Maybe he's trying his hardest to fight the looming threat of irrelevance. Or not being able to be taken seriously, which I have to wonder how THAT could happen!
It's possible that Buckethead suffers from agoraphobia, possibly a rather extreme case. Which is why he hides his identity and requests a place where he can be isolated, alone. And that's also probably why he's so damned good, because he'd have so much time - and likely inspiration - to practice the guitar. On an almost fanatical level, given the amount of content he puts out. It's his stress relief. This is all hypothetical (based on things I heard many years ago). Maybe you just need to be the right kind of crazy to get that good.
It's probably some minor degree of autism or aspergers. I can understand building a persona based on a character, that's cool. But reaching the point of refusing European tours just because it's not allowed to fly with a mask and bucket on it's on another level.
"A guitarist named Brian Carroll, who is so crazy that he refuses to play without a bucket on his head. Why, why, WHY?" Well, because he was born in a coop, raised in a cage, children fear him, critics rage, he's half alive, he's half dead, so folks just call him Buckethead. ;-)
When he reaches $1,000 on Patreon he'll do it. Apparently he put a Simple Plan RTP goal, if he reaches $800 he'll do another Simple Plan RTP. Let that sink in, he'll do Simple Plan again before doing Lulu
Honestly, I don't find this album that bad. But considering this was the same band that made Use you Illusion 1 and 2, and one of the most influential albums of all time, Appetite for Destruction. I can see why this album is hated (especially with the long ass hype.
Yeah the album has a number of good tracks on it. Not a fan of "If the World" or "Sorry". But a number I like from it. Originally Rose wanted Chinese Democracy to be a double album but the label refused that. According to Sebastian Bach , Rose had 3 albums of material done that he heard.
I think most ppl don't like it cuz they were on the bandwagon of "no Slash, no Duff, no GnR"....I'm a HUGE GnR fan, have been since I saw em live in the 80s (I'm old). I'll admit, I was apprehensive about this record, but a week or so after I got it (I actually went to Best Buy 20 minutes before they opened and waited) I absolutely loved it. We get Axl's voice, and while not Slash or Duff, we get a TON of other talented musicians. I found it hard to complain about that.
I saw Guns N' Roses at MetLife stadium last summer, and let me tell you, it was probably one of the best shows I've ever been too, I never thought I'd see slash and duff with axel. But I remember when they played Chinese democracy songs during the show and almost 3/4 of the audience were on their phones, and it was a sold out show at MetLife stadium, now that's a lot of data usage
I was there and enjoyed the entire set list esp with slash and duff out there with axl. Seriously we all thought hell would freeze over before axl and slash would ever patch things up
1) Catcher In The Rye was originally supposed to have Brian May from Queen on it. He originally was supposed to do the solo, but it got scraped in favor of rerecording it again. 2) They actually did use Queen's producer back in the day at one point. And he actually recommended Axl go back and rerecord the album. 3) I read somewhere once GN'R were originally supposed to record 1 album and tour behind it for 2 years. Then release another so they don't have to go back to the studio and keep touring. So yeah, the stories behind this album are FAR more interesting than the actual record.
Man I remember back in 2007 that Axl tried to hire Joe Satriani for this album but he refused but reccomended Ron "Bumbleffod" thai and Axl liked the Bumblefood job and he got the job.
Tim Mackie personally, I’d replace Weathered with Save Rock n Roll. At least some of the songs on SRnR are undeniably catchy, even if that was the beginning of Fall Out Boy selling the fuck out 😂 I just hate Creed. Or maybe just Scott Stapp. The rest of the band is clearly badass with Myles Kennedy as Alter Bridge lol.
To be honest I agree, even with Creed’s Weathered, and I like Creed, but I love the Nickelback albums and I actually don’t mind Puddle Of Mudd, ‘Come Clean’ and this album isn’t bad, but it’s not their best either. And A Thousand Suns is a bit boring...
Interestingly enough daddy Slash said that he actually liked Chinese Democracy when he was asked what he had thought about it. Later on during the reunion tour Slash would say that he really enjoys playing Chinese Democracy songs and actually enjoys how different it is he also said that "there was no way the original lineup could make an album like Chinese Democracy" and yet again gave Axl praise for it.
I honestly love this album, every single song is amazing to me. Yeah, they’re not as good as 80s Guns N’ Roses, but none of these songs are bad in my opinion, they’re all pretty good.
Bucketheads a fucking dork I wouldn't let him anywhere near my band technical don't mean shit chemistry does and I like a melodic guitarist way better than a technical guitarist classic Buckethead would have been in the band from the beginning you would never have songs like Sweet child of mine and stuff Buckethead don't know Melody
I was one of the few who really liked Chinese Democracy, it's my third favourite GnR album. However, I do think it is insulting that the Guns N' Roses label was used on it, considering that only two members from any previous GnR album appear on it. I think it would have been better received and acclaimed if it was released as an Axl solo album. The long wait for an album is not an issue. I would rather wait fifteen years for an album and get the hype up rather than have an artist release 15 albums in one year and have no hype behind him, which is why I have never been a huge fan of Buckethead. It trips me out to think that they started recording this the year before I was born, and I was nearly 10 when they launched it.
