Blackstar Posted November 24, 2021 Share Posted November 24, 2021 Slashing ‘Chinese Democracy’ to 45 Minutes: Roundtable Axl Rose ended one of the most agonizing waiting periods in rock history when his handpicked Guns N' Roses lineup released Chinese Democracy on Nov. 23, 2008. Commercial and critical reception were mixed upon its release. The album debuted at No. 3 on the Billboard 200, below Kanye West and Taylor Swift, selling 261,000 copies its first week. Publications such as Rolling Stone and the A.V. Club issued rave reviews, but many longtime (and long-suffering) GNR fans lamented the band's dramatic stylistic shift from its Slash-assisted glory days. Regardless of one's opinion of Chinese Democracy's musical merits, one thing is indisputable: The album is long. Rose indulges every musical whim on the 71-minute LP, from arena rock to industrial metal to weepy balladry, resulting in some inevitable bloat. The bombastic ballads and hard-rock epics are the sonic equivalent of chocolate cake: rich and decadent but stupefying in large quantities. In the interest of brevity and a balanced musical diet, we've enlisted UCR's 45-Minute Police to, um, slash 26 minutes from Chinese Democracy. Read on to see how six writers would restructure Rose's tortured opus. Full article: https://ultimateclassicrock.com/guns-n-roses-chinese-democracy-45-minutes/ 1 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rovim Posted November 24, 2021 Share Posted November 24, 2021 16 minutes ago, Blackstar said: Slashing ‘Chinese Democracy’ to 45 Minutes: Roundtable Axl Rose ended one of the most agonizing waiting periods in rock history when his handpicked Guns N' Roses lineup released Chinese Democracy on Nov. 23, 2008. Commercial and critical reception were mixed upon its release. The album debuted at No. 3 on the Billboard 200, below Kanye West and Taylor Swift, selling 261,000 copies its first week. Publications such as Rolling Stone and the A.V. Club issued rave reviews, but many longtime (and long-suffering) GNR fans lamented the band's dramatic stylistic shift from its Slash-assisted glory days. Regardless of one's opinion of Chinese Democracy's musical merits, one thing is indisputable: The album is long. Rose indulges every musical whim on the 71-minute LP, from arena rock to industrial metal to weepy balladry, resulting in some inevitable bloat. The bombastic ballads and hard-rock epics are the sonic equivalent of chocolate cake: rich and decadent but stupefying in large quantities. In the interest of brevity and a balanced musical diet, we've enlisted UCR's 45-Minute Police to, um, slash 26 minutes from Chinese Democracy. Read on to see how six writers would restructure Rose's tortured opus. Full article: https://ultimateclassicrock.com/guns-n-roses-chinese-democracy-45-minutes/ "indisputable" as in, you cannot disagree with the writer's opinion on how long the album is lol 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MYWIFEMYLIFE Posted November 24, 2021 Share Posted November 24, 2021 Album is short ffs, shoulda been 4 records, 2 cds. 2 1 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nice Boy Posted November 25, 2021 Share Posted November 25, 2021 I really don't understand why he didn't put Hard Skool on CD. I think it alone would have changed the perception of the album. The inclusion of a more classic style rock track would have assured sceptics that it had an aspect of GnR that people expected, and meant less of the "load of tortured ballads with a couple of weird industrial tracks" criticism. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SoulMonster Posted November 25, 2021 Share Posted November 25, 2021 4 minutes ago, Nice Boy said: I really don't understand why he didn't put Hard Skool on CD. I think it alone would have changed the perception of the album. The inclusion of a more classic style rock track would have assured sceptics that it had an aspect of GnR that people expected, and meant less of the "load of tortured ballads with a couple of weird industrial tracks" criticism. I think the explanation is that Axl didn't care about any of that. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
