Connect with us

Hi, what are you looking for?

XS ROCK

Featured Articles

Should These Songs Have Been Guns ‘N Roses’ “Ultimate Illusion”?

Should These Songs Have Been Guns 'N Roses' "Ultimate Illusion"?

When Guns N’ Roses released Use Your Illusion I and Use Your Illusion II on the same day back in 1991, a lot of critics slammed the band for releasing two albums with what they said amounted to a few good songs on each and a lot of filler songs added to make it two albums instead of one to increase their sales.

With that in mind, XS ROCK went through each album track by track and cherry-picked what we believe are the best tracks from each album and incorporated them into one single playlist of 14 songs that we’re calling “The Ultimate Illusion”. One of the things that we noticed in comparing the Illusion albums to the legendary “Appetite For Destruction” album was that the flow or order of the songs wasn’t as good as the previous album. If you listen to “Appetite For Destruction”, the energy is consistent and the songs lean more towards full-on rockers. Using that formula, we created the playlist for “The Ultimate Illusion” in an attempt to keep the album’s pace energetic even with the addition of a few slower songs in the material. Honestly, we think it adds a freshness to many of these songs when structured this way and hopefully, you’ll hear these songs in a different light as well.

Take a listen to the “Ultimate Illusion” playlist below and let us know what you think…

You May Also Like

Featured Articles

During the 80’s hard rock ruled the airwaves. Quiet Riot’s Metal Health became the first #1 metal album of all time. Soon after the...

Featured Articles

For every Motley Crue, Def Leppard, and Van Halen, There were many other bands that were really good, but somehow didn’t quite make it...

80s Heavy Metal

The 1980s hard rock and metal scene is widely known as a generation of excess and a lot of over-the-top imagery. In fact, most...

Christian Rock & Metal

01. Stryper-Stryper has to be at the top of this list. Not because I think they’re the best, but because their contribution to Christian...

Hard Rock & Metal

Formed in 1982 by Tom Keifer and Eric Brittingham, Cinderella was one of the biggest bands of the ’80s rock and metal era.  Following several...

Hard Rock & Metal

Recently, I received an advanced release for Josh Todd & The Conflict’s debut album, “Year Of The Tiger”. Most of you probably know Josh...

Hard Rock & Metal

Britny Fox was formed in 1985 with “Dizzy” Dean Davidson on vocals, former Cinderella drummer Tony Destra, former Cinderella guitarist Michael Kelly Smith and...

80s Heavy Metal

The 1980s and early 90s saw hard rock and heavy metal go mainstream and reach a large audience worldwide. The genre was split into...

80s Heavy Metal

The 1980s were an awesome time thanks to the glam/hair metal scene. The image almost became as important as the music during this period,...

80s Heavy Metal News

ARMORED SAINT Announce North American Tour With Queensrÿche; New Music Underway

80s Heavy Metal

Iconic heavy metallers ARMORED SAINT, who’ve been hard at work demoing tracks for their upcoming new full-length, will return to the stage later this...

Watch New Sebastian Bach Video "Everybody Bleeds" From Upcoming New Album "Child Within The Man" Watch New Sebastian Bach Video "Everybody Bleeds" From Upcoming New Album "Child Within The Man"

80s Heavy Metal

Check out the incredible new video and song by Sebastian Bach from the upcoming new album “Child Within The Man” set to release May...

80s Heavy Metal

Extreme performed for what appeared to be a sold-out performance for their show at Jannus Live in St. Petersburg Florida on March 8th, 2024....

Watch New Slash Video For "Killing Floor" Featuring Brian Johnson From AC/DC Watch New Slash Video For "Killing Floor" Featuring Brian Johnson From AC/DC

80s Heavy Metal

Legendary Guitarist and Songwriter Slash’s Debut Blues Album Features Brian Johnson (AC/DC), Chris Stapleton, Beth Hart, Iggy Pop, Paul Rodgers, Gary Clark Jr, Billy...