Btw tool is in the studio currently, but they give themselves really high standards so they constantly do rewrites, and all the instrumentals have to be done before Maynard can do vocals (that's why he's worked on two other bands since 10,000 days)
not to mention that they were in a long-winded legal battle with a former record label. that was also a big reason why they couldn't release anything until just a couple years ago. Alan Cross from The Ongoing History Of New Music did a thorough deep dive on why it took them so long to release Fear Inoculum, but I don't remember what episode that was
Body of Lies is an underrated movie. A more realistic espionage movie, it's no James Bond film. Soundtrack is great, especially the collabo of Mike Patton and Serj Tankian.
Since you already did metallicas St Anger and megsdeths Risk, you should finish the big 4 or slayers Diabolous in musica and anthraxs Vol. 8 the threat is real
I will say that Diabolos is probably the best out of the 4, but by no means is it Slayer's best. personally, I feel every Slayer album is actually decent except this one, which still isn't horrible. And also, to throw this out there, Divine Intervention is CRIMINALLY UNDERRATED
Sometimes the bands we like will eventually make a dud album. Like with bands such as Metallica, Linkin Park (may Chester rest in peace), and Megadeth.
Asuna Yuuki yeah and that was either gnr lies or spaghetti incident. Calling CD a dud album is just ignorant. I agree, not what fans ever wanted to hear, but it’s amazing writing whether you like it or not. Vocals, riffs, solos, arrangements, the combo of a little of that old vibe and modern electronic vibe totally worked. The arrangements and transitions are just so well thought out and creative. If you don’t like the overall sound. Whatever. Personal preference. But it’s not close to being a dud album
Sometimes, something is worth the wait, like Hardwired To Self Destruct. Other times, we get the Duke Nukem Forever of albums - not terrible, but very very disappointing and not worth the wait. Especially from a massive band like GnR.
Naomi Sanders technically we did get Death Magnetic in 2008, but then LULU came out so I guess in a way Hardwired... To Self-Destruct could count as a big comeback.
Love the "changing of vocal gears" in Street of Dreams. A true highlight on the cd. Axl does what nobody else can do, and it's his vocal style rather than trying to sound like Poveratti that sets him apart.
I like this album too. Best album since the Use Your Illusion albums, and Appetite for Destruction. I didn't like The Spaghetti Incident, and GNR Lies is meh.
I enjoy it a lot as well. Considering how Axl's voice has really shifted and declined in quality, shifting to an Industrial, highly produced sound is really really great. It's good to go into some albums without expectations.
I’m ngl. I love this album. It’s got some of his best work. I don’t know why, but I feel like when listening to these tracks I hear some great music. AXL’s a head case, but he’s a perfectionist. Buckethead’s great and so is AXL on this album and I will defend as long as I can
I read somewhere that The Offspring on April 1st they announced their new album (what would be Splinter) would be called Chinese Democracy: You Snooze, You Lose That would be the best album title ever back in 2003 imo
yep, and after that was announced Axl had a hissy fit and threatened them with a lawsuit, so they had to back down. Personally, it would've made a better statement if The Offspring had named the album Chinese Demo-Crazy.
You keep acting like Buckethead is really crazy but he sounds like he's not. He sounds like a talented guy playing up an image for attention - like a Tom Green with talent.
Chinese Democracy might be my favorite album ever, it is so well produced, mixed and written. Axl sings better than ever and Buckethead lays down an amazing solo every time.
As a bibliophile, I do enjoy his series Lost in Adaptation. I found it when I was searching on RUclips for reviews of Ella Enchanted. I hate that movie. No. 2 on my list of Worst Movies I have scene. No. 1 is Son of the Mask. Don't hate it as much as Ella Enchanted, but there is just so many more problems with the latter than the former.
Wes Borland vs Buckethead. It's like the tagline to Alien Vs Predator; no matter who wins, we lose. At least they would be shredding out some sick riffs.
"Not terrible, but not really that great." Yeah, that sums up the entire album. Some of it's kinda fun, most of it is serviceable, but it's just such a middle of the road album. They had 14 years (and all the talent in the world) to make this. It should have been better.
Personally, I thought Street of Dreams was the best song on the album, but that's just me. You should also do Van Halen 3 and Aerosmith: Just Push Play, two other disapointing albums (especially VH3) by classic rock bands.
One lil funny story: Back in 2003 before Chinese Democracy came out, punk rock band The Offspring announced on April fools Day that the name of their upcoming new album would be "Chinese Democracy." Frontman Dexter Holland would say "you snooze, you lose. Axl ripped off my braids, so I ripped off his album title."
Adam Bankert Yeah but that didn't sell well and we all know it's trash, so it probably wouldn't need to be regretted. Would still be funny to see though
Ian Perry True and yeah it would be funny to see as well but since it's Metallica and Lou Reed two of one of the biggest names in music maybe should be regretted lol
This album at least has musical merit. Even though it is not the best GnR album and went through a ton of production hell, at least it has a lot of listenable tracks with good musicianship and songwriting. Compared to other RTP entries, it is the least annoying IMO.
