Mikey Whipwreck

It's inarguable that the record industry was in a free fall in 2008. Annual revenue dropped from $22-23 billion in 2001 to around $15 billion in 2008. https://www.statista.com/chart/4713/global-recorded-music-industry-revenues/ The record labels were in desperation mode and the Best Buy deal made the release financially viable, it was a get out of jail free card for the band and the label. I guarantee the label was hesitant to spend millions on a marketing campaign given what they'd already spent on production, but they would have had to spend many millions on a massive rollout to have a chance of recouping without that Best Buy deal

I think striking while the iron was hot for big box retailer exclusives was a key factor too. The music industry was in a really bad place in 2008 and that Best Buy deal allowed the album to break even before it even came out which was crucial for the band and the label Of course it significantly reduced the album's sales and visibility in the US but was better than the alternative

Agreed, probably the only way we hear anything "new" in the foreseeable future is if it leaks. Maybe we get the reworked Atlas and Perhaps at some point in the next year or two but don't see anything happening beyond that. I still don't believe Absurd and Hard School would have been released without the Village leaks happening first

That's fair. Particularly with Nothing. But, I'd also argue it's not a stretch to say they worked on them more. Better only existed in rough instrumental form in the Village recordings. I don't believe Scraped, Seven or The General were on there even as rough instrumentals. Soul Monster is only there as an instrumental. So we have proof they fleshed out, finished and recorded vocals for numerous songs past 2001

Eh, we've heard from enough sources that have actually heard the material, combined with the leaks, that there are at least 18-20 songs from CD era that existed in some form with vocals In 2006, Axl said they were working on 32 songs, 26 of which were "almost" done. Bach claimed to hear 3 albums worth of tracks which could have been an exaggeration but is in line with Axl's quote. Richard, Dizzy and DJ all commented on a couple albums of material existing after CD Whether they're deemed worthy of releasing, or something that Axl wants Slash and Duff to rework, is another matter but Silkworms/Absurd, Hard School, Perhaps, Atlas, Eye On You, State of Grace, Going Down, reworked Oh My God, Nothing, the cell phone recording of The General obviously all exist with vocals, so that's ten. We know that Soul Monster, Oklahoma/Berlin and Seven exist. Don't think it's unreasonable to assume there's another 6-8 "almost finished" songs from 2002-2014 era but again existing and being something that would be viable or of interest for the current lineup to rework and release is another story

Nm

The last part is the key. Billy not only writes a ton of songs, he also empties the vaults on a fairly regular basis Axl has had 1.5-2 albums worth of material in the can for some time now, at least some of which is supposedly great, but refuses to put it out there. I don't hold out any hope for new material recorded from scratch with the current lineup, but would gladly pay for a CD era box set that includes the rest of the BucketFinck material, different versions of the previously released songs and all of that. I understand most of the fanbase doesn't care but plenty do. And it would do absolutely no harm to anyone to put it out. Hell, Slash and Duff would gladly play it live, they've proven that with the CD songs

Ultimately the money and convenience of the reunion was too hard to turn down. Continuing otherwise would have required new music and reformulating the band yet again, to diminishing returns. But it's never really seemed like his heart is in it. The last time we saw him with fire in his belly was Axl/DC CD was the product of someone who cared too much. Absurd and Hard Skool were the product of someone who said "fuck it"

The first minute including that part is really cool and feels like it's building toward an epic chorus but doesn't get there. Hope they keep that first minute mostly intact if it ever gets an official release, which I doubt at this point

That was a surprise as well. I suppose its inclusion on Greatest Hits has boosted its reputation and popularity over the year. It's so different from most of the catalogue it probably stands out in a positive way for a lot of people

Most interesting takeaway for me was that, in terms of daily streams, This I Love and Better have settled into the territory right beneath the biggest of Big Guns https://kworb.net/spotify/artist/3qm84nBOXUEQ2vnTfUTTFC_songs.html