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List Price: $37.98 | | Label: Universal Japan/Zoom
Salesrank: 812164
Released: June 23, 2009 |
| Our Price: $37.98 |
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| Media: Audio CD |
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Use Your Illusion II Track Listing:
1. Civil War
2. 14 Years
3. Yesterdays
4. Knockin' on Heaven's Door
5. Get in the Ring
6. Shotgun Blues
7. Breakdown
8. Pretty Tied Up
9. Locomotive
10. So Fine
11. Estranged
12. You Could Be Mine
13. Don't Cry [Alternate Lyrics]
14. My World
Editorial Review:
Japanese only SHM pressing. The SHM-CD [Super High Material CD] format features enhanced audio quality through the use of a special polycarbonate plastic. Using a process developed by JVC and Universal Music Japan discovered through the joint companies' research into LCD display manufacturing SHM-CDs feature improved transparency on the data side of the disc allowing for more accurate reading of CD data by the CD player laser head. SHM-CD format CDs are fully compatible with standard CD players. Universal. 2009.
Description of Use Your Illusion II:
Had Use Your Illusion II been combined with Use Your Illusion I, keeping only the best material while dropping the filler, it would have been one of the best rock albums ever recorded. Instead, great songs like "Civil War," "14 Years," "Estranged," and "So Fine" compete with the inexcusable "Get in the Ring" and the well-intentioned but off-target cover of "Knockin' on Heaven's Door." There's no point to the second version of "Don't Cry," either. On the other hand, when Guns N' Roses were good, they were very, very good, and some of the material on this album is unsurpassable. --Genevieve Williams
Use Your Illusion II Reviews:
Illusion 2 
2009-12-10 - Use Your Illusion 2 is part 2 of the Use Your Illusion albums . The remake of"Knockin On Heavens Door" is good. "Get in The Ring" is a very funny song, but very explicet, but good. The punky "Shotgun Blues" is a fun song. "Breakdown" is a very good song . "Pretty Tied Up" is one of the most interesting songs on the album. It is very different. "Locamotive" is a great and very interesting song. "You Could Be Mine" is a fast paced song and one of the best. There is a version of "Don't Cry" with different lyrics. Some more popular songs like "Estranged", "Civil War", and "So Fine" . But this is a very great album from an amazing rock/metal group. This band had a world of talent. It's a shame that they have had so many problems. Buy the album .
Roses smell better than guns shoot 
2009-09-27 - Like its volume 1 counterpart, UYI2 contains enough memorable ballads and a few charming southern rockers to overlook a lengthy majority of dated work which doesn't necessarily stand the test of time.
THS REVIEW FOR BACK IN BLACK VINYL VERSION!!!!
2009-03-22 - This album is a FIVE STAR. ALL of Guns albums are. THIS VERSION of UYI I is a 3 STAR. Back to Black has been accused on several vinyl lovers sites of pressing CD Masters on vinyl. After getting original LPs of all of Guns albums to date, I would have to agree this version sounds like a CD. It does not sound like it came from an ANALOG source. Check out vinylengine.com for more on Back in Black vinyl. Recommend paying more and looking for an original issue from eBay.
Epic, Theatrical, Part II...
2009-01-07 - Use Your Illusion part 2. Many say that comparing to the first part, this one has more substance and less filler. Others say the band should have just combined the two albums into one, with the best material of each. However, if the band did that, those same people would compalin that we got a slew of unreleased songs and should just make an album of them as well. Oh well, you can't please everyone.
That said, part II of this theatrical masterpiece is considered by many to be the last great effort by the band. If that were the case, then they pulled no punches! An album that had it all; great rockers, heavy ballads, deep lyrics, and heavy GnR style riffs! There is definetly no shortage of what makes GnR one of the best bands of all time!
