voice and the WHOLE band ups their game to match him. It's a beautiful and EXTREMLY rare quality. 

I warn everyone though, once you "hear" what I'm saying, you won't be able to look at other bands the same. Even bands like AC/DC and Zeppelin become tame compared to the DYNAMICS that exist on Appetite especially.

On "Don't Damn Me" they were doing it as well, for example. You got good ears.

14 minutes ago, Tom-Ass said:

Would love Izzy to be involved in the song writing process.  Hopefully Axl's head is in the kick ass hard rock/classic rock mode..  Since Brian Johnson is recording with AC/DC maybe he can channel some of the energy that he may have harnessing for that direction and pump it into Guns... I don't mind a ballad or epic or two but I think they they should come out all Guns blazing with some in your face heavy rock..

Me too, that would be great. Maybe combined with some accoustic stuff like Georgina said, something a bit more "mature". These type of songs would be easier to sing live, too. I personally would love if they showcase this side of Axl more from here on out. Vocal stuff like If the world is way over the top for an old man.
How about this, make a three-sided album (don't care how ;-)). Side A: Classic Guns, Side B: Accoustic stuff, Side C: Best of the remaining Chinese stuff/ new experimental songs. 5 songs each, 15 songs total.
Or same thing as EPs, released every 6 months.

1 hour ago, D.Z.I. said:

It’s impossible to predict what might come out of this lineup.

I don’t think Slash is a good songwriter (instrumentally). He needs a context, a backbone to build on top of. He is amazing at embellishing other people’s basic songs or structures. I guess a big responsibility will fall on Fortus here... it’s a matter of whether he can come up with great chord progressions for Slash to do what he does best on top of them. I have never heard Richard’s material, so I have no clue what kid of foundation he could provide, but I’m sure having Duff around will help a lot.

As you mention, we have no clue where Axl’s musical head is right now, so... who knows?

Agreed, very interesting situation, actually. Especially with Axl - is he in classic rock mode? Chinese kinda stuff still?
It would be very nice to know that Izzy is somehow involved, but then again...all of them are different people now anyway.
I hope we'll find out in the not so distant future.

And another way, waaay overpriced Slash Signature guitar. Very annoying.