Ok, So Let's Say It's November 25th...
Thursday, October 9, 2008 at 12:01AM 
Picture it: November 25th. Thanksgiving time for us Americans. So, wherever you are in the world, you're waking up on November 25th, 2008. Is Chinese Democracy available? Is it on the shelves at your local Best Buy or online? Do you go crazy? Does the music world go crazy? Does anyone even care?
I've thought a lot about Chinese Democracy over the past couple of weeks. Rumored for release on November 25th exclusively through Best Buy, the album could shatter sales records for the year.
Or, it could tank.
On the surface, a lot of us still care about Guns n' Roses and the mythical Chinese Democracy. On a wider scale, most people only remember - or associate - Guns n' Roses with Appetite for Destruction. Very few people even know the band members these days. Hell, I don't. For my money, it's Axl Rose and some other guys. I still think Axl is a smart musician...but he's obviously very, very flawed.
Now that the global economy is in the toilet, simple luxuries are out. This includes dining out, going to concerts and movies and yes, buying music. While a lot of artists might suffer from reduced download and album sales, I think Chinese Democracy will still do well if it is actually released. I also predict that we'll all be seriously underwhelmed with the final song quality and lineup.
So, sound off. What do you think? Will Chinese Democracy break sales records? Will the normal consumer care? Will you stand on line at midnight to get your copy?
I can't wait for your opinions.
*No copyright assumed on photo above.
Allyson B. Crawford
Ok, apparently the album is NOW due out November 23.
From Blabbermouth:
GUNS manager Andy Gould reportedly told 900 Best Buy employees at "vendor convention" held by Best Buy last month in Dallas that a new GN'R song called "If The World" will play under the closing credits of "Body of Lies", the new film starring Leonardo DiCaprio and Russell Crowe due out on October 10. That news was confirmed online at film web sites whose representatives had attended a press screening of the flick. "If The World" will not appear on the film's soundtrack album.
"If The World" features the guitar work of Robin Finck and Buckethead, who have both since departed GUNS N' ROSES.
Another new GN'R song, called "Shackler's Revenge", appears on the Rock Band 2 video game.
"Chinese Democracy" has been more than 13 years in the making, with every original member of GUNS N' ROSES except for frontman Axl Rose long since gone from the lineup.
Reader Comments (25)
I want to hear some of the songs first before i buy it.
r u alysson
It's more of a "studio" album...meaning that you can tell a lot of time and effort went into production and overdubs; most of which I'm assuming will get lost in the live translation should there ever be a tour.
It's not "Guns N' Roses" in the way that you remember GNR, but Axl's voice is in top form and he has a higher register to his voice than I had expected.
I was a huge GNR fan and I wasn't disappointed - but I know how some people can't stand when a band strays from their original concept or style, so for those that aren't a little more open minded, they may be disappointed.
For those that can appreciate great songs and musicianship, you're in for a treat cause it's definitely a whip ass album.
WHY on earth it's taking/taken so long to release is beyond me, it's not life changing or anything - it's just a new CD. I think they hype has been played up so much on this that it is raising expectations to unreasonable levels for those that really are awaiting it's arrival.
In my opinion, Axl should have changed the name of the band and not used the GNR name to release these songs - but that's my opinion.
There are at least three or four GREAT songs on this disk, which means it'll be worth buying and will surely get a ton of airplay and do well if it's promoted right.
I probably won't even pick it up, if it ever does come out. It's not even the real Guns N' Roses! Come on, it's more like an Axl Rose solo project....
Interesting observation: I noticed a comment by Lucifer (no disrespect Lu, just something I noticed) that mentioned he wanted to hear more songs before buying the CD. Well, maybe it's just me but, didn't that used to be part of the whole experience? I mean you bought a CD (album) and had the pleasure of discovering those hidden gems. Stuff you wouldn't hear on the radio or MTV (yes, they actually used to play music videos, hence, the name). Like I said, maybe it's just me, but I just thought it was interesting.
Thoughts? Comments?
If Mr.Bi-Polar were to put out this album under a different name (say, like RATM did with Audioslave), then it might be different. But those of us who started listening to GnR 20 years ago when we were 12 are looking for a good rock n' roll album. Not some over-produced, half-industrial sounding POS.
Go spend what little money you have left for spoiling yourself on the new Tesla album, 'Forever More', instead. It r0x :)
But I'll buy....and it will be not for 9,99 US$....at least 25US$...it's brazil baby!!!!
There are a couple of decent tracks, but nothing great that I have heard so far.
You people who think Axl should call the band something else are crazy. Axl is not a man of integrity. He has no interest in the truth or in his fans. His only interest is himself, and bastardizing the G&R name to generate sales serves that interest. The G&R name still has a reputation, and that reputation alone will drive the sales of Chinese Democracy. If this exact same album was released under a different name, it would tank because, from all of the leaked stuff I've heard so far, the songs are average at best. they're not horrible songs, but they aren't exceptional songs either.
Do I personally care if this album is ever released? Absolutely not. Will I buy it? I will only buy it if the music is radically better than the existing leaks, but trust me, there are plenty of sheep out there who will buy this album and swear it's the best thing they've ever heard. the G&R lemmings are people who I will never understand. Axl repeatedly treats you like garbage, and you continue to sing his praises to the sky. If a person whom you actually knew treated you like that, you would have cut that person loose long ago.
To another commenter, I honestly don't find the notion of wanting to hear more music from an album before buying it all that strange. I happen to be an old timer myself who is still an absolute music fanatic, but let's face it, a dollar doesn't go nearly as far as it did 20 years ago, so the idea of buying a CD sound unheard in this day an age is not what I'd consider a wise economic decision.