Happy Belated Birthday, 'Use Your Illusion'

There were a lot of great albums that came out in 1991. It's probably one of the best year's for new music since I've been alive. But the constant stream of great music seemed to get completely insane in the months between August and October. In those few short weeks, the world was given Metallica's self-titled "Black" album, 'Ten' by Pearl Jam, 'Use Your Illusion I & II' by Guns N' Roses, Nirvana's game-changing 'Nevermind', 'Blood Sugar Sex Magik' by Red Hot Chili Peppers, and 'Badmotorfinger' by Soundgarden... and that's only the most prominent selection.

I'm two days late, but Saturday was the 20th birthday for the 'Use Your Illusion' double set by Guns N' Roses. Two albums, filled to the brim with new music that still gets unfairly treated by music fans, and in some cases from members of the band. With a combined running time of over two and a half hours, they are definitely not for the faint-hearted, but for those who are able to brave it, there is an epic rollercoaster ride of emotions, with each song going into different directions, forcing you to question everything you've ever known about Guns N' Roses.

Before 1991, who would have imagined that Axl Rose could write songs as tender, heart-breaking and epic as 'Estranged'? That he would prove himself as a lyricist who can look into himself, pull out the deepest of emotions, and lay out his turmoil so succinctly in words? Somehow, the songs where he does that give the songs in which he expresses emotions of anger, etc. more effective. As if his honesty in those songs makes you take a look at previous tracks and realise he's being just as honest there, too. It's pretty scary when you force yourself to think about it. But it's also quite refreshing. The 80's in rock music (or more specifically, rock music in LA) was a time when the lyrics of songs were a series of boasts, grand statements and shamelessness that most modern hip-hop has since fallen victim to. Hearing someone actually mean what he was singing was a welcome relief. And whereas you got a sense that he meant every word before the release of 'Use Your Illusion', it wasn't until he proved that he wasn't afraid to show his vulnerable side that it was confirmed.

A lot of people criticise the albums for taking too many divergences from the sound the band established on 'Appetite For Destruction', but I've found that some of my least favourite songs on the albums ('Right Next Door To Hell', 'Perfect Crime', 'Back Off Bitch', etc) are the ones that sound most like the tracks on that album. My favourite ones, are the ones where they let their imaginations run wild and didn't limit their ambition. Some people may call it self-indulgent, but when you're writing music, I think self-indulgence is the key. If you're not making music that you yourself are happy with, how are you supposed to convince people when you're performing it? Even the greatest band can't convince when the material isn't what they'd make if they had the choice. The aforementioned 'Estranged', as well as 'November Rain', 'Breakdown', 'Coma' and 'Locomotive' were the sound of a band growing as songwriters in a way that nobody had imagined they could.

Overall, 'Use Your Illusion' when taken as one product is not perfect. There is a noticable difference in quality between 'I', and the more imaginitive 'II' - my favourite of the two. As an overall piece of work, 'Appetite For Destruction' is indeed the better album. But there are songs on 'Use Your Illusion' that blow anything from 'Appetite' out of the water. It's 20 years old now, but it has aged incredibly well. Some of my favourite music ever recorded is still on those records. Are they overblown? Yes... but that's what I find appealing about them.

Happy belated birthday, 'Use Your Illusion'



EDIT:
One of the things that people often say is that 'Use Your Illusion' should have only been one album. I don't think so, because there would have to be far too much left out, and you wouldn't get the insane rollercoaster ride effect you get from listening to the whole thing in one sit-through (something I don't think was done again until the Smashing Pumpkins released 'Mellon Collie And The Infinite Sadness'). But below is my playlist for the 'Best Of The Illusions' for anyone interested...

1) Civil War
2) You Could Be Mine
3) Pretty Tied Up
4) Don't Cry
5) November Rain
6) Breakdown
7) Locomotive
8) Dust N' Bones
9) 14 Years
10) Estranged
11) Yesterdays
12) Coma

That comes to just under 80 minutes. You'll completely fill up a CD with those twelve tracks..