"Are you sure this is the right way?!" Jack shouted over the loud pumping music in the car and drizzling rain outside.
Jerry, took a slow drag of his cig and replied coolly " Yes, Jack, I'm f***king positive all right? All you need to do is turn a left turn at the junction ahead and we'll should see 'Alter Bridge'."
The infamous 'Alter Bridge' was the gateway to Liberty City and the escape from the past they had to left behind. The two brothers had lived a life of poverty since birth in town of Sunplane and this was perhaps their big break.
Early childhood of the two were spent selling home made drinks and food with their mum on streets everyday Their dad was a fishermen and painter, working tirelessly everyday to support the family.
Whenever they finished work, they would join in the sports and games with the other kids, running around and quite often getting into fights.
The family was too poor to provide a education for the boys. Soon the boys were learning the art of pickpocketing from unknowing adults on the streets. Then it become shoplifitng.
This went on for awhile until one day, the duo were caught in the act by a man who previously had his wallet stolen and were looking out for them upon seeing them in a shop.
Daddy was called in and he was furious,after pleading his case to the shop owner about the kids futures and promising to take them in hand, he took the boys home and gave them the worst beating of their lives with a cane.
Bruised and battered, the boys were then told that they were gonna be send to be child soldiers as a way to keep them off the streets and also provide a steady income for themselves and not resort to crimes.
At the age of 10 and 11, both joined Los De Force, a military organization that was paid to provide soldiers for different countries. Mercenaries soldiers they were, taking well paid income to fulfill military missions and operations for whoever hired them. The boys became well equipped with martial arts, use of guns, bombs and weapons and the skills of interrogating and investigation. They went on to take part in over 100 missions and operations of various kinds and sizes.
6 Years later, the brothers had become high ranking and respected Sergeants within the army ranks. At this point, Sunplane was declining in economical development and many youngsters left the town to move to the larger and more exciting Liberty City. Both had the same ambition and wanted a breakaway of the structured lifestyle and rigors of the army
Plus they had made a healthy saving from their years of service and the family was much better financially. The only problem was that their contract had a term of 10 years and they would need to pay compensation unless.....they were discharged by Los De Force.
The two decided on a plan to get drunk during a night of sentry and were thrown into military prison for 45 days for using foul languages at their comrades and being drunk during sentry. They were also dishonorably discharged by De Force and became free men after their prison term were served.
Coconut, Money, Elephant
Friday, January 23, 2009
Thursday, January 22, 2009
Crime Mind
It is strange to me
as i contemplate another crime
the idea that been dancing in my mind
for so long
the sins are tempting
with the demons surrounding me
am i forced by the hands of fate
or the consciousness within me
that are unknown to me
oh issit so wrong to get what u want
even if it means breaking a law
should i be chained by the rules of others
in this game of control and power
a game we all been playing since day one
i used to be afraid of consequences
now i realize fear is the enemy of risk and reward
we all never know what comes tommrrow
so let me take this crime
maybe just for a while
as i contemplate another crime
the idea that been dancing in my mind
for so long
the sins are tempting
with the demons surrounding me
am i forced by the hands of fate
or the consciousness within me
that are unknown to me
oh issit so wrong to get what u want
even if it means breaking a law
should i be chained by the rules of others
in this game of control and power
a game we all been playing since day one
i used to be afraid of consequences
now i realize fear is the enemy of risk and reward
we all never know what comes tommrrow
so let me take this crime
maybe just for a while
Tuesday, January 20, 2009
Music Review: Chinese Democracy
Artist: Guns n Roses aka GNR
Title: Chinese Democracy
Release: Nov 2008
Wow, so after 14 years of delays after delays, this album finally came out. I was pretty pumped up for this album, to the extent that i went to a retail store which released it early to get it. My first cd purchase in almost a year. Why didn't i choose to pirate it and was it worth the 18 bucks?
