There are a lot of predictions going around about who will win the battle for the top spot on the music charts by the end of this week. Analysts are divided over whether Guns N’ Roses will be able to reconnect with average listeners (given the 15-year wait since their last album, as well as generally poor marketing and no promotional interviews by any of the bandmembers). On the other hand, Kanye West – a certified bestseller – is being met with fairly critical reviews of his new album, and will likely have a hard time surpassing his 900,000 debut for last year’s Graduation. GN’R also had the advantage of putting out their album two days early, on a Sunday, rather than the typical Tuesday release (thanks to their exclusive with Best Buy), which should give them some extra numbers in the final tally.
So, who do you think will be the victor? Vote here, and feel free to post your thoughts below on the showdown between these two music giants.
{ 8 comments… read them below or add one }
john, when you comment on your own blog is that the alternate universe version of you who wrote The John Zone on livejournal?
Also, check out Axl and Kanye's jawline – it's like they're blood brothers! Why don't they just collaborate.
Well, since the new WordPress theme doesn't put my name under the articles, I can get away with pretending I didn't write them – and thereby commenting on them. It's kind of fun. I think I'm going to start arguing with myself for the sake of argument. Also, I thought you wrote The John Zone? If not you, then who?! I printed all the reviews out and turned them in as assignments during this semester; I received an A+ on the Am3rIKKaN PsYCh0 review, but you were waaaay off mark on Master's Commander. I got a big fat D.
Oh, and also, every time I leave a comment, it automatically gives me a thumbs up! How cool is that? Admins get privileges!
I think it could really go either way. On one hand, Kanye's hugely popular with the mainstream right now. On the other hand, GN'R – despite becoming irrelevant over the years – still has enough of a built-in fanbase and the album itself has such myth and hype surrounding it, that I wouldn't be surprised either way. But I'm edging towards Kanye.
dude…gnr all the way!!!! kayne doesnt write any good music
We know what JLO thinks, now, but what about Ben Affleck?
I'm surprised GNR is winning this poll…critical praise or not, Kanye is much bigger right now, especially with two singles from his album within the Top Ten of the Hot 100. I mean, there's probably lots of people out there who didn't even know Chinese Democracy came out. You'd think after 14 years it'd be the album event of the century…it should've been portrayed as this classic, era-defining masterpiece (of course that's not the case, although I was admittedly impressed that it didn't completely suck). Instead, it's just another album.
I agree wholeheartedly. The release of the album seemed very understated considering how big it is. I think it COULD have been a huge seller if promoted well – but Axl didn't do a single interview, there were minimal ads in general, and no strong push for the single. As for GN'R winning the poll – I think somebody posted the link to this article on a GN'R site and everybody manipulated the vote. I should post it on a Kanye forum to balance it out.