Great tunes
In my utterly amateur opinion, these songs sound really good. And I enjoy the emotion behind them.

Can a band be HoF material based on 1 album?
In a few more years, this may be a legitimate debate, as GNR becomes eligible for the RnR Hall of Fame. And though the band put out about four more albums (Lies, Use Your Illusion I and II, Spaghetti Incident), this is the definitive piece of work for this band. And with good reason! Unlike most of the other "Hair Metal" bands that were more about glitz (a certain New Jersey pretty boy comes to mind), this band was simply supersonic, nitty gritty, raw rock! Twenty years later, and this album is just as hard hitting! I first saw them open for Motley Crue on the Girls, Girls, Girls tour in 1987 (thanks to Google, I found the actual date!) ... we had camped out (back in the days when you could do that!) for Crue tix, and had never heard of GNR; I remember wondering WTF 'cause Aerosmith had been opening for Crue on an earlier leg of the tour. Then we went to the show, and it was definitely WTF ... as in, OMG, who the HELL are these guys, they ROCK!! Slash was on stage trashed, carrying a bottle of Beam. To this day, I still remember them performing most of these songs, particularly "Mr. Brownstone" and "Paradise City", which was simply incredible. Also, they did their "Knockin' on Heaven's Door" cover. After the 45 minute we were already exhausted. My best friend went to the store the next week and bought the tape; he couldn't stop talking about them

Over the course of the next few years, as the band blew up big time, I remember telling people about that show. I think it still stands as my favorite to this day, with maybe Pink Floyd competing! But this was sheer decadence, and it felt GOOD!!!

It is shame that this band imploded, since this could have been truly legendary band along the lines of The Who, Zeppelin, etc. Then again, what made them great is what destroyed them (alcohol, coke, smack), although the aforementioned bands somehow survived, at least for a while. Alas, I digress ... this album is one of the all-time greats of rock; the balance between Slash's lead and Issy's rhythm is superb, Duff (bass) and Steve Adler (drums) created a pounding rhythm section that is comparable to Jones and Bonham. And so much has been said about Axl, but what truly amazes me is that he has the scratchy, shrieking voice, but is able to sing in three octaves with ease. And even on this first major label release effort, the production is stupendous, with Axl providing his own backing vocals in different octaves, which is probably the signature part of the sound! Check out "It's So Easy", especially the bridge and, of course, "Paradise City". It all made for incredible melodies and harmonies at a sonic decibel level.

All in all, this was no "hair band"; this band was as loud and raw as it got. As the last salvo to the '80s, they provided a terrific bookend with Brian Jone's incarnation of AC/DC for the decade that came in loud and went out loud, even if there was a lot of mush in between! Even as the band was collapsing of its own stature, grunge was on the rise (ironically, Nirvana would repeat this brief but iconic story arc with an even more tragic ending). When the time comes in a few more years, I hope this band is given its due!

Give Credit Where Credit Is Due!
C'mon without Tracii Guns this album would have never been possible..."Sound never repeated" Get an L.A. Guns C.D. Moron! Why doesn't anyone wonder why Axl was never able to duplicate this success, and why he always relied on cover tunes? BECAUSE TRACII WASN'T THERE TO WRITE THE MUSIC!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Also why Axl is sitting on his rich fat butt and Tracii is still rockin' out with legends like Nikki Sixx! Because Axl was a no talent hack! Tracii Guns Rocks Axl was, is, and always will be a wannabe!

Rock's Crowning Jewel
I remember the moment vividly... It was Memorial day weekend in 1988. Warm, sunny, and perfect. I was at my cousin's for a birthday party. We were playing army in the front yard. I was 13.
I stopped playing suddenly, got "shot", didn't care, and walked next door where the cute little blond neighbor girl was watching us. She was sitting on the grass, listening to the radio and the song playing was the pied piper of my childhood. I stood in front of her. We smiled at each other and she giggled, "Its called Paradise City".
That song, and this album has become the anthem of my life. If not the greatest rock and roll album ever, it is surely the greatest of the last 30 years and maybe the greatest ever created from an American band.
The highest selling non-country album made in the last 25 years, almost 30 million sales worldwide. #1 on billboard album list for 1988 AND 1989. It was the last major rock album to be formatted for vinyl. Not only is Slash considered one most influential guitarist ever, Axl's voice, a combination of sweet, smooth, and angry, has never been duplicated. This album is so good, in fact, that millions have waited 15 years for their next one.

The peak of 1980s metal
There will be little that is remembered about the 1980s LA scene 20 years from now except Guns N' Roses. This was a young band with fresh ideas and a very strong rhythm section. 'Welcome to the Jungle' 'Out ta get me' 'Sweet Child o Mine', 'Mr Brownstone' and 'Paradise City' were all instant classics. Rocket Queen becomes one on repeated listening.

The guitar soloing on this albumn is outstanding. Slash was influenced by many of the greats including Hendrix and Clapton, but ended up with his unique "double stop" guitar riffs, very reminiscent of Jimmy Page, but also with a nod to punk idol Steve Jones. Duff McKagan was more a product of the punk / alternative scene, and the bass lines reflect the same pumping energy of early punk. Izzy Stradlin is a strong songwriter, and his contribution to the bank was largely in securing the rhythm section while Slash went ballistic. In some ways his contribution to the band has been downplayed. Steven Adler was the best GNR drummer. While not as precise as Matt Sorum, on this album he played with an energy and intensity rarely felt.

Last, but not least, I turn to Axl Rose. This album tended to polarised opinion in the media given his unique voice. Given it is not necessarily the most accessable aspect of the band, I would say this is the area which would put you off if you describe your style as "adult contemporary". However, he is scarcely better than on this album.

If you knew the band the first time around, there is nothing I can now say to change your opinion. For those looking for classic rock, look no further.