OfftheBeatenTrack Posted January 4, 2023 Share Posted January 4, 2023 Hey there, people! Long time no see! I've previously posted/discussed both my imaginary 1989 and 1995 GNR albums and other essays of mine over at The Reconstructor, and so following this six year rule, here's my version of a 2001 Chinese Democracy: GUNS N' ROSES - CHINESE DEMOCRACY (2001) Chinese Democracy (Rough Mixes CD-1) Hard School (Rough Mixes CD-3) Perhaps (Rough Mixes CD-1) Street of Dreams (Rough Mixes CD-1) If the World (Rough Mixes CD-2) There Was a Time (Rough Mixes CD-1) Catcher in the Rye (Rough Mixes CD-1) State of Grace (Rough Mixes CD-3) Rhiad and the Bedouins (Rough Mixes CD-1) Silkworms (Rough Mixes CD-1) I.R.S. (Rough Mixes CD-3) Madagascar (Rough Mixes CD-1) Atlas Shrugged (Rough Mixes CD-1) Prostitute (Rough Mixes CD-1) Feedback, reactions and general discussion around this topic would be greatly appreciated. What do you people think? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Spaghetti4twenty Posted January 4, 2023 Share Posted January 4, 2023 I was wondering this the other day after listening to some of the village leaks again. I wonder how the much more raw cut of the album would’ve been perceived. Waiting 7 years definitely set the expectations even higher 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gavgnr Posted January 4, 2023 Share Posted January 4, 2023 Good read, thanks. I often wonder how differently things would’ve panned out had the record came been released in the early 00’s 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
drlaban Posted January 4, 2023 Share Posted January 4, 2023 (edited) + for Hardskool - for no Sorry & TIL Release no later than 2006, pre Bumblefoot. Edited January 4, 2023 by drlaban 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GnR Chris Posted January 4, 2023 Share Posted January 4, 2023 (edited) “Better,” “Sorry,” and “Shackler’s Revenge” are some of my favorites off the real studio release. And I prefer the title track’s studio release vs the grungier demo. But they’re definitely not “worth the eight year wait” better than the imaginary track list you provide for a 2001-era Chinese Democracy. I completely agree that they waited too long to make an impact. By 2008, the writing was already on the wall as far as albums as physical media are concerned. And an entire generation of people had grown up without memories of seeing the classic GNR all over the charts. People still would have had a hard time accepting a Slash-less GNR in 2001, but the songs themselves would have definitely had a home on MTV and on rock radio alongside dog shit like Limp Bizkit and Kid Rock. By 2008, no rock station really even existed in Chicago beyond the ones playing the “classics.” I like your track list. I would drop “If the World” and “Silkworms” to make a more succinct 12-track record (though I realize you’re keeping with the studio releases 14 songs). I think “If the World,” “Oh My God,” and “Silkworms” could have made an interesting experimental EP along with “Eye on You.” Edited January 4, 2023 by GnR Chris 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
El Guapo Posted January 4, 2023 Share Posted January 4, 2023 Seeing that tracklist I have to say...it doesn't really make a difference. The song material is simply not strong enough. You can add a song here, change the order there, but in the end the big guns simply ain't there, imo. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheSlashrose Posted January 4, 2023 Share Posted January 4, 2023 I love "Eye On You" it's classic 1 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SoulMonster Posted January 4, 2023 Share Posted January 4, 2023 1 hour ago, El Guapo said: The song material is simply not strong enough. You can add a song here, change the order there, but in the end the big guns simply ain't there, imo. And I think there were definitely great songs left out from Chinese Democracy. One of my problems with CD is all the mid-tempo or ballad-y piano-driven songs. On the locker leaks there are the scaffolds for many more guitar.-driven rockers that I think could be great when finished. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
El Guapo Posted January 4, 2023 Share Posted January 4, 2023 12 minutes ago, SoulMonster said: And I think there were definitely great songs left out from Chinese Democracy. One of my problems with CD is all the mid-tempo or ballad-y piano-driven songs. On the locker leaks there are the scaffolds for many more guitar.-driven rockers that I think could be great when finished. With that I agree, I really like the title track and Oh my God for example, some of the village stuff has potential at least. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sweersa Posted January 4, 2023 Share Posted January 4, 2023 I would have enjoyed that record. I do feel even some of the seemingly completed songs from the Village leaks still needed work. (State Of Grace) sounds pretty rough, though being a great track. Perhaps also has one verse repeated, not sure if this was the intent or not for the final version, or if it was placeholder. It still works for me. