Axl recording session in London - UPD.: M. Schenker's UFO tribute album (ft. Axl and Slash) to be released on Sept. 20th

[Sweersa]

It sounds a little better the 4th time hearing it, on a decent system.

Anyways, it still doesn't hit me like the 2000 mix of Hardschool first did, or the Monsters leak, or any of the CD-era leaks. Of course, that is 20 years ago Axl...

[WhazUp]

Haven't heard it (can't seem to find it!) however for those who have - how does it compare to the way Axl sounded on Rock the Rock - which I actually thought was not bad?

[Blackstar]

Just now, WhazUp said:

Haven't heard it (can't seem to find it!) however for those who have - how does it compare to the way Axl sounded on Rock the Rock - which I actually thought was not bad?

I think he sounds better on this than on Rock the Rock (different style and different kind of songs, though - if RtR can be considered a "song"), but I guess others disagree.

[Gordon Comstock]

5 minutes ago, WhazUp said:

Haven't heard it (can't seem to find it!)

 

For some reason you seem to have PM's disabled?

[WhazUp]

1 minute ago, Gordon Comstock said:

 

For some reason you seem to have PM's disabled?

Not sure what occurred there, but try that now! Thank you for the totally unrelated heads up about turning off that feature

Edited yesterday at 02:31 AM by WhazUp

[Blackstar]

I get that the song itself is not everyone's cup of tea. 70s soft prog bloat with a lot of bells and whistles (not surprising that Axl obviously loves it).

I like it, though.

[evilfacelessturtle]

44 minutes ago, Voodoochild said:

He’a just using (a lot of) reverb and compression. It’s not filtering, or any kind of altering (like modulation or pitching) effect. 

It really isn’t processed. Hell, there were people saying it was AI generated. 

There is, without question, pitch correction, for one thing. You can hear it snap to pitch in more than one place.

There's not that much reverb either, and compression doesn't change how something sounds like that. You can find a compressed MP3 of any other Guns song on Youtube and it doesn't make him sound like that.

Here's Patience uploaded on a potato in 144p:

Axl still sounds the same, just shit quality.

[WhazUp]

Listening to it now, definitely hearing the Melodyne working overtime - that said yeah this is definitely the Axl of the 2020s, not the Axl who guested on Angel Down and delivered some of the meanest powerful vocals he has laid down in 30 yerars

It isn't bad, though to my ears it is just kind of there.  Like, Axl seems fairly dubdued on it overall - which it being a studio recording you could take many vocal passes at I wish he went for a couple more high notes during the second time his vocals showed up to crescendo into the last bit of the song

[Bitchisback]

👀 

[Gordon Comstock]

46 minutes ago, WhazUp said:

It isn't bad, though to my ears it is just kind of there.  Like, Axl seems fairly dubdued on it overall - which it being a studio recording you could take many vocal passes at I wish he went for a couple more high notes during the second time his vocals showed up to crescendo into the last bit of the song

 

I thought his take was pretty faithful to the original, it's not really the kind of song to go full throttle on. It's not bad but he's proven that he can't mix himself properly... I don't know why he insists on such heavy studio distortion.

But I still think a covers record is their best option, let Clink and co. record a handful of covers and you'd have a better record than anything they could write nowadays.

[Duwz]

It sounds like he's been obsessed on making his voice sound raspy again, so the effects disguises the softness that the falsetto brings. But we all know how it actually it would sound like without the processing, just listen to NITL soundboard recordings. Kinda sad.

[El Guapo]

Urgh, I'm afraid to hear it. :/

[AxlRoseCDII]

If this is the best Axl has left in the tank, I don’t see how the band would ever be able to make a new album and I can see why they’ve been cherry picking songs recorded 20 years ago. It sounds way too over processed to the point where it’s distracting.

[matt1313]

Not that hard to find if you search in other forums.  Anyway... it's not bad.  I think some folks are being overly harsh.  Most of it even has low level rasp.  It's not powerful like 80's/90's rasp, but it clearly isn't meant to be.  Softly sung... hints of rasp.   I'm a happy camper.  I bet Axl could still lay down some great vocals on GNR stuff.  Hopefully this is the springboard he needs to get back in the studio. 

 

Edited yesterday at 04:59 AM by matt1313

[GoForJMark]

I thought it was fucking Bon Jovi on the first line lol

[estrangedtwat]

Honest to god, our very last hope for a final send-off song at this point is the "Children of the Revolution" cover.  I hope it sees the light of day.

[Gordon Comstock]

3 hours ago, estrangedtwat said:

It's a colossal letdown.  I know some people are trying to convince themselves that it's not, but it is.

What a garbage song.  Axl's voice is only in about 2:30 of the song...the rest is just pure wankery.  Boring as shit to sit through.

It's so ridiculous that the last "decent" known recording of one of the greatest voices in rock history is gonna turn out to be that insipid throwaway cartoon song, but there it is.  At least he sounded like himself on that song.   This just showcases his deflated, weak, decimated old man voice.

 

It suddenly makes sobering sense why he never released a proper single after the reunion:  he can't.

