Guns ‘n Roses - ‘Chinese Democracy' (2007)
Well we've waited a bloody long time for this. Is it worth the wait? Hmmm...not really. Sorry to disappoint. It is a good track and it is loud and it is everything that you'd expect from the Guns ‘n Roses (or Axl Rose to be more precise) but I've been waiting so long that I no longer care, to be honest. However, in order to do a great review for the Rockbeatstone readers, I will say something about the track.
It starts out with lots of people speaking in Chinese and weird noises coupled with some kind of Chinese/oriental instrument, before the guitar kicks in. The guitar riff is punky and a lot heavier than previous instalments of Guns ‘n Roses. Then the trademark Axl shout. But the song them seems to become a parody of the band who were once the biggest band in rock n roll (and Axl went on to literlly become the largest man in rock n roll). Worth checking out, if only to see what thirteen years of work can do for a song. Answer: not much.
Official Site | MySpace Site | Listen to the track
Ryan Adams - 'Halloween Head' (Lost Highway, 2007)
This song is a leak from Ryan Adam's new album, Easy Tiger, which is due out in June. ‘Halloween Head' is a power-guitar led song which sees the mercurial singer shout "GUITAR SOLO" in the middle, before an eighties inspired guitar solo kicks in (...what the fuck?). The lyrics are typical Adams fare in that some will view them as bloated and arrogant, others as genius.
This song is poppy and catchy as hell, which to be frank is a nice surprise as we were used to more mysterious albums drenched in sadness, heaviness and melancholy or mock-rap/heavy metal releases from Adams. But the melancholy isn't all gone - it's just louder and more confident than in the past. But this song is sure to divide his hardcore fans who are used to more 'substance'. A cautious welcome to this song is in order, let's just hope that Easy Tiger has a little more musical and lyrical variety.
Official Site | MySpace Site | Listen to the track
Smashing Pumpkins - 'Tarantula' (Martha's Music/Reprise, 2007)
Was not expecting this. Smashing Pupmkins go slightly cock-rock. This leak from the eagerly anticipated new album Zeitgeist has lots of three-chord-chonka-chonk energy, and will probably appeal to indie-kids who missed the Smashing Pumpkins the first time around. The production is nowhere near as overdone as Machina, and credit should be given where credit is due, this does sound more like a return to somewhere between Gish and Sieamese Dream-era Pumpkins, which is a good thing.
The problem really lies with the songwriting and, ultimately, delivery. Billy Corgan's vocals are instantly identifiable, but never come anywhere near the emotional heights (or should that be depths) of his more interesting work. Lyrically, it is also not particularly striking; I neither know nor care what he is singing about, but it would be unfair to demand that every thing the Smashing Pumpkins do will be a work of purest genius. Are the nu-SP completely rubbish? Based on this song, no. But I sincerely hope that this is not the best song on the album, because if so, Billy should just have left us with our memories. Summary: Not bad, but not great.
Official Site | MySpace Site | Listen to the track
Stash - ‘Divide & Conquer' (Self-release, 2007)
Stash are a group based in London who are originally from the States. ‘Divide & Conquer' is their new 7" single out in June. Playing a powerful mix of punk and blues, ‘Divide & Conquer' is a song whose relentless pace never let ups. Not even for a second. And it is all the better for it. This is adrenalin fuelled music which is loud, proud and in your face.
Singer Becky-Marie has a great rock voice and it is used to great effect on this song - soaring and sweeping in a brilliant punkish manner. The B-Side, 'Razors', sees a more bluesy take on music and it too works well, the guitar is drenched in emotion and is at times, reminiscent of Jack White or Jimmy Page. A great recorded debut from these guys. Definitely one to check out and a band to keep an eye out on in the future. If there's any justice in the world, then they will go on to live out the rock n roll dream in all its ragged punkish glory.
Catch them live at Rockbeatstone's gig night, Backstreets at the Windmill, Brixton on Friday 1st June 2007.
Official Site | Myspace Site | Backstreets