Guns N Roses, Guns N' Roses - Greatest Hits
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Free Music Notes for Greatest Hits
Free Music Review: Ignore the juvenile reviewers claiming it's a cash-in
Hit: 5 Stars
Much to my surprise it seems a lot of die hard Gn'R fans have been heavily criticizing this "Greatest Hits" CD collection. You want to know why? Because they claim (a) Guns N' Roses only released four albums, therefore they are not "allowed" to have Greatest Hits; (b) most of the Greatest Hits can be found on Appetite for Destruction; and (c) Axl Rose and co. protested its release, so why shouldn't the fans?
Last time I checked Axl and co. were suing the producers of a CD entitled "Hollywood Rose" -- NOT the Greatest Hits Collection. I could be wrong, but I doubt very much that Gn'R bandmembers have the time to sue two different CD producers at the same time -- merely because they feel they're getting jipped. Besides, they're getting money from Greatest Hits -- it's the Hollywood Rose album they understandably tried to keep out of print.
As for the jerks who claim Appetite for Destruction -- their SECOND album contrary to popular belief -- is the source of all their Greatest Hits, they're forgetting Civil War, Yesterdays, One in a Million, November Rain and Sympathy for the Devil -- some of my personal favorites.
I only started getting into Gn'R recently. I had always heard them referenced as gods of rock but also as a source of '80s ridicule -- now being very outdated as stupid punk rocker sell-outs.
But I think they're wonderful and some of my favorite songs of all-time are here.
Gn'R officially released five albums; most people believe Appetite for Destruction was their first, but it wasn't. After that they released Use Your Illusion I and II simultaneously. It had a lot of so-called "filler" (some underrated, some just OK and a bit egotistical like Get in the Ring). Then came The Spaghetti Incident?, full of cover tracks. It marked the beginning of their downfall as it didn't do very well with the critics and they slowly slid out of mainstream popularity...
Since then they've pretty much split up, Axl Rose buying the rights to Gn'R and releasing the song "Oh My God" on the "END OF DAYS" soundtrack (it's actually a pretty good song).
Which brings me to my next complaint. All these people keep saying, "Instead of a Greatest Hits, why don't they just release Chinese Democracy?"
Get real. First of all Geffen Records is not responsible for that. Axl is. He's delaying the release, along with his new bandmembers. It's HIS fault it's not released. Geffen's decision to release a Best-Of is completely understandable. For some people, buying four different CDs is not an option -- they just want some of Gn'R most popular, and best, songs, and then they can take it from there.
To all you Gn'R snobs, stop putting down this CD just because of this. You seem to take pride in the fact that you're lucky enough to know the "secret" that all their best tracks are on Appetite for Destruction. Good for you. Now stop complaining and start realizing some people like tracks off of Illusions and Spaghetti, too.
I find these people to be hypocrites -- they criticize The Best of Gn'R because they want Chinese Democracy instead. Then all they do is complain about Axl and his new bandmembers, and how they think he is a sell-out. Well which is it: Do you want Chinese Democracy, or not?!
Personally Sweet Child O'Mine is my favorite of theirs, followed by Sympathy for the Devil and then Knockin' On Heaven's Door -- the latter two of which are covers (for Rolling Stones and Bob Dylan, respectively).
Which brings up another good point -- this is the first time Sympathy for the Devil has been made available on a Gn'R CD (it was originally recorded for the Interview with the Vampire Official Soundtrack, but never released through Gn'R as they were in the process of splitting up and never released another CD).
Many of the diehard snobs think it shouldn't be included because it's not an "official" Gn'R recording. Whatever. It's one of their best songs, and it's the first time it's been made available -- unless you want to go buy the Vampire soundtrack...
All in all this contains some truly great tracks. Sweet Child, Civil War, Yesterdays, Sympathy, Knockin' on Heaven's Door, Paradise City, Patience -- all classics. I could go on and on telling you why you should buy this, and putting down the diehard snob criticiziers, but I won't. Suffice to say if you're new to Gn'R you should really start here as it contains their best stuff -- then slowly move out into some of the more underrated and obscure material found on Spaghetti, Use Your Illusion, etc.
And if you've become a diehard fan like me (well, maybe not diehard, but supportive and enthusiastic) the Greatest Hits is still a great collection for obvious reasons.
Highly recommended for fans and non-fans alike.