No joke, I actually saw this album a few years ago at a dollar tree. There were at least five copies there. I think that's the appropriate place for this album.
I feel like this whole album is just Axl saying "what fucking insane shit can I do with my voice today?". His range throughout this album is d i s g u s t i n g l y large
"The 2008 Guns N' Roses" *Shows 2014 lineup* ugh. Also Sebastian Bach was never in GN'R he's Axl's friend so he did backup vocals on one song after Axl did vocals on 3 songs for Bach. I will say, I do respect that you seem really open to the music. So thanks for that man.
What omg.....this album was great! Songs like "Prostitute" "This I love" "Better" "Catch her in the Rye" It just took too long to make but when it finally came out we wanted more like everything else!!! I'm sure it would have done better in the beginning of 2000's. Long Live GN'R
Hey Luke! Thanks for finally reviewing Chinese Democracy! I actually left a comment to review this album all the way back in January 2016 when you reviewed Good Charlotte's The Young and the Hopeless. I guess I wasn't the only one begging you to do so. I'm happy that we actually have GNR back, and with their tour being as successful as it's been this year. I was actually a sophomore in high school when this album got released, and I remember being slightly disappointed as I was a fan of Guns N' Roses since I was young, and most of the tracks besides the title track didn't sound like GNR. For me, I think that's what killed this album in my mind: it wasn't GNR; there were a lot of elements in it that could've made it GNR, but this album didn't have those elements put together properly. Chinese Democracy did get a bit of airplay up here in Maine for a few months after the album released, but soon after it sorta just disappeared and no one actually requested it on the two rock stations this state has. Fun fact: Maine actually has an independent rock station owned by Stephen King, because King is a huge fan of rock and metal, and it's been a staple of this state for years. 100.3 WKIT. They do live online simulcast on their site if you're curious, though you won't ever actually hear King himself on there. The DJ's are fun to listen to, and a couple of them have been around since I started listening to WKIT when I was in elementary school.
I've never actually listened to this album before. When Shackler's Revenge came on, I literally shouted "That's a Filter song! That's a Filter song on a GNR album!" Actually, a lot of the album sounds like Axl singing over a Filter song!
Thanks to the GTA San Andreas radio station Radio X, I grew up with "Welcome to the jungle" - but this is just such a sad .... SAD!... album. Although, Better is a pretty good song. In my opinion, the peak of this band was from 1987 till 1991. They created FANTASTIC music durning that time. Please do a RTP on Nickelbacks Dark Horse, that would be TREMENDOUS, BELIEVE ME... Some people say it would be the best RTP of all time.... You know YOU WANT IT! IT WOULD BE HILARIOUS!
My uncle claims he pre-ordered Chinese Democracy back in the 90s and waited over a decade for this damn album to come out. I remember when it came out and I bought it… holy shit, I was scared to ask him if the wait was worth it.
So this is a review for an album that took 14 years and millions of dollars to make, and one of the key takeaways from this is that there's a rock musician that exists called Bucket-Head. As much as I love this genre, my GOODNESS can it get weird sometimes...
I'm still curious why he doesn't do the album comparisons for every RTP episode he has put out. He did it for Come Clean, No Pads, Young and the Hopeless, 15, Extreme Behavior, Results May Vary and Devil Without A Cause so far.
This album should have been released in the early 2000s, If it had been released then I'm sure it would sell much more and because the sound fits perfectly that era. Even axl stated that the album was inspired by NIN.
Chinese Democracy is like the Duke Nukem Forever of rock music. Tons of people have been anticipating it for tons of years, but became a major disappointment in the long run.
You mentioned a few times about a couple of tracks having been written and played in 2001. Actually pretty much the entire album was done then, a bunch of old recordings from the Chinese Democracy sessions leaked from 1999-2001 and 9 of the 14 songs from the album were fully recorded, albeit they went through some changes before 2008. The only ones not recorded by 2001 were Scraped and This I Love, while Better, Sorry and Shacklers Revenge were there as instrumentals only. The leaks also included 6 other completed songs with vocals that have never been released so there was more than enough for an album way before 2008. The older versions of the tracks are far more stripped back and aren't as messy and muddled as some of them turned out on the finished album.
I am so glad that it was in fact, 14 years. 14 years of silence, 14 years of pain, 14 years that are gone forever that I'll never have again. But turning a track off another of you albums into a pun about how long it takes to put out your album is priceless. Honestly the sad thing about this is... the unfinished leaks were better then the final songs. It's like he was self conscious about it taking so long and decided to compensate by making a cluttered mess of the songs. If he hadn't just spent years fiddling it might have been a much better album.
Thanks, pretty fair review! :-) Gotta admit, I still LOVE GnR as much as ever and "Chinese Democracy" musst be one of the biggest guilty pleasures of mine. Greetings from Germany!
