Guns N' Roses new album

It seems like this might be a disappointing fall for music. Two albums that might have been critical and commercial blockbusters, albums by U2 and Jay-Z, look like they might not be finished this year. Kanye West is putting out a new record, but it's a non-hip hop experiment that has about a 50 percent chance of failing completely. Unless you are getting excited about the new Hinder and Nickelback releases, it might be a dull couple of months.

So after a decade and a half, Axel Rose thinks this is a good time to drop the new Guns N' Roses album. The sudden rise of of Guitar Hero and Rock Band certainly helps: look what it did for Metallica's resurgence. Say what you want about Axel's singing - he might be a marketing genius.

Now the funny part: how is he going to distribute this album? A multi-tiered online/store release like the Hold Steady did? A revolutionary pick-a-price deal like Radiohead's? No, this album is going to be released at one store. On November 23, you can find this album at Best Buy and nowhere else. I have mixed feeling about this idea:

1.) I like the idea of midnight release parties with people flooding the store to be the first to hear a new release. I think iTunes pretty much killed this idea; it will be a nice throwback to my high school years.

2.) I like the idea of them saying no online vendors because they want people to physically own the album, but did you also have to screw over independent record stores? Aren't they suffering enough?

3.) I hope Best Buy keeps up on demand, because this is going to be one of the biggest selling albums of the decade, even if it isn't good. That's my not-so-daring prediction.

I know I should be pissed about Axel jerking me around for the past decade and a half, but I will almost definitely buy this album for two reasons: I think there is still talent there, and there have been a staggering lack of memorable mainstream rock albums in the past five years. Once we get the hype out of the way, we can see if the music will stand on its own.

I'm going to go search for leaked GNR tracks on the internet now.