Appetite For Destruction

I hate this band. They were pumping out metal years after the genre should have been shot and pissed on. I I rented a place on the beach  at Lake Simcoe where the per capita Guns & Roses fans may be a Canadian record high. I played this outside as I was firing up some dead animal on the BBQ.  I was waiting for a neighbour to saunter over with a spliff glued to his lower lip and say " Fuckin Eh Man"   

A lot of the time, when I dislike an album, I question who it was made for. This time, I know exactly who this album is for and that somehow made it worse

This is a tough one to rate. On the one hand, it is insanity to think that a debut album could contain this many hits. It is up there with Boston's debut in that regard. I feel that it almost deserves 5 stars simply for that. On the other hand, I am so sick of these songs. You cannot turn on a radio station without hearing at least one of these songs once a day. 40 years later and we are still absolutely inundated with Sweet Child O Mine. I can't see myself listening to the entire album on purpose again, so I cannot give it 5.

Appetite for Destruction encompasses one of those conglomerations of genres that include hard rock, glam metal, and arena rock, making up mainstream rock of the 80s and 90s (would compete with "alternative rock" following grunge's popularity). For the years prior to this album, most of albums in this realm were fairly generic and full of filler beyond a couple great hits. The big names were doing ok. Def Leppard and Bon Jovi were doing alright with just a few filler. But Van Halen got a new singer, Motley Crue hadn't come back from their debut yet, Poison relied on just their singles for album sales, and then there are the hundreds of other long haired hard rock bands that would produce one generic hit that would get a ton of Mtv rotation and then the rest of the album would try to sound exactly like that one song. The subjects were drugs, women, money, fame, whatever. Rock star junk. But Guns n Roses changed everything. They made the transition from "glam" to "hard" in mainstream rock. It was less about catchy pop hooks and riffs, and more about cohesive songs where intense emotion and engagement was supported by the vocal style, melodic shifts, and direct or confrontational lyrics. And in this album in particular, Guns n Roses mocks the traditional rock star subjects. "Paradise City" is the perfect example of both of these points. The subject is looking back, not forward, and longs for this nostalgia of a once better time. You can hear it in his voice, his pleas, his cries. I think it's genius how this song incorporates the solos, the faster pace, and stripped-down chorus at the last two minutes to enhance the desperation. Oh and I love how some of these songs just end on a bang like this. So satisfying. The album is full of great tracks. "Welcome to the jungle" is a very fitting opening that is also a very good example of everything I described above, and also eases the audience into what the album will be about. The next few tracks are all superb. Love how every instrument has its moment. No one gets left behind. Some softer songs like "Mr Brownstone" and "Sweet Child O Mine" keep the flow going, diminishing the oversaturation of the hard sound that would otherwise feel repetitive. The latter song in particular has one of my favorite guitar melodies of all time. If you play me any two second incerpt of this song, I'll immediately know the song and how the rest of the melody goes. The track ends with another great track, "Rocket Queen." Love that shift in melody and subject in the second half of the song. Weaknesses? Yeah, I said the softer ballad-like songs help diminish the feeling the repetition, but yeah when you have so many hard songs back to back, it becomes a little exhausting. And besides the two I talked about, the second side is full of duds. "My Michelle" is ok but the other three are pretty generic and don't offer much if anything to the album. Do these two points detract from a perfect score? No, honestly I don't. The first point is intrinsic with hard rock and metal albums in general, and grows after several listens. And the second point, all albums have some fillers, and it's not like they're horrible or anything. This album is highly influential and innovative, and one of the best hard rock of the 80s and 90s has to offer.

This was the first album I bought on CD and I know it front to back, though I haven’t listened to it all the way through for the best part of 30 years. What’s changed? I don’t remember noticing Izzy Stradlin’s fantastically louche rhythm guitar when I was a teenager. The misogyny was apparent to me even then, but I’m annoyed by it a lot more now. Some of the lyrics are smarter than I would’ve given credit for. This is a strong set of songs, if you can put up with the hackneyed LA sleazebag posturing: going through the track listing, the only song I couldn’t remember from the title was “Anything Goes”, and playing that again I thought it a fun, minor rocker. By my count, there are 7-8 songs I’d put in their top tier, and the rest aren’t far behind the others. Cartoonish fun, I have left this behind, but I cannot fault it for what it is.

The definite GNR album. I had no idea this was their debut. It's got the best of the best tracks on here too, as if it's a greatest hits. I wonder how a band or artist would feel when their first album is their best? This, obviously, rocks. There weren't too many deep cuts that I saved, but it's an enjoyable experience bolstered by the heavy hitters. I don't know if they had much depth or longevity though--I really only know the big three tracks. But I'm glad we got them all in one go; I'd be shocked if there was another GNR album on this list. Favorite tracks: Sweet Child of Mine, Paradise City, Welcome to the Jungle, My Michelle, Mr. Brownstone. Album art: This one's a classic too, definitely iconic for the band. The cross seems mildly sacrilegious, but it's also on the cover of the album that contains their holy trinity of hits, so who knows. The skulls for each band member are really cool though. 4/5

Pretty average. The songwriting doesn't impress me too much, especially lyrically, but it does have an undeniable energy and some good riffs and detours. Nothing that excites me too much though, and I feel like a lot of the sound of this album had already been done before.

One of the best rock albums of all time, even if a couple of tunes from it are way too overplayed on rock radio (paradise city, sweet child o mine) it's still just amazing. I'm more of a use your illusion kinda guy, but this is still getting a 5/5.

