GNR Use Your Illusion 1 and 2- 20 Year Anniversary

powderfinger · #1 06-06-2011, 01:17 PM

So it was Sept. 1991, that GNR released the Use Your Illusion albums. I have been on a bit of a nostalgia kick, so I've been listening to these 2 discs for the 1st time in years as of late. For old times sake. I think the general consensus is that both albums have some great (and even classic) songs, but are completely bloated and full of CRAP. In other words, neither album (from beginning to end) would be considered a classic, due to the sheer of amount of garbage they crammed in there.

I am of the school that the album should have been a 1 disc album. Anyone else agree? Disagree? Which songs would you have included for a 1 disc album?

**jmattbassplaya** · #2 06-06-2011, 01:22 PM

The only song I really liked from either album was 'You Could be Mine' and that was originally supposed to be released on Appetite for Destruction (which, IMHO, is a top 10 contender for best rock album of all time).

powderfinger · #3 06-06-2011, 01:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jmattbassplaya

The only song I really liked from either album was 'You Could be Mine' and that was originally supposed to be released on Appetite for Destruction (which, IMHO, is a top 10 contender for best rock album of all time).

I agree, Appetite is one of the best rock albums of all time, and far better than the Illusions. I did love some of the mello-dramtic songs on the Illusions though, such as Estranged, Novemeber Rain (still reminds me of the girl I was lovesick for in 9th grade..haha), Civil War, Yesterdays, and Don't Cry (one of my favorite GNR songs). I too like You Could Be Mine (1st remember hearing it on Terminator 2), and some of the other rockin' songs... Dont Damn Me, Double Talkin Jive (Izzy vocals), and 14 Years (Izzy vocals).

But the total load of CRAP on these albums is mind blowing... My World, Garden of Eden, Live and Let Die (McCartney cover), Get in the Ring (although as a teenager, I thought the middle part with Axl cursing was funny), Coma, Dead Horse, Garden of Eden, etc. etc etc....

elgecko · #4 06-06-2011, 01:46 PM

The decision to release these as two separate albums rather than one double album was incredibly douchy.

powderfinger · #5 06-06-2011, 01:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by elgecko

The decision to release these as two separate albums rather than one double album was incredibly douchy.

So was recording "Chinese Democracy" without any other original member, and calling it GNR. I think anything GNR has ever done that is "douchy" can be blamed on Axl Rose. I think he is the reason Izzy probably packed up and split during the Illusion tour. I will say in Axl's defense, he has Tommy Stinson on bass now.... weird choice, but as a 'Mats fan, cannot complain.

Ursus Tyrannus · #6 06-06-2011, 03:28 PM

Haha. I had forgotten about those albums. Never a fan of them, but I was a big fan of Appetite For Destruction.
I was in an alternative/punk rock band when those came out and we did a pair of "ep's" (really just 4 track cassettes done in the basement) parodying them called Use Your Surgation 1 and 2 to sell at shows. The cover artwork was our band mascot (think a cross between Popeye and Iron Maidens' Eddie) in the same pose as on the GnR covers but sitting on the "throne" with the pencil replaced by a particularly male anatomical feature.

Texan · #7 06-06-2011, 03:40 PM

Appetite for Destruction is one of my all time favorites. I remember being very disappointed when Use Your Illusion 1 and 2 were released. I really don't know anyone could have topped Appetite. If you haven't, read Slash's book.

Unrepresented · #8 06-06-2011, 04:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by powderfinger

But the total load of CRAP on these albums is mind blowing... My World, Garden of Eden, Live and Let Die (McCartney cover), Get in the Ring (although as a teenager, I thought the middle part with Axl cursing was funny), Coma, Dead Horse, Garden of Eden, etc. etc etc....

To each their own, I suppose. You've named off some of my absolute favorite GNR tunes.

Honestly, I consider Use Your Illusion I to be my favorite album of all time. Appetite was a good album, but it didn't go anywhere beyond merging early Aerosmith with a punk attitude IMO. The Illusions allowed the band a lot more creative opportunities, some were more successful than others, admittedly, but I have come to love even the flab on those records more than most of the muscle on the rest of their catalog.

Oh, and a link to a related thread on the subject

elgecko · #9 06-06-2011, 04:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by powderfinger

So was recording "Chinese Democracy" without any other original member, and calling it GNR. I think anything GNR has ever done that is "douchy" can be blamed on Axl Rose. I think he is the reason Izzy probably packed up and split during the Illusion tour. I will say in Axl's defense, he has Tommy Stinson on bass now.... weird choice, but as a 'Mats fan, cannot complain.

