AXL ('N') ROSE(S)

Axl Rose has pulled one of the greatest con jobs in music history. Millions of people (me included) believed that Guns 'n' Roses had actually released their first album of new material in 17 years. He had everyone convinced for 17 years that "Chinese Democracy" was worth all the speculation and hype. I fell for it; I followed the progress of this album over the years. Upon its release, nothing was going to stop me from getting a listen to what 17 years and $14 million sounded like.

But "Chinese Democracy" is not a Guns 'n' Roses record. At all. This is Axl Rose's solo record that he spent 17 self-indulgent years working on. You can't really blame him for calling it Guns 'n' Roses, though. Seriously, would you have anticipated an Axl Rose record? Didn't think so. And he knows this.

Slash, Duff and Izzy are all sorely missed. "Democracy" is all over the place, skipping from genre to genre. There's not enough balls out hard rock and way too many string arrangements and programmed beats -- for a GnR record, mind you. Axl seems to have discovered a clear tone in his higher vocal register which he uses often ("If the World", "This I Love") -- and I find it completely annoying (most of the time). I do, however, thoroughly enjoy Buckethead's playing. Some of his solos alone make the album worth it.

What I can say positively is that it is a production masterpiece. Clearly this has been a labor of love and knowing as little as I do about recording, one can tell that someone (presumably Rose) considered every minor detail about this album over and over and over.... and over and over.... and over and over again.

The first listen garnered a really positive response. But then I went back and listened to the real Gnr (come on, they at least have to have Slash on the fucking guitar to be considered Gnr) from my high school days and the second listen became a plodding experience. I'm not sure where I'll end up with this record. Some of the tunes are really quite good ("Madagascar", "Chinese Democracy" and "Sorry" all stick out for me), but the majority leave a little to be desired. Rose needs to get the old band back together.