You ain't got nothin' better to do, and I'm bored! (Appetite For Destruction - Guns n' Roses)

Member Name: Pete Richards

Product:	Appetite For Destruction - Guns n' Roses
Date:	04/04/04 (217 review reads)
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Guns N Roses stand for all I do. Having as much fun as possible, not taking anything too seriously, (especially the negative people in the world who seem too keen on putting a downer on things), rocking out as hard and fast as possible and leaving an impression on everyone around, good or bad. I’d go as far as to say that they’re my favourite band in the world, basically on the strength of this album. After all it was voted the best metal album of all time, and everyone seems to like or love at least one song from it. I can’t think of any other album I own that is consistently perfect, and by that I mean that every song is as enjoyable as the previous one. It’s just the perfect example of a band that had all the right ingredients to create a masterpiece, and they did.

The first song couldn’t be anymore appropriate for this band, “Welcome To The Jungle” - it just screams “here we are motherfuckers prepare to be rocked!” The song was written about L.A from Axl’s eyes when he first moved there, and it sets the standard for the onslaught your eyes are going to take from the rest of the songs on the album.

The next song, “It’s So Easy” is sung in a different style from Axl’s trademark high-pitched bellowing, it’s a really cool, confident and cocky style that fits the attitude of the song and lyrics a lot better, but as the tempo increases towards the end Axl starts screaming “it’s so easy, so fuckin easy!” and the contrast between the two styles makes you realize just how good he is! This song is about walking around like top dogs, living off rich girlfriends despite being jobless poor pieces of shit. True inspiration!

“Nightrain” is a song dedicated to the cheap alcohol beverage they would spend a lot of their time getting smashed on. “”Loaded like a freight train, flying like an aeroplane, speeding like a space b
rain, one more time tonight”. My uncle told me when he lived in London this was his and his girlfriend’s anthem so that adds to my enthusiasm for this song.

Axl plays Peter Paranoia in “Out Ta Get Me”, talking about his misfortune with figures of authority, like the police who are always on his back and he can’t seem to stay out of trouble. Towards the end of the song he screams “Let me see ya turn!” and the music just totally rocks from then on.

“Mr. Brownstone” is a drug user’s anthem, or at least I think it is. The lyrics deal with their, or as they say, other people’s drug addictions and laziness in life, either way it sums up the effect of drugs on the way you live quite well: “I get up around seven, get outta bed around nine, and I don’t worry ‘bout nothing, no, cos worrying’s a waste of my time”. Actually that’s as accurate as it gets.

“Paradise City” I think is a song about the world Axl wishes he lived in, or at least a place he envisions sort of like a dream. It switches from a calm and pleasing track of relaxation to a hectic rock n roll rampage, with Axl going absolutely ballistic screaming the chorus, arguably the heaviest riff on this album and Slash playing a solo that would either make you cream your pants or get pissed off that he’s that good!


Axl wrote the next song, “My Michelle” about a friend of the band’s who lives a crazy lifestyle and is probably lucky to be alive, I think it’s kind of like dedication to her for still being around or something, I’m not sure, but the vocals on this are just intense, like they’re being spat out in disgust. “Your daddy works in porno, now that mommy’s not around, she used to love her heroin, but now she’s underground. So you stay out late at night, and do your coke for free, driving your friends crazy
with your life’s insanity”.


“Think About You” is like a small-time love song dedicated to sex drugs and rock n roll, not too much deep thought but of course it’s a really enjoyable track, with lyrics you kinda wish you could have written for someone you know. That’s what I think anyway.

I don’t even need to write anything about “Sweet Child O’ Mine” cos that’s the one you’ve all heard, and most of you probably love or have some romantic story about it or something. It’s just a song that sticks in your head forever and is appealing to any fan of music in general. This is like the ultimate love-rock song, but it still has its heavy moments, like when Slash’s solos kick in.

“You’re Crazy” is probably the fastest song on the album and all the lyrics are sung like Axl’s in a rush but he’s still bellowing as loud as he can. I can’t get a lot of meaning out of this one but it’s still very hard rocking, nothing too complicated just a fun song.

“Anything Goes” I think is the band’s appraisal to the liberties to be taken during sex – Actually with lyrics like “My way, your way – anything goes tonight!” “Panties ‘round your knees”, “tied up, tied down, up against the wall” and “be my rubbermade baby, we can do it all”, it definitely is.

“Rocket Queen” is a dirty song, and proves how dirty the band is – it has the effects of a girl being fucked in the studio by the band! Shortly after this, a pure anthemic rock riff and drum beat kicks in, one which you could imagine standing at the front of the stage smiling while that plays in your background. Oh and then there’s a really cool solo and a bit where Axl shows his nice side with lyrics like “all I ever wanted was for you to know that I care
221;.

Well that’s the album, most of you should have it but if not, go and get it right now! My apologies if you were expecting some detailed analysation of the songs instrumental parts but I wanted to emphasise the overall feel of the album so that any non-rockers with a similar appreciation of this whole attitude would be more inclined to buy it. The music is essentially just good old-fashioned heavy metal rock n roll; big bouncy riffs and solos that piss me off they’re that good, attention-seeking vocals and a constantly heavy background beat. It should be cheap to buy so just buy it.

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