Coming up with your three most influential albums is no easy task.  However as Guns N Roses’ Use Your Illusion I was the album that introduced me into the whole rock and metal world it simply could not be kept off of they list. 

Back in the early 1990s I wasn't really into music, I only knew what got played on the radio or was on compilations. I knew a few songs here and there and was slowly making my way towards the world of mainstream rock music via albums my sister had bought (Bon Jovi, Def Leppard etc…).  Songs that made an impact at the time included things such as Kiss’ “Crazy Nights”, Mr. Big’s “To Be With You” and Whitesnake’s “Here I Go Again”, as well as “Don’t Cry” and “November Rain”. After hearing more of the Use Your Illusion I album the next logical step was to actually buy it, my first CD.  As I was never brave enough to take a leap into unknown music any albums I bought had to be ones I already knew most, if not all, of. Therefore my CD collection grew at an unbelievably slow rate, and Use Your Illusion I was never off my stereo for long. 

I appreciate that the album will never be seen as Guns N Roses’ best, I’m not going to tell you otherwise, but I will say that while everyone harks on about Appetite For Destruction I feel that the Use Your Illusion albums are too easily overlooked. Looking at the album itself the aforementioned “Don’t Cry” and “November Rain” are classic songs that I am sure many bands wish they could have written.  While a lot of the album is made up of ballads, songs such as “Double Talkin’ Jive”, “Don’t Damn Me” and “Bad Apples” show perfectly that they could write good faster songs as well.  The album finishes on a high with “Dead Horse” and the epic “Coma”, a song that is often forgotten about when people talk about the band. Other songs on the album are perhaps a bit lacking. I’m not a fan of “Garden Of Eden” and “Back Off Bitch” is hardly inspiring, but for nostalgia at least, I still enjoy listening to the album. 

I have managed to see each member of Guns N Roses live (Velvet Revolver, Guns N Roses, Adler’s Appetite and even Gilby Clarke) sadly though, I have not managed to see them all together. Despite what many people think about the current incarnation of Guns N Roses I still got goose bumps seeing them at Download in 2006 and on their subsequent tour, and I would jump at the chance to see them again.

Let us know your views on Use Your Illusion I

Track Listing

Right Next Door to Hell
Dust n' Bones
Live and Let Die
Don't Cry
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

Line Up

Axl Rose - Vocals
Slash - Guitars
Izzy Stradlin - Guitars
Duff McKagan - Bass
Matt Sorum - Drums
Dizzy Reed - Keyboards

Related Links

Guns N' Roses - Hammersmith Apollo Live Review

Guns N' Roses - Birmingham NEC Gig Review

Velvet Revolver - Libertad CD Review

Velvet Revolver - Newcastle Live Review