What is it with men who wear buckets on their head making everything better? First Buckethead with this album and then Lord Buckethead and the British Elections.
Do you know Buckethead has released 298 studio albums to date....Dear Lord does he ever sleep.
Maybe he's trying his hardest to fight the looming threat of irrelevance. Or not being able to be taken seriously, which I have to wonder how THAT could happen!
If your band is called Toxic Potato, you're fate should be to stop making music!
It could be even more insane He could be Merzbow
+sheppfun how would you know? have you heard the rest of his albums ?
try counting his eps.....
Axl rose looking through "best guitarist" lists like a shopping catalogue and be like "Ill have that one for my album." LMAO
He used like six guitarists on Chinese Democracy.
Zakk Wylde also worked on the album but he was so pissed off with Axl that I don’t think his work made it on the album
@@vader618 I find that ironic considering when I saw gnr back in 2016 he opened for them.
It's possible that Buckethead suffers from agoraphobia, possibly a rather extreme case. Which is why he hides his identity and requests a place where he can be isolated, alone. And that's also probably why he's so damned good, because he'd have so much time - and likely inspiration - to practice the guitar. On an almost fanatical level, given the amount of content he puts out. It's his stress relief. This is all hypothetical (based on things I heard many years ago). Maybe you just need to be the right kind of crazy to get that good.
Nametag check out the podcast he did recently. He’s so incredibly reserved modest and quiet, and a highly socially anxious person. Explains everything
The most technically gifted guitarist I've ever seen live. He's as good as the very best classical guitarist's that have ever lived.
Conrad Nickelson same
It's probably some minor degree of autism or aspergers. I can understand building a persona based on a character, that's cool. But reaching the point of refusing European tours just because it's not allowed to fly with a mask and bucket on it's on another level.
I love this post
"A guitarist named Brian Carroll, who is so crazy that he refuses to play without a bucket on his head. Why, why, WHY?"
Well, because he was born in a coop, raised in a cage, children fear him, critics rage, he's half alive, he's half dead, so folks just call him Buckethead. ;-)
Love that song. Les and buckethead playin together, im surprised the universe didnt implode.
Ed Carone III FOLKS JUST CALL HIM BUCKETHEAD
He. Is. God.
For some reason, I read that in Axl's voice. Like how he would introduce Buckethead to the audience.
I'm not sure that this album would get as much hate as it does if it wasn't called Guns N Roses.
It should have just been called an Axl solo album, would have been more honest
And if it didn’t have 14 years of hype and $13 million of production.
You have to do Lulu by Metallica and Lou Reed!!!! Please!
I am sure it's on his list :P
He just needs to be making $1,000 a month on Patreon and he will.
When he reaches $1,000 on Patreon he'll do it.
Apparently he put a Simple Plan RTP goal, if he reaches $800 he'll do another Simple Plan RTP. Let that sink in, he'll do Simple Plan again before doing Lulu
He survived Limp Bizkit, Puddle of mud, Nickelback and Kid Rock!!!!
He will survive...
Maybe!
don't torture him
Honestly, I don't find this album that bad. But considering this was the same band that made Use you Illusion 1 and 2, and one of the most influential albums of all time, Appetite for Destruction. I can see why this album is hated (especially with the long ass hype.
In Axl's defense... This was not the same band that did Appetite for Destruction or the Illusion records
But I agree this album is not bad. Just very different.
Personally, I think this is one of the better albums out of Regretting the Past. It's at least listenable for the most part.
Yeah the album has a number of good tracks on it. Not a fan of "If the World" or "Sorry". But a number I like from it. Originally Rose wanted Chinese Democracy to be a double album but the label refused that. According to Sebastian Bach , Rose had 3 albums of material done that he heard.
Still not as bad as Megadeth's 'Risk'
Am I the only one who loves this album? I really do. And "There was a time" is a monster of a track.
I like didn't like it when it first came out was a bit like bummer. But like motley crue generation swine it grew on me.
I really like it.
I think most ppl don't like it cuz they were on the bandwagon of "no Slash, no Duff, no GnR"....I'm a HUGE GnR fan, have been since I saw em live in the 80s (I'm old). I'll admit, I was apprehensive about this record, but a week or so after I got it (I actually went to Best Buy 20 minutes before they opened and waited) I absolutely loved it. We get Axl's voice, and while not Slash or Duff, we get a TON of other talented musicians. I found it hard to complain about that.
no
I like this album
I saw Guns N' Roses at MetLife stadium last summer, and let me tell you, it was probably one of the best shows I've ever been too, I never thought I'd see slash and duff with axel. But I remember when they played Chinese democracy songs during the show and almost 3/4 of the audience were on their phones, and it was a sold out show at MetLife stadium, now that's a lot of data usage
You morons missed out then cause those songs are amazing
Yeah I saw them live in Leipzig a few months ago and I was blown away ...
Hey Goop, when is the next poop?
