MetalSucks

When I lost my virginity, I was so excited to actually have my penis in a vagina after so many years of thinking about it that whether my first time was actually an enjoyable experience or not was kind of beside the point. And with its release now less than a week away, that’s how I’m starting to feel about Chinese Democracy: I’m tired of thinking about it and just wanna experience it already, no matter what my final feelings on it turn out to be.

And even though the marketing campaign behind this mo’fo hasn’t been as massive as one might’ve thunk, Team Axl Rose certainly does know how to keep themselves in the headlines: they’ve now released a second single from the forthcoming opus, “Better,” which you can stream at Noo Yawk classic rawk station Q104.3. Incidentally, they are also running a search for New York’s hottest mom. Yowza.

ANYWAY, the final version of the song (penned by Axl and Robin Finck, who may or may not still be in the band) isn’t significantly different from the version that got leaked more than two years ago (!), save for the pounding, tribal drums being brought up in the mix, what hardcore GN’R minions call “pasta noises” (read: unnecessary synth effects) being turned down in the mix, and a little bit of new guitar wankery, which I’m assuming is the 9th inning contribution of Ron “Bumblefoot” Thal, the latest addition to Axl’s menagerie of axemen. “Better” had been rumored for a long time to be the first single off of Chinese Democracy, and it still seems like a far superior choice to the title track; the simple, poppy riff is catchy as fuck, even if the chorus is a little iffy. But if there’s a rocker on the album that could have potential crossover appeal that will lure in non-GN’R nerds, this is likely to be it.

You can also stream 30 second samples of the entire album here. And don’t forget about those listening parties that kick off tonight (see schedule below); I don’t think Vince and myself are gonna make it to the NYC one, ’cause a) we have other shit to do and b) listening to the album for the first time in a room full of strangers seems kinda lame. But if anyone hits one of these up, drop us a line and let us know how it was.

And finally, after their debut, Contraband, sold 2 million copies and its follow-up, Libertad, only sold 300k, Velvet Revolver have been dropped by RCA. So if ever Axl has felt pressure for his masterpiece to be a financial winner, now would be the time.

Upcoming Chinese Democracy listening parties:

New York City
Nov. 17 at 7PM
All Ages
Webster Hall – The Studio
125 E 11th St.
New York, NY 10003

Dallas
Nov. 17 at 8PM
21+ Over
Whisky Bar
1930 Greenville Ave,
Dallas, TX 75206

Chicago
Nov. 17 at 8PM
21 + Over
Joe’s
940 W. Weed St .
Chicago, IL 60622

Los Angeles
Nov. 18 at 9PM
All Ages
The Roxy
9009 West Sunset Blvd.,
West Hollywood, CA 90069

Minneapolis
Nov. 18 at 6:30PM
18 + Over
Fine Line
318 1st Ave
N Minneapolis, MN 55401

Atlanta
Nov. 19 at 7:30PM
All Ages
Tabernacle
152 Luckie Street
Atlanta, GA 30303

San Francisco
Nov. 20 at 7:30PM
21 + Over
Mezzanine
444 Jessie Street,
San Francisco, CA 94103

Boston
Nov. 20 at 8PM
All Ages
Cavern Club At Hard Rock Café
22-24 Clinton St.
Boston, MA 02109

Detroit
Nov. 20 at 7 PM
All Ages
St. Andrews Hall
431 E Congress St.
Detroit, MI 48226

-AR