dontcry1991's Full Review: The Roots of Guns 'N' Roses by Hollywood Rose
Well, when I heard that there was going to actually be a release with Axl for once, I was shocked and stoked and wanted to get the c.d. the day it came out , but no such luck, out of cash. So, I watched my sister and cleaned the house to earn the extra cash, and I did. The c.d. was what I expected, rare and brought back to relive some rock n' roll fantasy's of the 80's. When rock was about the sound and music, when rock was alive. Axl's first band Hollywood Rose was just a start to Axl's now fame and controversy.
Well, cover art:
I like it alot. It has a picture of the band featuring Axl in the middle and with Izzy and other band member Chris Weber...I think. Not too sure.
Inside of the c.d. of the pamplet, tells how Hollywood Rose met and how they wanted to be the biggest band in the land, but of course members went to do different things. It also includes pictures Axl and the band and how they all looked in 1983. Boy, that is very cool to see some of these guy's at what, age 22? Very awesome. Now with the songs.....
The first part is the original 5 demo songs and in thier glory.
"Killing Time". I'll just say you can tell it's a demo by the start. Vocal work is higher than usual for Axl and more angrier. The song is filled with this "F**K OFF" attitude, and like they have more things to do than to sit around. The guitar is nice for a demo, I've heard better, the solo isn't as long as some were in the 80's. The lyrics are basic, trying to make a live and killing time to things to change your life.
"Anything Goes". Anything Goes". This is the original version and is more fast pace. VERY, fast pace. And the it is nothing like the version on "Appetite For Destruction". I think there is even more words on this version that the one on AFD. The chorus and what it is about is still the same. You can tell it is Anything Goes but really it has more of a late 70's sound. Like what Anything Goes would sound like if Aerosmith or Led Zepplin did the song. And also the song is also a bit longer. Also, Axl's vocals seem very strong and he sounds very young.
"Rocker". I like the guitar riffs on these ones. But the original quality sounds like it was done in someones garage and in times like those, I wouldn't have been surprised. There really isn't too much meaning into the song and the lyrics really do not seem to connect. It just sounds like a bunch of mean young adults with a lot of attitude. The whole attitude seems to be how no one can't beat the three band members and how they can kick your a** at anytime. I'd say it would be an okay rock song. I also like the little demonic laugh Axl adds in at the end.
"Shadow Of Your Love". This riff sounds similar to Rocker, but if more fast pace like Anything Goes. So, you can tell that this song sounds pretty much all alike. At first I thought that this song was going to be slow. I was wrong. This one yet again has demo quality, and yet again...attitude. In Axl's voice, he seemed to have so much anger to express and I think he got that out a lot during these recordings. Very nice vocal work on the part of Axl.
"Reckless Life". The demo seemed to try to add effect at the beginning. This song sounds a tad bit different than it does on "GNR Lies". It has more guitar riffs. Axl is basically screaming in his solo's trying to pour out lots of emotion. And the words like in Anything Goes (original) sound like there is added words in this version. I do like the other version on GNR Lies better, but I figure GNR got where they are because of some of these demo's, I still appreciate it.
Well those are the main tracks but there are ten more remixes on the tracks. Numbers 6-10 are remixed by Gilby Clarke(Replaced Izzy in 1991). And 11-15 are mixed by Fredy Coury( former drummer of Cinderella). The basic sound of the remixes are just like the originals but they are more more clear(they don't sound fuzzy), or the songs have more of a bass boost to them. It doesn't take away the song or lyrics in anyway.
I really like the little package it came in. The nice faded cover photo, and the intro to the songs. It didn't look like the producers had much money to do much, but that's okay, I really think it's meant for big GN'R fans.
But to sum it up, be it GN'R fan or not, it should have an interest to a music freak, do to the fact that before the biggest band in the world came, they were just like you and me. Problems and all. But problems were just a shadow of the 80's, such as this piece.
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