As a kid the intro to Welcome to the Jungle blew me away and for 54 minutes the album doesn’t let up. Through to the closer Rocket Queen Appetite delivers some of the iconic rock songs of all time. In an age when Rock and Roll still ruled the world, there were new kings in town.

So there are a lot of really dated and, frankly, cheesy tracks on this album. But it also has Welcome to the Jungle, Paradise City, and Sweet Child O' Mine which are such absolute monsters that you can't not give the album as a whole a 5.

Slash is good, Axl can't sing tho

Not listened in probably 20+ years. Was expecting it to feel dated and to not enjoy the main hits. Great fun, great riffs. Managed to get a few headbangs in with the kids. Happy days

For me, Guns & Roses falls into the same category as bands like AC/DC and Aerosmith. These are basic, meat and potatoes rock 'n roll bands that revel in obviousness and basic hooks. But from the very opening bars of Appetite for Destruction, the competence of Axl Rose and company is never in question. The band is extremely tight, as if they had been playing these songs in bars for the previous five years. The antics of Slash and Izzy Stradlin wouldn't make titans like Eddie Van Halen or Rhandy Rhodes lose any sleep, but their snarling leads never lack conviction and they're concise and tasty. You could say the same thing about the songcraft. I hate to sound like a broken record, but Appetite for Destruction is a consistent, perfectly realized, rock record of limited ambition. Personally, it bores me to tears, but there's no denying that it's accomplished.

What great singles, and what forgettable deep cuts. This is an album that I always think more fondly of until I actually go and listen to it, and find out all over again how boring and repetitive many of the songs get. It's a shame considering how good Duff and Slash are, but at least I get to listen to the genuinely amazing songs from here on their own.

Sex, Drugs, and Rock 'n' Roll...and little else...really that's it

Axl Rose's vocals doesn't do this any favors but there are still solid rock songs scattered throughout

I'm only on sweet child of mine but this album pisses me off so much I have to rate it now all these bands, groups, singers, artists and albums sound the exact fucking same I had to search up who made "Run to the hills" because I they sound identical to half the songs on this album i want to rate it a 1 out of protest for how bad it is but it's still not Beatles tier bad but me rating it a 2 does not bring me joy the last straw was the WOAH WOAH WOAH MY MICHELLE MY MICHELLE MY MICHELLE MY MICHELLE and I'M THINKING ABOUT YOUU YOUUU UUU UUU UUU YOUUUUUU screaming

I'm glad that's over. I don't do nearly enough coke to enjoy Butt Rock. I'll take AC/DC or Black Sabbath any day before G&R.

Ew, gross. I'm forced to hear this garbage every day on the butt rock radio station at work that a bitter old white trash coworker forces everyone to listen to. GnR is easily the worst of the hair metal bands, which is the worst genre of popular music of the last 70 years. This is worthless. This is one of the two worst albums I've had to listen to for this project so far.

