19AT5

20 minutes ago, Sosso said:

GN'R is much more than just a side project. That's why it's harder to release an album. The expections are much higher. 

I think we should bring those expectations down a notch or two! Realistically, I agree with sentiment from one of the previous posters... not many people outside a GNR forum are going to be all that interested in a new GNR album for all that long. Look at the last 2 singles... disappeared as quickly as they arrived really. It's too little too for GNR as a recording entity in my opinion. The fact that Slash is on his second solo album since rejoining the band is really quite something. An album might arrive but at best it will be a bit like a new Stones or AC/DC album... it'll get some press because THEY DO press to promote it and are media darlings in many respects. You'll hear the usual well trodden lines of "this is their best album since Exile On Main Street/Back In Black", the band will go on a publicity spree, it'll chart reasonably well and then, on the whole, most folk forget about it. If a song or two then makes the set list for the next tour, that means it has been a success! Otherwise it will be confined to history. GNR don't have that kudos in the bank, Axl is (whether you like it or not) still not that well regarded by a lot of rock fans, and they don't do press. So make what ya will of that! 

3 hours ago, JimiRose said:

Hardskool is sinking without a trace already. limited radio push, zero advertising, zero interviews, 1-2 social media posts, absurd is almost completely forgotten. I can't give TB or the band any credit for this, it's been a clusterfuck and doing the bare minimum and achieving the bare minimum in results. I'm delighted we got new music, i like both, but the release has been an embarrassment. Hardskool should be on the radio, on the tv. it's nothing already outside of this forum. How a band of this  supposed magnitude can be this shoddy. it is baffling. we'll hear nothing now till next year. disaster. 

Sadly I think you're kinda right. I'm pals with a few lads who are above causal level GNR fans but certainly not keeping up with current GNR news. Played both Absurd and Hard Skool last Thursday night. Neither of them knew anything about the releases! Both liked Hard Skool and both thought Absurd was shite! However, we did then listen to Silkworms demo afterwards and guess what... both liked that more! Also stuck on the original demo of Hard Skool and both thought that Slash and Duff gave the official release a firm boot right up the hole! I'd agree with their sentiments.

14 minutes ago, AtlasShrugged said:

Would love a Vegas residency or something like that. Would definitely come over from the UK and make a holiday of that.

I've heard from a reliable inside source that both Largs and Skegness are being considered as residency options for the UK. The Beach Boulevard in Aberdeen would also provide an excellent backdrop for an open air concert (ala The Stones at Copacabana) in early January. 

25 minutes ago, Top-Hatted One said:

The problem isn’t Slash being more blues based. He could’ve killed it on Buckets bluesy Sorry solo. Problem is the incoherent, uninspired, unprepared noodling 

That's perhaps because he is struggling to find a zone comfortable for him within the song? My point was that he is more primarily blues based (which ain't a criticism) and I know first hand that when that is yer thing, it can sometimes be hard to find yourself musically in songs that are not blues based. Note: emphasis on the words 'can' and 'sometimes'.

35 minutes ago, allwaystired said:

The "be grateful" thing REALLY doesn't wash when you're talking products and commerce. 

If they were giving us stuff for nothing, then yeah, you'd have a point. But they aren't. They very much set up their stall as a business, so really people should be as "grateful" to them as they are to Coke or Nike for sticking their products in the shops for us to buy. 

For what it's worth- I think it's great they're doing this stuff. If people don't though, that's their opinion and if they don't like the way Slash is playing it....fair enough.

If I buy a beer and think it's shit, I'm going to say I think it's shit, regardless of whether my friend loves it. And vice versa. Same thing here. 

Stop being rational and objective, please. This is an internet forum.  

My twopence... not a huge Chinese Democracy fan. I think there are a few good tracks on it. I am however a supporter of the current lineup playing material from the album. That said I wasn't overly impressed with Slash on TWAT and agree with other posters that perhaps Richard should be given the lead parts on some/most/all songs from the album. The guitar playing on CD is very different stylistically from Slash and I'm not sure his blues based approach necessarily works with those songs. Just an opinion though! Will however call out Slash for contributions on Hard Skool, which to my ears, drastically improve that song tenfold.

