User Score
Generally favorable reviews- based on 427 Ratings
User score distribution:
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Positive: 348 out of 427
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Mixed: 27 out of 427
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Negative: 52 out of 427
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Aug 10, 2023Honestly in my opinion the best GnR album. Controversial but that’s what I believe!!
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Jun 29, 2022
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Jan 25, 2021This album has got me through alot of times! Songs like The Street Of Dreams, Catcher In The Rye and This I Love are absolute masterpieces!!!! Please give this album a chance!!!!!!
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Jul 13, 2017
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Mar 7, 2017Love Chinese Democracy. The album starts off with the relentless title track and the album is filled with some excellent ballads with some great lyrics by Axl. Definitely recommend this album.
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Oct 10, 2016
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Apr 28, 2015
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Feb 11, 2013
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Jan 7, 2013
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Jul 29, 2012I think this recording shines in utter atmospheric beauty. Apart from the ever present hate from mr rose he's a genius. He has really become a crime by not making music for all these years. This one's so craved for that it's doomed to fail but then i realise it's pearl of passion! Best album of 21 century to date.
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Apr 16, 2011
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NeilPSep 21, 2009I feel 13 again, as if I've just heard rock and roll for the first time.
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ShawnMSep 11, 2009A perfect record, absolutely flawless.
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davepSep 5, 2009Great album. there was a time is pure class.
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DuduC.Aug 22, 2009It's very different from the past and one must accept this, however, great songs ar still present on this album with the best being "This I love", first time I heard it a tear came down.
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AbbasMAug 3, 2009Well...i was waiting to hate it when it came out but after listening to it it's butt kicking, face-melting,gigantic power-ballad rock n' roll at its best. And Axl still has THE voice.
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JohnsonHJul 18, 2009This CD is so good i have listened to it so many times.
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JamesHJun 15, 2009At its lowest ("This I Love", "Scraped", the title track, and "Sorry"), "Chinese Democracy" is a narcissistic, overdone, overdue, and overbearing mess. But at its finest ("Better", "Street of Dreams", and "Prostitute"), the album suggests that, yes, the 15-year wait was worth it after all.
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BTMay 7, 2009sounds terrible after first few listens. Gets better after 5-10. Then becomes a absolute epic album afterwards. Close to all the tracks you'd never skip.
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WillBMar 28, 2009All the songs are awesome. I knew GNR wouldn't disappoint with theis disk! My hat is off to Axl. Rock on.
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W.AxlR.Mar 17, 2009A flawless album. Will be in my top 5 for ever.
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seancFeb 23, 2009
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dansFeb 17, 2009
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PaudieMFeb 10, 2009A stunning masterpiece of musical arrangements. Axl is on top form vocally and the guitars are amazing. Prostitute is possibly the most perfect song on the album.
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daveuFeb 2, 2009Could have been better,,, but all in all a great offer by AXL and I wish him all the very best for future and hope to see them releasing one more soon.
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BillR.Jan 30, 2009Good Album. It took a little while to grow on me so listen to it a few times.
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GosBJan 27, 2009
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JDCJan 27, 2009Not up to expectations but still very good. Grows on you the more you listen.
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TomNJan 13, 20094 or 5 songs blow me away. The others are simply good. Name another album out there that has 3 - 5 songs that blow people away....not many.
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RogerC.Jan 9, 2009Out of the shit I have leading up to this album I was expecting to be disappointed. I am completely amazed. Everyone that says negative things about this album, obviously is not hearing the music and focusing on other thing that have no relevancy. Axl did an extremely well job! All you other get a clue!
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RichardC.Jan 7, 2009
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BucketH.Jan 6, 2009
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BrockC.Jan 5, 2009
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SeanJ.Jan 3, 2009If taken as an Axl Rose solo album, it's very enjoyable. Comparisons to the incomparable Appetite will only bring it down, as they would any album.
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BOBNOXIOUSSDec 30, 2008
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IannisL.Dec 26, 2008Everyone who says that this album is average, makes a mistake. Ok, It sounds a bit different and from the old classics of guns, it hasn't the greatest rifs but its worth listening and buying it! One of the bests albums of 2008. Attention:it contains tracks which will be classic such as ''this i love''.
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RyanCDec 17, 2008Although i did like some songs on the album i was dissapointed in the deliverance. The former glory GNR once had was lost on this album, as well as going mainstream they've lost the balladry and flair they used to have. Sadly Axl has taken the band into a direction where they will be considered washed up.... Oh Slash where art thou?
