Album Review

Album Title: Appetite For Destruction

Artist: Guns N Roses
Label: Geffen Records
Release Date: July 21st, 1987
Background on Artist and Album
Guns N Roses, commonly known as GNR, are an American hard rock band formed in Los
Angeles in 1985. Although still active, the line-up contains only one original member of the
original group, Axl Rose. The classic ensemble consisted of Axl Rose as lead singer, Izzy
Stradlin, Saul Hudson aka Slash, Duff McKagan, and Steven Adler. Guns N Roses debut
album Appetite For Destruction was released on July 21st 1987 and reached number one
on the Billboard 200 one year after its release, with Sweet Child O Mine reaching number
one on the Billboard Hot 100. The album has sold approximately 30 million copies
worldwide, making it the best selling debut album of all time in the U.S.
Analysis
Album Flow with reference to some of the tracks
The album and track were produced by Producer Mike Clink.
Guns N Roses most well known iconic track Sweet Child O Mine was a massive
contribution to the album, reaching number one on the Billboard 200, along with the song
reaching number one on the Billboard Hot 100. The song, which Axl Rose claims he wrote in
five minutes, is about Roses girlfriend at the time, Erin Everly, and his great admiration
towards her. The album begins with the grunge track Welcome To The Jungle, widely
known for its iconic intro riff. Other well known songs from the album include Paradise City,
Mr. Brownstone and Rocket Queen.
Lyrics
The lyrics of this album contribute highly to its individual outset compared to other bands
music. Axl Rose wrote the words to Welcome To The Jungle while visiting Seattle. Its a
big city, but at the same time its small compared to L.A. Rhythm guitarist Izzy Stradlin
summarises the song as about Hollywood streets, true to life. Purely, the song depicts
being welcomed to the crazy streets of Rock and Roll Hollywood, and being sucked into a
life of alcohol, drugs and music. Sweet Child O Mine is quite the opposite, a ballad for a
former love of Axl Rose. With heart-filled lyrics, simple yet effective, the song is an iconic

fan favourite today, plainly for its famous opening riff and epic guitar solo by Slash. This
albums lyrics sum up 80s rock and roll perfectly, more than any other album.

Quality of performance
No question, the band performed of top quality each and every time, and did not fail to
entertain. The album most definitely set the bar very high, as it unmistakably has the best
musical sound compared to any other album before its release. Slash and Izzys
interlocking guitar playing make the sound crisp and clean, yet raw and aggressive. Axl rose
has a range of vocals so wide that he could pull off any track every time, putting everything
he had into every song, getting a clean, loud and iconic voice.

Originality compared with previous work of the artist and within the genre
Being Guns N Roses first album, this record is filled with originality right off the bat. Axl
Rose was the lead singer of the band Hollywood Rose before GNR, who never made it as
far as Guns did. The five guys from five different backgrounds were able to create music so
defining to their generation, yet so different from any other band, ultimately making them a
One Of A Kind group.

Conclusion
Availability with Value Rating (* - *****)
The album was and still is widely available at most record stores. Its price at the time of
release was a steep $20.00, but a well deserved price for such an iconic album. *****

Track Listing and Cover

1. Welcome To The Jungle 4:31
2. Its So Easy 3:21
3. Nightrain 4:26
4. Out Ta Get Me 4:20
5. Mr. Brownstone 3:46
6. Paradise City 6:46
7. My Michelle 3:39
8. Think About You 3:50
9. Sweet Child O Mine 5:55
10.
Youre Crazy 3:25
11.
Anything Goes 3:25
12.
Rocket Queen 6:13

Total Length: 53:52

The Albums planned cover art depicted a robotic rapist about to be punished by a metal
avenger. After several music retailers refused to stock the album, the Label compromised
and put the controversial cover art inside, replacing it with the iconic image of a cross and
skulls of the five band members (designed by Billy White Jr, originally as a tattoo), each
skull representing a member of the band. The group stated that the artwork is a symbolic
social statement, with the robot representing the industrial system that is raping and
polluting our environment.