Free Music Review: An Overall Review
Hit: 5 Stars
I'm not going to write down reasons why GNR is one of the greatest Rock Band of all time, no this review is just something from which you will hopefully decide whether or not to buy the CD, lets get to it then. Visually:
This CD is beautiful. Its one of those cases you're proud to display. It is a sleek two fold paper case which on the outside is silver, featuring one picture of the band, and a great one of Axl and Slash, both in silver and white. Underneath the CD is a full colour picture of the band from Appetite for Destruction.
The CD cover itself is really cool, but I won't spoil that surprise, you'll have to buy it to see it.
Audio:
I compared these tracks with their original counterparts and have to say that they sound great. They are sharper and crisper. The music it self really gets through a lot better without the interference. This is more evident on the Appetite for Destruction tracks.
Ah but is this a reason to buy it you ask? Well, a CD housing their biggest hits all together, and having those hits sound sharper and cleaner sounds like a pretty good reason to me. Even if you aren't fussy about music, most of you will notice the difference, especially on higher end stereos. The better sound really lets you enjoy them more, and its all of their hits too!
Track Listing:
Yes, it does include their big hits, however I was not completely satisfied. I suppose they wanted to include songs from each album, this is the only reason I could find as to why "Ain't it Fun" and "Since I Don't Have You" were picked over some of their lesser known masterpieces.
In my mind and, as I have read, many other fan's minds, their emotional roller coaster "Estranged" belongs on a GNR Greatest Hits album, period.
There are also several other songs that could have easily gone on, "Breakdown", "Night Train" or "So Fine". And while having a previously non released song "Sympathy for the Devil" is nice, it shouldn't take up space from their other hits, since this is a Greatest Hits Album.
Don't get me wrong, the first 11 (out of 14) songs are their best songs (except that Estranged should be one of them) however I have to ask why the three final songs, (which are all covers) are there instead of some of their other more deserving, and simply better, songs (that they wrote). That's all I will say about that.
Song Reviews:
As far as song reviews I didn't feel it necessary, if you are a fan and have heard their songs then there is nothing I need to tell you, if you are someone who isn't to familiar with them but wants to be, then stop reading now and go buy the CD, because that is the best way to do it.
Conclusion:
The final negative thing I would like to say is that I would have liked to have an accompanying booklet, maybe talking about the band, the songs etc.
To sum it all up this is a great buy. This CD has all of their hits, in a very nice order so you can just let it play. Every song on this CD (save for the last three) is an amazing song, and you will love them. The songs are also re-mastered and sound fantastic. It all comes in a kick @$$ package too.
Basically any CD which carries this many great songs, in wonderfully redone quality deserves to be bought.
Have a nice day.
PS This will also show anyone unfamiliar with GNR who the true Guns and Roses are, so they don't confuse the true band with the new band (save for Dizzy) Axl has formed with the same name.
Free Music Review: Greatest Hits and Misses
Hit: 5 Stars
When a band puts out a Greatest Hits package, one of two things has happened: They are moving onto the next chapter of their music careers, or they are caput and have decided to put a period on the sentance. The second is what the case is for Guns N' Roses.
Purchasing a Greatest Hits package, on the other hand, is also a tenative venture. If you were already a fan, you probably already have all their greatest hits in your collection and they are pulling you in with the promise of a digitally remastered version of something you already own with one or two floater songs you didn't get. I discourage people from buying Greatest Hits packages if they have potential to explore all the great stuff that wasn't a radio single. Don't limit yourselves, people! There is a whole universe out there that the radio never played! If you have a passing knowledge of said band and really aren't all that interested in anything but the radio singles, then go ahead and buy, this is really all you need.
Guns N'Roses had some great songs. Their peers from this era (Poison, Motley Crue, etc) might have sounded similar and charted as high as they did, but their music is the one and only that has truly endured because it was the greatest. They had hard rock stadium anthems that still can whip a crowd into a frenzy if played today. Though they had some personal problems (to put it mildly) that keep them from reunion tours, they perhaps have the most dignity by not continuing to tour on 80s revivals or nostalgia summer tours. They produced some true classics and are letting them remain as such.
Here we see the monster hits as well as the rather curious that we still can't explain. From their glory days of "Appetite for Destruction" and the "Illusion" albums, we see the one and only single released from their all covers album of "The Spaghetti Insident?" and their cover of "Sympathy for the Devil" from the Interview With The Vampire soundtrack, their last group effort. "The Spaghetti Insident?" left the audiences a little confused as to why they felt the need to put out an album of all covers, the Rolling Stones cover sealed their fate. Appropriate now that I think of it, considering the movie theme as well as their last gasp.
