Thursday, April 05, 2007

Guns and Roses-Appetite for destruction, 1987

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Background-Band members here had been working in different line-ups until things started to come together around 85-86. Then the line-up was complete and they released an ep called Live like a suicide in 1986. Geffen records then signed them and by Summer of 1987 this album was released.

Initial reaction-
I first saw Welcome to the jungle on the Headbanger's Ball that Summer and loved it. Yet it was the first week of school in 1987 when a guy I worked with played the whole album for me. I was hooked and bought it the next day.

1. Welcome To The Jungle-Overall kind of a medium paced song with some unique vocals. However if you listen closely you may be amazed by how many pace changes there are here. It's sometimes frantic, but very enjoyable and different.

2. It's So Easy-This song cuts straight ahead with some odd vocals and a steady yet unrelenting pace. Whether G-n-R were real or not, their lyrics and attitude was far more harsh than other LA bands. Yet that was part of their initial appeal.

3-Nightrain- Starts out with this nice mid tempo sound and some good chunky guitars. It's perhaps a little more basic than some of the other songs yet they play it with a lot of confidence and feeling.

4. Out Ta Get Me-This is a big old in your face kind of song. Nothing fancy, but very memorable and it has some interesting riffs. This song really drives forward too.

5. Mr. Brownstone-I love that intro and then it blends write into the main riff and everyone else comes in. Very offbeat approach with an amazing groove to it. Axl delivers his vocals and a very fast rate and I don't imagine it was easy, but the song wouldn't have been as good if he couldn't hit it.

6. Paradise City-A very different song at this point that starts a big clean sound yet it soon works into a mid tempo and then goes back and forth a bit. A tad less raunchy than their other songs, but no less original.


7. My Michelle-A very simple intro and then a blast into a thick wall of sound and some screaming vocals. It's fairly heavy and dark, but one of my favorites here.

8. Think About You- Very straightforward song with some of my favorite guitar parts on the whole album. This song seems to get overlooked at times maybe due it's simple approach.

9. Sweet Child O' Mine-Along with Paradise City this is one of the more accessible songs perhaps. It has a nice big beat behind it, a good flow and a cool solo. The last minute or so might be the best part of the song as they really bring up the energy level a notch at that point.

10. You're Crazy-For most bands this would be the required simple, fast song yet this track is just as different as the rest of the album. It's good change of pace at this point as well.

11. Anything Goes-As much of a fun song as there is here and just blasts through. You will be singing the chorus and humming the music well after it ends.

12. Rocket Queen-The final track comes on with a big build-up and then a tight little riff. It's larger than life with off beat pace changes and enough interesting parts to make three good songs. My favorite track here and that is saying something.

Verdict/Final Word- Hard rock was getting a bit stale before this album and I think it gave the music world a much needed kick. I also think it helped hard rock continue on longer than it would have had G-n-R not arrived on the scene. This album is very original and one of the best albums of the 1980's for sure. It wasn't the same old slickly packaged, over processed slab that the recorded companies were beginning to churn out. It was fresh and it still holds up well today. So don't let what Axl has done to this band name tarnish what this album did. This album should still be held up a pedestal despite the fact that the band didn't live up to their potential after this. I also feel that this album had a broad appeal to fans. Probably due to how original it was and the different speeds and styles of the tracks.


**My 20 year old album review for May will be Alice Cooper's Raise your fist and yell.

12 Comments:

Blogger David Amulet said...

Still the pinnacle of 80s hard rock, no doubt. And I'll add to your great song-by-song review that the closing section of Paradise City is on of the greatest jams ever to be put on vinyl ... and played frequently on Top 40 radio!

-- david

3:04 AM  
Blogger captain corky said...

Great review/great record. I was 16 when this album came out and I first heard it while I was on vacation in Cape Cod. I bought the album as soon as I got home.

5:08 AM  
Blogger aXe mAn said...

Fantastic review!
Yes, I agree, that is one of the best/most unique albums to come from that era. Definately GnR's best. My favorite song on that is either "Paradise City", or "Sweet Child O Mine". I think the most underated track (for me) was "Night Train"! That is a good song to! I also like "Welcome To The Jungle"(of course), and"Mr. Brownstone".

6:02 AM  
Blogger MrRyanO said...

This was a stellar album for sure! Not only were the songs amazing, but the controversy concerning the artwork only helped to promote the shit out of this! This is a great album from beginning to end...

I might have to go buy this album tonight...it again another one of those that I only have on cassette! Arg!

Great review Mark!

6:06 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Great Review...and I totally agree with you on Rocket Queen being the best song on there!!!

I remember seeing them in concert in late '87, opening for Motley Crue on their Girls, Girls, Girls tour...luckily for me, I saw them on the first night of a two-night stay in Atlanta, the next night, Axl jumped the stage and got in a fight and got arrested...shades of things to come...

That album really reached across all segments of the population back then. Girls would be singing along with "It's So Easy" and laughing at the words...EVERYBODY seemed to know Sweet Child of Mine..

You are right, no matter WHAT happened after that, Appetite stands as one of the pinnacles of 80s Metal!!!

6:13 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

IMO, "Appetite" is one of the two best debut albums(the other one being the first Boston album) in the last 40 years. There's not a single bad song on that thing.

7:33 AM  
Blogger Hard Rock Hideout said...

Groundbreaking, and the best disc Guns and Roses ever put out.

20 years later, and this disc still gets radio play, when most other 80's hard rock discs are long forgotten about.

Come to Cincinnati during NFL season, are you are guaranteed to hear "Welcome to the Jungle"

8:08 AM  
Blogger Allyson said...

Great album, great review.
A true classic.

Allyson
www.bringbackglam.com

8:14 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

The one thing that I remember about this album is that all of the metal heads that I knew loved it, even people like me who were into more extreme forms of metal. It had a crossover quality to it. And it still holds up.

10:24 AM  
Blogger :P fuzzbox said...

This album also brings back whistling to rock. That should be worth something.

6:36 PM  
Blogger Fabrulana said...

Yeah awesome album. Rocket Queen also grew on me until it became my favorite but the rest of the songs all stand strong.

6:19 AM  
Blogger BeckEye said...

Rocket Queen is my fave too!

10:29 AM  

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