Guns N’ Roses: Use Your Illusion Ultimate Track-by-Track Duel
Welcome to the ultimate Guns N’ Roses Use Your Illusion I vs. II ultimate track-by-track duel!
When Guns N’ Roses released Use Your Illusion I and Use Your Illusion II on September 17, 1991, they didn’t just deliver one of the most ambitious projects in rock history, but also sparked a friendly debate among fans: which album is superior? While both albums are monumental in their own right, fans have long debated which songs stand out the most.
Since it is the anniversary of it’s release, we are bringing you the one of our older articles, now translated and edited, to celebrate these two monumental albums. Let’s dive into head-to-head match-ups between tracks from both albums and settle this musical duel.
Rules
The point of the story is, above all, to have a lot of fun by putting one song from each of these two albums to the test, one against the other, commenting on them, and declaring a winner. The winner of each duel earns two points. The songs will be paired as they appear on the albums, with perhaps one small exception. Since Use Your Illusion I has 16 tracks and Use Your Illusion II has 14, we’ll have to make another small exception by moving the last song from Use Your Illusion I to Use Your Illusion II so that both albums have an equal number of songs.
If the result is a tie at the end or if Use Your Illusion II is leading by two points, the victory will still go to Use Your Illusion I. Let this be a kind of small handicap in this match.
1. Right Next Door To Hell vs Civil War
The album opener Right Next Door To Hell is a true rock ‘n’ roll hurricane, perfectly designed to set the tone for Use Your Illusion I. Furious and raw, the track showcases the band’s new rhythm section featuring Duff McKagan and Matt Sorum. With its aggressive energy, it could easily have found a home on Appetite for Destruction.
On the other hand, Civil War from Use Your Illusion II gives us a different Axl Rose, one who reflects on societal and political issues. Addressing themes like violence, poverty, and the gap between rich and poor, it’s a lyrically deep track, highlighting Axl’s skill as a songwriter. The powerful acoustic-aggressive arrangement and memorable Slash solos make Civil War a standout. While Right Next Door To Hell is a fantastic rock opener, the depth and ambition of Civil War win this round.
Winner: Civil War
2. Dust N’ Bones vs 14 Years
Both of these tracks are fronted by the legendary Izzy Stradlin, and both showcase his unique blend of rock and blues. Dust N’ Bones transports listeners to Izzy’s and Axl’s Indiana roots, with its introspective lyrics and laid-back vibe. It’s a track filled with life’s illusions and struggles, the kind of sound that Izzy would later pursue on his solo albums.
14 Years, on the other hand, reflects on the hardships the band members faced on their road to fame. Many speculate it refers to the 14 years of friendship between Axl and Izzy, though the band has never confirmed it. The track features Axl on piano, providing a richer sound compared to the more stripped-down Dust N’ Bones.
In a match as tight as this one, we have to decide between Slash’s talk-box guitar on Dust N’ Bones or Axl’s piano in 14 Years. The guitar wins out, giving Use Your Illusion I the point.
Winner: Dust N’ Bones
3. Live and Let Die vs Yesterdays
Guns N’ Roses have always had a penchant for covers, and their take on Paul McCartney and Wings’ Live and Let Die is a prime example. While they infused it with their own brand of rock, it’s still a cover, which leaves some fans wanting more original material.
Yesterdays, an original track from Use Your Illusion II, is a reflective song about moving on from the past. Co-written by Axl and the band’s close friend West Arkeen, it’s a heartfelt ballad with a message of personal growth. While Live and Let Die is a classic in its own right, Yesterdays feels more personal and unique to the band’s story.
Winner: Yesterdays
4. Don’t Cry vs Knockin’ on Heaven’s Door
Another cover, Knockin’ on Heaven’s Door is a song the band has played live countless times, becoming a staple of their concerts. Bob Dylan’s iconic track is given the GNR treatment, often stretched out to over 10 minutes in their live shows.
Don’t Cry, on the other hand, is one of the band’s oldest songs, written long before their debut album. It’s become a symbol of heartbreak and yearning, capturing the emotional intensity that the band can deliver. Although it may not be as universally recognized as Knockin’ on Heaven’s Door, the original songwriting on Don’t Cry gives it the edge.
Winner: Don’t Cry
5. Perfect Crime vs Get in the Ring
Now, let’s return to our turf. Two explosive rock anthems going head-to-head. The frenetic “Perfect Crime,” written by Slash, Axl, and Izzy, is another of the older songs that found its place on the UYI albums. It was first played as far back as 1986. If you’ve ever wondered what Axl looks like on a substance that “accelerates the machine,” this is exactly what “Perfect Crime” represents.
