My copy arrived Friday. Seventeen years is a long time to wait.
It's great to finally hear this thing, even though it seems to lack the musical excitement of Use Your Illusion. Axl's voice is still strong, the guitar riffs show that the new GNR hasn't really lost anything with the lineup shifts, and the editing and vocal overlays are unique. At times, Chinese Democracy has the feel of 70s rock, with Led Zeppelin, Pink Floyd and Elton John influences.
-B