Ok... This is just the best album of all times according to me, so for the rest i will have absulutly not objectivities what so ever. #1 in the Billboard, 30+ millions sales, countless awards, a nearly perfect critical sucess, best and more sucessfull debut album of all times ect ect. THE most dangerous album ever made, it have so much to offer. This album was made in 1987 bythe best band of all times: Axl Rose, the unpredictable, insanly charismatic, energetic singer who could sing like no one and probably the best frontman (with Freddy Mercury). Slash, the badass, the man in the hat with long black hair, shades, a guitar genius, and the most iconic guitarist of the 80's. Izzy Stradlin the mysterius rythm guitar player, more reserved but yet so important in songwrting, he is behind a lot of their best songs. The Pirate style-punk guy: Duff "the king of beers" Mckagan, from Seattle he brings the touch of Punk rock that everybody need and he's just so cool and magnificent. Finanly the drummer Steven Adler wich i think is inseparable fo the sucess and perfection of this reccord, with his drums style, but he is just so cool, fun, good vibe and nonchalent, he's perfect too. All Togheter bring a unity and a colaboration of the best elements of the sunset strip at the time to create a monster of decadence and Rock N'Roll. Without talking about the music, this album have a very unique story and origin that make him even better when you know the context behind those songs. Before this album was made, Guns N'Roses was a struggling band, living in a house label "the hell house" bevause of all the decadence, drugs and depravation in it. They were starving, living gigs to gigs, but that create a chemestry so powerfull that explain why this album is so good and feel so real. They release it and nearly a year after its release the sell were bad, like 200 000, and Mtv won't play them, but their label convice Mtv to play the video of Welcome to the jungle at 4 am, and soon after it was the most require video of Mtv and they blow the fuck up music history with Sweet Child O'mine a couple week later alowing it to became so succesfull to this day. The cover is just iconic, the title fit so well the content of the album, and the cross was inspired by a tatoo of Axl who was himself inspired by Thin Lizzy. It was supposed to be a painting named Apetite For Destruction, but it was judged too violent and explicit so they changed it. It was a good move, this cross is so beautifull and well done. Track by track this album is good, like no song are there for nothing, they all mean something, have a story to share and bring more to Apetite. On the vinyl: Side G (Guns) song about violence, drugs, sex and their dangerous lifestyle with brutal riff and lyrics. Welcome to the jungle: When we think of GN'R we have to think of this song, this song just represent them at perfection. Musically is just pure hard rock with a soft bridge, brutal intro, solos, and the bass part, the drums, musically its perfect. The lyrics about the life in a big city like L.A, the drugs, the sex all other vices of a city who just feel like a jungle. This song is also one of their most famous and the diffusion of the video on MTV launch their carrer in 1988. Its so Easy: This is a badass song, about rock n roll lifestyle, and more specifically the sex and all the girls arounf them at a time they were more and more famous, but not yet rich, but they still manage to get all womens around them and have sex with groupies all the times. It was written by Duff, with a cool bass intro that start nearly all their gigs since 1987 and to this day. Some say its mysoginistic, but i think is just what they were living with brutal honnesty. Nightrain: An ode to alcool consumtion and cheap wine that get you drunk in a second. The music is so good and perfecly fit the subject, aparently one of Slash's favorite song to play live. Out ta Get me: A brutal song about Axl's judicial struggle when he was a teenager in Indiana. The riff is one of the more hard/ heavy of the album and show how talented and diverse they are. Mr. Brownstone`: A song about the habbits of the band, comming late to gigs, and their heroin (Browstone is a slang for heroin) addiction with lyrics about drug tolerance. This song is globaly on of the best, honnest and brutal drug song, just direct and no B.S. Musicaly this song is also one of the best with the magnificent intro, riff and solo. Paradise City: Another of their most famous song with an intro recognisable in a thousand, with extremely good guitars part. The verse are about the life in the street of L.A and the chorus is about life in the Midwest and show how they can have a major commercial hit, but will talking about their reckless lifestyle and their unique background (Axl and Izzy are from Indiana) Side R (Roses) While still talking about sex drugs and rock n roll but with a more romantic and semtimental side, like a rose. My Michelle: Its the life of a friend of the band Michelle Young, who have a very dark life, with drugs and death but tell with honnesty and truth that made their reputation. Think about you: "a quick song about Love, Sex, Drugs and Hollywood" -Izzy. A very underated song on the reccord, kind of a sentimental and softer version of Welcome to the Jungle. Sweet Child O'Mine: probably the reason why this album was so sucessfull, this song just show how this band could be sentimental with beautifull love lyrics but not in a cheesy way. The iconic intro, the perfeclty excuted solo, lyrics and the voice (inspired by Lynyrd Skynyrd) made this song still they most acclamed and know to this day. You're Crazy: Originally you're fucking crazy, a weird song probably about a crazy girl who was involved with the band, but still this song show theur reckless style of telling their stories. Anything Goes: Clearly about sex and sexuall submission, still a very badass way to exprim it as they so good to do it. Apparantly one of their oldest song from the Hollywood Rose era Rocket Queen: Rocket Queen: This song is incredible, seprate in two part with a briudge between them. The intro is so fucking cool, the riff is brutal, the bass is leading the song and the lyrics about Barbi Von Grief a girl who was helping the band to survive in their clubs days, it talk about her wish to have a band who was suposed to be call Rocket Queen. The bridge is the little thing that made this song, this reccord and this band the greatest of all times, in that bridge will the guitar solo rage on, we could ear the real sexual moanings of Adriana Smith, the girlfriend of Steven, she was mad after him and Axl propose to reccord while they have sex. The rest of the song in a poem about love and hope with a magic guitare solo at the end. 12 song that make this reccord the most dangerous album of all time, all those song were written by the best, in a very particular moment in times that make them so damn accurate. I think overall this album merge the best influences in rock history and combine them to create the perfect rock n roll reccord: The hard rock music of AC/DC, Kiss, Led Zeppelin or Aerosmith, the commercial sucess of glam metal band of the times like Van Halen, Mötely Crüe or Bon Jovi. But they come from the street of L.A, and they still keep the undergound vibe, the dark subject and dangerous lifestyle of undergound band like Hanoï Rocks, the Stooges and the New York Dolls. With Duff music and their rebel attitude they have a lot of punk influences like the Sex Pistols, the Ramones, The Damned or Johnny Thunders. Their sentimental and glam (rock) style is also inspired by Queen, David Bowie, T.Rex and others. I think they perflecy combine all thoses legendray bands, but still with thei unique indentify and style that they don't copy but create something ot thei own. They not enough space or enough world for me to descrivbe how much this reccord mean to me, i try the best in can to find anything bad to say about this album but i can't. GN'R is polarising, but no one can denied that this album change the game and blow up the rock scene at the time, this album gave us timeless classic and a way of Rocking that no one ever did before. Why this album is so much better than the other heavy metal album or band at the times (Skid Row, Poison, Mötley Crüe, Ratt and other) is because of all of this but more simple, they were just b etter, more honnest, more real, more bad boys, more good looking (with less makeup and flamboyent clothings), more charismatic and better musicians overall. That why i will give it 5/5, if it was one a hundred it would 100/100, 1000/1000 ect. I really hope that some of you will discover and fucking enjoy this reccord and forever remeber it.

Hard to think of a better debut album. True shredder!

Fierce. Ferocious. The album that put the Metal in Hair Metal. From the opening notes of Welcome to the Jungle, you know you’re in for something special. The band hammers away at track after track of brutal, real hard rock. Slash is peak Slash, and Axl has never been more Axl.

incredible rocket queen is the best song imo

The singles, which are all bangers, aren't even the best songs on this record. It's really fucking spectacular.

Welcome To The Jungle has to be one of the best album opening tracks of all time. Totally sets the mood for a great album. I'm definitely not the world's biggest GnR fan, but I do like this album. It is also hugely influential. 9/10

Very Guns and Roses. The most guns that ever roses. Reminds me of when I was 17 and GnR were my band. :D

Love it

I can't express enough how this album is awesome, a genre-changing moment when it was released. Although today i'm not a big fan of GnR and even listening to this album bores me to hell, I can't ignore the genius behind it. I don't know if any other band can rival a first album like this.