1. Civil War - Starts of haunting, with a portion from the movie Cool Hand Luke as soft whistling comes in. Awesome way to open an album (which GnR have always been good at) with heavy riffs and deep, meaningful lyrics; really sets the tone for where the album can go. 5/5
2. 14 Years - This song did take me a bit to get into fully, however I feel there is some great harmony on this track. Aside from that, there is very solid bass playing as well. Could this song have been some serious forshadowing for how long it would take to release Chinese Democracy? Haha, with GnR you never really know. 4/5
3. Yesterdays - I would consider this song to be the first ballad on the record. To me it has that tone of the heavier portion of "November Rain" and there definetly is that element of having had more production. Making is sound grander and bigger for the final product. Again, the bass is what stands out for me here, and really brings everything together in a very solid song. 4/5
4. Knockin' On Heaven's Door - Although this is a cover song, this may be the most recognizable version. In my opinion it is one of the best covers ever heard. The band may have over-produced this song in spots again making it sound very large and theatrical, but it works because the lyrics are very powerful. Everything gels together so well here, and Slash's guitar work shines through! 5/5
5. Get In The Ring - Now, many people may think this song falls a bit short for the bands standards, but I'll tell you, I like it. In the beginning, you hear a crowd chanting "Guns N' Roses" with a bluesy overtone of Slash's guitar, then the heavier riffs and drums blast in for that classic GnR rockin' feel! What I also like about this song is the fact that it has that straight-up rockin' feel, but maintains that bluesy over-tone! The entire band gets into the act here, and it just seems like an awesome song to write and perform! 5/5
6. Shotgun Blues - This song picks up right where "GITR" leaves off. Heavy rocker, with solid guitar playing from Slash. Duff also stands out pretty heavy here! Another solid song that seems like it was fun to create; a lot of RAW emotion. 4.5/5
7. Breakdown - Another song with a slightly softer bluesy tone. Starts with awesome whistling from Rose (ala Patience) then comes in with pretty solid guitar work. I think the piano is what brings everything together on this track, one of the under-rated gems on the album as a whole. 5/5
8. Pretty Tied Up - An awesome track! Truly a Guns N' Roses rocker! The way Axl sings is very slow and kind of sinister. When the guitars and drums kick in, you know this is going to be a killer tune. Very solid, and very cool! 5/5
9. Locomotive - Another solid track here. Has the essential heavy riffs, almost like "Appetite", yet again has a sort of bluesy influence within it. Axl also adds a new trick to enhance his vocal technique on this song; not sure if that fits in the end, but the lyrics are amazing and really fit the rest of the album. 4.5/5
10. So Fine - It took be a few to get into this song, but feel it is pretty powerful within the context. Duff McKagen again stands out here and shows that he is very essential to the overall flow of the band. 4/5
11. Estranged - A very, very powerful ballad from the band here. In some ways I think it could beat out "November Rain" I hear a lot of emotion from everyone in this song, and Slash does an amazing job brininging that emotion out through his guitar. Drums also play a key role in this song as it keeps everything on pace and really stands out against the screech of the guitars. Amazing! 5/5
12. You Could Be Mine - This is just one of those killer songs that you'd expect GnR to put out. When I saw them in concert back in '06 and this tune came up, the crowd just erupted. Amazing track with heavy lyrics, heavy guitar, heavy and raw emotion! 5/5
13. Don't Cry (alt. lyrics) - For those with UYI part I, you know this song, Good track, but really I do feel there is no need for the same song to be on a double album of work, alternate lyrics or not. Good song oversll, and a GnR classic. 4.5/5
14. My World - I hated this track at first, but the more I listened, the more it caught my attention. Very heavy, very raw. GnR captured that raw feel that listeners heard on "Appetite" and close out the album on a very, very heavy note!
There you have it, two albums of masterpiece work. Was this the end of the GnR golden era? You be the judge!
About "Chinese Democracy"
2008-12-10 - Slash is my guitar hero of all time. Unexpectedly Buckethead is just as great as he is, or even better. Try one of Buckethead's albums, you will fall in love with and finally get addicted to his underestimated talent. Buckethead can play any style as well as guitar god Jeff Beck. "Chinese Democracy" is definitely the best rock album since 1991. It got what the other great rock bands like Metallica, AC/DC, etc. are always missing: beautiful melodies. In fact, Axl's new album is way way better than any Slash or Duff's solo projects. If your religion is rock music, then Axl Rose is your God and his albums is your Bible. Buy more copies of this masterpiece for your family and friends to do them a huge favor!
