Published on Mar 23, 1997
Let’s talk politcal incorrectness today. We all have had
experiences of doing something that wasn’t p.c. – farting in
church, calling a member of NOW a “honey” (which landed me in the
hospital nursing a broken jaw) and blaring Guns N’ Roses at top
volume.
Their 1987 major-label debut,
Appetite For Destruction, is as politically incorrect as
they come. Washington wives were sent running for cover when this
one came out, and nervous fathers locked up their daughters when
Axl Rose and the boys came to town. And it is still a very solid
heavy metal album, one which they have not equalled yet (and with
the recent departure of Slash, probably never will).
From the opening notes of “Welcome To The Jungle,” Rose and crew
let you know you’re going to be in for one powerful ride. Shash’s
leads flow as freely as the Jack Daniel’s probably did during the
recording sessions, but he proves himself to be a vey talented
guitar player. Also of note are the bass workings of Duff McKagan
and backbeat of drummer Steven Adler. (Interesting to note Adler is
back drumming after problems with drugs and suffering a stroke.
Good luck.)
The political correctness is thrown out the window on the song
“It’s So Easy,” where the band makes their view of women known
quickly: “You get nothin’ for nothin’, and that’s what you do /
Turn around, bitch, I got a use for you /Besides, you ain’t got
nothin’ better to do, and I’m bored.” While I have never advocated
the views of many cock-rock bands, Rose sings it like he means
those words – and that is a tad scary.
The first hit single, “Sweet Child O’ Mine,” has an opening
guitar lick by Slash which is one you’ll always remember. Rose goes
from singing about pooching his latest catch to a song that’s
damned close to a ballad. The only thing I’m not crazy about in the
song is the shift in style midway through – I would have preferred
to hear how Guns N’ Roses could have ended the song in the original
style. Oh, well – it’s still one of the best songs on
Appetite For Destruction.
“Paradise City” is still a song I love to blare when it comes on
the rock stations around me, and “Nightrain” is a down-and-dirty
boogie that will get you in the mood for a bottle of the real
stuff. (Don’t bother, I once tried it – it tasted like varnish.)
Probably one of the most overlooked tracks on this one is “Rocket
Queen,” whose only weakness is the shift in musical direction
similar to the one on “Sweet Child O’ Mine.”
There are a few weaknesses on
Appetite For Destruction – I’ve never been able to get into
“My Michelle” or “Anything Goes,” for reasons that I am uncertain
of. And while “Think About You” has some interesting use of
acoustic guitar, the song just fails to go in any special
direction.
Parents may find the language a tad strong – oh, yeah, like it’s
not used on any playground today. (If you believe that, I have some
swampland to sell you.) But
Appetite For Destruction seems to be somewhat
autobiographical around life in an up and coming band in 1987. Rose
and crew capture the feel quite well, creating an album I would
rank among the top 10 in the heavy metal genre.