When: Released July 21, 1987
Why? I’ve never heard a GNR song or Slash’s guitar work with his original band. (I think my only prior Slash experience was hearing him on a Rihanna track.) This album, their debut, was featured on the “20 Million Club” Classic Rock podcast, where the participants agreed that it was, for them, peak GNR.
What? Twelve songs, 54 minutes.
First Impressions: While I can’t imagine ever being able to distinguish Slash’s playing from any other riffing hard-rock guitarist, the guitar sounds and arrangements on this album are amazing. For me, they are the highlight. I can’t say that I love Axl Rose’s voice, and his songwriting (assuming he wrote the lion’s share of the lyrics) can really vary in quality.
A few comments on specific songs:
“Welcome to the Jungle.” Musically—and this seems to be a GNR “thing”—the song takes several short detours that seem wholly unrelated to anything that’s come before, which makes it feel unfocused to me. Lyrically, it goes from bold to silly: “Sha-na-na-na-na-knees! Knees!” and “Feel my serpentine.”
“My Michelle.” An intriguing, adventurous song that deserves a better chorus.
“Think About You.” This struck me as the only false song on the album. It’s a straightforward, by-the-numbers love song without any hint of grit or bite.
“Sweet Child O’ Mine.” This is the big hit from the album and it’s definitely catchy, even if it’s nothing like the rest of the tracks. Slash shines here. But, lyrically, it falls short for me. (Or maybe I’m pushing back against the song’s—and the album’s—general misogyny. What adult would call their lover “sweet child of mine”?)
“You’re Crazy.” Again, strong verses let down by a weak chorus.
“Rocket Queen.” This sounds like two very different songs mashed together against their will. I can’t help feeling that each should have been developed separately to their full potential.
Having said all of that, I did enjoy “Mr. Brownstone,” “Paradise City” (which I’m choosing to interpret like the movie “Dark City”), and (with lyrical reservations) “Sweet Child O’ Mine.” To a lesser extent: “Anything Goes” and “Rocket Queen.”
So? I guess I have little real “appetite” for GNR.