Former Megadeth Guitarist Marty Friedman Returns With New Solo Album "Drama" Former Megadeth Guitarist Marty Friedman Returns With New Solo Album "Drama"

80s Heavy Metal

Guitar icon Marty Friedman is back with his highly anticipated album ‘Drama,’ set to release on May 17, 2024, via Frontiers Music. Pre-order now...

80s Hard Rockers Lypswitch Release Their Debut Album 35 Years Later. Listen To The First Single "World Of Sin" 80s Hard Rockers Lypswitch Release Their Debut Album 35 Years Later. Listen To The First Single "World Of Sin"

80s Heavy Metal

Eonian Records is pleased to present the first single & video from LYPSWITCH “Rattlesnake Skin” which was produced & engineered by Alex Woltman (Lizzy...

Hard Rock & Metal News

Lutharo Unleash Video For Metal Masterpiece, "Chasing Euphoria"

Hard Rock & Metal

The wait is over! LUTHARO, the powerhouse of metal, have finally unleashed their much-anticipated album »Chasing Euphoria,« which is now available worldwide through Atomic...

Hard Rock & Metal

Front-man Tony Kakko adds, “This is a song about persons who think that it’s possible and okay to charm and have any and all...

80s Heavy Metal

The wait is almost over! KK’S PRIEST – featuring Judas Priest alum and GRAMMY Award-winning/nominated musicians K.K. Downing (guitar) and Tim “Ripper” Owens (vocals)...

Watch New Black Crowes Video For "Wanting And Waiting" Watch New Black Crowes Video For "Wanting And Waiting"

Hard Rock & Metal

The legendary Black Crowes have just released their latest single and music video for the song “Wanting And Waiting”. The song is from their...

Watch New GayC/DC Video For "Highway To Hell" Featuring Members Of Armored Saint, King's X and L.A. Guns Watch New GayC/DC Video For "Highway To Hell" Featuring Members Of Armored Saint, King's X and L.A. Guns

Hard Rock & Metal

“This new video is gonna ‘blow’ your mind (as well as other parts of your body),” laughs Johnny Martin of L.A. Guns about the...

DEF LEPPARD ANNOUNCE PYROMANIA 40TH ANNIVERSARY BOX SET FT. UNHEARD DEMOS AND LIVE SHOWS DEF LEPPARD ANNOUNCE PYROMANIA 40TH ANNIVERSARY BOX SET FT. UNHEARD DEMOS AND LIVE SHOWS

80s Heavy Metal

The 40th anniversary edition of Def Leppard’s iconic album ‘Pyromania,’ is out April 26th, along with a new official merchandise line to celebrate its...

XS ROCK Featured Articles

The Top 20 Hard Rock And Metal Albums Of 2023

Featured Articles

2023 had some really good hard rock and metal albums released if you know where to look and listen. The hard rock and metal...

45 Christian Heavy Metal Bands From The 80s And 90s That You Should Hear 45 Christian Heavy Metal Bands From The 80s And 90s That You Should Hear

80s Heavy Metal

Angelica Attempting to hit on the sound of guitar slingers like Van Halen and George Lynch, Angelica went for a more glam-sounding singer, similar...

20 Albums Released In 2023 That 80s Metal Fans Should Hear 20 Albums Released In 2023 That 80s Metal Fans Should Hear

80s Heavy Metal

Each year, it seems that the remaining 80s hard rock and metal bands that are still putting out new music seem to get smaller...

Check Out These 80s Metal And Hard Rock Stars' Real Names Check Out These 80s Metal And Hard Rock Stars' Real Names

80s Heavy Metal

Check out these 80’s Hard Rock And Metal Stars’ Real Names! Some of these names are well known to fans, while others might find...

Who Were The Top 15 Most-Glam Mainstream Metal Bands Of The 80s? Who Were The Top 15 Most-Glam Mainstream Metal Bands Of The 80s?

80s Heavy Metal

The 80s were the decade of excess and musically that was absolutely true as well. The hard rock and heavy metal musical landscape exploded...

Who Were The Best Straight Up, No Frills Hard Rock And Metal Bands Of The 80s? Who Were The Best Straight Up, No Frills Hard Rock And Metal Bands Of The 80s?

