Chinese Democracy - The Bring Back Glam! Review

A decade and a half in the making, Chinese Democracy is here for all the world (well, except China, but that's another story) to enjoy. The Guns n' Roses opus took nearly 15 years to produce and became the endless butt of music jokes over the years.

Today, Axl Rose is the one laughing...all the way to the bank.

A long wait usually creates controversy, and that's exactly the case with Chinese Democracy. I'll be honest: I wanted to hate the album, but I can't. I love it. I think it's basically phenomenal with amazing lyrics, great guitar work and over-the-top sonic production that just blows other modern rock releases out of the water.

Here's the track listing:

Chinese Democracy
Shackler's Revenge
Better
Street of Dreams
If the World
There Was a Time
Catcher in the Rye
Scraped
Riad n' the Bedouins
Sorry
I.R.S.
Madagascar
This I Love
Prostitute

What are my favorite tracks on Chinese Democracy?

"If the World" is easily my favorite song on the album, but I also dig the album's title track, "There Was a Time" and "This I Love." The thing about Chinese Democracy is that it is about as far from Appetite from Destruction that you can get - and I think that's a good thing. We already know and love "Sweet Child O' Mine" so maybe it's time we all grow up and learn to dig something with a modern flair. Chinese Democracy isn't an in-your-face record, either. This is the sort of album that takes several listens to really "get." There are a lot of layers here - each listen brings out a new complexity.

Now, I get the prejudice against Chinese Democracy. Quite frankly, no album should take upwards of 15 years to produce. The time wasted is one thing, the money another. Still, I think the final product is pretty damn amazing. Was it worth the wait? I'm not exactly sure. Am I glad the album is finally out and I can listen on my iPod while at work? Hell yes.

Seriously, though, Chinese Democracy is an album you need to hear for yourself. All the reviews in the world can't do it justice one way or another. This is a love it or hate it sort of situation. I love it, I already know some of you hate it - for better or worse, Guns n' Roses are back.

Today is the Day - Part 1

 

Believe it or not, the day is finally upon us and Chinese Democracy will formally see the light of day. At 12:01 a.m., Best Buy will roll out the disc.

Amazingly, I've held out and have not listened to every track on the disc. Guns n' Roses offered a screening of the album on Myspace earlier this week, but I never had enough time - plus, I really wanted to wait and listen to the physical CD. I figure after waiting 14 years, two more days wouldn't kill me.

I am buying the disc today - just like a lot of you I suspect. I'll post about my purchasing experience when I return from Best Buy. I don't expect any mad rushes for the door, people jockeyingfor position or running to the cash register, but hey - you never know.

Update on Sunday, November 23, 2008 at 08:37PM by Allyson B. Crawford

An update: I picked up my copy of Chinese Democracy right after Best Buy in Dayton, Ohio opened. There was no big rush or shoving or excitement. I grabbed a copy and looked around the store for awhile. While I was going back to my car, I noticed the man next to me had his sunroof cracked and he was cranking the album loud. Sort of like old times.

AC/DC Live Review

Last night I saw AC/DC in Columbus, Ohio. The sold out crowd was high energy and ready for the classic band.

All in all, the show was pretty much what I expected. All the famous songs were in the set - but there were quite a lot of new tunes and this surprised me a little. Still, the band is supporting Black Ice, so I guess it makes sense.

The best part of the show - for me - was all the stage props. The band has a big "train" that spews smoke and fire while suspended mid-stage.  There's also the requisite plasma screens, a giant inflatable Rosie (from "Whole Lotta Rosie," of course), the famous bell and cannons.

I think this is an accurate set from last night:

Rock n' Roll Train
Hell Ain't a Bad Place to Be
Back in Black
Big Jack
Dirty Deeds Done Dirt Cheap
Thunderstruck
Black Ice
The Jack
Hells Bell
War Machine
Shoot to Thrill
Anything Goes
You Shook Me All Night Long
TNT
Whole Lotta Rosie
Let There be Rock
Highway to Hell
For Those About to Rock (We Salute You)

My favorite song was easily the last. I mean, "For Those About to Rock" is my favorite AC/DC tune anyway and it's easily in the top 10 rock songs of all time.

As a band, AC/DC sounded tight. Each member seemed to be having a good time - but I swear, if you just randomly saw a member of the band on the street, it would be hard to peg them as a famous multi-millionaire. I guess that's the charm of AC/DC: blue collar, beer drinking rock n' roll.

A note about the crowd: this was an odd mix. Overall, the audience seemed heavily male, but there were also a lot of dads taking their kids to the show. One such dad ahead of me in the shuttle bus line was talking to his kids, saying how glad he was that they got to see "the best concert he's ever seen in his life."

Alas, AC/DC, we salute you.

AC/DC Tonight!

I'm seeing AC/DC tonight!

This will be a first for me (and Eric, too)!

