G N' R Lies

G N' R Lies follows the explosive debut by placing Guns N' Roses' raw early charge beside acoustic shading on a single record. The first four tracks are re-recordings from the 1986 EP Live ?!*@ Like a Suicide, carrying a live rawness that includes covers of Rose Tattoo's “Nice Boys” and Aerosmith's “Mama Kin.” The latter four are newly recorded, largely acoustic songs that reveal another side of the band. Mike Clink again produced. The quietly picked “Patience,” a fine ballad opening with whistling, reached number four on the US singles chart and proved a songwriting range that does more than win through riffs. Meanwhile “One in a Million” drew heavy controversy over its discriminatory lyrics, exposing the band's danger as well. The gap between the rough first half and the intimate second half captures the range of early Guns N' Roses. Though brief, it leaves a vivid picture of emotional intensity and unpredictability.