I was there and I actually enjoyed those songs
I was there and enjoyed the entire set list esp with slash and duff out there with axl. Seriously we all thought hell would freeze over before axl and slash would ever patch things up
1) Catcher In The Rye was originally supposed to have Brian May from Queen on it. He originally was supposed to do the solo, but it got scraped in favor of rerecording it again. 2) They actually did use Queen's producer back in the day at one point. And he actually recommended Axl go back and rerecord the album. 3) I read somewhere once GN'R were originally supposed to record 1 album and tour behind it for 2 years. Then release another so they don't have to go back to the studio and keep touring. So yeah, the stories behind this album are FAR more interesting than the actual record.
NickTheCritic1 that version with Brian may exists right? I thought I heard it years ago
There was going to be 3 Chinese democracy's
Man I remember back in 2007 that Axl tried to hire Joe Satriani for this album but he refused but reccomended Ron "Bumbleffod" thai and Axl liked the Bumblefood job and he got the job.
I have the demo with brian may on it. Do a quick google search and you can find it.
Originally, originally
Actually, actually
Nice vocabulary 🤦🏻♂️
The Triforce of Actually Not That Bad:
Chinese Democracy
A Thousand Suns
Weathered
Tim Mackie personally, I’d replace Weathered with Save Rock n Roll. At least some of the songs on SRnR are undeniably catchy, even if that was the beginning of Fall Out Boy selling the fuck out 😂 I just hate Creed. Or maybe just Scott Stapp. The rest of the band is clearly badass with Myles Kennedy as Alter Bridge lol.
Atomic Punk I agree with both of you!
To be honest I agree, even with Creed’s Weathered, and I like Creed, but I love the Nickelback albums and I actually don’t mind Puddle Of Mudd, ‘Come Clean’ and this album isn’t bad, but it’s not their best either. And A Thousand Suns is a bit boring...
Lewis Carty yeah I agree except for Nickleback :)
SEX!!!
Interestingly enough daddy Slash said that he actually liked Chinese Democracy when he was asked what he had thought about it. Later on during the reunion tour Slash would say that he really enjoys playing Chinese Democracy songs and actually enjoys how different it is he also said that "there was no way the original lineup could make an album like Chinese Democracy" and yet again gave Axl praise for it.
I honestly love this album, every single song is amazing to me. Yeah, they’re not as good as 80s Guns N’ Roses, but none of these songs are bad in my opinion, they’re all pretty good.
Buckethead is honestly my favorite guitarist ever.
FrØst
*KEITH RICHARDS IS MY FAVORITE GUITAR PLAYER OF ALL TIME .*
same here!
Yes.
Bucketheads a fucking dork I wouldn't let him anywhere near my band technical don't mean shit chemistry does and I like a melodic guitarist way better than a technical guitarist classic Buckethead would have been in the band from the beginning you would never have songs like Sweet child of mine and stuff Buckethead don't know Melody
Buckethead is amazing.
Chinese Democracy is a masterpiece. Love all the songs in it and the album was recorded so well.
I agree, but it's GNRINO (Guns N Roses in name only) and I among many others think of it as an Axl Rose solo album.
I agree that it is an awesome
Album
Amazing album.
There's a song on Use Your Illusion II called 14 years. Coincidence? I think not
Great album in my opinion.
I agree. I love this album.
@@chefmastershake it's a fantastic LP.
Appetite4Destruction agreed. Seeing this vid has reminded me and can’t wait to get it on again
Now all you need to do is Dark Horse by Nickelback and Van Halen III by Van Halen!
Jason Hurk Oh you were the commenter on my video
DARK HORSE IS MY FUCKING JAM
(I understand the hatred tho)
He tore up nickelback enough but VH3 he has to do
What could be said about Nickelback that hasn't already been said about cancer?
Van Halen III probably wasn't successful enough to be reviewed.
Now I really want to see you do a full Buckethead album. And with almost 300 to choose from, that shouldn't be too hard.
Jack Kain Probably Colma, Enter the Chicken, or Albino Slug would all be good choices.
ELECTRIC TEARS!
Every song in this album has been stuck in my head at one point or another.
I dismissed Chinese Democracy when it was released, but on recent relistens, it has grown on me.
I was one of the few who really liked Chinese Democracy, it's my third favourite GnR album. However, I do think it is insulting that the Guns N' Roses label was used on it, considering that only two members from any previous GnR album appear on it. I think it would have been better received and acclaimed if it was released as an Axl solo album. The long wait for an album is not an issue. I would rather wait fifteen years for an album and get the hype up rather than have an artist release 15 albums in one year and have no hype behind him, which is why I have never been a huge fan of Buckethead. It trips me out to think that they started recording this the year before I was born, and I was nearly 10 when they launched it.
Btw tool is in the studio currently, but they give themselves really high standards so they constantly do rewrites, and all the instrumentals have to be done before Maynard can do vocals (that's why he's worked on two other bands since 10,000 days)
How do you feel about the new album ?
not to mention that they were in a long-winded legal battle with a former record label. that was also a big reason why they couldn't release anything until just a couple years ago. Alan Cross from The Ongoing History Of New Music did a thorough deep dive on why it took them so long to release Fear Inoculum, but I don't remember what episode that was
Body of Lies is an underrated movie. A more realistic espionage movie, it's no James Bond film. Soundtrack is great, especially the collabo of Mike Patton and Serj Tankian.