Well, i'm a big fan of GNR. In fact they are my favourite band in rock music. . It's funny how i became a fan actually, i had to rest at home for a few months a few years back after a operation and i spent quite abit of time on the com watching music videos and checking out new music since i could do feck all. Upon chances, i come upon this folder of music that my bra had ripped into the com from a friend of his. Till today i have no idea who this friend is, but thanks to him partly, i got to listen to " Guns N Roses- Greatest Hits". oh no.....here we go
First song title i saw, "Welcome To The Jungle" , wait , didn't i see this before? I remembered seeing something called "Welcome To The Videos" at HMV previously. Might as well start here i thought.
What can i say? The song was awesome, and so were the rest of the ones such as "Sweet Child Of Mine" , "Paradise City". Oh, one song i really hated though, "Novemeber Rain", god, this is such a old boring ass song.....until i watched the MV of this song. Then something click within me and i got to understood how great the song actually was.
Quick History Of GNR
Then i went to find the MVs of hits such as
- Welcome To The Jungle
- Sweet Child Of Mine
- Paradise City
- Novemember Rain
- Knocking On Heaven Door
- Don't Cry
- Patience
Mr Brownstone
and i got a picture of the voices and music i had been listening to. Again, i was not disapointed. The band members looked cool and stylish in their own unqiue way. And the mv were very well done. One guy stood out for me though, the lead singer Axl Rose. His full name is William Axl Rose (WAR) and that was his real name.
Prior to this, i had read a Japanese Manga (fan of them as well...:P) about a Rock Band with a lead singer who could shatter glass with his screaming. When the band first got together for practice, the singer started screaming and the rest of the band was able to jam the music just on that. He was also a dangerous individual that would do crazy things like fighting with people and committing crimes.
In the first vocal note of "Welcome To The Jungle" the infamous scream was there! Haha, it was cool. I read up about the guy and realise he more or less personalifies the character in the manga.
- Had a killer voice made for Rock
- Aggressive and Crazy Personality
- Committed crimes and left home at 17
So that was cool, and so i didn't pirate the damn album because i actually liked the band enough to pay 18 bucks as a appericate and faith in their music without reading any review.
But prior to buying the album, i knew that the only remaining member of the original lineup was Axl Rose, the other guys ,Slash, Izzy and co had departed from the band. Many people bitched about this. But i knew that what i would hear was still gonna be Guns N Roses. Because without Axl Rose, GNR would have been stuck in some club in LA and never be famous. This guy has one hell of a voice and is probably the best frontman in the history of Rock with his personality and stage presecne. I mean, look at Velvet Revovlver, how would that have done in the 80's? It's like the boss of a company, u can change the managers and staff, but as long as the boss was there, the vision and style of the company always was there.
I'm not gonna say the music has not changed, how can it not changed with so many changes in the personals? But it changed for the better because the only guy in the band who actually stay drug free enough is also one hell of a songwriter and storyteller.
However, he is also a fcking idiot for constantly delaying the album and missing concerts. That's the type of stuff that pissed of many loyal fans and hurt the album sales. Also, the non promotional effort don't help the album sales. People simply don't care and don't know the album is out. Oh , the last thing that hurt them the most is the critical poor reviews. I feel this album is not poppish or instant stuff anyway, kind of an album you need to listen a few spins for you to get it. I hated half the songs the first time i listened, that's coming from me btw.
So strangely enough, after listening to music and watching mvs and biographies of the band for a few years, this was my first album that i purchased of the band release. And i didn't wait around on forums like so many did, cause i knew Axl Rose has issues and problems, every few months, i pop onto the forum and see whether it was released. So it finally was, and i got the album, like i said, i had to listen to some tracks mutiple time to really "get it". But it turned out to be well worth the effort, i love the album! :p
The album came with a nice little GNR logo patch that was supposed to be for pre orders but the sales was so poor that they gave it free to me anyway. :)
Chinese Democracy Promo 1
Chinese Democracy Promo 2
14 tracks in all, so it took 1 year for each track which amounts to 14 years (94-08). Wow!
Note: Sacrasm mode was on
#1 - Chinese Democracy- 6.5/ 10
About- The Chinese government communist system. Got the album banned in China. Shock!
Useful- When you are trying to convince people that China is a communist state or debating China politics.
Trivia- Was used as the theme song for WWE Armageddon PPV. Flopped as a first single on the radio. No MV released, very unlikley as well.