Chinese Democracy was an Axl Rose solo album...and you won't get any arguments from me regarding Axl being the source of GnR douchiness!

Webtroll · #10 06-06-2011, 04:34 PM

Axl is annoying as hell to listen to. I can't imagine any of their songs not being better with another pro quality singer.

elgecko · #11 06-06-2011, 04:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Webtroll

Axl is annoying as hell to listen to. I can't imagine any of their songs not being better with another pro quality singer.

I can no longer sing/play Knockin' on Heaven's Door without hearing Axl's "hey hey hey, hey hey" in my head.

powderfinger · #12 06-06-2011, 04:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by elgecko

I can no longer sing/play Knockin' on Heaven's Door without hearing Axl's "hey hey hey, hey hey" in my head.

Nor can I. I should have included that one in my list of crap songs. I loved the Dylan version, but the GNR version to this day makes me wanna vomit.

And to an earlier poster, yes the new GNR is just an Axl solo project, really. Sure Dizzy Reed is still with the band, and he did play on the Use Your Illusions, but you need Slash, Duff, and Izzy to be GNR. You have to have those 3. Izzy especially, as he wrote SO many of the damn songs to begin with!!!!!

MJ5150 · #13 06-06-2011, 04:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by elgecko

The decision to release these as two separate albums rather than one double album was incredibly douchy.

No way man. I got to get two different G'n'R bandanas for pre-ordering each one.

-Mike

elgecko · #14 06-06-2011, 05:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MJ5150

No way man. I got to get two different G'n'R bandanas for pre-ordering each one.

-Mike

I stand corrected. The douchiness was canceled out by a red/orange bandana AND a blue/purple bandana!

I remember how Tower Records (anyone else remember record stores?) stayed open late when those albums debuted. Those albums were like the Lebron James of rock albums.

MJ5150 · #15 06-06-2011, 05:07 PM

Yep, we had a Tower up here. We'd camp out for album releases. The Tower up in Seattle was a notorious hotspot for seeing superstars of the grunge scene back in the day. Sometimes, we'd go up there and roam around the store for two or three hours hoping to catch a glimpse of Kim Thayil, Tad Doyle, or maybe even Andy Wood.

-Mike

hover · #16 06-06-2011, 05:12 PM

Mike, I truly miss those days. Lining up for tickets. lining up for albums. Truly making it all truly an experience. Major events for young people to cherish, I know I did. Sorely missed.

I remember once hanging out lined up overnight for R.E.M. tickets whilst a whole caravan of Deadheads were camped ALL OVER Worcester for a series of shows that weren't going down for another couple days. Surreal, and earthy and awesome. And somewhat smelly. Me included. As it was raining. And kinda cold. BUT AWESOME.

Jared Lash · #17 06-06-2011, 05:19 PM

Being that it's a day before my birthday I didn't really need any reason to feel any older. 20 years? Sheesh. I was in eighth grade at the time and it's hard to believe that much time has gone by.

I dug GnR but wasn't a huge fan but I did buy Use Your Illusion II right after it came out. I went to the record store intending to buy both but I found another album I wanted more and randomly picked one of the two albums to get. I never did buy Use Your Illusion I.

Even back then I realized the band probably wouldn't be around a whole lot longer. It just seemed obvious that they were going in different directions.

As a side note, can anyone name a double album that really needed to be a double album? My old guitar player and I used to kill time by running down the tracks of double albums and making a single, great record out of them and I don't think we ever found one that we thought shouldn't have been condensed toa single disc.

MatticusMania · #18 06-06-2011, 05:22 PM

I can hardly contain my :yawn: excitement!

elgecko · #19 06-06-2011, 05:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jared Lash

...As a side note, can anyone name a double album that really needed to be a double album? My old guitar player and I used to kill time by running down the tracks of double albums and making a single, great record out of them and I don't think we ever found one that we thought shouldn't have been condensed toa single disc.

Pink Floyd, The Wall!

Unrepresented · #20 06-06-2011, 05:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jared Lash

As a side note, can anyone name a double album that really needed to be a double album? My old guitar player and I used to kill time by running down the tracks of double albums and making a single, great record out of them and I don't think we ever found one that we thought shouldn't have been condensed toa single disc.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Unrepresented

Oh, and a link to a related thread on the subject