The fact the faith no more and mr.bungle lead man and the system of a down and scars on Broadway frontman worked together.
Since you already did metallicas St Anger and megsdeths Risk, you should finish the big 4 or slayers Diabolous in musica and anthraxs Vol. 8 the threat is real
Maybe Iron Maiden's Virtual XI as well.
God Hates Us All might also qualify
Diabolous is garbage. Even Kerry King says its bad.
Yeah man exactly lmao. They're all bad
I will say that Diabolos is probably the best out of the 4, but by no means is it Slayer's best. personally, I feel every Slayer album is actually decent except this one, which still isn't horrible. And also, to throw this out there, Divine Intervention is CRIMINALLY UNDERRATED
Sometimes the bands we like will eventually make a dud album. Like with bands such as Metallica, Linkin Park (may Chester rest in peace), and Megadeth.
Yeah One More Light would've been a good review but like he said it's straight up pop music and wouldn't qualify as a Rocked review.
I love Metallica & Weezer but I can admit I'm not a big fan of St Anger or Raditude.
Asuna Yuuki yeah and that was either gnr lies or spaghetti incident. Calling CD a dud album is just ignorant. I agree, not what fans ever wanted to hear, but it’s amazing writing whether you like it or not. Vocals, riffs, solos, arrangements, the combo of a little of that old vibe and modern electronic vibe totally worked. The arrangements and transitions are just so well thought out and creative.
If you don’t like the overall sound. Whatever. Personal preference. But it’s not close to being a dud album
Imo Megadeth has never had a really bad album.
Sometimes, something is worth the wait, like Hardwired To Self Destruct.
Other times, we get the Duke Nukem Forever of albums - not terrible, but very very disappointing and not worth the wait. Especially from a massive band like GnR.
Naomi Sanders technically we did get Death Magnetic in 2008, but then LULU came out so I guess in a way Hardwired... To Self-Destruct could count as a big comeback.
I was just thinking that.
I found out that while critics were okay with the album, fans were massively disappointed.
14
fucking
years
Remember when this album was the first part of a trilogy?
Neither does the band.
I think it’s like that with many things.
@@Massachamp08 That was my take as well, Chinese Democracy felt more like a Axl Rose solo album rather than GNR.
@@flameosaurus1832 Funny how they made a song called 14 years on the Use Your Illusion albums almost like a sign of things to come.
Love the "changing of vocal gears" in Street of Dreams. A true highlight on the cd. Axl does what nobody else can do, and it's his vocal style rather than trying to sound like Poveratti that sets him apart.
I liked Chinese Democracy. I like to think of it as an Axl Rose solo album.
Ya know, sometimes i get the feeling im the only person who actually enjoyed the album when it came out....and still enjoy it to this day. Lol.
I like this album too. Best album since the Use Your Illusion albums, and Appetite for Destruction. I didn't like The Spaghetti Incident, and GNR Lies is meh.
InsaneAlphaBeta it's actually my fave gnr album lol
InsaneAlphaBeta me too.
production and mixing could have been better though.
Jay Zapata
It's mastered good tho
I enjoy it a lot as well. Considering how Axl's voice has really shifted and declined in quality, shifting to an Industrial, highly produced sound is really really great. It's good to go into some albums without expectations.
You can't fool us; you and the Dom are best friends FOREVER!!
Sarah Rogers TOATS BESTIES!
Chinese Democracy is a great album. Criminally underrated.
I'm now unsubscribing so Corey Taylor visits my house and I can tell him Iowa is amazing as he pummels me into subscription submission.
BulletFarmer2 probably the album
Excellent work as always. Hope to see more of these a little more frequently as I'm sure there's a lot more regret out there.
I’m ngl. I love this album. It’s got some of his best work. I don’t know why, but I feel like when listening to these tracks I hear some great music. AXL’s a head case, but he’s a perfectionist. Buckethead’s great and so is AXL on this album and I will defend as long as I can
Please do dirty work by the rolling stones from 1986
Has anyone ever actually listened to all the albums by Buckethead. He has 298 albums.
Bucketheads live journal would just contain a series of clucks.
I read somewhere that The Offspring on April 1st they announced their new album (what would be Splinter) would be called Chinese Democracy: You Snooze, You Lose
That would be the best album title ever back in 2003 imo
yep, and after that was announced Axl had a hissy fit and threatened them with a lawsuit, so they had to back down. Personally, it would've made a better statement if The Offspring had named the album Chinese Demo-Crazy.
Dexter joke that it was because Axl ripped off his braids
You keep acting like Buckethead is really crazy but he sounds like he's not. He sounds like a talented guy playing up an image for attention - like a Tom Green with talent.
Narmwhal Go listen to some of his solo material hes insane. His music sometimes drops my jaw.
He is insane
You can be talented & crazy.
Buckethead is just that.
