Guns N' Roses--Use Your Illusion I

Guns N' Roses--Use Your Illusion I (1991) Rating--8.0 **U.S. Sales Certification--Multi-Platinum 7**

While the 'Illusion' offerings really show the complete versatility of the band, these followups to '87s 'Appetite' rarely fully rock out in the complete metallized style as before. The songwriting has (arguably) grown, but the killer instinct has taken somewhat of a backseat.
"Dust N' Bones" is a bluesy, moody song, and the band's remake of "Live and Let Die" is an energetic rendition. This disc boasts the "original" version of ballad "Don't Cry," with great verses and an emotional chorus.
"Perfect Crime," "Back Off Bitch," "Double Talkin' Jive," and "Garden of Eden" are all fairly fast-paced and slashy, but still not up to 'AFD' level. "Jive" has a good riff pulse backbone, and caustic Axl vox.
Smash "November Rain" blends great piano-induced atmosphere with strong underlying vocals and light orchestration---a successful endeaver. "The Garden" is heavy and nasty in parts, with an evil appearance from Alice Cooper at the mic.
"Don't Damn Me" has a great slow-down section with Axl crooning in the background, and "Coma" closes things out with a mesmerizing big-bass pulse...
TRACK LIST: Right Next Door to Hell/Dust N' Bones/Live and Let Die/Don't Cry (Original)/Perfect Crime/You Ain't the First/ Bad Obsession/Back Off Bitch/Double Talkin' Jive/November Rain/The Garden/Garden of Eden/Don't Damn Me/Bad Apples/ Dead Horse/Coma

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