For me, Guns and Roses stand above other guitar driven bands in the 80s. The musicianship is better, the songwriting is better, and overall they are much better at avoiding some of the hair metal cliches that would not age well. While this album contains some filler, it also contains some of the best known rock songs of all time. It is gritty while maintaining a sensitive undertone and that vulnerability and confidence set it apart from your run of the mill 80s rock albums.

Only really knew the hits off of this album and wasn’t sure how much I’d enjoy the rest. But it’s a really fun album. Does what it says on the tin really. And although Sweet Child O’ Mine is now synonymous with nights out in Walkabout bars, it was good to hear it in the context of the album and still has one of the best guitar solos of all time.

Sure. If I was planning an 80s themed pool party I’d play this. But I can’t fully endorse hair metal in general when I know they were such misogynistic assholes. (The Motley Crew movie is my evidence)

Highlights: "Welcome to the Jungle," "Sweet Child of Mine," "Mr. Brownstone" Axl Rose's falsetto is beyond parody. That has to be put aside before judging this. "Welcome to the Jungle" is a very well-constructed song, with all the makings of a hit. Can't say the same of the other hits on here. Van Halen and ACDC had been around for a decade; Metallica and Celtic Frost had been around for five years. It's just impossible to justify this pic unless this list were "1001 Singles You Have Probably Already Heard Before You Die". Slash's talent is holding this together, but the album is always some combination of samey, repugnant, and laughable.

It was ok.

🤢

I've heard the singles off this record so many times it makes me want to vomit. Trying to be open-minded about the other songs, we'll see how far I can make it... Update: Three tracks in and I cannot do this. Shitty lyrics, cheesy riffs, and over-indulgent guitar solos. I struggle to understand why this is so "acclaimed." An actual line from a review: "rock is at last being wrestled from the hands of the bland, the weak, the jaded, the tired, the worn, and being thrust back into the hands of the real raunch rebels." Oh thank god at last rock will be in the hands of horny white dudes who think rebelling means hitting on the waitress at Applebee's and then chugging beers in the garage while this plays on a piece of shit boom box.

I love this album. The raw vocals of Axl Rose and the over-the-top guitar off the Slash, it's all here to enjoy. Fun silly manic energy that must have been so crazy to hear for the first time. I know like 3 songs of these are played to death but just IMAGINE it. Put yourself into the shoes of someone hearing these guys for the very first time.

Perfect Rock album with the perfect lineup of members. They could have just made this record and then disappeared from the face of the earth, and they would still be considered legends. For me personally, the album has enormous credit for completely changing the face of the Rock n Roll scene at the time, bringing the good old sound in a raw and naked way.

Saved Prior: Welcome To The Jungle, Sweet Child O' Mine Unsaved: 12. Anything Goes 11. You're Crazy (a lot of reviews mentioned that the version on G N' R Lies is better. They would be right.) 10. Rocket Queen Cutting Edge: 9. Out Ta Get Me Saved: 8. My Michelle 7. It's So Easy 6. Paradise City 5. Think About You 4. Nightrain 3. Sweet Child O' Mine 2. Mr. Brownstone 1. Welcome To The Jungle (maybe the greatest album opener of all time in my book. Baba O'Riley and this one) Overall Notes: A shot of pure adrenaline. Out and out classic. Side A of this album may be the greatest side of classic rock ever.

Ending the 80s with a bang! I remember listening to this in my room with headphones so my parents wouldn't hear what I was listening to.

I've listened to this album front to back probably several hundred times. I have vivid memories of when this album was released. I remember my cousin and I going to The Wherehouse and him asking me "Have you heard the Guns N Roses album?" I had no idea what he was talking about. Fast forward a week and it was all I was listening to. Well, that and "Electric" by The Cult, which came out a couple months prior. Those two cassette tapes were constantly playing in my Walkman.

What a great hard rock album!! Thoroughly enjoyed the tracks - some I knew but most were new to me

It's so easy (to give this 5 stars)

One of my favourite parts of recorded music in general comes at about 1:53 into Nightrain, when Rhythm Guitarist Izzy Stradlin gets to play his only solo of the album, delivers 8 bars of the most underwhelming pentatonic nonsense ever recorded, panned to the left side of the mix as if they engineer was saying ‘It’s alright, this is just the Rhythm Guitarist’ before Slash comes in, blows Stradlin away with like two bends, and basically doesn’t stop shredding for the rest of the fucking song

Welcome to the Jungle is one of the best opening tracks to an album. All the hits like Sweet Child of Mine, Paradise City, and WttJ are true classics. It's So Easy was easily my most disliked track. Sounded like a different band.

Genre: Hard Rock 3/5 Guns n' Roses, a group that simultaneously conjures up images of strip clubs as well as BBQs and television commercials, released their best album they ever made, Appetite for Destruction, in 1987. Utilizing tried-and-true hard rock arrangements and instrumentation, GnR made a few HOT singles, 3 of the best songs the decade has to offer (Welcome to the Jungle, Paradise City, and Sweet Child o' Mine). However, the rest of the album plays out about as you'd expect, raunchy and energetic, but not very interesting. The 3 singles from this album, though, are all great tracks. Overplayed in their own right, as they've become cultural touchstones, but they are undeniable hard rock classics. Axl Rose's voice is in peak condition here, and Slash's lead guitar playing is as good as it ever was. But songs like My Michelle or You're Crazy are total duds, reminiscent of filler you'd find in a lot of 80s rock and roll albums (Def Leppard, Scorpions, Thin Lizzy), but way worse and way more bland. Give 'em credit for 3 great tunes, and the rest is generally skippable. Not bad.

