This reviewer is a member of the Best Buy Tech Insider Network Program. This invitation-only program provides BestBuy.com reviewers with manufacturer-supplied products for the purpose of writing honest, unbiased and usage-based reviews. Outside of receiving products to test and review, Best Buy Tech Insider Network Reviewers are not compensated in any other way.
It should have been so much better, it's actually pretty tame by todays standards and is far removed from G N' R of old. I went to many shows and any midnight releases they had back in the day, so I think I can say I was a hardcore fan, dating back to the pre-Appetite days when my buddy had their 1st original release! I listened to this new album and just sighed, and not a relaxing sigh either, a sigh of disappointment. The most rocking song is the one released on the radio, the rest is just, meh... There's nothing that reminds of the greatness the G N' R name once carried. It is "ok" if you separate it from the early days, but it's still not great by any means. There's no RAW on it, a lot of it sounds like Axl complaining and for an album that cost as much as it did to make, the music is sub-par for a bunch of well known & respected musicians. I don't say this because I miss the original line-up, which I do, however, you won't walk away saying, I need to hear that again, that rocked! His next album better have RAW if he expects to keep his fans and not be taken as a failure and a joke.
What's great about it: It finally got released....
What's not so great: It should have been so much better, it's actually pretty tame by todays standards and is far removed from G N' R of old.