The Chinese Democracy / Ron Bumblefoot Thal

[Ben]

So then,
            Who has heard this album? I picked it up this evening at my local supermarket...was blown away, I am not sure what I was expecting - I grew up on the original Guns N Roses songs, and was inspired by Slash to pick up guitar. Of course this new album is not Guns N Roses as we remember but is still Axl's vision. I have to say that it sounds really fresh and immediately Ron's use of his Surfreter stood out on the album...if I was origanly inspired by Slash then this album pushes the realms of guitar playing even further. I know a lot of people wont like this because it is "not classic Guns N Roses'...well that is EXACTLY the reason I think it so good...it is new, if I want classic GNR I can put an old album on, but the Chinese Democracy is Axl sounding better than ever with his new band members playing some insanely good songs...big thumbs up from me! 

[B]

Heard little bits of the album here and there so I can't really give an opinion on whether I like the songs or not. However, like you said, I admire the fact he didn't try and do 'Appetite part II', because its a completely different band he has gone in a different direction. Now the guitar playing is awesome and I hope a talent like Ron Thal gets the recognition he deserves and then Vigier in turn, will get the recognition it rightly deserves too!

[Chris]

I finally listened to the song samples on iTunes, and, for the most part, really like what I heard. Afterwards, I was reading some reviews, and read the stupidest thing.... one critic said something like "Some songs have as many as 5 guitarists bashing away, yet are unable to do what Slash and Izzy did with 2", like Bumblefoot, Robin Finck, Buckethead, Richard Fortus, and Paul Tobias were all standing there, playing 5 simultaneous guitar parts, or that there were only 2 guitar parts on all the old G n' R songs, with no overdubbing or anything. More proof that people who know nothing about the technical end of music should not be allowed to comment on it.