Since today is the Cat in the Hat's (aka Slash) 50th birthday I figured this was the best time to finally review his first (and one of my personal favorite) albums: Appetite For Destruction, by Guns N' Roses. Appetite For Destruction came out on July 21st, 1987; a time when LA hair metal had gotten so ridiculously big that certain people felt it was time for a change. Five men banded together to make bluesy rock music that got back to the true honest essence of the genre. These guys called themselves Guns N' Roses and became one of the hugest bands to ever exist by executing and succeeding in this mission.
Appetite For Destruction combines many of the members influences into something big and unique. You hear undeniable influence from bands like The Sex Pistols, Led Zeppelin, The New York Dolls, The Rolling Stones, etc. The blues influence is very present overall, but the way it is brought across is a lot harder hitting than the way most of their influences went about things. Plus, Axl Rose's lyrics are a lot more real and relateable than anything else being written at the time. The guitar solos are quite melodic too. You can sing along to a lot of them. This album really is the proof of the right guys getting together at the right time.
Welcome to the Jungle is all about what the sleazy underground life of Hollywood, CA is really like. After getting there by hitchhiking from Indiana, Rose learned quickly that he wasn't at home any more and was going to have to adapt quickly to the new lifestyle. Musically speaking it does a great job of bringing the imagery of a concrete jungle to life. Plus, during the interlude you can hear a lot of Led Zeppelin's influence while the band is still being truly original with the concept.
Nightrain is in my opinion one of the best guitar songs on the entire album. The riff hooks itself into your ears instantaneously and won't let go. Furthermore, Slash's guitar solos absolutely rip and run throughout the whole song. You can tell he was just having a blast on it. He has even cited it as one of his absolute favorite songs to play live because of how much energy there is to it. Lyrically it is more stuff about the reality of the LA lifestyle at the time, but given that was what Rose knew it is still very honest and heartfelt.
Appetite For Destruction is one of those "all killer, no filler" albums. For that reason it is one of if not my absolute favorite rock n' roll album of all time. It has everything: powerful vocals, raw honest lyrics, hard hitting riffs, clever song writing, speedy bluesy solos, etc. This was the album that REALLY got me into rock n' roll and to stick with the guitar. If you're an up and coming rock musician or just someone angsty who needs music that they can relate to, I cannot recommend this album enough.
Appetite For Destruction, by Guns N' Roses receives 5 out of 5 stars.
Track List:
1. Welcome to the Jungle
2. It's So Easy
3. Nightrain
4. Out ta Get Me
5. Mr. Brownstone
6. Paradise City
7. My Michelle
8. Think About You
9. Sweet Child O' Mine
10. You're Crazy
11. Anything Goes
12. Rocket Queen
Buy the album on Amazon:
http://www.amazon.com/Appetite-Destruction-Guns-N-Roses/dp/B000000OQF/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1437710125&sr=8-1&keywords=appetite+for+destruction
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