The title track of this concept album opens with a 1 minute long of chinese people speaking which is a little long for me. Minus to 30 secs would be better, now i hate waiting for it to end everytime i spin it.
Good opening track, probably one of the weakest track but more radio friendly with it's straight forward lyrics and melody will appeal to casual music fans. Lyric wise can be stronger about it's main theme on Chinese Politics. Melody lacks a strong hook as well. Not one that i will be listening over too often.
#2- Shackler Revenge- 7.5/ 10
About- Who is Shackler? Anyone who been brought down and want revenge to fight back.
Useful For- Angry people or "High" people
Trivia: Micky Rourke suggested this song be used with a MV of the movie "The Wrestler". was included in the latest Rock Band 2 video game as a game track.
A surprising good song, very interesting mix of sounds to create a metal type song and the mixing on this one is splendid. The lyrics are straightforward but effective. Don't believe me? The main chrous of the song is " I don't believe there's a reason" and repeated 5 x
and you still get a kick out of this song. Sometime simple is good.
#3 - Better- 7.5/10
About- A person swear to get Better after a failed relationship
Trivia- Uncle Axl promised a MV was coming for this in a fan forum. " Soon......as in a week or so". That was over a month ago. Told you the guy had problems. Is the second single of the album, doing better on the charts.
This is a track where Axl's voice stand out, this is probably the most radio friendly track on the entire album. The lyrics is very well connected and you get the meaning of this song fairly easily.
I don't really like the loop used at the begining but this is a refreshing track for sure. Many fans seem to really like this track, it's a good one, just not great for me.
#4 - Street of Dreams aka The Blues - 7.5 /10
About- A guy disappointment on the changes in his ex-lover.
Trivia: This song was known as the Blues and played in live performances until it changed title.
Love this line " what i thought was beautiful don't live enough of you anymore." Sums up the song really and it even matched one relationship in my personal life. A bluesy ballad mixed with electric guitar riffs make this a nice track.. Not a big fan of the vocals on this one, so not a repeatable for me.
#5- If The World - 7.5/10
About- A guy realize his world and life is ending and all the unsaid things and regrets he has.
Trivia: This track was played at the ending credits of a movie "Body Of Lies"
I hated this song in the beginning.....this is one of the first track on the album that most causal fan will get turned off by. This track is a "mood based" track. If you are not in the mood for it, you will never "get it". Once you do, it rocks. One of my fav tracks on the album now. YEA!
#6- THERE WAS A TIME aka TWAT(lol) - 9/10
About- A betrayed lover who remembers a time when he would have done anything for the woman he loved.
Trivia: TWAT. Enuff said.
It's hard to imagine a song coming close to topping "Novemeber Rain" but this one challenge very closely. The lyrics are very telling and drag u deeply into the scenario with this again being a great track for Axl's vocals to shine and the guitar riff towards the end is just plain cool. Very strong mixing, can imagine this song bein reworked multiple times before released. A song i will be listening to long after the first listen.
#7 - CATCHER IN THE RYE- 8.5 /10
About- Teenage anger and jadness at the adult world.
Trivia: A reference to the infamous novel of the same title.Perhaps written for the never coming movie version of "CatcheR". Also reference to the John Lennon Shooting incident.
If you get the lyrics, then this is a great song. Hated the song on first listen/ Some of the lyrics are just straight up powerful to let u get into the story. The production on this song is one of the strongest here and i sense it's Axl personal favourite song. The guitar riff near the end is another classic, capturing the wild and lost feeling of the character in the song. The song ends strongly with Axl ranting lines such as " an ordinary day, not in an ordinary way, all the songs i once heard no longer wants to play, for anybody for anyone who wanted an comfort from someone ,you give that boy an gun, took an innonence" A song worth repeated listening.
#8 - SCRAPED- 6/10
About- Kicking ass and taking over the world
A fun song about feeling unstoppable and taking over. Will be a hit with people who are into video gaming, can imagine this song being mixed with video game montage. I always have a laugh though as i find the chorus corny. "Nobody can stop us now, I just refuse, don't you try to stop us now, cause i won't let u! " Kind of feel like a filler track. Worst track on the album , I and I think.