 

We knew about this song months ago but you didn't bother to listen to the original? It was always gonna be an instrumental wankfest. The songs we could've heard 'classic Axl' on were the ones he abandoned... I think they were Only You Can Rock Me and Too Hot To Handle.

It's a decent performance by recent standards, mixing/effects aside. With a professional team GNR could do a great covers album or EP, but Axl/Caram would have to step down.

Edited yesterday at 05:27 AM by Gordon Comstock

[jamillos]

The fact it’s over-processed and multi-layered is not surprising, after all it’s in the vein of the latest recordings, including CD. The main thing is, the medium rasp is still there when he wants to, it’s just weaker, of course. And btw, this is the best we can get regarding this particular song – if he does it live, he’ll probably do the low Maddy-like rasp but when it goes higher, he’ll switch straight to mickey undoubtedly. 
But it’s great to hear some official studio work from him again. It’s crazy when you think about it. One of the most famous singers, and these two songs – 2018 (17?) and now 2023 – are the only truly new recordings in the last 20 years that we’ve heard...

Edit: Oh and Angel Down.

Edited yesterday at 09:38 AM by jamillos

[SoulMonster]

45 minutes ago, estrangedtwat said:

Honest to god, our very last hope for a final send-off song at this point is the "Children of the Revolution" cover.  I hope it sees the light of day.

Hmm? You don't think we will hear more finished songs from the CD era?

[gnfr20179]

12 minutes ago, SoulMonster said:

Hmm? You don't think we will hear more finished songs from the CD era?

I agree.. we know there’s other stuff that has been worked on that hasn’t been released. Honestly, if Slash/Duff weren’t back in the fold, I’d be less optimistic, but they wouldn’t have even tinkered with the “‘Chinese’ leftovers” if they didn’t see some degree of merit in them. There will be something, of course “soon” is never the right word to use…

Edited yesterday at 06:05 AM by gnfr20179

[SoulMonster]

"Elsewhere, singers and songs are matched up with shrewd precision. Dee Snider was born to sing "Natural Thing", and he attacks every line with his customary whirlwind energy, turning the whole thing into a rowdy, yob rock singalong. Similarly, few could inject "Love To Love" with as much drama as a noticeably on-form Axl Rose, and his graceful but gutsy vocal is only matched by Schenker's updated histrionics. What a song that is, even 50 years later. Joey Tempest does a similarly fine job with a beefed-up "Only You Can Rock Me", and the fresh combination of Slash And ex-SKID ROW singer Erik Grönwall proves itself to be a smash hit at the first time of asking. To cap it all off, RATT legend Stephen Pearcy gets snotty and wired on a particularly dirty version of "Shoot, Shoot". RATT rule. Schenker rules. UFO are gods. This has been fun."

Review: Reviews - My Years With UFO - BLABBERMOUTH.NET

[SoulMonster]

10 minutes ago, gnfr20179 said:

I agree.. we know there’s other stuff that has been worked on that hasn’t been released. Honestly, if Slash/Duff weren’t back in the fold, I’d be less optimistic, but they wouldn’t have even tinkered with the “‘Chinese’ leftovers” if they didn’t see some degree of merit in them. There will be something, of course “soon” is never the right word to use…

Absolutely. Axl didn't spend that much effort on these songs to not release them, and everything seems to go according to the somewhat loose plan described by Slash and Duff. It just takes time. But more music will come, I am sure  

[Bitchisback]

I think Ax sounds great.  I doubt I will listen to this often but it was cool to hear that dudes voice again.

 

[SoulMonster]

"A list of names that would make any Rock-n-Roll lover’s mouth water, everyone seems to have a blast recording this album, and most of all, do not mail it in. Showing they are all also fans of the UFO material at hand, some of the coolest moments captured on the album include “Only You Can Rock Me” (with Joey Tempest and Roger Glover), “Doctor, Doctor” (with Joe Lynn Turner and Carmine Appice), “Love to Love” (with Axel Rose), “Lights Out” (with Jeff Scot Soto and Europe’s John Norum), as well as “Rock Bottom” (with Kai Hansen)"

Review: Michael Schenker - My Years With UFO (Album Review) - Cryptic Rock

"When I read that Axl Rose had picked up the vocal duties on ‘Love To Love’ – maybe my favourite UFO track of all time, and easily amongst my Top 10 rock songs ever – I was trepidatious. A little more soul and a little more gravitas would have been better perhaps, but Axl’s gravelly tones work well enough. He finds character on this occasion, rather than histrionics, and it lets the majesty of the track shine through. Schenker and Sherinian do the rest."

Review: Get Ready to ROCK!--Album review: MICHAEL SCHENKER – My Years with UFO--

[SoulMonster]

"Track Highlights:

Mother Mary: The lead single features Slash’s distinctive guitar work and Erik Grönwall’s powerful vocals, breathing new life into this UFO classic.

Doctor Doctor: Featuring Joe Lynn Turner and Carmine Appice, this track revisits one of UFO’s most beloved songs with renewed vigor.

Love to Love: Axl Rose lends his iconic voice to this emotive ballad, making it a standout track on the album."

Review: Michael Schenker: My Years with UFO - Rock Revival? | Michael Percy (mikepercy.uk)