itsprettytiedup Posted November 25, 2021 Share Posted November 25, 2021 How the fuck 70 minutes is a "long album"? 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sledge Posted November 25, 2021 Share Posted November 25, 2021 It's funny I was discussing with people just today how I feel some recent rock LPs are too short. Wish new buckcherry was longer and the new darkness LP sounds like a more complete album with the 3bonus tracks on the delux. Skip the "bloat" if you want and let the ones that want more get it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rocknroll41 Posted November 25, 2021 Share Posted November 25, 2021 (edited) This is a little silly… But if I absolutely HAD to do this I’d go with: SIDE A (~24:00) 1.Chinese Democracy 2.Shackler’s Revenge 3.Better 4.If the World 5.There Was a Time SIDE B (~23:50) 6.Sorry 7.Madagascar 8.This I Love 9.Prostitute Honestly, now that I typed that all out, the only song that was hard for me to cut was IRS. You can probably also do this with the UYI’s (since those were also 2 LP’s each), though you’d probably have to move some songs around between the two albums to “make it all fit right.” Edited November 25, 2021 by rocknroll41 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tom2112 Posted November 25, 2021 Share Posted November 25, 2021 Chinese (short intro) Street Of Dreams There was a Time Sorry Better Shacklers If The world Madagascar This I love I.R.S Prostitute Putting them in some kind of order os the hard part, cutting those extra songs was easy. I'd like to change a few other things but if this was the album it's hard to argue with it... although it seems most of the UG lists ditched Shacklers, I.R.S, This I Love and If the World. To me the album would be meh without at least half of those. Biggest problem with Chinese from a listening point of view is that it's a very dark record with very little fun... well that's my opinion at least. I think the sound/mix of the record is still amazing, especially considering there's 200 tracks for each song! 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jamillos Posted November 25, 2021 Share Posted November 25, 2021 One of them said skip TWAT? 3 hours ago, Nice Boy said: I really don't understand why he didn't put Hard Skool on CD. I think it alone would have changed the perception of the album. The inclusion of a more classic style rock track would have assured sceptics that it had an aspect of GnR that people expected, and meant less of the "load of tortured ballads with a couple of weird industrial tracks" criticism. Was probably slated for CD 2. Remember, it was supposed to arrive in the following years. He had to leave some good stuff for the second half, didn't he. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rocknroll41 Posted November 25, 2021 Share Posted November 25, 2021 (edited) Doing this with the UYI’s: UYI 1 SIDE A (~22:30) 1.You Could Be Mine 2.Live & Let Die 3.Don’t Cry 4.November Rain UYI 1 SIDE B (~21:35) 5.Garden of Eden 6.Don’t Damn Me 7.Double Talkin’ Jive 8.Coma UYI 2 SIDE A (~20:50) 1.Civil War 2.14 Years 3.Yesterdays 4.Knocking On Heaven’s Door UYI 2 SIDE B (~21:00) 5.Pretty Tied Up 6.You Ain’t the First 7.Dead Horse 8.Estranged The only one that really hurt to cut there was Locomotive. Edited November 25, 2021 by rocknroll41 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rocknroll41 Posted November 25, 2021 Share Posted November 25, 2021 41 minutes ago, jamillos said: One of them said skip TWAT? Was probably slated for CD 2. Remember, it was supposed to arrive in the following years. He had to leave some good stuff for the second half, didn't he. I think he was just talking out his ass when he said that cd2 would be ready for 2009. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rocknroll41 Posted November 25, 2021 Share Posted November 25, 2021 1 hour ago, Tom2112 said: Chinese (short intro) Street Of Dreams There was a Time Sorry Better Shacklers If The world Madagascar This I love I.R.S Prostitute I don’t think that would all fit on one LP. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tom2112 Posted November 25, 2021 Share Posted November 25, 2021 1 hour ago, rocknroll41 said: I don’t think that would all fit on one LP. If The World and Prostitute would probably get booted then, even though it's a crime! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jamillos Posted November 25, 2021 Share Posted November 25, 2021 1 hour ago, rocknroll41 said: I think he was just talking out his ass when he said that cd2 would be ready for 2009. Maybe not 09 but "definitely" for later years, even the so-called management confirmed it at some point. But yeah, 09 would seem unlikely. Then again, UYI... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tom2112 Posted November 25, 2021 Share Posted November 25, 2021 52 minutes ago, jamillos said: Maybe not 09 but "definitely" for later years, even the so-called management confirmed it at some point. But yeah, 09 would seem unlikely. Then again, UYI... Wishful thinking on Axls part... unfortunately that slip of the tongue set expectations high and 13yrs later not having a follow up album is both embarrassing for the band and a slap for the fans that waited for the original Chinese release. He said "you won't have to wait as long for the next release" or something like that... well, that's bullshit🤣 Such a shame really! If they had released a new album even 5yrs later peoples jaws would have dropped! what could have been, probably would have saved the line up too. