Appetite for Destruction Songs Ranked
Appetite for Destruction is the debut studio album by American hard rock band Guns N’ Roses. It was released on July 21, 1987, by Geffen Records. The album was released to little mainstream attention in 1987. It was not until the following year that it became a massive commercial success, after the band had toured and received airplay with the singles “Welcome to the Jungle”, “Paradise City” and “Sweet Child o’ Mine”. It topped the Billboard 200 and became the best-selling debut album of all time, as well as the seventh best-selling album of all time in the United States. With over 30 million copies sold worldwide, it is also one of the best-selling records of all time. Although critics were originally ambivalent toward the album, Appetite for Destruction has since received retrospective acclaim and has been viewed as one of the greatest albums of all time. In 2018, it was re-released as a remastered box set to similar acclaim. Here are all of Appetite for Destruction songs ranked.
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10. Think About You
“The band tries to escape the darkness of “Michelle” by bringing in one of their most straightforward love songs. Not as well remembered as the next ballad, nor as good, but it really has its charms. It gets a little repetitive, but it’s catchy. Not every song on an album can be “Paradise City”. There have to be more modest album tracks like this, and it works well.”
9. Out Ta Get Me
“If I were forced to pick a least favorite track on “Appetite”, it would be this one. It goes on to long and get a bit to repetitive at times. Still it has its strong elements. Axl seems particularly intense and the drumming seems particularly for some reason.”
8. My Michelle
“Easily the darkest track on the album, Axl seems unnecessarily cruel on this track to the groupie it was written about. It was the dark spot the album had to get to eventually. It’s hard to take, but brutally honest. They had to go there, and the album is better for it being there. Still it can be hard listening, and it really just isn’t as catchy as many of the other tracks.”
See more: Guns N’ Roses Albums Ranked
7. It’s So Easy
“Not as technically complex as other tracks here, but it’s easily the best of the non-single sleaze tracks. Axl is singing a much different voice than on “Jungle”. The lyrics are great sleaze, what can be more gleefully misogynist than “Turn around bitch I’ve got a use for you” the “come with me, don’t ask me where” section is also great..”
6. Mr. Brownstone
“This track begins to really show the albums darker side which will get to an extreme later. The song is clearly about heroin use, how this has become a staple of rock radio I don’t know, but I’m glad it is. The lyrics here really flow well. The band is also pretty damn good. The chorus is a classic.”
5. Rocket Queen
“The album’s fourth, more forgotten epic. The song is clearly designed to be the closing track. It starts off with more of the raunchy Rock & Roll sleaze that the album had been celebrating and reaches a literal climax in the form of an audible female orgasm (which reportedly wasn’t faked). The song than changes tone dramatically, Rose begins to sound like a nice person.”
See more: Guns N’ Roses Songs Ranked
4. Nightrain
“Best sing-along track on the whole album, I managed to memorize all the lyrics to the song without trying. In all truth the lyrics are really just stupid fun and there isn’t much here that isn’t done better on other tracks. However there is just a spirit to the song that really carries it, it works better than the sum of its parts.”
3. Paradise City
“The most lovable classic of the album. The excellent vocal harmony come out of nowhere and hits you over the head. The musical melody is crisp and clear, with great anthemic hooks throughout. The song maintains the sleazy atmosphere while still sounding hopeful. It’s like an oasis between the albums two darkest songs “Mr. Brownstone” and “My Michelle”. The chorus just makes you want to jump up and put your fist in the air.”
2. Welcome to the Jungle
“One of those great opening tracks that just make you say “Holy shit! this album is going to change Rock and Roll. “It Smells Like Teen Spirit” was one of these tracks, so was “Blitzkrieg Bop”, and like both of those tracks it has been played so many times that it’s power can be forgotten. Like most of the album it feels loose and punky, when it is in fact well tunes and masterfully performed.”
1. Sweet Child O’ Mine
“The ultimate power ballad, easily the most remembered and loved GnR song among the more casual mainstream listeners. Opens with that iconic guitar thing that he does. The lyrics are sweet but well delivered, this kind of emotional song on a sleazy album like this SHOULD sound like a lame sell out, but it DOESN’T sound like that at all. Axl’s lyrics really come off as heartfelt. Slash has said this is one of his least favorite, but that’s just odd considering he sounds great on it, his solo here is one of the all time greats.”