Get in the Ring is an infamous track where Axl unleashes his rage on the music press, calling out magazines like Circus and Kerrang by name. It’s a rare moment of pure, unfiltered anger from the frontman. However, Get in the Ring has never been played live, and its lack of live energy diminishes its impact. In contrast, Perfect Crime shines in concert settings, especially during their legendary 1991 Indiana show.
Winner: Perfect Crime
6. You Ain’t the First vs Shotgun Blues
You Ain’t the First is a laid-back acoustic track, giving a glimpse into the band’s lighter side. Written solely by Izzy, it’s a raw and simple song, often performed during acoustic sets on their Skin N’ Bones tour.
Shotgun Blues is a fast, hard-rocking song believed to be directed at Vince Neil of Mötley Crüe, following a well-documented feud between him and Axl. With Axl even playing rhythm guitar on the track, it’s a heavy, aggressive song, yet it remains a deep cut rarely played live.
Though both songs are deep cuts, You Ain’t the First stands out for its unique, stripped-back style.
Winner: You Ain’t The First
7. Bad Obsession vs Breakdown
Bad Obsession is a track that channels the spirit of Mr. Brownstone and features contributions from West Arkeen. Its slide guitar, courtesy of Slash, and the guest appearance from Michael Monroe on harmonica give it a distinctive, groovy feel.
Breakdown is one of the more complex tracks on Use Your Illusion II, with deep lyrics and intricate musical arrangements. It’s often cited as one of the most underrated GNR tracks, with a dark and atmospheric feel that shows the band’s maturity. Despite its brilliance, it was only performed live twice due to its complexity.
While Breakdown is a masterpiece, Bad Obsession is more consistent and clear in its intent, giving it the upper hand.
Winner: Bad Obsession
8. Back Off Bitch vs Pretty Tied Up
Back Off Bitch is one of the band’s older songs, dating back to before Appetite for Destruction. It’s filled with Axl’s anger and frustration with women, a recurring theme in his lyrics. Co-written with Paul Tobias, it’s one of the heavier, more metal tracks in their catalog.
Pretty Tied Up is a classic Izzy Stradlin creation, written about the wild decadence of rock and roll. With its sitar intro and energetic groove, it’s a quirky and memorable track that stands out among the band’s discography. Fans have always loved its tongue-in-cheek lyrics and rockabilly flair.
While Back Off Bitch is intense, Pretty Tied Up has more character and flair.
Winner: Pretty Tied Up
9. Double Talkin’ Jive vs Locomotive
Double Talkin’ Jive is another track written and sung by Izzy Stradlin. It’s got a dark, bluesy vibe with a chilling backstory—during recording, a severed head and hand were discovered near the studio, inspiring the song’s grim lyrics. Its flamenco outro, played by Slash, gives it a distinctive edge.
Locomotive, on the other hand, is a heavy, bombastic track with an intricate riff from Slash. Lyrically, it tackles Axl’s troubled relationships, with a funky-heavy sound that sets it apart. Despite its complexity, it’s rarely been performed live.
While Locomotive is one of the band’s most ambitious tracks, Double Talkin’ Jive is simply too iconic to overlook.
Winner: Double Talkin’ Jive
10. November Rain vs Estranged
Two of the band’s grandest songs face off in this epic duel. Both clocking in at around 9 minutes, November Rain and Estranged are driven by piano rather than guitar, setting them apart from the rest of the albums. November Rain is one of Axl’s oldest compositions, blending the influence of Elton John and Queen, with a climactic guitar solo from Slash that has become legendary.
Estranged feels more like a true Guns N’ Roses song, despite being another Axl-penned piece. It encapsulates the band’s megalomania, success, and internal struggles, and perhaps even foreshadows their eventual breakdown. While November Rain may have the better video, lyrically and musically, Estranged is more expansive and profound.
This was a tough call, but in this heavyweight match, Estranged comes out on top.
Winner: Estranged
11. The Garden vs So Fine
The Garden is a dark and atmospheric track from Use Your Illusion I, featuring a guest appearance by Alice Cooper. Its eerie, psychedelic vibe sets it apart from many of the more straightforward rockers on the album. Cooper’s sinister vocals, combined with Axl’s more subdued delivery, create an unsettling yet mesmerizing experience. The song’s cryptic lyrics and brooding atmosphere make it one of the more experimental tracks in GNR’s discography.
So Fine, from Use Your Illusion II, is a rare moment where bassist Duff McKagan takes the lead on vocals. The song is a tribute to Johnny Thunders, the former New York Dolls guitarist who was a major influence on Duff. With its heartfelt lyrics and soulful delivery, So Fine is one of the more tender moments on either album, but it doesn’t pack the same punch as The Garden.
