The Bottom Line: Looking for the perfect album to drown out the sea of crap heavy metal music produced today? Look no further than the stellar Guns N' Roses debut Appetite for Destruction.
lambchops's Full Review: Appetite For Destruction [PA] by Guns N' Roses
Probably the first decent rock band I had any affinity for was Guns N’ Roses. Sure I’d lusted my fair share over the likes of Bon Jovi, White Lion, and Cinderella, but Guns N’ Roses was something completely different. They were loud, not particularly good-looking and extremely talented. So talented that even after failing to make a mark in the mid-1990’s that their earlier albums have since gone down in history as classic.
Formed in 1985, the LA based heavy metal rock band waited only two years before releasing their major label debut…Appetite For Destruction. Upon first hearing the album it was clear that Guns N’ Roses were not nice, pretty boys. They weren’t glam, didn’t wear makeup, nor did they sing their songs directly to please the silicone girls. What Guns N’ Roses did instead was scream, yowl, and grrrr their way to the top of the music industry starting with the debut and probably best album.
By the time that their Geffen debut made an appearance, the band was fronted by one of the most distinctive voices in rock history, Axl Rose. Also immediately recognizable is guitar wizard Slash. Other members included Duff McKagan (bass), Izzy Stradlin (rhythm guitar), and Steven Adler (drums). The combination of these five members and accomplished rock producer Mike Clink was fabulous. Appetite For Destruction became an immediate hit upon it’s release.
The twelve songs on this album can be best characterized as gritty and sleazy; certainly not the kind of music that a delicate flower like myself should have been listening to in Junior High. Guns N’ Roses were the epitome of rock music. Heavy drinking, drugging, sexing, and most importantly rocking. Stradlin and Slash proved their worth with their dual guitar attack. Rose’s screeching voice lent well to his equally abrasive lyrics. The lyrics are not only abrasive. They are in fact a sort of diary from Rose who expresses his art via fear, anger, pain, and even at times vulnerability. Yes, Guns N’ Roses were for a time geniuses. Appetite For Destruction and a few subsequent albums are in fact perfect.
Obviously I have a great deal of reverence for Guns N’ Roses. They were something that the rock industry needed desperately in the late 1980’s amidst a sea of look alike, sound alike hair bands. What first drew me to them was probably my early exposure to those aforementioned hair bands. What still gives me a nice warm fuzzy about Guns N’ Roses is that they were talented beyond what critics initially recognized. Today, of course, it’s easy to see their importance despite the fact that no similar bands have yet been able to equal their sheer power.
Appetite For Destruction holds within it’s case twelve songs beginning with early single Welcome to the Jungle and wrapping up with Rocket Queen. Faintly bluesy but wholly rock, the album has since gone fifteen times platinum. The tracks that are immediately most recognizable are Welcome to the Jungle, Nightrain, Mr. Brownstone, Paradise City and last but definitely not least Sweet Child O’ Mine.
Welcome to the Jungle stands out as the first song I remember hearing from Guns N’ Roses. It was a bit strange that mainstream rock radio and MTV picked up so readily on the track that graphically depicts life on the streets of LA. It’s an ugly song lyrically that hides just beneath layers of exquisite guitars. Rose’s vocals are angry and unrelenting and in the end perfectly suited to the band, song, and lyrics. Welcome to the Jungle seems the product of a seasoned band of rockers. In reality, it’s the product of a band that had no problem spilling their guts to the world. Here’s a quick sample of the lyrics that first propelled Guns N’ Roses to the top of the game:
We are the people that can find
Whatever you may need
If you got the money, honey
We got your disease
The most popular song from the album and the track that really solidified Guns N’ Roses as a force to be reckoned with was the summer 1988 single Sweet Child O’ Mine. In contrast to the harshness of other tracks, Sweet Child O’ Mine is a ballad of sorts although also an appealing mid-tempo rocker. Dedicated to and written with Rose’s girlfriend in mind, the song is also one of the highest quality of the album. Slash puts together one of the most memorable introductions to any rock song ever. He plays with great passion, energy, and talent while not stealing the show from the other major players most notably Stradlin’s remarkable licks from that rhythm guitar. Without delving too deeply into Sweet Child O’ Mine, Rose’s lyrics are also intelligent and ultimately unforgettable:
Her hair reminds me
of a warm safe place
Where as a child I'd hide
And pray for the thunder
And the rain
To quietly pass me by
What I remember most about Paradise City is the video, with Rose wearing a white version of his typically black and/or denim garb. But, there is more to Guns N’ Roses then just videos and image. The band wouldn’t be this revered if they had been just faces with no talent. Paradise City is on the surface an epic rocker. Clocking in at nearly seven minutes, the song is raw yet not in the least bit excessive. The theme of urban strife, decay, and homelessness is again central to the band’s message with Slash again featured as a soloist and Rose ranting uncontrollably.
Ragz to richez or so they say
Ya gotta-keep pushin'
for the fortune and fame
One of my personal favorites is the band’s thinly veiled ode to heroin, Mr. Brownstone. At first listen, the song is harmless but it is quickly obvious who or what Guns N’ Roses and Rose are dancin’ with. Again, Rose sounds great and Slash showcases some amazing guitar riffs. But, what I enjoy most is the upbeat feel of the song regardless of the meaning of the lyrics.
Finally, I’ll speak specifically about Nightrain. As one of the lesser known (though still immensely popular) tracks, this fourth single to chart from Guns N’ Roses is more extravagant and decadent than most of the other bleak songs. Rose uses humor and ironic banter to get across points about alcoholism and various even deeper problems. Again, the duo of Slash and Stradlin produces explosive guitar work at times emphasized by Adler’s cowbell instead of thumping drums.
As you can see, I am a huge fan of Appetite for Destruction. Other songs to relish include My Michelle (a dark, twisted love song) and the more than slightly paranoid Out Ta Get Me. But in all, these are twelve amazingly innovative tracks best appreciated as a whole instead of just in parts. Guns N’ Roses made an amazing debut with this visionary album.
I highly recommend Appetite for Destruction to all rock fans. Of course, if you’ve heard Rose’s voice and can’t stomach the scratchiness you aren’t going to enjoy listening to nearly an hour of the same. I on the other hand love it and when combined with all the other elements Guns N’ Roses is as close to perfection as late 1980’s rock got.
Rating: 5/5 Stars
Track Listing:
1. Welcome To The Jungle
2. It’s So Easy
3. Nightrain
4. Out Ta Get Me
5. Mr. Brownstone
6. Paradise City
7. My Michelle
8. Think About You
9. Sweet Child O’ Mine
10. You’re Crazy
11. Anything Goes
12. Rocket Queen
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There have been rumors that Guns N’ Roses will reform, but many of the members were fired or left the band since the release of Appetite for Destruction. If you are looking for other great material, check into Use Your Illusion I and Use Your Illusion II (my personal favorite of the two). Also important, but not quite as perfect is G N’ R Lies. Avoid The Spaghetti Incident? at all costs.
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