Wednesday, November 26, 2008

GUNS N' ROSES - New York City, 1988

Green Alien Chick is exactly a year old (as of yesterday, I believe). I've switched the URL back to ".blogspot" so more hip surfers will know it's an MP3 blog and not just some regular old website, dig? Same goes for my '60s blog, Heavy Sugar Radio.

So, I have a cold. Tomorrow is Thanksgiving. I'm still at work. Obama was elected by 8 million votes. It was the best of times...

it was the worst of Guns N' Roses albums. And I do mean the worst, 'cause Chinese Democracy blows unholy ass! It ain't no Guns N' Roses -- it's Axl N' ProTools, and I couldn't even finish listening to the godawful thing, only made it halfway. 15 more years of work wouldn't have saved it; the songs are simply no damn good.

If you've subjected yourself to it as I have, then best use a nice classic GN'R boot to rinse the bad taste outta your mouth pre-Thanksgiving.

I remember when this show happened, at the old Ritz in NYC, and I almost went (by "almost," I mean really really wanted to). It was taped for MTV airing, so the audio-qual is dead-on perfect; sounds like it's ripped from vinyl, to boot. Axl is in fine feisty form, the band sounds killer, Appetite was still a ways from #1 but everyone, band and audience, knew something big was about to happen. It sure did, and now it's 20 years in the past and it clearly ain't ever comin' back.

Turkeys!

GUNS N' ROSES
The Ritz - New York, NY - February 2, 1988 (SBD; TV)
DOWNLOAD

8 comments:

SirCaustic said...

I really have to disagree with your assessment of Chinese Democracy. It is different than any other GnR album and if what you're looking for is Appetite II, then perhaps you are living in the past. I find it to be much better than Spaghetti Incident and a lot of it is better than some of the crap on Use Your Illusion. Yes, it could be better, but it's pretty darn good as it is. Give it a chance. I think that you will find some real gems in here. I don't mean to be confrontational, but try to take the album on its own merits and not on GnR's past releases.

Heli0tr0pe said...

Well then -- per your strong and passionate defense, I will surely and soonly give it another spin or two.

Thanks for the comment and thanks for stopping by!

TSM

Unknown said...

the worst thing going for Chinese Democracy is that is has the Guns N Roses name on it. If it would have been made by any other band, I'm sure it wouldn't be looked down upon so harshly.

It's not the best (or worth the $$$ and years it took to make, of course) but it sure is better than alot of what is out there called Rock N Roll nowadays.

When I want to hear classic GNR--
And man, I can always use a little GNR..
I am glad I can find gems like this Ritz show in blogs like yours.

Cheers!

Heli0tr0pe said...

Well said. Thanks for stopping by!

SirCaustic said...

Thanks for taking the time and effort... I am not playing it as much as I was when I first got it, but it is still on my iPod. But, I am with Tracy, the Ritz show is very good and correct me if I am wrong but it was the one the showed on MTV 19 or 20 years ago...

Heli0tr0pe said...

Sure was, hence the killer audio quality.

I totes remember when the show happened too, my freshman year at NYU. Wanted to go, and somehow did not...though I did end up catching my first GN'R show some three months later at ye olde Felt Forum (which used to be under MSG). May 9, 1988, to be exact, with two of the randomest opening acts ever: UDO (ex-Accept) and Zodiac Mindwarp & the Love Reaction! It was chaos, it was rad.

Maybe I should post that show one of these days, huh...?

Atreyu said...

I have to agree on the Chinese Democracy, I was pretty disappointed. But, I, too, love the "old" GnR sound, and I guess I was expecting too much from C.D.. I still have it on my Zen, and now and again, one of the songs comes on, I try to listen to it. Haven't gotten thru one yet tho.LOL... I think Appetite 1 & II were my favourite of all GnR, I rode my bike 2 miles to the music store at Midnight, the night it was released. :D

Heli0tr0pe said...

Thanks for the comment Bob, appreciate it!

Yep, I remember heading over to good old Tower Records at 4th & B'way to buy "Illusion I & II" at midnight (my last semester at NYU, fall of '91)...

Anyway, who of all people was there that night doing an in-store signing but OZZY. (For some odd reason I didn't stick around and take advantage of this, which is most unlike me, I assure you...!)

New link for the GN'R Ritz '88 show here:

http://www.megaupload.com/?d=WUKMO62Y

Cheers!
TSM