#9- Riad N The Bedouins- 7.5/ 10
About- See #8
Pretty good song, growing on me slowly, very good for mixing with video game montage and maybe sporting montage. The intro is a little long winded though. Good song for chilling , not to be taken too seriously.
#10 - SORRY- 8/10
About- Failed Friendship and Betrayal or Critising the Media
Trivia- The line "But I don't want to do it" is sang with a strange Africa accent that makes me chuckle, Axl revealed it was done as a piss take and has no real meaing when asked on forums.
Basically this is the FU song to the media and/or Slash with lyrics " you don't why i won't give up, to hell with the pressure, i'm not caving in. You sold ur soul but i won't let u win". One of the hardest songs to get for me, but one day it did click and i enjoy thsi track. This track is muscially refreshing, and it can be interpreted in many ways. Some say it can be about a failed friendship that turn sour, reference to ex band member Slash with lines such as " u chose to hurt those that love u and won't set them free"
#11- I.R.S- 8 /10
About- An guy failed marriage/relationship and he wants to get the government and police to fight a court case against his ex lover for a divorce and adultery
Love the funny lyrics "gonna call the President, gonna get the FBI, gonna need the IRS" " gonna get a federal case, gonna wave it right down in your face!" . Have a laugh, one of the great tracks. Again, the vocal rocks here,
#12-MADAGASCAR-7/10
About- Perseverance in Loneliness and difficulties, with reference to Martin Luther King. Also possible reference to Axl's struggles to make the album without his ex band mates support.
Poorly mix song, at points, the pasting of the mix is so poorly done u can hear it. Also didn't like the multiple voice mixing. Love the live version better. 8 for the live version. 7 for the studio version. Strange eh?
#13 - THIS I LOVE- 8.5/10
About- A guy deeply passionate love for a woman but whom he lost. Likely written about Stephanie, his ex wife.
I would have gave this song 9 but for some minor stuff i didn't like. However this song is a very strong track and is the only track on the album to be soley produced by Axl. Obvious reference to his ex lover and the lyrics are pretty good and the melody is very strong. Girls will be moved if you sing and play this well, haha. However the song emotional rawness is also it's weakness, as if reproduced to be more radio friendly, i feel it will bring this song to the next level. Some of the pitching is abit too sharp at points for example and the guitar solo is abit weird sounding for me in parts. The song could be a dark horse hit if it's used in the right movie.
Fact: This track was rumored to have been finished in 92 but was left off the previous album, making it 16 years old!
#14- PROSTITUTE - 8 out of 10
About- About Not selling out and betraying own beliefs
At first i thought this song was gonna be about a prostitute he had, :P. Great song. "Why would i prostitute myself for fortune and shame?" is the stand out line. Again one that took multiple listen to get it. Interesting mix of metal, classical and rock elements. I guess choosing this song as the close out song is a way to say " this is why i release the album at my own timing and my way."
Overall - 8.5/ 10
Good: The album showcase a variety of genres and sounds that you won't find in today market anymore, this album will go down as a classic over time. The album has new music breakthroughs that wouldn't have existed with the old lineup.
Bad: This album mixing can sometime be a clusterfuck due to it having too many people involved in th production. Most tracks are not radio friendly. Would require multiple listen to get the music, it's rather complicated music. Will be a miss with causal fans.
Key Tracks- Catcher In The Rye, There Was A Time, I.R.S, If The World, Better
Title: Chinese Democracy
Release: Nov 2008
Wow, so after 14 years of delays after delays, this album finally came out. I was pretty pumped up for this album, to the extent that i went to a retail store which released it early to get it. My first cd purchase in almost a year. Why didn't i choose to pirate it and was it worth the 18 bucks?
Well, i'm a big fan of GNR. In fact they are my favourite band in rock music. . It's funny how i became a fan actually, i had to rest at home for a few months a few years back after a operation and i spent quite abit of time on the com watching music videos and checking out new music since i could do feck all. Upon chances, i come upon this folder of music that my bra had ripped into the com from a friend of his. Till today i have no idea who this friend is, but thanks to him partly, i got to listen to " Guns N Roses- Greatest Hits". oh no.....here we go
First song title i saw, "Welcome To The Jungle" , wait , didn't i see this before? I remembered seeing something called "Welcome To The Videos" at HMV previously. Might as well start here i thought.