This week I have been firmly stuck in the 86-95 vortex. I dunno, aside from these three songs, November Rain and the Wings cover (which are all admittedly brilliant), are there any good GunsnRoses songs? Of those 5 good ones, the three present here are obviously the most overplayed. Please god don't subject me to either Use Your Illusion album later in this project. My Michelle is ok I guess but you still have to put up with Axl being annoying. Didn't really enjoy anything new here. However if you told me at the start that I'd be rating Guns n Roses lower than TLC and Goldie I would have... ...probably not been that surprised actually as my opinion on GnR has been pretty solidified for the last few decades.

A good example of an album with radio hits not equalling up to being a "good album". Despite the competent musicianship of the band and relatively quality mixing, Axl Rose's singing is entirely unpalatable, only growing more and more grating over time. In addition, nearly every song concerns either women/sex or drugs, and has nothing particularly deep, interesting or notable to say about either. The album feels longer than it is, with only Rose's screeching preen and the literal sounds of fucking to keep you company. It is telling that the longer I reflected on this album, the more it offended my sensibilities.

Very pop rocky and songs had a clear formula that got extended for wayy too long, obviously has insane classics, maybe 3-4 songs are actually enjoyable

If I had a boner in the 80s, I might have been into this. Never liked Guns N Roses. Still don't! 2/5.

Pre-listening notes: Ok I got eager and looked at my new album at midnight and boy oh boy I let myself down hard. This album fucking OPENS with welcome to the jungle, one of my least fav songs of all time. However, I will give it the benefit of having Sweet child o mine, which is a really great song. I do not think I will enjoy this album tho. Guns N’ Roses is not for me lol. I have now made the vow to only look at my new album in the morning because I don't want to wake up dreading what I have to listen to lol. Post/during listening thoughts: I skipped Welcome to the jungle bc I just... cannot. That song will knock this album down a point alone. It's So Easy and Nightrain are like... good but yeah very Guns n' roses. I think that's how I'll feel about most of this album. Like is it objectively good? Yeah! Is it for me? No! Also let me say I HATE this album cover. Sorry, it's ugly. Mr Brownstone was pretty good, nice melody line. Ohhhh yup I know Paradise City lmao. It has a really nice start to it. I hate My Michelle. Jesus. Sweet Child O' Mine is a classic BUT only bc I think of Stepbrothers. Listen it may sound like I'm actively trying to dislike this album and that's not true. I'm trying so hard to LIKE it. I just cannot stand Axl Rose's voice. Tf is the moaning in Rocket Queen?! Yeah it's exactly what I expected. Gotta listen to some music I enjoy more to cleanse my palette. 3/10. Top Tracks: Mr Brownstone, Paradise City, Sweet Child O' Mine

This has to be one of the most overrated albums of all time. The fact that this has sold 30 million puts into context the 74 million Americans who voted for Trump. Clearly a large chunk of the country is filled with mindless trolls that want to drink Bud Light, listen to Paradise City and objectify women. Sweet Child of Mine is probably the only decent song despite its ubiquity. Everything else sounds like a rip off of better bands that came before.

fucking state of this cunt's voice man

I do not like 80s rock

I am not hair metal fan. I think they sound like a lot of other genre music that comes out of the 80s. The music reminds me of what my uncles would be listening to on a Saturday Night looking for something to do -- with mullets and mustaches and stale cigarettes, fake photo IDs, leaning on the bar, air guitar. Breakin' a bottle to start an unnecessary fight near the billiard tables. I can't relate. Probably revolutionary for the 80s, but did not age well? It just sounds like the quintessential sound of that period -- or maybe because I grew up around it as a kid, I just don't understand the appeal. Only songs I like is Welcome to the Jungle & Sweet Child O' Mine. Period. Because of childhood nostalgia and Rock Band.

Отстаньте

First one star rating. "Welcome to the Jungle" is okay, but not even that's a redeeming quality to save it from a low score. The rest of the album just sounds really generic, and many of the tracks are so overplayed on the radio that I just get sick of them.

You can sometimes forget how awesome Guns N' Roses were because the hits are overplayed and because of Axl Rose's general douchebaggery. But, listening to it after not hearing these songs for a while, you remember that this album is absolutely incredible. Head banging from beginning to end, to the detriment of my hearing.

I played this album to death when I was a teen. There is nothing nuisanced about this, they are not saying anything of political importance, they are literally singing about sex, drugs and rock n’ roll. They do a damn good job of it, by playing raw, riff driven belters. Even more impressive considering how much drugs they were taking! Slash is a guitar legend and the whole band oozed coolness, which was in direct contrast to most heavy metal of the time. The albums yields 3 massive singles which propelled them to success, but the whole album is packed full of great tracks, with perhaps only Anything Goes a duffer. My musical tastes have changed a lot since then, and I don’t think history has judged the casual misogyny well, but this album remains a classic and is untouched in its genre. Top track: Paradise City

Appetite For Destruction is raw and full of energy. The riffs hit like a freight train, and the drums keep everything moving fast. It’s like Zeppelin on a caffeine binge, leaning into chaos but still feeling tight. There’s something about it that’s impossible to ignore.

Appetite for Destruction is one of my all-time favorites. It came rushing out of the Southern California hard rock scene like a speeding Nightrain. For my money it is one of the greatest rock records ever. https://tinyurl.com/55pbcea7

WHO DEY

A game changing album and band.