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MarklarMDec 11, 2008
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AndyPDec 10, 2008
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GregPDec 10, 2008
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GarethWDec 10, 2008
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ThomasB.Dec 10, 2008Very good album, better than I expected. The songs have good variety. Good vocals and exceptional guitar work help make this a great album that has a negative reputation simply because of what it is.
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RobD.Dec 10, 2008OK listen up, this CD does not have any hit
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AndrewI.Dec 10, 2008
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PaulR.Dec 9, 2008The first time i listened to it .. i thought it was total crap .. i kinda liked "better" .. but just skimming thru the songs .. i hated it... After listening thru the album a few times.. im hooked on several of the songs... its different.. but kool. I believe i was biased due to the fact i enjoyed the original GNR in 87 and was hoping for more of the same.
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PaytonB.Dec 3, 2008I have been waiting for an album like this since 1993. There's simply been nothing. I've pacified myself with bands like Nickelback, but nothing, and I mean nothing, was a substitute for the greatest rock band not named "Beatles".
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ChrisL.Dec 2, 2008I really like the Vocals and Love the instrumentals on this album, I say great job to Axl and the Boys...Fuck all the critics, the music is for the fans.
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PaulJDec 2, 2008
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GoranK.Dec 1, 2008
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ElDiabloNov 30, 2008Much better than anybody thought it would be. The great irony is if that this record took so long that it's release is completely anti-climactic and the world actually misses out on one of the great rock albums of the past 20 years.
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TristanLNov 30, 2008Actually a pretty amazing album. You can tell who does the solos and strangely this makes for a more wholesome album. Fabulous.
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shawnb.Nov 30, 2008This album, though highly anticipated and long awaited, can stand on the meritt of the music. Amazing is all I can say. Initially, I really tried to listen with an open mind and not be swayed by the release of this album finally coming. I was grabbed by the very first track and wasn't released until it was over.
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RonniePNov 30, 2008The best album I've listened to in a while. A mish-mash at times but it works. As far as the critics go. You can't trust them to review big event albums, they loose the plot when they think their review will be scrutinized.
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TBoneNov 29, 2008
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BillB.Nov 29, 2008
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NaNaNov 29, 2008
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NaNaNov 29, 2008
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GustavoS.Nov 29, 2008This a great album, and you have to listen to it a few times to discover every sound and trick they used. I think there something for every one and I wish "Use your Illusion" (one of the greatest from te 90´s) would take so mucho time, it would be perfect.
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JoeHNov 29, 2008On first listen the over-production dominates, but gradually the quality of the songwriting shines through. Although, perhaps, it never feels like an album created by a 'band', it is one packed with quality. Both aggressive and melodic, Chinese Democracy is difficult to pinpoint - for some this is a weakness; others a strength - but it's never dull.
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SeanA.Nov 28, 2008This CD is extremely enjoyable and gets better with each listen. It is not Guns N Roses best CD, but a new path in their music with amazing guitar, keyboards, and vocals.
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ricksNov 28, 2008Great,regardless of the fact that the band is a complete forgery now,axl still kicks ass and that's all that i care about.still better than 90%of the crap released these days.
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MustafaO.Nov 28, 2008I wasn't expecting to like this album, let alone buy it. But from the off it totally blew me away. Not all the songs are great, but then again I don't know of an album where all the songs ARE great. This is a fine album, somewhere in between Appetite and Illusions... Easily the best thing I've heard in years.
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BrianF.Nov 28, 2008Roses voice is better than ever and the instrumentation of each song is great. The only thing lacking in some areas are the lyrics.
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StevenS.Nov 28, 2008
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JamesPNov 27, 2008
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JimBNov 27, 2008The CD is so emotional that it is amazing. The Vocals are amazing and the guitar work is out of this world. Most people hate the album because the media portrayed Axl as this bad guy that kicked his old bandmembers out when infact the quit because they coundn't have their way. Let the music speak for itself.
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JacintoHNov 27, 2008This is a fantastic album and Axl does a great job of singing to us. Anyone who claims otherwise fits into the pool of Axl haters. Most of the new music CD's sound like the bands previous albums. This is different. Like UYI was to AFD. GNR evolves, and makes great music. The fans love Axl, and as someone once put, music just sounds better when it comes out of Axl's mouth!"
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JessicaD.Nov 27, 2008This album is far so good i love it. its just as good as the other albums. my fave song though is Madagascar and this i love and Chinese democracy.
