The greatest hard rock band of the early nineties finally return to our record shops. Unfortunately this is just a Greatest Hit's round up and not the much anticipated "Chinese Democracy" which Axl Rose has been tinkering around for what seems aeons. However from the brief time Guns and Roses shone on the world of rawk, they shone brightly.
"Appetite For Destruction" as well as being probably one of the most influential albums on this reviewer during his early years, had some classics tracks on. Famously smacked out of there minds and banging groupies throughout the recording sessions, mild mannered producer Mike Clink managed to funnel this energy into pure aural semtex.
The menace of "Welcome To The Jungle" still sounds fresh as does the rabble rousing "Paradise City" and the radio hit of "Sweet Child" is also included. Following the 20 Million plus success of "Appetite'" the Use Your Illusion albums spawned some good material also like "Don't Cry", the probably slightly over blown "November Rain and also the eloquent "Yesterdays". This provides a nice reminder of a time when liking rock in an unironic fashion was a pretty cool thing.
4/5
By Will Mills