A favorite

Vaikka en mikään iso Guns N' Roses fani olekkaan niin onhan tää ihan pirun kova levy täynnä hittejä. Eka ajattelin että onko tällä yhtään kappaletta mitä en olisi ennen kuullut mutta kyllä niitä sitten kuitenkin jokunen oli. Parhaat: Welcome To The Jungle, Nightrain, Sweet Child Of Mine, Rocket Queen, Paradise City

One of my favourite albums of all time.

Excellent all the way through!

One of my favorites

This is probably the last perfect rock debut album. I remember hearing in the late 80's that Axl and Slash were voted 'most likely to die of unnatural causes' like 3 years in a row. This band should've been my generations Rolling Stones. Drugs and egos fucked that up though. This album is proof that nothing exceeds like excess. Game changer and total banger.

Great album, that is something that I really enjoyed. I knew half of the songs, which I was surprised by, because I was a big fan of Guns N' Roses' music when I was younger. I still enjoy their greatest hits and clearly also enjoyed their not-so-greatest hits. I would say that out of all of the albums that I have gotten on here, this one might be overall the best one, as the other albums are either super weird or not all of the songs are 5-star worthy ones.

Perfection

Obra prima do rock

i think it was great. it wasn't too long or too boring. loved

It's difficult to label Guns N' Roses. They're a little too heavy for hard rock, but they're not quite full on heavy metal. It's glam like Mötley Crüe but there's an edge to it. It's got a grittier sound. Everyone knows the three big singles. I think I've been worn out on 'Welcome To The Jungle' by playing it a lot on Guitar Hero 3 and 'Sweet Child O' Mine' is just overplayed in general. Having said that though, I absolutely can't deny they're both very good tracks. 'Paradise City' is the other single and for me is the best song here. The mini epic of the album. Fantastic riff that makes you want to headbang, and when it kicks into overdrive, it's fast and furious with a great solo. 'My Michelle' is probably my favourite from the rest. Really catchy chorus and a gritty riff. Now to what I don't like. I'm afraid Axl Rose is the weak link here. His voice isn't for me at all. He sounds like he's squawking a lot of the time or like he's holding his nose shut. He's so nasally and whiny. Not all the time I have to say, but he's certainly more bad than good. Slash is the star. He plays very well throughout and really is a great guitarist. I can't knock a star off purely for Axl's vocals though, because the actual music is that good. A fantastic debut and from what I understand, they never quite reached these heights again.

One of the absolutely iconic late 80's hair metal albums. So many Hall of Fame intros. One of the top 25 albums.

I don’t care. It’s a great album.

Listened Before? Y One of the best hard rock albums of all time. Everyone is probably familiar with at least part of this record. Sometimes in these reviews I rail about juvenile subject matter... THIS is an example of how you should handle such in my opinion. Gritty and hard and unapologetic instead of treating everything as a joke. A killer album. Added to Library? Y Songs added to playlist: Welcome To The Jungle, Nightrain

Amazing album! Legendary

Appetite for Destruction is an album I’m incredibly familiar with. Guns N’ Roses have always been a band I’ve enjoyed, including Chinese Democracy, but this debut has more grit, aggression, and danger than any of their other releases. Overflowing with testosterone, this album strikes the perfect balance between rock ‘n’ roll swagger and skilled musicianship. Axl’s voice—like if a chainsaw and a wildcat had a baby—combined with a ridiculously talented band, results in what is quite possibly the greatest debut album in rock history. It’s packed full of classics. Standout track: Paradise City (seeing it live was extraordinary). Score: 5/5.

I forgot how great this album was. Axel Rose kills it

This album reminds me of fall weather, driving around with nowhere to go, blasting this at ear-splitting volume. Of course, this was almost 15 years after the album came out, but it was still in regular rotation, even among a bunch of college radio station punks. A truly great album, even if you hate the band, its members and everything else they even put out it is absolutely undeniable.

Ahh the album that broke me away from listening to Michael Jackson and Culture Club. The album where I heard my first swear word in a song. The album that produced the video for Paradise City which was the most energetic video I had ever seen. There was no turning back after this album. I had been molded into a new person that still exists today. I masturbated to the moaning in Rocket Queen and to the photo on the album sleeve of the naked cartoon girl. Times were different then and I was thankful for the experience. A great rock album from start to finish. Choice Cut: Rocket Queen

Today this album brings to mind ridiculously overplayed songs and a complete douche of a front man. That wasn't the case when this album was new though. In a landscape of polished, spandex wearing, soft hair metal bands like Poison and their ilk, Appetite For Destruction was like a bomb going off. Louder, faster, dirtier, sleazier, yet somehow more down to earth. It changed the game and helped pave the way for many other bands to come.

First and Best!

I loved listening to this. Of course, I recognised half the tracks despite never having actively listened to Gun N' Roses, but it was still an exciting, raw, libido-fuelled journey that showcased every instrument's potential. This is especially true for the vocals. Axl Rose, like Robert Plant of Led Zeppelin, has a great rock scream that toes the line between high-pitched and gritty. And there are so many great vocal and guitar hooks, making just about every track easily re-listenable. Paradise City, Welcome To The Jungle, Nightrain, Mr. Brownstone, It's So Easy... Then, of course, there's the star track – not just of the band, but (arguably) of all of 80s rock – namely, Sweet Child O' Mine. I think it's safe to say that there's nothing bad about this track (in isolation), and everything good. The semi-distorted, semi-melancholic guitar riff, the wistful lyrics, the stadium-rocker chorus. Quite good eh? Sure, half of these are played to death on rock radio stations, but can you really blame them? There's such a raw power in every instrument here, all brought together into a monster of an album that can absolutely stand up against other giants of the rock genre. Side note: "It's overplayed" is not a good criticism of any form of music. Don't give a 1-star review if that's your only justification. 5/5 Key tracks: Sweet Child O' Mine, Paradise City, Mr. Brownstone, It's So Easy, Nightrain, Welcome To The Jungle

Crazy that the opening track on their debut album is Welcome to the Jungle. Overall insipid and puerile lyrics, but dang Slash is so good at guitar

I dont think G&R has any non-5 star albums. Maybe the one that came out years later when Axl's voice was done.

