One of the all-time great hard rock albums from any band, decade, or planet, this record rips so hard that the bad songs make the great songs better and the great songs make the bad songs good. The intro to “Welcome to the Jungle” perfectly captures that moment right as the roller coaster pulls up to the crest for the big plunge, and from there it’s a nonstop thrill ride. Axl Rose is a madman guiding you through Paradise City, Izzy Stradlin and Slash’s guitars are out to get you, it’s so easy, bottoms up! They pause briefly for the unmatched tenderness of “Sweet Child o’ Mine” before calling you crazy and declaring that anything goes. Everything else seems watered down in comparison.