I am not going to bother hearing any more beyond the couple of leaked songs I had. Your reactions are depressing.
Why is this called the new GNR album?
It's a marketing thing, I'd say -- b/c of the success of (the old) GNR, keep the name and sales will jump up.
But, honestly -- as long as "Axl Rose Presents..." and then lists the new name of the band on the album cover somewhere, I think people would've STILL bought it. He hasn't release an album in years, so of course people would want to hear it. Plus, let's face it -- he is Axl freakin' Rose. It'd probably be easier to swallow this album if it was not under the GNR band-name, as well.
It should be Rose's solo.
Actually, Rose should've renamed the band to something different, since so many of the original members left the band.
BTW, I've heard the album grows on you... but that sounds substandard for GNR.
It's hard to take this album as a whole -- especially since it's long and eventually goes all over the place.
After the first few tracks which sounds like old GNR (Appetite and Illusion LP's), it feels like a rock mixtape as it delves into other styles of rock, as well.
I'd say expect that kind of experimentation into other genres say from The White Stripes (an experimental rock band), not say GNR.