For an album nearly a decade in the making that’s attracted more pre-release buzz than any preening rock god could dare ask – from Rock Band sneak peaks, an FBI arrest and throngs of Spaghetti Incident apologists looking for renewed showers of “November Rain?”-it’s no wonder Guns N’ Roses’ Chinese Democracy is being heavily courted by major retailers for exclusive sales. 
For an album nearly a decade in the making that’s attracted more pre-release buzz than any preening rock god could dare ask – from Rock Band sneak peaks, an FBI arrest and throngs of Spaghetti Incident apologists looking for renewed showers of “November Rain?”-it’s no wonder Guns N’ Roses’ Chinese Democracy is being heavily courted by major retailers for exclusive sales.
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Wal-Mart may have AC/DC’s Black Ice next month, but it looks as if Best Buy may be the CD pimp of choice for Axl Rose for his long-awaited opus. No final say has been confirmed from the higher-ups yet, but with months worth of hype about Democracy‘s impending ‘08 street date-including the icing-on-the-cake impetus of free Dr. Pepper for all-it looks as if plans are tightening up to meet fans’demands. As the only original GNR member left, though, Axl’s ponytailed mug may not be enough for some naysayers who fear the worst. In a time of lackluster reunions from bygone lords of rock such as The Stooges to Stone Temple Pilots, and with off-the-chart expectations demanding more than the aging L.A. rabblerouser might be able to deliver, it’s a coin toss as to whether or not Democracy will prick critical ears. That aside, whether for Best Buy or some other lucky suitor, anything from Guns N’ Roses is a sure-fire unit pusher that can only mean overflowing cash registers.