What can i say? The song was awesome, and so were the rest of the ones such as "Sweet Child Of Mine" , "Paradise City". Oh, one song i really hated though, "Novemeber Rain", god, this is such a old boring ass song.....until i watched the MV of this song. Then something click within me and i got to understood how great the song actually was.
Quick History Of GNR
Then i went to find the MVs of hits such as
- Welcome To The Jungle
- Sweet Child Of Mine
- Paradise City
- Novemember Rain
- Knocking On Heaven Door
- Don't Cry
- Patience
Mr Brownstone
and i got a picture of the voices and music i had been listening to. Again, i was not disapointed. The band members looked cool and stylish in their own unqiue way. And the mv were very well done. One guy stood out for me though, the lead singer Axl Rose. His full name is William Axl Rose (WAR) and that was his real name.
Prior to this, i had read a Japanese Manga (fan of them as well...:P) about a Rock Band with a lead singer who could shatter glass with his screaming. When the band first got together for practice, the singer started screaming and the rest of the band was able to jam the music just on that. He was also a dangerous individual that would do crazy things like fighting with people and committing crimes.
In the first vocal note of "Welcome To The Jungle" the infamous scream was there! Haha, it was cool. I read up about the guy and realise he more or less personalifies the character in the manga.
- Had a killer voice made for Rock
- Aggressive and Crazy Personality
- Committed crimes and left home at 17
So that was cool, and so i didn't pirate the damn album because i actually liked the band enough to pay 18 bucks as a appericate and faith in their music without reading any review.
But prior to buying the album, i knew that the only remaining member of the original lineup was Axl Rose, the other guys ,Slash, Izzy and co had departed from the band. Many people bitched about this. But i knew that what i would hear was still gonna be Guns N Roses. Because without Axl Rose, GNR would have been stuck in some club in LA and never be famous. This guy has one hell of a voice and is probably the best frontman in the history of Rock with his personality and stage presecne. I mean, look at Velvet Revovlver, how would that have done in the 80's? It's like the boss of a company, u can change the managers and staff, but as long as the boss was there, the vision and style of the company always was there.
I'm not gonna say the music has not changed, how can it not changed with so many changes in the personals? But it changed for the better because the only guy in the band who actually stay drug free enough is also one hell of a songwriter and storyteller.
However, he is also a fcking idiot for constantly delaying the album and missing concerts. That's the type of stuff that pissed of many loyal fans and hurt the album sales. Also, the non promotional effort don't help the album sales. People simply don't care and don't know the album is out. Oh , the last thing that hurt them the most is the critical poor reviews. I feel this album is not poppish or instant stuff anyway, kind of an album you need to listen a few spins for you to get it. I hated half the songs the first time i listened, that's coming from me btw.
So strangely enough, after listening to music and watching mvs and biographies of the band for a few years, this was my first album that i purchased of the band release. And i didn't wait around on forums like so many did, cause i knew Axl Rose has issues and problems, every few months, i pop onto the forum and see whether it was released. So it finally was, and i got the album, like i said, i had to listen to some tracks mutiple time to really "get it". But it turned out to be well worth the effort, i love the album! :p
The album came with a nice little GNR logo patch that was supposed to be for pre orders but the sales was so poor that they gave it free to me anyway. :)
Chinese Democracy Promo 1
Chinese Democracy Promo 2
14 tracks in all, so it took 1 year for each track which amounts to 14 years (94-08). Wow!
Note: Sacrasm mode was on
#1 - Chinese Democracy- 6.5/ 10
About- The Chinese government communist system. Got the album banned in China. Shock!
Useful- When you are trying to convince people that China is a communist state or debating China politics.
Trivia- Was used as the theme song for WWE Armageddon PPV. Flopped as a first single on the radio. No MV released, very unlikley as well.