Its a character
vitogameboy NOT really. People who have met Buckethead have confirmed he's THAT weird.
29:10 is he singing Linkin Park's Untill it's gone from the hunting party?
I actually think Dom was referencing the Cinderella song, given the time when GNR got huge
Ruben Lodewijk that was my initial thought. but i worked out it was Cinderella's song
Looked up for the song. And that makes smore sense now haha.
Close it's Cinderella. Another hair metal band.
Devin McCreery I'm sorry, but how in any stretch of the imagination is LP hair metal?
Could be worse Luke, Dom could be rapping a Limp Bizkit song.
Aaron Wells 😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂
I love this album. My favourite GNR album by far
Chinese Democracy might be my favorite album ever, it is so well produced, mixed and written. Axl sings better than ever and Buckethead lays down an amazing solo every time.
Laughed way too hard at the Dom's cameos.
tent163phantoka Those are always funny. 😂😂😂😂😂
As a bibliophile, I do enjoy his series Lost in Adaptation. I found it when I was searching on RUclips for reviews of Ella Enchanted. I hate that movie. No. 2 on my list of Worst Movies I have scene. No. 1 is Son of the Mask. Don't hate it as much as Ella Enchanted, but there is just so many more problems with the latter than the former.
The album wasn't that bad
Listen to what I say. You might be surprised.
Wes Borland vs Buckethead.
It's like the tagline to Alien Vs Predator; no matter who wins, we lose. At least they would be shredding out some sick riffs.
It's been 14 years of silence, it's been 14 years of pain
"Not terrible, but not really that great." Yeah, that sums up the entire album. Some of it's kinda fun, most of it is serviceable, but it's just such a middle of the road album. They had 14 years (and all the talent in the world) to make this. It should have been better.
Prince Aligorna yeah
Personally, I thought Street of Dreams was the best song on the album, but that's just me. You should also do Van Halen 3 and Aerosmith: Just Push Play, two other disapointing albums (especially VH3) by classic rock bands.
One lil funny story:
Back in 2003 before Chinese Democracy came out, punk rock band The Offspring announced on April fools Day that the name of their upcoming new album would be "Chinese Democracy." Frontman Dexter Holland would say "you snooze, you lose. Axl ripped off my braids, so I ripped off his album title."
Lol i love the slightly rising intonation every time you mention "The Spaghetti Incidence?"
It is a Belting album. I always loved it.
i'd like to read bucketheads life journal to be honest
Track 9 is approximately "Ree-odd and the bed-owe-inns"
I shouldn't do this...but i got one recommended album for you lulu by Metallica and Lou Reed
Adam Bankert LMAO HES GOTTA DO THAT
It'll kill him
Adam Bankert Yeah but that didn't sell well and we all know it's trash, so it probably wouldn't need to be regretted. Would still be funny to see though
Ian Perry True and yeah it would be funny to see as well but since it's Metallica and Lou Reed two of one of the biggest names in music maybe should be regretted lol
I am the table.
This album at least has musical merit. Even though it is not the best GnR album and went through a ton of production hell, at least it has a lot of listenable tracks with good musicianship and songwriting. Compared to other RTP entries, it is the least annoying IMO.
You don't know me, I took a history of rock and roll class twice in high school.
So yes, I could be here for the history.
It's funny that review that took a long time to make is about an album that took a long time to make. Thankfully the review wasn't a bust.
wstine79 Part of me wonders if Luke did that on purpose
The “new Tool album” memes and jokes are dead now!!!! 🤘🤘🤘🤘🤘
Honestly this album Is very good, it just couldn’t live up to the expectations
Chinese Democracy has really grown on me in recent years. Good stuff on this.
You should start a series called "Remembering the Past" where you talk about really good albums
He has a series called All Time Favorites
"I feel that is the best thing Alabama could ever hope for"
NOT for me, fella.
No joke, I actually saw this album a few years ago at a dollar tree. There were at least five copies there. I think that's the appropriate place for this album.
Now I want KFC. Damn it.
underrated album. i'm into it.
I feel like this whole album is just Axl saying "what fucking insane shit can I do with my voice today?". His range throughout this album is d i s g u s t i n g l y large
All hail our lord and savior Buckethead
This is a great album. The hate on this album is lame.
Hey, the new Tool album is finally out now!
At least two albums worth of completed material was ready in 2008 from the Chinese Democracy sessions.
"The 2008 Guns N' Roses" *Shows 2014 lineup* ugh. Also Sebastian Bach was never in GN'R he's Axl's friend so he did backup vocals on one song after Axl did vocals on 3 songs for Bach.
I will say, I do respect that you seem really open to the music. So thanks for that man.
the Buckethead slander will not stand!
What omg.....this album was great! Songs like "Prostitute" "This I love" "Better" "Catch her in the Rye" It just took too long to make but when it finally came out we wanted more like everything else!!! I'm sure it would have done better in the beginning of 2000's.
Long Live GN'R
Hey Luke! Thanks for finally reviewing Chinese Democracy! I actually left a comment to review this album all the way back in January 2016 when you reviewed Good Charlotte's The Young and the Hopeless. I guess I wasn't the only one begging you to do so. I'm happy that we actually have GNR back, and with their tour being as successful as it's been this year.
