Listening to Chinese Democracy is a lot like hooking up with an ex-girlfriend from years past – you always looked forward to the day it would happen, but you know it won’t mean much to either of you the next day.
Which is why, after listening to the album for the past 2 days, I’m ready to move on to more interesting things.
The title track kicks things off and the listener is quickly comforted to find out that the Axl Rose we all grew up with – brooding, shrieking, lurking behind punishing guitars and pounding drums, is still the Axl Rose we are left with – with about 1/10th the range. If you were concerned (or hopeful) that he had grown up as a vocalist, put your worries (hope) aside.
For those looking for a November Rain moment, keep looking. Street of Dreams opens with a promising vocal but soon disintegrates into what may as well be any rock ballad from the GnR catalog – Don’t Cry, Yesterday etc.
For those waiting for a Welcome to the Jungle moment, you’ll have to keep waiting as well. While we don’t know much of what Axl has been up to for the past 13 years, it’s safe to say he hasn’t been sleeping on the streets and thus hasn’t had much compelling autobiographical material to draw from. Dare we say Axl lives a boring life now? Yeah, we do.
So, while this might not be much for the casual music fan, for those looking to hookup with an old flame, this album might be just the thing to entertain you for 2 days. It certainly won’t be the same experience as it was in your freshman dorm, but there are worse ways to spend a couple of days. So give it a listen for what it is, even if that is just to remind yourself of how hard you once rocked.
Also, there is a song called Prostitute, so that’s pretty cool.
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