The title track of this concept album opens with a 1 minute long of chinese people speaking which is a little long for me. Minus to 30 secs would be better, now i hate waiting for it to end everytime i spin it.
Good opening track, probably one of the weakest track but more radio friendly with it's straight forward lyrics and melody will appeal to casual music fans. Lyric wise can be stronger about it's main theme on Chinese Politics. Melody lacks a strong hook as well. Not one that i will be listening over too often.
#2- Shackler Revenge- 7.5/ 10
About- Who is Shackler? Anyone who been brought down and want revenge to fight back.
Useful For- Angry people or "High" people
Trivia: Micky Rourke suggested this song be used with a MV of the movie "The Wrestler". was included in the latest Rock Band 2 video game as a game track.
A surprising good song, very interesting mix of sounds to create a metal type song and the mixing on this one is splendid. The lyrics are straightforward but effective. Don't believe me? The main chrous of the song is " I don't believe there's a reason" and repeated 5 x
and you still get a kick out of this song. Sometime simple is good.
#3 - Better- 7.5/10
About- A person swear to get Better after a failed relationship
Trivia- Uncle Axl promised a MV was coming for this in a fan forum. " Soon......as in a week or so". That was over a month ago. Told you the guy had problems. Is the second single of the album, doing better on the charts.
This is a track where Axl's voice stand out, this is probably the most radio friendly track on the entire album. The lyrics is very well connected and you get the meaning of this song fairly easily.
I don't really like the loop used at the begining but this is a refreshing track for sure. Many fans seem to really like this track, it's a good one, just not great for me.
#4 - Street of Dreams aka The Blues - 7.5 /10
About- A guy disappointment on the changes in his ex-lover.
Trivia: This song was known as the Blues and played in live performances until it changed title.
Love this line " what i thought was beautiful don't live enough of you anymore." Sums up the song really and it even matched one relationship in my personal life. A bluesy ballad mixed with electric guitar riffs make this a nice track.. Not a big fan of the vocals on this one, so not a repeatable for me.
#5- If The World - 7.5/10
About- A guy realize his world and life is ending and all the unsaid things and regrets he has.
Trivia: This track was played at the ending credits of a movie "Body Of Lies"
I hated this song in the beginning.....this is one of the first track on the album that most causal fan will get turned off by. This track is a "mood based" track. If you are not in the mood for it, you will never "get it". Once you do, it rocks. One of my fav tracks on the album now. YEA!
#6- THERE WAS A TIME aka TWAT(lol) - 9/10
About- A betrayed lover who remembers a time when he would have done anything for the woman he loved.
Trivia: TWAT. Enuff said.
It's hard to imagine a song coming close to topping "Novemeber Rain" but this one challenge very closely. The lyrics are very telling and drag u deeply into the scenario with this again being a great track for Axl's vocals to shine and the guitar riff towards the end is just plain cool. Very strong mixing, can imagine this song bein reworked multiple times before released. A song i will be listening to long after the first listen.
#7 - CATCHER IN THE RYE- 8.5 /10
About- Teenage anger and jadness at the adult world.
Trivia: A reference to the infamous novel of the same title.Perhaps written for the never coming movie version of "CatcheR". Also reference to the John Lennon Shooting incident.
If you get the lyrics, then this is a great song. Hated the song on first listen/ Some of the lyrics are just straight up powerful to let u get into the story. The production on this song is one of the strongest here and i sense it's Axl personal favourite song. The guitar riff near the end is another classic, capturing the wild and lost feeling of the character in the song. The song ends strongly with Axl ranting lines such as " an ordinary day, not in an ordinary way, all the songs i once heard no longer wants to play, for anybody for anyone who wanted an comfort from someone ,you give that boy an gun, took an innonence" A song worth repeated listening.
#8 - SCRAPED- 6/10
About- Kicking ass and taking over the world
A fun song about feeling unstoppable and taking over. Will be a hit with people who are into video gaming, can imagine this song being mixed with video game montage. I always have a laugh though as i find the chorus corny. "Nobody can stop us now, I just refuse, don't you try to stop us now, cause i won't let u! " Kind of feel like a filler track. Worst track on the album , I and I think.
