This record is ground breaking and helped change the face of music as we know it.Here we are 25 plus years later and it still sounds like a punch to the gut,true Rock and Roll.Meanwhile the band imploded and exploded and although there is a current version still plugging along,we all know its just Axl's solo project,and it pales in comparison.
Every once in a while a band comes along and does something incredible.This album is one of those.Imagine a world where these guys could have kept it together and kept putting records like this out.At least we still have this one reminder of a better time in music to keep us going.
Okay, I totally agree with you on how awesome this band was, but I have to say that the use your illusion records were a fantastic step ahead of appetite. There is some beautifully written songs and very deep lyrics ( for Axl Rose mind you ) that expressed an underlying pain, psychological scarring, and a longing to change parts of himself he felt powerless to affect. As far as UYI 1, songs like "Bad Apples", my all time favorite "Coma", and " Dont Damn Me" stand out. But I think UYI 2 is far better, " Pretty Tied Up ", "Locomotive", and lets not forget "Estranged", which is a dive into the mind of a very screwed up rock star. Appetite is a very awesome, very kickass and straightforward rock record that kicks you right in the ass from start to finish, but UYI 1 and 2 are an example of a more grown up, introspective GNR, when the honeymoon was over and they stood there wondering how they ended up married after one night in vegas without ever really knowing one another. Is that a dumb analogy, I dont know ? It's just what I hear when I listen to these records. The party's done..... the anger, the hatred, the sorrow and the remorse, they all set in and sink they're collectived teeth into the heart of Axl ( Lets face it, he is GNR really, not to discredit the guitar genius of Slash ) and ooze out of every word. That's my take, sorry for the long winded response.
ReplyDeleteI totally respect your opinion Rich,and I don't hate those records,i just feel like Appetite was more of a GNR record,and Illusion was more Axl driven.I personally would have loved at least one more album in the vein of Appetite.
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