Not too sure if anyone cares....but.....
I'VE GOT SOMETHING YOU DON'T HAVE!! Yup...that would be the sound of me tooting my own damn horn. I can thank Brandon for it. :) I got the new Guns N' Roses CD today. HeHeHe!!
SO - Here is my official review for the new Guns n' Roses album, Chinese Democracy.
Don't think for one second that you are going to plop in the disk and magically hear that kick ass sound from 1987. You see, I've had the luxury (again - thanks to Brandon) of hearing this album evolve over the course of several years. So when the album finally hit my hands, I was not at all surprised by what I was hearing. I was pleased for the most part and mildly disappointed at others. But for you, or anyone who has not heard an ounce of this, do not assume it's the old Gn'R shit. It's not. If you get stuck with that assumption, you will be very disappointed.
The sound is eclectic, intricate and at times bombastic. Over the course of 19 years, Axl had put so much thought into tiny details that if you aren't listening - really listening - you'll miss the point. And at first glance, most everyone misses the point. So overall, the album can be interpreted as mediocre at best. But after you sit and listen to those intricacies, you hear what you're meant to hear and that's when it hits you - FUCKING GENIUS.
The break down:
- Chinese Democracy: This song is the title track (obviously) as well as first single. Over all, it's got good rockin' moments and has a solid vibe.
- Shackler's Revenge: This one has a mix of borderline Rob Zombie beats mixed with a good rock bridge and chorus.
- Better: One of my faves lyrically and musically. One of the earlier demos I heard was actually "Better" than the finished version. The vocals were cleaner and the mix of instruments was a bit more logical. On the finished version toward the end, it seems to be a bit chaotic and irrational. However I did hear other versions where the end was WAY worse. So....I guess compromise was made.
- Street of Dreams: A nice little "Use Your Illusions" ditty. The orchestration in it is nicely done.
- If the World: Great Spanish guitar part and funky rhythm that is uncharacteristic of Gn'R. The bass line reminds me of the song, "Digging in the dirty" by Peter Gabriel. It's roots are totally porn.
- There was a Time: Lyrically powerful and musically intricate. Another fave of mine. It rocks but it does slip into "Illusion" moments.
- Catcher in the Rye: Another "Illusion" type sprout however it's not as powerful as some of his other songs.
- Scraped: This is the song I do not like. Acappella stuff in the beginning (which he should never do again) and jarring music. It's like Red Hot Chili Peppers from 1991, mixed with a smidgen of Backstreet Boys and crack. Not good.
-Riad n' the Bedouins: This has fun craziness. It's Led Zepplin on Crank. Not one that I'm keen on but it's tolerable.
- Sorry: This is a very powerful song. I think that this is in my 2nd to the most favorite song. It's raw emotion, melancholy backdrop, and pointed lyrics make this song something worthy of everyone's attention.
- I.R.S.: I like this song. It's like bubble gum. It's got pop. This is one where you have to really listen to what's going on with the instruments to sort of get what's going on. Otherwise, you're lost and the pace will throw you off.
- Madagascar: This is the genius song. I fell in love with this song over 2 years ago and it still breaks my heart. I love it. It also has a melancholy backdrop mixed with a sort of hip-hop type beat until it starts to really get into the song. Vocally, it's rough but I think that his vocals were left raw intentionally.
- This I Love: It's like an early 80's love story. Good orchestra parts. Enough said.
- Prostitute: I totally dig this song. The beginning is so-so, but the bridge is so super and chorus is divine. Axl was noted as saying that he really wanted the drums to sound like the drums from "Teen Spirit". And yes, if you listen, you will hear it. The guitar solo is alright...it's the background (again) that is enjoyable.
So, that's what I think. Go to the link I have on the title, the album is streaming on their MySpace page.
I'm "just me" and I've just liberated you.
GOT DEMOCRACY?
Spirit
(Permission-Step-Body) and Spirit.
Permission granted; proceed with one slow step at a time. The body keeps rhythm with the energy; movement and momentum of emotion gather at the solar plexus; negativity released through exhale, deep inhale brings refreshing energy back; spirit is fed one slow breath at a time. Breathe deep.
The nourishment of pure (uncontaminated) sustenance feeds both the body and the spirit while it detoxifies and removes poisons.
Yet more change!
2008 Election
Been awhile huh?
It's a historic moment in America right now. Barack Obama is our 44th President and he is the first African-American to be elected to that office. But, while the Presidential Election is over and done with. Here in my home state of California we are not finished yet, we still need to tally the votes for the various Propositions and Measures (as do other states).
One hot button issues in California is Proposition 8. Many of you may have heard about it, if not, it proposes to eliminate the rights of same-sex couples to get married in the state of California and will only recognize a marriage between a man and a woman as valid.
I can not begin to fathom the bigotry that this Proposition is based upon. While the issue of race has been all but eliminated in this country (yes, there are still racists out there I know) people still discriminate homosexuals. They usually hide behind the bible as a way to defend their views and stating that this is a "Judeo-Christian Nation."
They claim that schools will teach about gay marriage along with "regular marriage" and that kids are better with heterosexual couples. That's bullshit, and everyone knows it. Me and a whole slew of other people were never really taught about marriage, schools just don't touch upon that here. And the claim that kids are better with heterosexual couples is a total lie, it doesn't matter who a kids parents are. Whether they're black, white, asian, latino, gay, or straight; the only thing that matters is how the parents raise their kids.
It's sad too, a lot of people that support gay marriage are voting for Propostion 8. They believe that churches would get sued and kids will be taught about gay marriage.
At this moment I'm proud to be an American, and slightly more optimistic about the future. But I don't know how I feel about being a California. Disgusted? It's not the right word but it's close enough.
A Modest Proposal-
As Election Day rumbles into its final hours we are once again hearing reports of voters being mysteriously dropped from their local voting rolls, fouled-up machinery, and long lines, up to 6 or 7 hour-long lines in some places in Virginia.
I submit that this is a disgraceful state of affairs for the country that is supposed to be setting the standard for other nations to follow. I have therefor assembled a pair of Modest Proposals I hope the next President and Congress will consider-
-Automatic National Voter Registration. If you are a US citizen, you are a registered voter. Start a Federal Voter Database which is tied to your social security number. When you move your registration is automatically forwarded to your new precinct and deleted from your old one. No need to register, check local voter lists against federal lists, etc. Just a clean, everyone-is-registered system with one list.
-Apportionment of Voting Machines Based on Local Voter Registration. It's a disgrace that there are such wildly disparate waits to vote across the country. We're going to have a fairly high turnout in our town, and FB and I waited five minutes to vote this morning. Federal Law needs to require that an appropriate number of voting machines are available in every precinct based on the number of voters in that precinct.
It's high time America left the 19th century behind in terms of local and state-control of the basics of voting. The Federal government needs to step in and set some real standards, and take over registration. To ignore this problem is simply going to mean a continuing set of crises caused by antiquated machinery, poor funding and local political skullduggery and party thuggery aimed at disenfranchising certain blocks of voters.
Here's hoping everything goes well this time, but based on current news reports, I'm not betting on it. Enough is enough.