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jamillos Posted November 25, 2021 Share Posted November 25, 2021 6 minutes ago, Tom2112 said: Wishful thinking on Axls part... unfortunately that slip of the tongue set expectations high and 13yrs later not having a follow up album is both embarrassing for the band and a slap for the fans that waited for the original Chinese release. He said "you won't have to wait as long for the next release" or something like that... well, that's bullshit🤣 Such a shame really! If they had released a new album even 5yrs later peoples jaws would have dropped! what could have been, probably would have saved the line up too. I partially agree, but given the huge rebirth, it hasn’t been 13 years, it’s been 5 years of no album to me. Not that it doesn’t suck. And thank god that line-up went to hell. I mean, it was cool and all, but we finally got Slash and Duff back. The fact that all the band’s been doing is fucking around on endless tours is another thing. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Screamin' Demon Posted November 25, 2021 Share Posted November 25, 2021 (edited) I think that Chinese Democracy is quite an epic/in-depth album; it just takes one to be in that epic/in-depth mood to really understand it from beginning to end. If I had to cut it down to my few favourites: There Was A Time Catcher In The Rye Sorry Street Of Dreams Madagascar Prostitute If The World This I Love Edited November 26, 2021 by Screamin' Demon 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MYWIFEMYLIFE Posted November 26, 2021 Share Posted November 26, 2021 UYI's shoulda been 3 cds, 6 records too. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gordon Comstock Posted November 26, 2021 Share Posted November 26, 2021 Something like this would've been cool Vol. 1 (2006) Chinese Democracy (Village intro) Scraped (live intro) Rhiad (Village intro) Better The Blues Zodiac State Of Grace Madagascar IRS Prostitute Vol. 2 (early 2007) Hardschool (Village intro) Quicksong Realdoll Silkworms (Absurd intro) Tommy Demo #1 If The World Perhaps Atlas Shrugged Catcher In The Rye Oklahoma Vol. 3 (late 2007) The General Shackler's Revenge Sorry This I Love Soul Monster Tonto Going Down There Was A Time 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lilacmess Posted November 26, 2021 Share Posted November 26, 2021 (edited) Reading the article and this thread just reminds of how much I like the album. It's been a while. Putting on my headphones right now. I admit Scraped gets skipped a lot. Edited November 26, 2021 by lilacmess 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rovim Posted November 26, 2021 Share Posted November 26, 2021 (edited) 8 hours ago, lilacmess said: I admit Scraped gets skipped a lot. you're a serial skipper. What are your current favorites from Chinese? always thought that the best way to listen to it is through headphones unless you own a very expensive boombox Edited November 26, 2021 by Rovim Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gavgnr Posted November 26, 2021 Share Posted November 26, 2021 (edited) 15 hours ago, rocknroll41 said: I think he was just talking out his ass when he said that cd2 would be ready for 2009. I’m not so sure. I think there absolutely was a plan to release part 2 within a reasonably short period after CD1. I still think something happened sometime during 2009-2011 that we don’t know about that completely fucked the chances of a new record. Axl at RIR in 2011 was a different guy. Edited November 26, 2021 by gavgnr 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lilacmess Posted November 26, 2021 Share Posted November 26, 2021 (edited) 18 minutes ago, Rovim said: you're a serial skipper. What are your current favorites from Chinese? always thought the best way to listen to it is through headphones unless you own a very expensive boombox My favorites are Street Of Dreams, Sorry, I.R.S, Madagascar and Prostitute. I do own a really expensive boom box, but husband and kids have zero tolerance for "mommy's wild music". 😅 Edited November 26, 2021 by lilacmess 1 1 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bumcheecksmcghee Posted November 26, 2021 Share Posted November 26, 2021 2 hours ago, lilacmess said: I admit Scraped gets skipped a lot. Yep agreed same here... They should have changed the name from scraped to skipped..... Lol ? 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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