So I was listening to Chinese Democracy…

Guns N' Fucking Roses

Before we continue, point yourself over to the sexy new Music Towers site and check out my review of Chinese Democracy. Yes, the new album by Guns N’ Roses.

Now, being one of the most anticipated records of the last 20 years, Chinese Democracy is what the record industry would describe as a “Big Deal”. In the time since the last GnR studio album release in 1991, things have changed – these days acts find their albums leaked onto the internet and playing everwhere from upstate New York apartment to some mud hut in the Amazon basin months. So instead of the usual practice of sending out promo copies to journalists, myself and a clutch of other writers were summoned on Friday to the UK headquarters of Universal Records, for a playback. They weren’t taking any chances on this one.

So I’m sitting there, and I’m one of the first people in the UK not working with the band to hear this record. Regardless of how good the actual album is, it hit me that this is probably one of the best perks of the job. For all the shit money, hours wasted watching terrible support bands, and transcribing interviews with bands that wouldn’t know a quotable line if it shot them up the arse with a harpoon, it’s stuff like this that is the equivalent of my end-of-year bonus.

I’m a big Guns fan. Appetite For Destruction is still one of the contenders for Best Debut Album Ever in my personal Lists. Even with his fucking mentalism, even with the ridiculous rotating line-up Slash quit, I still love this band. I even managed to enjoy Axl Rose’s childish temper-tantrums at Download 2006. This is an album that millions – millions - of people will buy when it comes out in a week’s time. There are probably Guns fans who would punch their own children to get this kind of access. And I’m sitting there, scribbling some notes onto my pad, and listening to the new record. Yeah, I’m pretty damn pleased with myself at this point.

So yeah, go back and read my review on MusicTowers again. Then go read the Thrash Hits review, written by Raz Rauf. Then go and buy Chinese Democracy anyway, because after 17 bloody years, I doubt anything any critic has to say will affect your decision.