Guns N' Roses - Appetite for Destruction [Edited] (CD)

All Music Guide

Guns N' Roses' debut, Appetite for Destruction, was a turning point for hard rock in the late '80s -- it was a dirty, dangerous, and mean record at a time when heavy metal meant nothing but a good time. On the surface, Guns N' Roses may appear to celebrate the same things as the band's peers -- namely sex, liquor, drugs, and rock roll -- but there is a nasty edge to the songs, since Axl Rose doesn't see much fun in the urban sprawl of L.A. and its parade of heavy metal thugs, cheap women, booze, and crime. The music is as nasty as the lyrics, wallowing in a bluesy, metallic hard rock borrowed from Aerosmith, AC/DC, and countless faceless hard rock bands of the early '80s. It's a primal, sleazy sound that adds grit to already grim tales. It also makes Rose's misogyny, fear, and anger hard to dismiss as merely an artistic statement -- this is music that sounds lived-in. And that's exactly why Appetite for Destruction is such a powerful record -- not only does Axl have fears, but he also... is vulnerable, particularly on the power ballad "Sweet Child o' Mine." He also has a talent for conveying the fears and horrors of the decaying inner city, whether it's on the charging "Welcome to the Jungle," the heroin ode "Mr. Brownstone," or "Paradise City," which simply wants out. But as good as Axl's lyrics and screeching voice are, they wouldn't be nearly as effective without the twin-guitar interplay of Slash and Izzy Stradlin, who spit out riffs and solos better than any band since the Rolling Stones, and that's what makes Appetite for Destruction the best metal record of the late '80s. [The edited edition is censored due to profanity and is missing the inside artwork.] - Stephen Thomas Erlewine, All Music Guide Read more Less