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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May 9, 2016
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Apr 28, 2015
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Aug 5, 2014This album has a lot of foot-tapping moments, and moves along at a quick clip. It does not stand out in the mire of the vast seas of generic rock albums. Putting all the time, money, personnel, and egos aside, this album is listenable. While over-cooked and over-produced, it is not bad. I would not go out of my way to tell others this is a "must buy" album.
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Nov 9, 2013
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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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Jun 30, 2012Very over rated, it had its moments. But I think at best it has a couple good songs. The reason my vote it so low, because when you take 15 yrs to make an album, better be one of the best damn albums ever, and this is barely average
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Sep 10, 2011
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May 10, 2011Reaks of ego. Axl's ego that it. Even if it was released back in the 1990's it still would have been the over produced, generic and rediculous record that it is now. Dull, tedious and very boring.
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Apr 16, 2011
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Mar 27, 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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LindsayJApr 11, 2009I hated every song on this album. I was looking forward to its release, and was thoroughly disappointed.
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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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SamJFeb 22, 2009There's only 2 songs on it which didn't make me consider breaking the radio, and they weren't all that good.
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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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DonJan 26, 2009I find it very mediocre. I like one song, a few are almost okay, and the rest really suck. Over-produced and soulless really says it all, PM. I agree.
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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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SlyE.Dec 23, 2008So bad I actually thought it was a novelty record. Perhaps 15 more years of production might have saved it, perhaps they should have just retired, either way, I'd rather not have it raping my ears any longer.
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croonerDec 23, 2008I have been waiting for this disc quite anxiously. unfortunately i ended up regretting to have bought it in the first place. tiresome, repetitive, lacking any innovative direction whatsoever. i am all for artists changing sounds, and i whould;ve loved to be positive about GnR, but this lackustre effort is almost as disheartening as Metallica's St. Anger was.
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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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AronJDec 1, 2008For the fans that have long anticipated this album are going to be disappointed, it falls short of what is expected, they didnt stick to their guns and have created a blur of meaningless and in distinquishible lyrics, along with music that isnt so special.
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DaveC.Dec 1, 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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RimshotG.Nov 29, 2008Doesn't kick ass at all as rock'n'roll should. Overdeveloped, soulless and boring.
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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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nathandNov 27, 2008
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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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MarkK.Nov 27, 2008
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PatrickNov 27, 2008The whole thing sounds like a grotesque rock-opera parody
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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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JamesO.Nov 25, 2008Way overproduced; the guitar tone is so pro-tooled to death so that it has absolutely no life. The riffs are boring and trite. Very much a cookie-cutter album with little in the way of originality or freshness. Avoid at all costs, unless of course you like seeing Axl Rose trying to rehash the glory days of Guns 'N Roses without GnR (aka the rest of the band).
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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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keefRNov 25, 2008
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JonathanENov 25, 2008
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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.