Democracy for Guns N' Roses, if not China

Finally, four presidential adminstrations and untold millions of dollars later, Guns N' Roses' "Chinese Democracy" makes its ridiculously belated entrance into the world this week. Fourteen years in the works, "Chinese Democracy" has been an object of skeptical derision for so long that it's hard to believe it actually exists. Back in 2006, Spin magazine went so far as to publish a fake review as an April Fool's joke -- penned by Chuck Klosterman, author of the growing-up-metal tome "Fargo Rock City." So now that "Chinese Democracy" is finally out, Klosterman had to write a real review; and whattaya know, he even likes it!

Of course, GNR main man Axl Rose has always operated on his own timetable. Still, 14 years is a mighty long time to take on an album. So what was the holdup? Here's an attempted explanation. Also, I'd recommend giving this a look -- an amazing examination of paralyzing creative psychosis, as witnessed by one of the project's many hired hands.

Meantime, if you want an advance listen, the album is streaming on GNR's MySpace. And come Sunday, you can get a free Dr. Pepper, thanks to "Chinese Democracy" finally coming out.