Guns ‘N Roses: When They Rocked

Album: Greatest Hits

Artist(s): Guns N’ Roses

Official/Original Drop Date: March 23, 2004

Grade: C+

Blade(s): 7

Bottom-line: The trips down memory lane have been better

Review: Remember Guns N’ Roses before Axl Rose and his face had that falling out? When the band was one of the hottest rock bands around? I do and boy do I miss them. My first exposure to these fellas was during a scene in the film Lean On Me when the song “Welcome to the Jungle” more than described the rundown school in New Jersey that Joe Clarke was begged to return to and help turn around. The piercing voice of Rose exemplified all that I knew of the rock genre but I was not afraid of these White boys.

Somehow Rose was a calming feature in the disturbing world that I associated with rock in the 90s. Half naked girls sprawled across cars, leaned up against fences, and licking on ice cream cones. Rock battled Rap in sexploitation and having women as objects to be lusted after by dudes with stringy, frizzy long hair (it was rare to see one of them with great hair – Steven Tyler of Aerosmith and Rose from Guns N’ Roses were exceptions).

On this greatest hits album the listener can relive the magic of the 90s through “November Rain,” “Paradise City,” and “Welcome to the Jungle.” The intro to “Sweet Child ‘O Mine” brings back fond memories and makes this album worth a spin in the CD player. Out of the songs I’ve never heard of before, there were not many that I would claim as new favorites. 7 blades and a C+ for another great walk down memory lane.

blades: ★★★★★★★☆☆☆

About chucky