While So Fine is a beautiful tribute, The Garden offers a richer, more unique sonic landscape.
Winner: The Garden
12. Garden of Eden vs You Could Be Mine
Garden of Eden is a high-energy punk-influenced track that barrels forward with relentless intensity. It’s one of the shortest songs on Use Your Illusion I, but it leaves a lasting impression with its rapid-fire lyrics and explosive energy. The song’s music video, filmed in one continuous shot, adds to its frenetic charm.
You Could Be Mine, featured on Use Your Illusion II, was famously included on the Terminator 2: Judgment Day soundtrack. It’s a quintessential Guns N’ Roses track with a thundering rhythm section, blistering guitars, and Axl’s biting vocals. The song became a massive hit and remains a staple of their live shows, often ser”ving as the band’s closing number.
While Garden of Eden is a wild ride, You Could Be Mine is a career-defining anthem.
Winner: You Could Be Mine
13. Don’t Damn Me vs. Don’t Cry (Alt. Lyrics)
“Don’t Damn Me” is a raw, powerful track that unfortunately never got the chance to be played live. It’s a shame, considering the explosive riff that Slash delivers. This is the only song from UYI I that was never performed, and according to Slash, it’s because of the sheer amount of lyrics, with barely any room for Axl to catch his breath between lines, even at his peak. Thematically, it’s another classic “Axl vs. the world” narrative. Overall, it’s a solid song that showcases the strong collaboration between Axl and Slash.
On the other hand, we have the alternate lyrics version of “Don’t Cry.” While some fans prefer these lyrics over the original, having the same song on both albums feels unnecessary. Instead of this repetition, a track like “Ain’t Going Down” could have been a better choice. One version was more than enough. As a result, the win here goes to the energetic and underrated “Don’t Damn Me.”
Winner: Don’t Damn Me
14. Bad Apples vs. My World
“Bad Apples” is far from the first song you think of when it comes to Guns N’ Roses. Buried near the end of UYI I, it doesn’t stand out compared to the other tracks. In short, it’s a song mostly enjoyed by die-hard fans. It’s a loose, barroom rock ‘n’ roll track without much of a clear direction. What makes it interesting is that it’s the only song on the UYI albums that was co-written by Axl, Slash, Duff, and Izzy, marking the last time they all collaborated before Adler’s departure. Sadly, this track reflects the state of the band at that time.
“My World,” on the other hand, is less of a song and more of an experimental sequence. It holds very little value as a stand-alone track. Sure, it might fit at the end of such an ambitious project, but it’s not something you’d actively listen to on its own. While some later saw this as a hint of Axl’s future industrial interests, no one saw it coming in 1991. In this battle, “Bad Apples” wins easily, but if it were up against almost any other song from UYI II, except for “Don’t Cry (Alt. Lyrics),” it probably wouldn’t stand a chance.
Winner: Bad Apples
15. Dead Horse vs. Coma
As explained earlier, due to the imbalance between the two albums (UYI I has 16 songs and UYI II has 14), one track had to be shifted to make the comparison fair.
“Dead Horse” stays on UYI I in this match-up. Though it was never officially released as a single, it did get some radio play and a video release. The song starts with Axl strumming an acoustic guitar before turning into a bluesy, punk-infused rock track, where Axl tackles themes of nihilism.
On the other side, we have “Coma,” the longest Guns N’ Roses track ever. Axl called it a “monster,” and it’s easy to see why. The song is challenging, both lyrically and musically. It was so intense that Axl claimed he passed out several times while writing it. Meanwhile, Slash created a riff-heavy masterpiece. While “Dead Horse” is an interesting song, “Coma” stands as one of the most complex and impressive pieces on both albums, giving it the clear win.
Winner: Coma
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That’s it! The official Junkyard Album Showdown is over, and it’s time to crown the winner!
So, after tallying the results, we see that Use Your Illusion I won 9 of the match-ups, while Use Your Illusion II recorded 6 victories. According to the system we explained earlier, this gives Use Your Illusion I a total score of 18 – 12 over Use Your Illusion II, or in favor of the yellow illusions.
It’s interesting to note that the album which debuted at number two on the Billboard charts back in 1991 managed to defeat its twin brother, which was actually sitting at number one on that very list at the same time.
Just to clarify: this was all in good fun and a tribute to this legendary release. Deciding which album is better is tough, and whatever you say might be right or wrong. Ultimately, we’re curious about how you would have placed your bets and which album would come out on top for you: Let us know!
