Use Your Illusion

by

Guns N' Roses

Edit

This is a really good cd and I gave it five stars, but it is no substitute for Use Your Illusion I & II. It's a nice enough overview of the two albums, but it focuses mainly on their more radio oriented songs. This is almost a UYI Greatest Hits. While I'm sure no one will really agree what songs should or should not make the cut, it is clear that songs like "You Ain't the First" and the second version of "Don't Cry" are not needed on this one cd compilation. To be sure, it has two of the biggest essentials: "Estranged" and "November Rain", but so much is missing that it pains me to think someone might buy this album and miss out on so many other songs. Some of the more glaring absences include, "Bad Obsession", "Double Talkin' Jive", "Don't Damn Me", "Bad Apples", "Coma", "Breakdown", "Pretty Tied Up", "Locomotive" and "You Could Be Mine". Use Your Illusion I & II both have as much music as a cd can hold, and are, essentially, the length of three albums. It's worth your time and money to get them both. Only buy this compilation if you are a collector, or if you're looking for a gift without any bad language.

Made in USA in 1998, Serial# GEFD-24463, Playing Time 63:52

The best thing about this CD is the idea for the cover that merges the artwork from the individual "Use Your Illusion 1" and "Use Your Illusion 2" CDs.

If you're on a tight budget, it's worth it, and you can be the proud owner of the edited version of "Knockin' On Heaven's Door", the full version being on the original CD "UYI 2". Or if you're a die-hard GNR fan, you'll have to buy this for the very same reason.

Releasing the albums as a pair was somewhat daring, and I can't say I like everything on them. But each of them has some material that unfortunately didn't make it on this "compilation".

I'm by no means a big GNR fan, but I think you should do yourself a favor: buy both separately, and forget about this compilation.