17 minutes ago, Live Like a Suicide said:

As far as i'm concerned, if the song is good, then who gives a shit? 

Then there is no place around here for you my friend!!!! 🤣 All discussions should focus on when Axl recorded his vocals, whether or not Buckethead and Robin's contributions will remain despite having not been in the band for 15 to 20 years, whether Brain or Josh Freese is the better drummer and who wrote the drum parts, and finally will the new album be anything from a double to a quintuple affair. Objectivity is overrated. You've been warned! Hahaha! 😍🤣❤😝😁

3 hours ago, Sweersa said:

Just imagine if it was re-worked a little, with killer Buckethead guitar parts.

I would prefer Gary Sunshine's killer parts instead. Some good Chris Vrenna drum programming wouldn't go a miss either. I've heard from sources close to the band that they recorded Brian May filling a kettle and it sounded amaaaaaaaazing. Perhaps they could tag that into the middle section along with a cowbell Rob Gardener played at a gig in 1985. Just imagine man!

10 hours ago, MaskingApathy said:

So I guess no one cares about Absurd now that Hard Skool is out?

I didn't care for it when I first heard it and I still don't care for it now. The song doesn't go anywhere. I'm not sure what it is I'm supposed to be listening to. It is poorly arranged with Axl singing the same verse 3 times! And fuck knows what is going on with the phrasing of certain lines on the studio version. And the breakdown is just... well what the fuck is it supposed to be?! I get that live it is maybe a fun song to get into. But as a studio track, I'll likely not listen to it again. Pretty shite to these ears! 

44 minutes ago, Sweersa said:

Also, since it's pretty clear we have vocals from Eye On You in it, do you think that could mean Eye On You will never be released?

Should this outcome be realised, I for one would not be shedding any tears!

41 minutes ago, allwaystired said:

Yep, I see that totally. I always just rip my CDs so I have them in digital form for when I'm out and about. Seems the best of both worlds to me. 

The only issue I have is with space! A lot of that is my own fault though as I tend to keep a lot of things I should probably get rid off! 

Yes! Space. I floated the idea of me starting a vinyl collection and the Mrs immediately siezed the opportunity to suggest selling some guitars!!!! Had zero interest in pursuing that discussion, so left it there!!! 😅 Bloody women!!! 

38 minutes ago, allwaystired said:

Same here. I can't stand streaming and I like to support Art as much as possible, as well as have a good collection. 

I've never regretted spending money on music, and it baffles me that people will pay more for a coffee than they will an album! 

I do hear ya on this. I'd happily pay more for streaming services to be honest. But as somebody who (used) to travel a lot with work and for shenanigans, streaming is just mega handy. 

1 hour ago, DTJ80 said:

 

Does the radio edit sound better? I keep seeing different people saying it’s a different mix - but haven’t heard it on the bloody radio to confirm!

I know it’s edited to be shortened but wonder if the mix is actually different/better?

I have not heard it played on any radio station at all! Thought maybe PlanetRock would play it but haven't heard it. So can't answer that question. I've certainly not heard many folk talking about it. None of my music pals were all that interested. Listened to Hard Skool once and all went... "aye, it's not dreadful." Nobody liked Absurd though. 

5 minutes ago, Sweersa said:

I'm old school, I have poor internet where I live too, so I have piles of physical media for movies and music,

Fair play to ya pal. I am tempted to back into vinyl. But from speaking with a mate the other week... once you commit, it's all or nothing! He's spending vast amounts of cash on vinyl now!! 

44 minutes ago, Free Bird said:

I don't get what is up in Axl's mind. You might think he's a perfectionist needing a decate and more for a release but than the production is half assed. That doesn't make sense at all. All these Axl-vs-Slash-arguments about quality instead of quantity. I really hope they start to make things right again.