#9- Riad N The Bedouins- 7.5/ 10
About- See #8
Pretty good song, growing on me slowly, very good for mixing with video game montage and maybe sporting montage. The intro is a little long winded though. Good song for chilling , not to be taken too seriously.
#10 - SORRY- 8/10
About- Failed Friendship and Betrayal or Critising the Media
Trivia- The line "But I don't want to do it" is sang with a strange Africa accent that makes me chuckle, Axl revealed it was done as a piss take and has no real meaing when asked on forums.
Basically this is the FU song to the media and/or Slash with lyrics " you don't why i won't give up, to hell with the pressure, i'm not caving in. You sold ur soul but i won't let u win". One of the hardest songs to get for me, but one day it did click and i enjoy thsi track. This track is muscially refreshing, and it can be interpreted in many ways. Some say it can be about a failed friendship that turn sour, reference to ex band member Slash with lines such as " u chose to hurt those that love u and won't set them free"
#11- I.R.S- 8 /10
About- An guy failed marriage/relationship and he wants to get the government and police to fight a court case against his ex lover for a divorce and adultery
Love the funny lyrics "gonna call the President, gonna get the FBI, gonna need the IRS" " gonna get a federal case, gonna wave it right down in your face!" . Have a laugh, one of the great tracks. Again, the vocal rocks here,
#12-MADAGASCAR-7/10
About- Perseverance in Loneliness and difficulties, with reference to Martin Luther King. Also possible reference to Axl's struggles to make the album without his ex band mates support.
Poorly mix song, at points, the pasting of the mix is so poorly done u can hear it. Also didn't like the multiple voice mixing. Love the live version better. 8 for the live version. 7 for the studio version. Strange eh?
#13 - THIS I LOVE- 8.5/10
About- A guy deeply passionate love for a woman but whom he lost. Likely written about Stephanie, his ex wife.
I would have gave this song 9 but for some minor stuff i didn't like. However this song is a very strong track and is the only track on the album to be soley produced by Axl. Obvious reference to his ex lover and the lyrics are pretty good and the melody is very strong. Girls will be moved if you sing and play this well, haha. However the song emotional rawness is also it's weakness, as if reproduced to be more radio friendly, i feel it will bring this song to the next level. Some of the pitching is abit too sharp at points for example and the guitar solo is abit weird sounding for me in parts. The song could be a dark horse hit if it's used in the right movie.
Fact: This track was rumored to have been finished in 92 but was left off the previous album, making it 16 years old!
#14- PROSTITUTE - 8 out of 10
About- About Not selling out and betraying own beliefs
At first i thought this song was gonna be about a prostitute he had, :P. Great song. "Why would i prostitute myself for fortune and shame?" is the stand out line. Again one that took multiple listen to get it. Interesting mix of metal, classical and rock elements. I guess choosing this song as the close out song is a way to say " this is why i release the album at my own timing and my way."
Overall - 8.5/ 10
Good: The album showcase a variety of genres and sounds that you won't find in today market anymore, this album will go down as a classic over time. The album has new music breakthroughs that wouldn't have existed with the old lineup.
Bad: This album mixing can sometime be a clusterfuck due to it having too many people involved in th production. Most tracks are not radio friendly. Would require multiple listen to get the music, it's rather complicated music. Will be a miss with causal fans.
Key Tracks- Catcher In The Rye, There Was A Time, I.R.S, If The World, Better
Jump and Be Good
Need for a structure in life.........
Sometimes i feel life can be very messy, especially living in a city, it' easy to to lose track of what you really want and be sucked in by what everyone is doing/telling you.
In the end, it's about self. The only person responsible and the biggest Prode deep within yourself and know what you really want and go for it.
Don't sell out, work hard and have a little faith in yourself and life.
"God" Bless.
Sometimes i feel life can be very messy, especially living in a city, it' easy to to lose track of what you really want and be sucked in by what everyone is doing/telling you.
In the end, it's about self. The only person responsible and the biggest Prode deep within yourself and know what you really want and go for it.
Don't sell out, work hard and have a little faith in yourself and life.
"God" Bless.
Thursday, January 1, 2009
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