Track Listing

Review

Released in 1988 to appease the baying mob of GNR fans who had devoured Appetite For Destruction and instantly wanted more, GNR Lies was a mixed bag that awakened the public to the fact that GNR were something more than the "in your face" bad boys of rock, to often alluded to in Appetite. The first half of Lies was recorded in 1986 and originally released as their first EP "Live Like A Suicide", the four songs showcasing the primal rage of a live Guns show, the covers of Aussie rockers Rose Tattoo's "Nice Boys" and Aerosmith's "Mama Kin", as well as two original compositions are in direct contrast to the second half of the record, four acoustic tracks recorded two years later in 1988. The lovelorn lyrics of Patience and the almost black comedy of Used To Love Her are harshly contrasted by the redneck ranting of One In A Million, a gem of a song which unfortunately was easy bait for those in the media all too eager to misinterpret and drag GNR, and Axl in particular as their figurehead, from the mantle they had been placed on.

Lies was indeed a mixed bag, different enough to not draw comparisons to Appetite For Destruction and, as more of a stop gap until the next full album, it shown the band's two alter ego states, the vicious live rockers and the more folk orientated acoustic songsmiths. While hardly a classic, Lies did contain two songs (Patience and One In A Million) worthy of any album, though those buying it would have scarcely believed it would be another three years before Guns finally made their next opus available to the public, and for now Lies would have to do if they wanted more from Guns N' Roses.

Review by Alan Hylands

At the band's request, this record will not be serviced (they don't want it to be misperceived as the exorbitant prices) four-song debut EP, Live ?!*@ Like A follow-up to Appetite), so sorry, gang, ya gotta buy it. This stop-gap release combines their long-unavailable (except at Suicide, with four acoustic tracks recorded this year. The Suicide tracks are as raw as you'll hear GNR on legal vinyl-live and absolutely kicking ass-pairing two covers (Rose Tattoo's "Nice Boys" and Aerosmith's "Mama Kin") with two raunchy originals that don't even hint at the depth of the band's songwriting talent (which is why I thought they were nothing special when I first heard this EP two years ago). Parental consent is advised on all the newer tracks. There's a slow ballad ("Patience"); a totally obnoxious rocker ("I Used To Love Her (But I Had To Kill Her)"); a long, rockin' neoracist rant ("One In A Million"); and a slower, semi-acoustic version of "You're Crazy" (there's another different version-slower, bluesier and totally acoustic-on the import 12" of "Jungle"). While this record doesn't fill in all the gaps in their catalogue, there's plenty here to tide everyone over `til the next full LP.

Review from www.cdnow.com