I was actually a sophomore in high school when this album got released, and I remember being slightly disappointed as I was a fan of Guns N' Roses since I was young, and most of the tracks besides the title track didn't sound like GNR. For me, I think that's what killed this album in my mind: it wasn't GNR; there were a lot of elements in it that could've made it GNR, but this album didn't have those elements put together properly. Chinese Democracy did get a bit of airplay up here in Maine for a few months after the album released, but soon after it sorta just disappeared and no one actually requested it on the two rock stations this state has.
Fun fact: Maine actually has an independent rock station owned by Stephen King, because King is a huge fan of rock and metal, and it's been a staple of this state for years. 100.3 WKIT. They do live online simulcast on their site if you're curious, though you won't ever actually hear King himself on there. The DJ's are fun to listen to, and a couple of them have been around since I started listening to WKIT when I was in elementary school.
I think this is the best guns n' Roses album and yes that means I think it's better than appetite for destruction and both use your illusion albums
I've never actually listened to this album before. When Shackler's Revenge came on, I literally shouted "That's a Filter song! That's a Filter song on a GNR album!" Actually, a lot of the album sounds like Axl singing over a Filter song!
Thanks to the GTA San Andreas radio station Radio X, I grew up with "Welcome to the jungle" - but this is just such a sad .... SAD!... album. Although, Better is a pretty good song. In my opinion, the peak of this band was from 1987 till 1991. They created FANTASTIC music durning that time. Please do a RTP on Nickelbacks Dark Horse, that would be TREMENDOUS, BELIEVE ME... Some people say it would be the best RTP of all time.... You know YOU WANT IT! IT WOULD BE HILARIOUS!
My uncle claims he pre-ordered Chinese Democracy back in the 90s and waited over a decade for this damn album to come out. I remember when it came out and I bought it… holy shit, I was scared to ask him if the wait was worth it.
YOU WILL NEVER TAKE HIS BUCKET!
So this is a review for an album that took 14 years and millions of dollars to make, and one of the key takeaways from this is that there's a rock musician that exists called Bucket-Head. As much as I love this genre, my GOODNESS can it get weird sometimes...
trc2rockon Buckethead is an absolutely amazing guitarist. Check him out.
What if bucket head is on the new tool album? 😐
Couldn't click fast enough.
People are not giving that album enough credit. I thought it was a pretty good release
I'm still curious why he doesn't do the album comparisons for every RTP episode he has put out. He did it for Come Clean, No Pads, Young and the Hopeless, 15, Extreme Behavior, Results May Vary and Devil Without A Cause so far.
Rockin' D probably because GnR are a good band
My favorite tracks from this album are:
Chinese Democracy
Shackler's Revenge
Madagascar
Sorry
This album should have been released in the early 2000s, If it had been released then I'm sure it would sell much more and because the sound fits perfectly that era. Even axl stated that the album was inspired by NIN.
Should you do an All About Buckethead video? Yes, I think you should.
Buckethead has written 240 albums. He has a reason to be crazy.
My favourite guns n roses album
Chinese Democracy is like the Duke Nukem Forever of rock music. Tons of people have been anticipating it for tons of years, but became a major disappointment in the long run.
Album was and still is great. GnR have yet to disappoint.
to be fair, its their best album
You mentioned a few times about a couple of tracks having been written and played in 2001. Actually pretty much the entire album was done then, a bunch of old recordings from the Chinese Democracy sessions leaked from 1999-2001 and 9 of the 14 songs from the album were fully recorded, albeit they went through some changes before 2008. The only ones not recorded by 2001 were Scraped and This I Love, while Better, Sorry and Shacklers Revenge were there as instrumentals only. The leaks also included 6 other completed songs with vocals that have never been released so there was more than enough for an album way before 2008.
The older versions of the tracks are far more stripped back and aren't as messy and muddled as some of them turned out on the finished album.
You should do a primus album review
Well, they DO have a new album coming out at the end of September, so...
Akriloth2160 yea but he could still do something like frizzle fry or pork soda
That would be awesome!
I am so glad that it was in fact, 14 years. 14 years of silence, 14 years of pain, 14 years that are gone forever that I'll never have again. But turning a track off another of you albums into a pun about how long it takes to put out your album is priceless.
Honestly the sad thing about this is... the unfinished leaks were better then the final songs. It's like he was self conscious about it taking so long and decided to compensate by making a cluttered mess of the songs. If he hadn't just spent years fiddling it might have been a much better album.
Thanks, pretty fair review! :-) Gotta admit, I still LOVE GnR as much as ever and "Chinese Democracy" musst be one of the biggest guilty pleasures of mine.
Greetings from Germany!
the Not In This Lifetime tour has been going strong since 2016 and has raked in almost 600 million dollars... that right there blows my mind
What is it with men who wear buckets on their head making everything better?
First Buckethead with this album and then Lord Buckethead and the British Elections.