Comments on: 193. Guns N’ Roses – Use Your Illusion I and II

By: Rob

Rob — Sat, 28 Mar 2009 19:36:49 +0000

IF you have loose standards, this double album yields one album of good songs, but still a pale comparison to Appetite for Destruction.

By: Cullen

Cullen — Thu, 26 Mar 2009 10:51:28 +0000

I didn’t like it then and I don’t like it now. Appetite was like the Printing Press of 80s hard rock/metal. It was an invention waiting to happen and GnR just happened to make it. If they hadn’t someone would have put out that album (I mean, not exactly that one, but one with as much impact). As much as I liked (and like) everything off AFD, I hated the band. UYI was validation for my opinion. Screw GnR, LA Guns was a much better band anyway.

By: dawyndham

dawyndham — Wed, 25 Mar 2009 14:22:43 +0000

OK, I agree that they are not albums, but rather collections of songs with little connection, but they weren’t all bad. Estranged? No?

By: michele

michele — Wed, 25 Mar 2009 13:38:59 +0000

You’re the second person to recommend Slash’s book to me today, so I’m going to read it.

Love your take on this album and you’re right on a lot of counts, especially re: Izzy.

By: steelopus

steelopus — Wed, 25 Mar 2009 13:30:39 +0000

Hmmm.

I’m not sure if it’s fair to compare these albums (or, well… ANY albums, by any band, ever) to Appetite.

You’re right to think that much of the content here is unsubstantial, but I think what it really boils down to is two major things:
1)Axl left the reservation.
2)Steven Adler imploded and was kicked out of one of the hardest partying bands in history (which is an amazing feat).

1) By this point in their career, Axl had long checked out of reality and was living in a cloud floating above his high horse that was balancing precariously on his pedestal. Fuck that douchebag.

2) Of all the things that are different between AFD and UYI, the most obvious change, and that with the greatest sonic impact, was the change from Adler to Matt Sorum on drums. Sure, Sorum is technically a great drummer, but he’s very one-dimensional. Perhaps that was an extension of Axl exerting total control over the creative process, but really, listening to The Cult and Velvet Revolver leads me to believe that Sorum is just that kind of drummer. Adler himself was kind of a one-trick-pony (more cowbell!) but he had the attitude behind the set that Sorum lacked, and as most fans recognize, attitude is what set this band apart from the rest of the pack.

Everyone knows that Slash is a hero of mine, but I honestly believe that the heart and soul of GN’R was Adler’s drumming and Izzy’s songs. When they lost Adler to drugs and when Izzy had finally become fed up with his childhood friend, the writing was on the wall for the band.

Still though, there are some shining moments on these albums. Don’t Cry is a one of my favorite songs of all time (I prefer the Alternate Lyrics version from UYI2). Perhaps it’s because I’m a guitarist, and because I idolize Slash, but there is a ton of great material here, so long as you don’t try to compare them to Appetite.

Have you read Slash’s autobiography? I HIGHLY recommend it. It was the first book I had voluntarily read since high school and it was a very entertaining read. I think you’d enjoy the perspective it provides on the history of the band and the meltdown of Axl Rose.