Yyyereaaaaahhhhhh

My all time favorite album - so glad this one is one the list!

It’s easy to forget how damn good this album is. How a new band emerged this fully formed is amazing. Three of the songs - a quarter of the album - are radio stokes and rock classics (Jungle, Sweet Child, Paradise City) that are well deserving of both. Then there’s Nightrain, It’s so easy, and Mr Briwnstone, which would have been freshman album classics but are second tier only because they are overshadowed by the other big three. Interestingly, listening to this again, I realized how much of future albums, especially much of Use Your Illusion, draws on the sound of Think About You, rather than much of the above.

this album is so good it made me sing Sweet Child o Mine with my family while I was driving and I almost crashed into an oncoming car because I had to tell my wife she was flat

Best debut riff ever? Probably. On par with Lynyrd Skynyrd for best debut album.

Good album. Every song slaps

Album you should listen before you die or album you won't be able to ignore in your lifetime? This one for me is an album to grow up to. Sweet child o mine is just so fucking perfect. Easy time I hear it I can't help, but wonder - how did they do it? Love this album, love guns and roses. Five our of five ❤️‍🔥❤️‍🔥❤️‍🔥❤️‍🔥❤️‍🔥

Classic Album

Gold

Love it

Fantastic

fucking great

**Appetite for Destruction** by **Guns N' Roses** is one of the most iconic and influential hard rock albums of all time. Released in 1987, it not only cemented the band's place in rock history but also became a cultural landmark, blending the grit of punk with the raw power of metal. Below is an in-depth review of the album, analyzing its **lyrics, music, production, themes, and lasting influence**, along with a critical assessment of its strengths and weaknesses. ### **1. Lyrics** The lyrics of *Appetite for Destruction* embody a raw, unfiltered look at life in the underbelly of Los Angeles during the mid-1980s. They are unapologetically grim, focusing on themes of addiction, hedonism, street life, alienation, and violence. - **“Welcome to the Jungle”**: The album opens with this anthem of urban chaos and survival. Axl Rose’s portrayal of L.A. as a predatory environment ("You're in the jungle, baby!") perfectly encapsulates the dangers and excitement of the city’s nightlife. The lyrics present a hostile yet seductive landscape, where survival hinges on one's ability to adapt to the brutal realities of life on the street. - **“Paradise City”**: In stark contrast to the darkness of “Jungle,” “Paradise City” offers a nostalgic vision of escape. The refrain, “Take me down to the Paradise City / Where the grass is green and the girls are pretty,” serves as a desperate plea for innocence lost. Yet, even here, a subtle cynicism lurks, as the song reveals the illusion of paradise and the inevitability of decay. - **“Mr. Brownstone”**: One of the more autobiographical tracks, it dives into the band’s struggles with heroin addiction. The lyrics are blunt and direct, avoiding glorification while acknowledging the spiraling, inescapable nature of drug dependency. This song speaks to the band's personal demons and how these vices fuel and impair their creativity. - **“Sweet Child O' Mine”**: Perhaps the only love song on the album, this track stands out for its romanticism. Rose’s lyrics convey deep affection and admiration, which contrasts with the more destructive themes elsewhere. The simplicity and sincerity of the lyrics make it one of the most relatable tracks on the album. ### **2. Music** Musically, *Appetite for Destruction* is an aggressive, high-octane blend of hard rock, punk, and blues influences, perfectly reflecting the energy and chaos of L.A. life in the ‘80s. Each member of the band brings a distinctive sound that, when combined, creates a powerful, cohesive musical experience. - **Guitar Work**: Slash's guitar playing is one of the defining aspects of the album. His ability to blend bluesy undertones with raw, distorted hard rock riffs is on full display, especially in tracks like “Sweet Child O' Mine” and “Rocket Queen.” The interplay between rhythm guitarist Izzy Stradlin and Slash adds a layered texture to the sound. Their contrasting styles (Izzy’s more laid-back, groove-heavy playing and Slash’s fiery solos) complement each other beautifully. - **Bass and Drums**: Duff McKagan’s bass work is punk-inspired but maintains a solid foundation that keeps the songs grounded. His lines are intricate yet never overshadow the guitars. Steven Adler’s drumming is ferocious, providing the songs with a relentless, driving beat. His playing on “Welcome to the Jungle” and “It’s So Easy” brings a sense of urgency to the music. - **Vocals**: Axl Rose’s voice is perhaps the most polarizing element. His range spans from guttural screams to high-pitched wails, providing a dynamic emotional palette to the album. On tracks like “Nightrain” and “Rocket Queen,” Rose’s delivery is venomous, matching the lyrical content perfectly. Yet, on softer tracks like “Sweet Child O' Mine,” his voice can convey vulnerability, showing his versatility as a vocalist. ### **3. Production** *Appetite for Destruction* was produced by Mike Clink, whose work on the album is often praised for its clarity and balance. The production avoids the overly glossy, polished sound of many '80s rock albums. Instead, it captures a live, gritty energy that is essential to the band’s aesthetic. - **Rawness and Clarity**: One of the standout aspects of the production is its rawness. The instruments are allowed to breathe, and there is little in the way of unnecessary overdubbing. Clink’s approach gave the album a street-level authenticity that many other rock bands of the time lacked. The sharpness of Slash’s guitar and the snappy punch of Adler’s drums are given room to shine