If you are 18 and under and have only heard a few of these songs, then this is a fine addition to your collection. For those of us who were there at their peak of glory, it's a period on the sentance. Some might want to buy if they didn't get the Rolling Stones cover, otherwise it's just another Greatest Hits package.
Free Music Review: Great compilation how it's missing one
Hit: 5 Stars
This compilation is really great!! But where is Mr. Brownstone?
That's one of my favorite songs and that needs to be on this compilation. But the rest however, fit. Somehow there is a bad
Rolling Stones cover, Sympathy for the Devil. Now I'll review all
the songs on this album.
1. Welcome to the Jungle-Great opening song, Slash has amazing
solo in this one, and drums rock!!!
2. Sweet Child O' Mine-What can i say? This is the greatest GNR
song ever recorded, it is typically a must have for any GNR compilation. Slash's solo is so amazing and Axl rules on the vocals, probably the best on the album.
3. Patience-First of all it's slow, but it is nice to calm down.
This doesn't seem like a GNR song that I would cover but still
good.
4. Paradise City-Another awesome song! The opening part is great
but the ending goes fast. Another listen to over n over gain!
5. Knockin' on Heaven's Door-Matt's drums have typically been
like an Appetite sort of drums, but some how around 4 minutes
I would rather skip it because it gets boring fast.
6. Civil War-This is marginally much better than Knockin' on Heaven's Door, it's very true and is about a war.
7. You Could Be Mine-Heavy metal back in this song, this song is
one of my favorites! But you do get the feeling of Welcome to the
Jungle.
8. Don't Cry-This song is muchly the weakest song on the entire
compilation.
9. November Rain-I absolutely love this song! This is the greatest song on this compilation, ever!!! Slash at his best. Axl
is great on vocals. Go buy this album for this song. The ending
is the best ever!!
10. Live and Let Die-Okay, after the great November Rain, this
song is another great song in addtion. Axl does great vocals on
this one. It's a Paul McCartney cover.
11. Yesterdays-Could be better.
12. Ain't it Fun-Ouch! I never like this song, this song sucks
the most, bad vocals bad music!! Hate it never choose to listen
to this song!! at all. It's not like GNR at all.
13. Since I Don't Have You-This was better but not as great as
the rest.
14. Sympathy For The Devil-Skip it, i hate this song.
Go ahead, buy this compilation and Appetite for Destruction
to get this and Mr. Brownstone.
Free Music Review: The best compilation out there
Hit: 5 Stars
This is the best compilation album ever! It typically rocks!
I listen to this album a lot. A lot of these songs are really
great. There are a few must not haves for this album but let me
review all these songs.
Welcome to the Jungle-Great opening song with some of the best
rock ever. It'll make you want to jump around and bang your head.
Sweet Child of Mine-Maybe the best song on this compilation.
Slash plays the solo great. This is definately one of my favorite
songs of all time.
Patience-Slow but good, but where the heck are Steven's drums.
But this song always puts me in a good mood.
Paradise City-A must listen for any rock fan. This song is so
awesome. Give it five stars on. The beginning of this song is
really great.
Knocking on Heaven's Door-Great song but gets boring fast.
Civil War-One of my favorite songs of all time. This song is true
about war and history. Great understanding song.
You Could Be Mine-One of my favorite songs on this album. This
song has a great heavy metal sound that you'll love. One of the
best on this album.
Don't Cry-Muchly the weakest song on this album.
November Rain-This is the best song ever! The riff is so awesome
by Slash. Axl does the vocals great. The whole song is nine minutes of excellent music. This is typically my favorite song on
this album. Great song.
Live and Let Die-Yet another awesome song. This one delivers great drums by Sorum. And other than that, Axl sings right in
this song.
Yesterdays-Attitude, bad attitude.
Ain't it Fun-Very bad, take this off this compilation because
this song has lots of sex,drugs,alcohol,liquor,violence,and more.
This song is not like Guns N' Roses at all. Has bad attitude.
Since I Don'T Have You-This is marginally better. This is more
like GN'R. But still not as great as the rest.
Sympathy for the Devil-Take this song off this compilation it
is the stupidest song ever. Lots of sex, drugs, alcohol, liquor,
violence.
Overall great CD. I recommend you Sultans of Swing: The Very Best
of Dire Straits and Appetite for Destruction if you like this CD.