Popdose: Listening Booth: Guns n’ Roses, “Chinese Democracy” — A Second Opinion
Ted
· 11 months ago
As one commentator wrote about this album: this marks the end of an era; an era when spoiled rock stars can spend tons of money and time recording an album, but the final product is, ultimately, a disappointment.
But hey, at least you got a few songs to put on a mix CD.
DwDunphy
· 11 months ago
Commentator Schmommentator. So long as the human ego remains unchecked and the wallet gets refilled (and a desperate record company is a willing enabler) there will be big, glorious flops... Only now, they'll reside more in the hip hop realm than the rock realm.
Ted
· 11 months ago
Given the shelf life of most rap albums, do you really think record companies are going to "invest" in such a costly endeavor when the a good chunk of the rap fan base has very little brand loyalty. I suppose it's possible with Jay-Z, Diddy, and Kanye all vying for best rapper in the history of the world, but would rap fans wait 10+ years for a new album? Inquiring minds want to know.
DwDunphy
· 11 months ago
They already are... Not necessarily in the recording itself, but the care and feeding of a hip hop star is very expensive. I believe we'd be shocked by the money that is changing hands, and for what? There was a lot of expectation for Jay-Z's American Gangster and, while not a flop, it certainly wasn't the cash cow the label was holding out for.
You are right about the fast and furious turnover in the rap music scene. Axl had it lucky that he could maintain a fanbase for seventeen fruitless years. In rap, if you aren't in the spotlight for a month or two, you might as well quit. By the time you return, you've already been labeled a has-been.
The only genre that I know of where a fan is a fan until either they or the star dies is country. No wonder Jessica Simpson and Bon Jovi tried to crack in.
rwcass
· 11 months ago
In the area of R&B, it'll be interesting to see which fans are still around when D'Angelo, Lauryn Hill, and Maxwell finally release their next albums.
DwDunphy
· 11 months ago
And in the area of pop, who's waiting for the christ-like second comings of Ryan Cabrera and Howie Day?
Who, I ask you? And what are their addresses? They need to be stopped!!
mojo
· 11 months ago
The Black album was phenomenal in crummy bootleg vinyl, and fully flowered beautiful when it finally saw that limited commercial release. I am a prince nut--well, up to and including Emancipation and a few songs since--so I guess that factors in.
Lumping Black Album with Chinese Democracy makes me shed a purple tear on my shirt ruffle.
DwDunphy
· 11 months ago
Sorry, Mojo-man. Even though I have recently gained newfound respect for the Purple One's music, The Black Album was mythical at one time. After that, it was yet another Prince album, limited release as it was. There's something to be said about keeping secrets and that material could have trickled out over the years, not depriving the fans but, at the same time, holding up the allure of "the thing you cannot have".
mojo
· 11 months ago
Oh, I am an apologist no doubt! Part of it was that I paid, like $35 for a poor poor bootleg vinyl copy...and 21 years later am still justifying spending that kind of cake for it...then saw him on the lovesexy tour, which he did several Black Album songs live, like "Bob George." So I have an affinity for the songs beyond the bootleg...those tunes were NASSTY compared to lovesexy and he did not back down off them live. Plus, Sign O/Black Album/Lovesexy, even Batman I adore. And then the album Come, which wasn't really "in chronological order" with his Symbol man stuff at the time...was fantastic.
SOunds like a blog post point-counterpoint or something we should take up at another time.
A lot of Prince fans I know think Black ALbum and Come stink. The one record I can't stand from that period was the record...whatever it is you call it...that was just his symbol for the title. I love "Sexy MF" and "My Name is Prince..." but the rest of the record...phew! A lot of Prince fans adore that whole album, with Kirsty Alley and all that stuff going on...
DwDunphy
· 11 months ago
Did that have "Gett Off" on it?
mojo
· 11 months ago
no that was diamonds and pearls, another good if not great album. I also like Chaos & Disorder, another obscure make good to Warners that a lot of prince freaks hate because it's harder, edgier rock. After that , I haven't been real psyched for prince save the few streaks of pure genius he still flashes such as the song "Musicology," which flattens me with it's wicked beat every time.
All Comments
But hey, at least you got a few songs to put on a mix CD.
You are right about the fast and furious turnover in the rap music scene. Axl had it lucky that he could maintain a fanbase for seventeen fruitless years. In rap, if you aren't in the spotlight for a month or two, you might as well quit. By the time you return, you've already been labeled a has-been.
The only genre that I know of where a fan is a fan until either they or the star dies is country. No wonder Jessica Simpson and Bon Jovi tried to crack in.
Who, I ask you? And what are their addresses? They need to be stopped!!
Lumping Black Album with Chinese Democracy makes me shed a purple tear on my shirt ruffle.
SOunds like a blog post point-counterpoint or something we should take up at another time.
A lot of Prince fans I know think Black ALbum and Come stink. The one record I can't stand from that period was the record...whatever it is you call it...that was just his symbol for the title. I love "Sexy MF" and "My Name is Prince..." but the rest of the record...phew! A lot of Prince fans adore that whole album, with Kirsty Alley and all that stuff going on...