without being drowned out by excessive studio effects. - **Balancing Complexity**: The production also manages to maintain clarity even during the album’s more complex musical arrangements. Tracks like “Rocket Queen” switch between heavy riffs and lighter sections, yet each part is distinct, allowing listeners to fully appreciate the band’s musicality. - **Limitations**: If there’s a downside to the production, it’s that the raw sound may alienate listeners who prefer a more polished approach. While it works well for the high-energy tracks, the occasional lack of refinement can feel jarring. However, this “rough around the edges” sound is largely what makes *Appetite* stand out from its contemporaries. ### **4. Themes** *Appetite for Destruction* explores several core themes that resonate throughout the album. These themes give the album a thematic consistency that elevates it beyond a mere collection of songs. - **Urban Chaos and Survival**: The album is rooted in the band's experiences navigating the dark side of Los Angeles. “Welcome to the Jungle” encapsulates this theme best, serving as a cautionary tale for those seduced by the city’s allure. There’s a feeling of constant threat and the necessity to be tough to survive. This theme recurs in tracks like “It’s So Easy” and “Nightrain,” which further explore the band’s reckless indulgences and survival amidst vice. - **Sex, Drugs, and Rock 'n' Roll**: Nearly every song on the album touches on one of these three pillars of rock debauchery. Songs like “Mr. Brownstone” and “Rocket Queen” explore the highs and lows of drug addiction and sexual exploits, while others, such as “Paradise City,” offer moments of reflection on the inevitable fallout of such a lifestyle. - **Alienation and Inner Conflict**: Tracks like “Out Ta Get Me” and “Think About You” delve into feelings of paranoia, alienation, and the strain of relationships. Axl Rose’s lyrical themes often reflect personal battles, internal demons, and a general sense of rebellion against authority and societal norms. ### **5. Influence** The influence of *Appetite for Destruction* is difficult to overstate. It reshaped the rock and metal landscape at a time when hair metal dominated the airwaves. Guns N' Roses brought a dangerous, rebellious energy back into rock, rejecting the glamor and excess of their contemporaries for a rawer, more primal sound. - **Reviving Hard Rock**: In a decade saturated with overly produced, image-driven bands, *Appetite* felt like a return to the raw spirit of early rock 'n' roll. It bridged the gap between the heaviness of metal and the rebelliousness of punk, inspiring countless bands to adopt a more stripped-back, authentic sound. - **Cultural Impact**: Guns N' Roses became the embodiment of rock’s darker side. They were dangerous, unpredictable, and lived the lifestyle they sang about. This authenticity resonated with a generation of listeners who were growing tired of the sanitized, polished pop-rock that dominated the charts. - **Longevity**: Even over three decades later, *Appetite for Destruction* continues to be regarded as a high-water mark for hard rock. Its influence can be seen in the resurgence of rock bands in the early 2000s, as well as its continued presence in popular culture. ### **6. Pros and Cons** #### **Pros** - **Timeless Music**: The combination of Slash’s iconic guitar work, Axl Rose’s dynamic vocals, and the tight rhythm section creates a timeless sound that has aged remarkably well. - **Gritty, Authentic Lyrics**: The lyrics provide a raw, unfiltered look into the band's lives, addressing themes that were often avoided or romanticized in rock music at the time. - **Consistent Energy**: From start to finish, the album maintains a high level of intensity. Each track feels connected, part of a larger thematic whole. - **Influence**: Its impact on rock and metal is undeniable, and it continues to inspire musicians across genres. #### **Cons** - **Polarizing Vocals**: Axl Rose’s unique voice is an acquired taste. Some listeners may find his high-pitched wails abrasive, especially on tracks like “You’re Crazy” and “It’s So Easy.” - **Thematic Repetition**: While the album’s focus on hedonism, urban chaos, and survival gives it thematic consistency, some may find that the subject matter lacks variety. - **Production Roughness**: The raw production is part of its charm, but for listeners accustomed to the cleaner, more polished sounds of later rock albums, *Appetite* can come across as a bit too rough around the edges. ### **Conclusion** *Appetite for Destruction* is a landmark album that encapsulates the danger, thrill, and chaos of the hard rock lifestyle. Its lyrics are brutally honest, its music intense, and its influence far-reaching. While not without its flaws—such as its polarizing vocals and thematic repetition—it remains one of the most important albums in rock history. It’s a definitive statement from a band at the peak of their rebellious powers, offering a glimpse into a world where survival and self-destruction walk hand-in-hand.

Honestly, I wasn't expecting much from this record. I obviously knew of the 3 mega-hits from this album, but (aside from liking "November Rain") nothing after this their debut album was worth it to me. However, while the triforce of hits do still deliver, there is a lot to this album that stuck out to me. Axl Rose's early career screaming rock vocals are iconic, the hooks throughout this album are catchy as hell, and Slash's solos are masterful. This record to me explains why GNR remain the gold standard for 80s hair metal. While the rest of their discography pales in comparison, "Appetite For Destruction" is a veritable greatest hits, which is quite a feat in a debut record. Notable Tracks: - Welcome To The Jungle - Nighttrain - Paradise City - Sweet Child O' Mine - You're Crazy - Anything Goes 9/10