(TheBRHM.com) Guns N’ Roses is a band that gave me some trouble while doing this edition of ‘Best of the Decade’. It’s a band known for some classic bangers and albums but strife among the band members—as well as partaking in whatever devilment suited their fancy—meant that the discography output just wasn’t there for the 80s. However, the band’s early 90s trifecta is a ‘Best of…’ that is in the works.
Guns N’ Roses, 80s Mainstream and Wrestling?
In the meantime, we’re looking at GnR’s debut album Appetite for Destruction, released in July 1987. The album has been lauded as a great rock album and a standout of the 80s hard rock and metal. What’s interesting is that in it’s time, the album got a mixed reaction from critics but was enjoyed by fans. A couple of things went into this such as reviewer taste, the publication’s agenda if any, and—my personal favorite—over saturation.
When over saturation comes into the equation, I like to look at the time the album was released and see what all was going on and who else was releasing something. I can see reviewers—myself not included—becoming exhausted with the amount of music coming out of one genre with the majority of it either sounding similar or having similar lyrical themes.
By the late 1980s, there were a lot of metal and hard rock bands, there was a shift towards brighter colors, bigger stage shows, and more mainstream content lyrically. Disclosure: I’m a wrestling fan as well as the same thing happened with wrestling in the late 1980s with Hulkamania and the Rock N Wrestling period.
As a matter of fact, MTV also played a big role in bringing wrestling into the mainstream during this time.
A-Side of Appetite for Destruction
Of course: Appetite for Destruction. Prior to listening to GnR’s debut earlier this week for the piece, I last listened to the album in full years ago. The entire thing isn’t an album that ends up in my rotation but several songs do get regular rotation. For me, they’re similar to Kiss tunes in that fashion.
Well, that’s likely to change because the refresher of this album had me leaning away in surprise from the Echo Dot. “This sh** is better than I remembered” may have been uttered once or twice. The thing is: I thought it was just the A-side that had muscle!
Before we get into the B-side, the A-side had several strong tracks. Actually, I’d say all the tracks were good at the minimum. I wouldn’t say there’s a bad song on here and the placement of tracks on the A-side is great. The only track that didn’t do it for me entirely was ‘Mr. Brownstone’.
Again, there’s no bad tracks on this side and nothing’s particularly weak, it’s just sandwiched between ‘Out ta Get Me’ and my favorite on the album—as well as four favorite GnR tune—‘Paradise City’. Even with that track, ‘Welcome to the Jungle’, ‘It’s So Easy’, ‘Nightrain’ and ‘Paradise City’ provide more than enough power to open kick the first half of the album off and have you anticipating the B-side.
Also, as someone who really enjoyed their Mad Dog 20, ‘Nightrain’ was relatable.
Strongest Tracks: Welcome to the Jungle**, Nightrain*, Paradise City**
B-Side
To me, the B-side is better compiled than the A-side of Appetite for Destruction. Mind you, I enjoyed the A-side’s collection of tunes with some bangers and two heavy hitters, however the B-side just seemed like every song should’ve been on that side with those songs in this track listing.
The B-side starts off strong with ‘My Michelle’ which has that pace and attitude of the A-side. There’s album opener potential there and in ‘Sweet Child o’ Mine’. The last quarter of the album features the tracks ‘You’re Crazy’, ‘Anything Goes’ and the second lengthy side-closer: ‘Rocket Queen’.
All three are actually strong, rockin’ songs with some diesel in the tank. Even the slower tunes—let’s say mid-tempo at the slowest—has a lot of bite to them and don’t slow the party to a crawl. ‘Rocket Queen’ like ‘Paradise City’ clocks in at over six-minutes and is well worth the listen. The track to dive into on this side is definitely ‘Sweet Child o’ Mine’.
The B-side’s titles might look like you’re going to be balladed to death but you won’t be, it’s strong second half. Overall, I enjoyed the flow of the B-side more than the A-side by just a little bit. Something just pulled these collection of tracks together better.
However, the A-side has a lot of power to its tracks. Doing a custom track list for Appetite for Destruction would be interesting since many of the tracks could have a place on either side and benefit that side.
Strongest Tracks: My Michelle*, Sweet Child o’ Mine**, Anything Goes
Strength of the Opener: Welcome to the Jungle
It’s a classic opener and the perfect opener for Appetite of Destruction. The B-side has two songs ‘My Michelle’ and ‘Sweet Child o’ Mine’ that had opener potential but ‘Welcome to the Jungle’ really sets the pace for the album. When you pick the opener for an album, you want something that lets the listener know what kind of party it’s going to be. ‘Welcome to the Jungle’ nails it.
As for the album overall: it’s much better than I remembered it being and it was a fun as hell listen. The energy here reminded me of early, loud Motörhead mixed with 70s AC/DC—you figure out the right composition, I’m leaning more towards it being an AC/DC-heavy mixture.
If you haven’t listened to Appetite of Destruction recently, give it a listen while drinking or blazing up.
Staff Writer; James “Metal” Swift Jr.
This talented writer is also a podcast host, and comic book fan who loves all things old school. One may also find him on Twitter at; metalswift.