September 17, 1991 vs. November 23, 2008

Finally, after a century of waiting (well, at least decades ...)

I remember that Tuesday like it was yesterday. No, I don't remember the classes that morning (English grammar; required attendance) but I've always lived through music, songs mean a lot to me. I remember where I was the first time I heard a new song. I don't have a musical bone in my body, but I enjoy great music. And, the rumors were that the album(s) arriving that Tuesday would be incredible. Guns 'n' Roses dropped two albums simultaneously ...

Let's drop back to the high school days first. I still have my personal review of Guns n' Roses' debut album Appetite for Destruction. I wrote the album was okay with four great songs. I don't even know why I purchased the album, but Joe at Ye Olde Music Shoppe in Elk Rapids, Mich., sold me the album in November 1987. The album had arrived earlier in the year and been recalled due to offensive cover art (It's inside the album now) but it was slow to take off. But, I became a GNR fan, as did many of my friends. Strangely, I've never seen Axl and the boys live. Their touring habits were a bit chaotic ...

They followed up Appetite with a unique release in December 1988 called Lies. Rumors swirled about a possible follow up, then follow ups. Finally, the two separate disks for Use Your Illusion were set to arrive on September 17, 1991. I couldn't wait to hear them, but I had class, so I loaned my car to a freshmen Taylor Brian Strickling, gave him cash, and sent him to get the new CDs. And, they were everything we expected. Of the 30 tracks, most of them are pretty good.

And ... now ... today ... (on a Sunday of all days) here comes the long awaited follow–up, Chinese Democracy. You can even get a free can of Dr. Pepper since the album arrived in 2008 (if you can get the Web site to work, that is). I have heard some early bootleg versions of songs from the album and they're okay. It will be interesting to see how the album does, whether the band tours, etc. Who's in the band, anyway? Rock 'n' roll ... available at Best Buy today.