Guns N' Roses
Chinese Democracy

November 23, 1993: "The Spaghetti Incident?", the last album by Guns N' Roses is released. Not even an album of new songs, a punk and glam cover album, what today might be defined as a bona fide "commercial move."
November 23, 2008: "Chinese Democracy", the new album by Guns N' Roses is released. This album has been at the center of thousands of controversies and just as many rumors. Rumored release dates, collaborations, song titles, live performances, and demos. An album that many have followed on the internet and that many may have already heard.
Precisely because it concerns the internet, the album has been online for a few days already, and I reserved the desire to listen to it a couple of times before buying my copy of the album from Feltrinelli.

The album opens with the title track, "Chinese Democracy", also the first single of the album. Guiding us into the world of this new album is a minute-long introduction that immerses the listener into the new Guns N' Roses world. The main riff paves the way as a scream by Axl Rose welcomes us. This is Chinese Democracy. Pure rock made by Guns N' Roses but in a modernized version with just a pinch of electronics. The anthemic title track exudes attitude and guts, sporting a nifty riff, excellent drum tempo, and a blazing solo by Bumblefoot.
"Shackler's Revenge" makes its entry with an intro that has very little of Guns N' Roses (I'd say very crossover riff) and a song that reminded me a lot of crossover/nu metal. The song has a decidedly catchy pre-chorus (Don't ever try to tell me how much you cared for me / Don't ever try to tell me how you were there for me) and a rather remarkable solo played in part on a fretless guitar.

We then move to the album's second single, track number 3, "Better". This song is the most radio-friendly of the whole album, where a strong influence of Robin Finck can be heard (at least to my ears :P). A riff that follows the vocal line introduces us to the verse, where a simple and direct guitar riff accompanies Axl’s voice before exploding into the chorus (All that I wanted was / Now I know you better). It’s worth noting the re-recording of the drum parts compared to the demo (probably due to the drummer change, now Frank Ferrer, previously Bryan "Brain" Mantia, a former Primus member).
"Street of Dreams" (known by fans as "The Blues," presented since Axl Rose's early reappearances) slides away without leaving particular marks, except for an excellent vocal performance by an Axl Rose who proves to be present with his voice. A song that doesn't surprise as it’s somewhat dated, but still manages not to make anyone frown.
We then move to the very particular fifth track, "If the World". This song opens a new page for the album: rhythmical, with a curious Spanish-sounding guitar in the background and yet another confirmation of Axl Rose's vocal state. This one also flows smoothly. I recommend listening to this song with a good pair of headphones because the arrangements at the beginning are truly notable and really stand out "in headphones"!
"There Was a Time" is one of the best songs on the album. Six minutes and forty-one seconds of a song where an almost melancholic atmosphere is created in the first few minutes, leading to a powerful rock chorus and a "group" conclusion where the voice leaves considerable room for the lead guitar.
I've always had many doubts about "Catcher in the Rye." Ever since the demos, it was the song I liked the least, and it turns out to be my personal surprise of the album. A song significantly improved from its "embryonic" state that featured a solo played by none other than Brian May.

After seven tracks (four moderately "slow-paced" and three "upbeat"), we arrive at two rock tracks one after the other: "Scraped" and "Riad N' the Bedouins." The first opens with several layers of overlapped voices (all sung by Axl Rose, if I'm not mistaken) leading to the main riff of the entire song. "Scraped" is one of the weaker points of the album, as it is a song I can only define as cute but gives me the impression of being a filler. A pleasant listen, nevertheless.
"Riad N' the Bedouins" gives me the same sensation but in a lighter way. A very little Guns N' Roses intro (played by Chris Pitman) paves the way for a very Guns N' Roses song with not excessively driven rhythms.

This is followed by "Sorry", one of the three songs that didn’t go online even in demo version (the other two are "Scraped" and "This I Love"). "Sorry" has a very slow rhythm (defined by Sebastian Bach as "almost doom metal," although in my opinion, Mr. Bach didn't quite understand it) with an Axl Rose singing very low over almost psychedelic guitars. I wonder where Sebastian Bach's voice, which should be helping Axl Rose in singing this song but cannot be heard, perhaps mixed too low. However, the song is one of the best on the album, entering my personal Top Three of this Chinese Democracy!

The much-listened-to (and leaked) "I.R.S.", track number eleven on the album, makes its way after a nice slow piece. It is a song that has been significantly improved from the demos but, unfortunately, always features the same vocal line from Axl Rose heard many times in those demos that circulated before the album (I believe there are four if I'm not mistaken). The same goes for "Madagascar", which adds little to what we have already heard in the demos.

We then reach the epilogue of this Chinese Democracy. "This I Love" is a great song, the best of the album in my view. The song is based on a piano loop and Axl Rose's singing (which exudes emotions like no other piece on the album). A masterpiece of five minutes that is easy to listen to. "Prostitute" closes the album with a series of notable high notes at the end of the song.

"Chinese Democracy" is a great album. In these seventy-one minutes, one can hear Axl Rose's perfectionism with truly impeccable mixing (with the flaw of Bach’s voice in "Sorry") and a series of truly excellent songs chosen in the most appropriate order on the final tracklist. A flaw? It is said that the album was delayed because Axl Rose wanted to re-record the vocal parts of the various songs, but even listening to the old demos, you'll realize that the voice is always the same (the vocal track of "I.R.S." dates back to '99!). I would give this album 4 and a half stars, rounding up because, for me, it was worth waiting all this time!

Track-by-track ratings: Chinese Democracy 7.5 - Shackler's Revenge 6 - Better 7.5 - Street of Dreams 6.5 - If the World 6 - There Was a Time 8 - Catcher in the Rye 7 - Scraped 6.5 - Riad N' the Bedouins 6.5 - Sorry 8.5 - I.R.S. 7.5 - Madagascar 7 - This I Love 9 - Prostitute 8

PS: I dedicate this review to user CoccolutoStyle, as you can clearly see, the album is out. :)