The Band:
W. Axl Rose- Lead Vocals, piano
Izzy Stradlin- Rythm guitar, lead vocals, backup vocals
Slash-Lead Guitar
Gilby Clarke- Rythm Guitar(Track 12, 13)
Paul Huge/Tobias- Rythm Guitar(Track 14)
Duff McKagan-Bass
Steven Adler- Drums
Matt Sorum-Drums
Dizzy Reed- Keyboards, Piano
1.Welcome to the Jungle- A very high energy, frantic pace that makes this one of those hard rocking classics. From the drum guitar buildup to Axl’s exclamation of “SHA!” you can tell this album is going to be rocking. Axl’s voice, one that has been praised highly and critiqued relentlessly is as a dynamic hitting those high notes and low growls excellently. Slash and Izzy’s guitar lines are pumped up giving this track its momentum that will carry throughout the entire album. 5/5
2.Sweet Child O’ Mine- A high-pitched guitar track that grabs your attention immediately, and does not let go until the last guitar note fades out. Slash’s solo on this track is amazing, with a wailing guitar sound mixed with a fast wah-wah run in the middle to give it a bit more fervor. Axl’s high-pitched vocals complement the guitar’s emotion perfectly. This is easily one of the best tracks on the entire CD, if not one of Guns N' Roses best tracks ever. 5/5
3.Patience- A lovely song with a great intro invoving acoustic guitar and whistling. A fantastic ballad, good guitar solo and sublime outro, probobly the best and most memorable song off GNR Lies and arguably one of their best ever ballads. 5/5
4.Paradise City-Another classic, for which GNR are well known for, but personally I think it's too long. 4/5
5.Knockin' on Heaven's Door- A Bob Dylan cover. This song is amazing. Most rock fans have heard it probably, and it takes a Bob Dylan classic and gives it a new energy that is totally rocking. The guitar is perfectly done for the song, and the light distortion interludes give it a stronger presence. Axl's voice is in top shape as he cries out "Knock knock knockin' on heaven's door - hey, hey, hey hey hey." Some people complain about the little phone break after the second chorus - it really doesn't detract from the song, but then again it doesn't really add to it either. But this Bob Dylan classic has had an extreme makeover, and is so awesome. 5/5
6.Civil War- Probably one of the best songs on the album, and one of the best GNR has ever written. It's change in dynamics and blend of acoustic and electric guitar provide great energy to the song. A protest against the cost of war on humanity, this song delivers its message in a strong, powerful way. 5/5
7.You Could Be Mine- One of the more hard rocking songs from Use Your Illusion II with high-paced drumming and rhythm guitar as the song kicks in. Axl almost like raps his way through this song, but at the same time it's more like singing. Something he did quite often on Use Your Illusion I. And just to pull out the lyric that stands out in my head: "With your bitch slap rappin' and your cocaine tongue, you get nothing done." 3.5/5
8.Don't Cry (original)- A slow, melodic song with heartfelt lyrics and good music to match. A solidly good effort. 4/5
9.November Rain-Another classic. Perhaps the most popular song ever by GNR. Great blend of piano, guitar and everything else. The ending is great.5/5
10.Live and Let Die-A Paul McCartney(Wings) Cover. Good song, sort of a short ballad but has its high points. 3.5/5
11.Yesterdays- A lighter tune about moving on away from the past. Axl returns to vocals with his high-pitch voice, which gives it a more heartfelt feel. 3.5/5
12.Ain't It Fun-From The Spaghetti Incident.Great fast song with hauntingly truthfull lyrics that seem to foreshadow the bands demise. 5/5
13.Since I Don't Have You- Also from The Spaghetti Incident. It's another ballad, not as good as the others but has its own sound. It's slow, and sad. 3/5
14.Sympathy For The Devil-A Rolling Stones cover. It was probably the last song they ever recorded together and released, originally on a movie soundtrack, it sounds great and when it ends you realize that the band has also ended. 5/5
Overall- Although it did lack many other "great hits" such as its so easy, nightrain, rocket queen or estranged, the tracks that are present are great, and without comparing it to the live era cd, this is a collection of 14 great hits, all worth listening to. This cd deliverred just what it promisses, Guns N' Roses' greatest hits. Although a best of cd would be much better, this cd still contains most of the greatest songs ever released by the band and not just those from AFD. They mix it up with songs frm each of their four albums, even the under-appreciated "The Spaghetti Incident?". As well as Sympathy for the Devil, a cover which has Axl show off his vocals, which sound much better than Mick Jagger's in the original, and Slah showing off his guitar playing skills by improving Richards' simple solo. 4.4/5