I'm seeing the band in Columbus - the show is sold-out and this will also be my first turn with Ticketmaster's "ticketless" system. Always the realist, I predict chaos getting into the venue.

Remember awhile back when I posted about all the bands I want to see before death? AC/DC are definitely on that list. From the reviews, it seems the shows are high energy - well worth the cash. I'm excited to hear the canon live - and yes, the ear plugs are already in my purse! I'll get a review up tomorrow.

Here are some clips from this tour.

"Hell's Bells"

"For Those About to Rock (We Salute You)"

Hardcore Superstar, Lizzy Borden Join Lineup; Black Friday Promotion Announced for Rock Gone Wild Fans

ALGONA, IOWA (November 20, 2008) - Are you ready to get wild with Hardcore Superstar and Lizzy Borden? Both bands have joined the ever-growing Rock Gone Wild lineup. No other festival in America gives fans the chance to see bands from four different decades of rock and many countries in the world. And, for just four hours only, fans can enjoy a special ticket offer -- in time for the holiday season! Rock Gone Wild is slated for August 20-23, 2009 in Algona, Iowa.

The festival lineup is shaping up as: Puddle of Mudd, Skid Row, Kix, Great White, Dangerous Toys, Helix, Saigon Kick, Rhino Bucket and Junkyard. The addition of Hardcore Superstar and Lizzy Borden add a dynamic twist of glam and shock rock to the multi-day bill.

Hardcore Superstar is not new to the Glam scene. They formed around 1997 and have spent the past decade honing their sound and stage show. Their concerts are legendary in Sweden - their albums famous worldwide for those music lovers "in the know." Fans love Hardcore Superstar for their raucous attitude and party lyrics. Favorite songs include "We Don't Celebrate Sundays," "Wild Boys," and "Dreamin' in a Casket." Hardcore Superstar are Joakim Berg, Vic Zino, Martin Sandvick and Magnus Andreasson.

Heavy Metallers Lizzy Borden take crazy stage antics to new heights. Forming on the Sunset Strip in the early 80s, Lizzy Borden have rocked fans the world over. Eight albums, two decades and a live performance in The Decline of Western Civilization Part II later, Lizzy Borden are still going strong. Band members are Lizzy Borden, Joey Scott Harges, Marten Andersson and Ira Black.

In America, the day after Thanksgiving is known as Black Friday. Traditionally one of the biggest shopping days of the year, consumers grab great bargains. On Friday, November 28, 2008 from 2:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. EST fans can purchase three (3) four day general admission tickets - and receive two additional tickets FREE! That means five friends can attend Rock Gone Wild for the price of only three tickets. This is a one-time Black Friday offer only valid on general admission tickets during the four hour window of 2:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. EST. Visit http://www.rockgonewild.com/ to purchase tickets and for more information.

Rock Gone Wild will take place at the Freedom Park festival grounds, located at 2507- 160th Avenue in Algona, Iowa.

If you build it, they will rock.

***

Black Friday Music Sales

A week from today is Thanksgiving in America. My favorite holiday is Halloween with Thanksgiving a close second. Sure, I'm a strict vegetarian - but I still like to gorge on potatoes, stuffing and cranberries. Always have.

Thanksgiving was always a special holiday when I lived at home. I liked the way my mom prepared our meal - plus we always ate at 1 p.m. so there was ample time to fall asleep, wake up later.. then eat more. Next month, I'll celebrate my sixth wedding anniversary. The day I married Eric, I kissed my old Thanksgiving routine goodbye. That's another story for another day.

The best part of Thanksgiving for me now is actually the day after. I won't lie: I'm cheap, but I do love to troll a mall. I am obsessed with finding items on sale - the cheaper, the better. I horde coupons, scan ads and search for sales over the Internet.

I start looking for Black Friday leaks in August.

True story.

So, one week from today, many of you fellow American Glam fans will be eating turkey and talking with family. I'll be reading sale ads and plotting my 4 a.m. shopping spree.

Here's a secret: I don't actually want anything of substance for the holiday season. I do, however, have a list of CDs I'd like to own but just never bought.

In America, nearly every store has a crazy Black Friday sale. Big ticket items go fast. I plan on making a bee line for the music section of every big box retailer in town. It has already leaked in many places that stores like Best Buy and Circuit City will have new releases and older CD titles for under five bucks! That's right! It's highly possible that I could buy 20 CDs next Friday...and spend less than a hundred bucks on the endeavor. I could outfit my entire gift list this way.

Ah, the possibilities.

This is a great time to backfill a collection. I'll be looking for quite a lot of Alice Cooper and Tesla - and Eric has specifically mentioned many discs he wants for Christmas.

Sadly, I haven't found any box sets listed in the leaked Black Friday ads...yet.

Do you have any music-related Black Friday planned purchases?

Patience

"Patience" is my all-time favorite Guns n' Roses song. I felt like posting it today - so I did!