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Karice Posted January 4, 2023 Share Posted January 4, 2023 (edited) Chinese Democracy could have been a huge hit if it was released in 1997 and marketed as the final Guns N'Roses Album ever. 10 years after Appetite For Destruction album would have been the perfect circle. Some huge and successful bands actually only lasted about 2 years, so 10 years for Guns N'Roses would have been seen as great. Chinese Democracy is a solid album(IRS is one of the best songs in Guns N'Roses Catalogue and easily the strongest and best song on Chinese Democracy ) the only thing Fans rag on about Chinese Democracy Album is how long it took to release it and the fact that there were NO guns on it, only a single rose so to speak. Edit. IRS definitely should have been the big single from Chinese Democracy. The only really good thing Chinese Democracy song has going for it is the slamming guitar intro and Axl singing in both his high pitched voice and his low voice at the same time, but IRS is a solid song throughout the song, every single second of if. In fact, I'd go do far to say that IRS should have been the title of the Album, itsy THAT good. 😀. Edited January 4, 2023 by Karice 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Axls_Moustache_Rules Posted January 4, 2023 Share Posted January 4, 2023 We have it. It was part of the locker leaks Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OfftheBeatenTrack Posted January 4, 2023 Author Share Posted January 4, 2023 2 hours ago, TheSlashrose said: I love "Eye On You" it's classic It can be a non-album B-side to a "Perhaps" single, then! :D Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OfftheBeatenTrack Posted January 4, 2023 Author Share Posted January 4, 2023 1 hour ago, Sweersa said: I would have enjoyed that record. I do feel even some of the seemingly completed songs from the Village leaks still needed work. (State Of Grace) sounds pretty rough, though being a great track. Perhaps also has one verse repeated, not sure if this was the intent or not for the final version, or if it was placeholder. It still works for me. Yeah, I thought about the inclusion of "State of Grace" for a bit before finally deciding on including it. If it sounds too rough for your ears, you can switch it with "Oh My God" on the tracklist without too much of a difference, as both songs are pretty out there. And regarding "Perhaps", I always thought that was just the way the song was written, an intentional choice as to how the song sounded. But interesting theory... 3 minutes ago, Axls_Moustache_Rules said: We have it. It was part of the locker leaks Yep, all of those songs are on my album. Plus IRS, State of Grace and Hard School from Rough Mixes CD3, and If the World from CD2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Voodoochild Posted January 4, 2023 Share Posted January 4, 2023 There are some incorrect stuff in the text regarding Brian May. He didn't play the solo in Perhaps nor The Blues/Street of Dreams. Also, that Axl picture is clearly from the 2002 VMAs, not 2001 Rock in Rio. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheSlashrose Posted January 4, 2023 Share Posted January 4, 2023 12 hours ago, OfftheBeatenTrack said: Hey there, people! Long time no see! I've previously posted/discussed both my imaginary 1989 and 1995 GNR albums and other essays of mine over at The Reconstructor, and so following this six year rule, here's my version of a 2001 Chinese Democracy: GUNS N' ROSES - CHINESE DEMOCRACY (2001) Chinese Democracy (Rough Mixes CD-1) Hard School (Rough Mixes CD-3) Perhaps (Rough Mixes CD-1) Street of Dreams (Rough Mixes CD-1) If the World (Rough Mixes CD-2) There Was a Time (Rough Mixes CD-1) Catcher in the Rye (Rough Mixes CD-1) State of Grace (Rough Mixes CD-3) Rhiad and the Bedouins (Rough Mixes CD-1) Silkworms (Rough Mixes CD-1) I.R.S. (Rough Mixes CD-3) Madagascar (Rough Mixes CD-1) Atlas Shrugged (Rough Mixes CD-1) Prostitute (Rough Mixes CD-1) Feedback, reactions and general discussion around this topic would be greatly appreciated. What do you people think? Without This I Love? 🤔 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OfftheBeatenTrack Posted January 4, 2023 Author Share Posted January 4, 2023 19 minutes ago, Voodoochild said: There are some incorrect stuff in the text regarding Brian May. He didn't play the solo in Perhaps nor The Blues/Street of Dreams. Also, that Axl picture is clearly from the 2002 VMAs, not 2001 Rock in Rio. Just fixed that. Sorry and thanks for the feedback! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OfftheBeatenTrack Posted January 4, 2023 Author Share Posted January 4, 2023 14 minutes ago, TheSlashrose said: Without This I Love? 🤔 We unfortunately don't have any versions of TIL dating back to this March/November 2000 period. If we did, it'd be a guaranteed inclusion on the album. It DID make my 1995 album Garden City though... Better than nothing, right? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Axls_Moustache_Rules Posted January 4, 2023 Share Posted January 4, 2023 6 minutes ago, OfftheBeatenTrack said: We unfortunately don't have any versions of TIL dating back to this March/November 2000 period. If we did, it'd be a guaranteed inclusion on the album. I'd take the hip hop beat chainsaw rasp vox remix we got over any classic ballad. Likely to have been recorded beyond this period obviously but it's just so good. Stomps the album version IMO. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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