Ok. So, I'm listening to Chinese Democracy, the song, and I can't help giggling. It's not what would conventionally consider shitty, but it's way too produced. The term overproduced just doesn't do it justice. No rock song needs this absurd level of production. Hell, I can't even think of a pop song that requires it. The multi-tracked vocals sound horrible, and as other users have pointed out, the lyrics are absurd.
I never expected Chinese Democracy to come out. So, I wasn't sitting around expecting it to be the best album ever. I can't say I'm disappointed, but my opinion of GNR was pretty neutral. I mean they had a few good songs in the 80's, but they had the worst song structures I ever heard. The multiple solo breaks in Welcome to the Jungle just seem entirely unnecessary.
Perhaps the coolest thing is that the album is already banned in China. If I was in a major band, I'd certainly like to have banned in China on my resume.