Ok, So Let's Say It's November 25th...

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.

Update on Thursday, October 9, 2008 at 11:15AM by Allyson B. Crawford

Ok, apparently the album is NOW due out November 23.

From Blabbermouth:

According to Hits Daily Double, the companion web site of music industry tip sheet HITS, GUNS N' ROSES' long-awaited new album, "Chinese Democracy" (Geffen/Interscope) finally has a release date. The CD will hit all Best Buy stores, where it is an exclusive, on the Sunday prior to Thanksgiving, November 23, giving it a full seven days on sale before entering the chart on December 2. Best Buy's sales week runs from Sunday through Saturday night.

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.

Comments

[Valentine]

Couldn't care less.

[Damnp78]

I'll probably buy it just for the sake of owning a NEW GnR album. I know it probably wont be great,but, what new music really has ? Its what we grew up with that we love, nothing else will come close. But with that being said as with Motley and the rest I will give it a chance and hopefully I will be impressed or atleast it will grow on me.

[Ria]

I won't be buying Chinese Democracy. I haven't heard any of the new songs and I don't care to. For a while, it mattered to me, but I've just gotten beyond the point of giving a damn.

[Chag]

I think it will be huge. I would imagine that Best Buy will discount it to $5.99 or $6.99 or something crazy like that on Black Friday, the day after Thanksgiving when everyone does their insane Xmas sales. They're the only gig in town and if they offer the CD so cheap on that day, they figure more people will do their Xmas shopping at Best Buy. It's a major score for Best Buy, for exclusivity and the timing of the release.

But as far as how many copies they'll move? I have no idea. I don't think it will break any records, though. NSYNC sold more than two million copies of one of their albums during the first week of its release. I doubt we'll ever see numbers like that again.

But I'll be there on the 23rd to purchase it. Wonder if they'll open at midnight?

[Billykiss]

Buy nah FTHAT I'll just download it for free ;-)