Yup agreed. And that was my eventual issue with Chinese Democracy as well. He spent years tinkering away on something, and in the end I found it a sonic mess. I mean, it sounds better than the recent releases but that ain't saying much!

2 hours ago, Naupis said:

I kind of hate that they are releasing the substandard crap like they have been instead of a true comeback single that sounds like the GNR people expect to hear.

You never get a second chance to make a first impression, and this approach makes it seem like this is the best stuff they have.

I can't believe after waiting so long how indifferent I am to this, but the cut and paste stuff just isn't working for me.

I wish Axl would move on and stop trying to put lipstick on the pig that was the Nu-GNR era by continuing to force this crap instead of just recording some new songs from scratch. It is the only reason we have to put up with Frank and the rest of the holdovers from that era. Axl is still trying to convince himself he didn't waste 20+ of the prime years of his career on that, so he keeps refusing to just move on from it as if one day he will get a gold star and validation that it was all worth it.

This half ass approach just kind of sucks and takes the fun out of what would otherwise be a wildly exciting time getting new music.

I do get what you are saying here. I think Hard Skool is actually a good song, and Slash's contributions have dramatically improved the demo version. But the production really takes it down a notch or two. And there is no getting away from it... this copy and paste approach to recording is not great at all. It really shows at points.  

41 minutes ago, Nintari said:

I buy physical-only because of its superior sound (I have a really high end stereo system), but I also buy it because of the tangible joy of owning it. The fact that it blows streaming away in quality is nice, but even if it didn't, I probably still would because it's just so much more enjoyable--to me--to have a that gatefold and lyric sheet in my hand while the record is playing.

Yeah I totally get that. And once upon a time I would likely have agreed with you. But streaming provides complete convenience and I'm happy enough with the sound quality. Though I suspect I am potentially missing out on untold spiritual awakening by not having having a lyric sheet in my hand whilst listening to Absurd!!!  

3 hours ago, Sweersa said:

Absolutely! 

Wow! Fair play to ya. I have not purchased purchased a CD since AC/DC's Rock Or Bust album in 2014 and have no intention of doing so again! Might get into vinyl again some day but I currently just stream all music. Would willingly pay more for the pleasure but that's a different story! Not interested in GNR's recent work enough to even entertain the concept of purchasing physical copies I'm afraid.

2 hours ago, Sweersa said:

I think it's because I ordered so much shit that ships at different times, as they are available. I can't have those songs on cassette, vinyl, and CD soon enough. Kills me I have to wait 5 months. Oh well, maybe we will have a new album by then, released digitally. 

You ordered all different formats of the same thing?!?

Fairly uninspired release to be honest. Part of me hopes this is just a stop gap until they finally release something they've been collectively working on with this line up. But alas this seems increasingly unlikely. 

KOHD '99 version with Duff and Slash re-recorded parts, 1.5db louder, compression set at max, with cut and pastes from other unreleased songs in the middle! 

NOTE: This is sarcasm before anybody launches their toys at me!

46 minutes ago, jip said:

Guns is a huge as Zeppelin/Stones so they will keep touring as everyone.They will always have sold out arenas.If we get some new music i will gladly accept it.Simple as that

Eh, WTF you been puffing on!!? GNR's legacy isn't anywhere near that of The Stones or Zep. 

I've criticised the production value on Hard Skool but all in I do actually enjoy the track. I really like the wee flourishes that Slash has applied and I still rate the chorus as being very catchy. 

For what it's worth, GNR are not the only older band to struggle with modern recording techniques.

Just now, AxlRoseCDII said:

Man, I feel stupid almost listening to everyone talking about the mix. Should I be hating this? Idk, I don’t feel like there’s anything wrong with it. I’m not an audiophile perse but I’ve played music in bands for years. 

No, it's personal choice 100%. If you like the mix, then that's all that really matters.