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PeterN.Nov 27, 2008I've never been a huge GNR fan, but after hearing some of the songs on the radio and myspace I just had to get myself the best birthday present in years. It's massive.
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ChrisA.Nov 27, 2008I am an all-time GnR Fan and first didn't like Chinese Democracy at all, as especially the first songs rather sound like NiN than the classic 90s GnR. BUT the more often I hear it, the better I like it. Finally new melodys to hum from the Gunners (okay from Axl) aside the ones I have in mind sind 1989. Therefore: 8 out of 10! GIVE IT A CHANCE!
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GaryM.Nov 27, 2008
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RichB.Nov 27, 2008
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JeffN.Nov 26, 200814 solid, diverse, well-thought out tracks. I like how almost all of the bad reviews focus entirely on how long it took (as if there's a rule) and the reviewer's own pre-conceptions and biases regarding the lineup and what they expected it to sound like. It is a solid rock n' roll album top to bottom. I don't hear that too often anymore.
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SergioJNov 26, 2008
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AdamU.Nov 26, 2008Half of the album is astonishingly good at first listen. The second half may not resonate with "Appetite Era" Guns fans right away but become down-right infectious after the second/third pass. No album (by any band) could ever live up to the hype that awaited Chinese Democracy upon it's release. Take away the expectations and let yourself hear this album for the great work that it is.
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GeoffS.Nov 26, 2008
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OmarK.Nov 25, 2008
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EvanW.Nov 25, 2008Album of the year, no doubt, the range of songs cannot be found anywhere else this year and is the most complete album this decade since Songs For The Deaf from Queens Of The Stone Age. Do yourself a favour and pick up this album, it's worth the 12.99 and then some.
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JoeyD.Nov 25, 2008
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JonathanENov 25, 2008
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DaveyHNov 25, 2008
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JesseBNov 25, 2008
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JonC.Nov 25, 2008Much better than any "rock" album out today, sure it's not the old school GnR, so just enjoy it for what it is.
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CoryPNov 25, 2008
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SirkK.Nov 25, 2008Not one bad song on this album,definetly worth the wait and much better then the Illusions albums.
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TUFNov 25, 2008
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bennykNov 25, 2008
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RajRNov 24, 2008
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SpacemanSpiffNov 24, 2008Somme good solid hyper songs, some soft, empty balads. Good riifs and good melodies. But overall, overproduced.
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RomeoR.Nov 24, 2008
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MichaelCNov 24, 2008Didnt know what to expect. Very nice to see a great album from a band I once loved. In all fairness I really hoped this would be good. The news is that it is good.
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RyanZ.Nov 24, 2008Axl turns in a quality rock record that holds up after repeated listens. Who would have thought Chinese Democracy would actually be any good? But here we are.
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PaulM.Nov 24, 2008
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AlexPNov 24, 2008The problem with those less than steller critic reviews is that, if this were a debut album, they would give it a 100, but instead they must compare unfavorably to time that have past ( a long time ago ). Its only not perfect because ironically Axl's perfectionism. A great rock record.
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LukeNov 24, 2008Of course, the indie critics will loathe this album. Little do they know that their own brand of "good" bands are way more forgettable than this single release. When I listened to "Chinese Democracy" last evening, I was blown away at all of the angles for individual songs. I admire anyone who can put music like this together. Kudos to Axl Rose; it is a grand achievement.
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GavinW.Nov 24, 2008Over produced as expected, but what a fantastic album. So much better than the Illusion albums and everything a proper rock album should be.
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RFNov 24, 2008Better than expected. A few overproduced tracks, but less filler than the Illusions. Superior to 99% of the crap that's come out in the past few years.
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MarkBNov 24, 2008How can any artist live up to 17 years of anticipation, expectation, and hype? Axl and the band did a pretty darn good job of it.
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PeteRNov 24, 2008
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GuibeP.Nov 24, 2008The Album is plain Rokc And Roll, with Axl hittin all the high usual notes, with ease. The songs are big rock walls, ready to punch your ears!
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Awards & Rankings
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The first Guns n' Roses album of new, original songs since the first Bush administration is a great, audacious, unhinged and uncompromising hard-rock record.
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An outrageously overblown pop-metal extravaganza, Chinese Democracy feels like a perfect epitaph for all the absurdity and nonsense of the George W. Bush era--one final blowout before Principal Obama takes our idiocy away.
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Soundwise, Chinese Democracy is all over the place.