80s Heavy Metal

The 1980s hard rock and metal scene is widely known as a generation of excess and a lot of over-the-top imagery. In fact, most...

80s Rock & Pop

80s Music Video Of The Day

Take a trip down memory lane with this list of one-hit wonders on the U.S. charts from the years 1980 and 1981. How many...

Legendary 80s Pop Icon Adam Ant Announces 2024 American Tour Legendary 80s Pop Icon Adam Ant Announces 2024 American Tour

80s Rock & Pop

Adam Ant is pleased to announce his ANTMUSIC 2024 U.S. tour, which commences March 21st in St. Louis, MO. The English Beat will be supporting...

Foreigner And Styx Announce Renegades And Jukebox Heroes Tour With John Waite Foreigner And Styx Announce Renegades And Jukebox Heroes Tour With John Waite

80s Rock & Pop

Foreigner has announced the following: This summer we’re hitting the road with Styx! “We always look forward to being with our buddies in Styx,”...

80s Heavy Metal

Goodwyn was not only the singer but also the guitarist and main songwriter for the band. Goodwyn was widely revered as a great songwriter...

80s Pop Icon Tiffany releases new single “Angels All Around” 80s Pop Icon Tiffany releases new single “Angels All Around”

80s Rock & Pop

Just in time for the Holidays Tiffany is set to release the new single “Angels All Around” and the Limited Edition NEW Shadows cover....

Daryl Hall Gets Restraining Order Against John Oates Daryl Hall Gets Restraining Order Against John Oates

80s Rock & Pop

There’s big drama in the Hall & Oates camp as an ongoing legal battle between Daryl Hall and John Oates continues with Hall gaining...

Alternative-Punk-Electronic

Face To Face, Save Ferris, Unwritten Law, Zebrahead & More

Alternative / Punk

Brew Ha Ha Productions has announced the initial music lineup for the first-ever BRIGHTSIDE Music Festival, presented by WJRR-FM, on Saturday, April 27 at Central Florida Fairgrounds in Orlando, Florida.  Summer comes...

Front 242 Singer Hospitalized Front 242 Singer Hospitalized

Alternative / Punk

After an incredible 40-plus-year run on the road, Belgian EBM act Front 242 are setting an end to their live concert career, announcing their...

Alternative / Punk

Toxic misogyny, violence against women, and incels are the latest target Al Jourgensen takes aim at in the song “B.D.E.” (aka “Big Dick Energy”)...

Punk Legends Cock Sparrer To Release Their Final Album "Hand On Heart" Punk Legends Cock Sparrer To Release Their Final Album "Hand On Heart"

Alternative / Punk

Punk legends Cock Sparrer announce their 8th and final album on vinyl, splatter vinyl, picture disc, CD, cassette and digital formats! No one (band...

Social Distortion And Bad Religion Announce Co-Headliner U.S. Tour Social Distortion And Bad Religion Announce Co-Headliner U.S. Tour

Alternative / Punk

Social Distortion’s Mike Ness has posted the following regarding the tour: It gives us great pleasure to announce that in April we will be...

Co-Founder Of The Dictators, Scott Kempner Dead At 69 Co-Founder Of The Dictators, Scott Kempner Dead At 69

Alternative / Punk

The guitarist and co-founder of The Dictators Scott “Top Ten” Kempner has died at age 69 from complications of dementia. He would also co-found...

Rock News

Molly Hatchet Live Photos From Thunder By The Bay Festival, Sarasota, FL

Hard Rock & Metal

Legendary Southern Hard Rockers Molly Hatchet played all their greatest hits to a large, enthusiastic crowd that was on their feet throughout the entire...

Hard Rock & Metal

The 26th Annual Thunder By The Bay Music & Motorcycle Festival is a three-day event held Feb. 16-18, 2024 at the Sarasota Fairgrounds that...

Watch AC/DC's First Live Appearance Since 2016 At The Power Trip Festival Watch AC/DC's First Live Appearance Since 2016 At The Power Trip Festival

80s Heavy Metal

You can watch the full live performance of AC/DC from their Power Trip show courtesy of the Riff Raff YouTube channel. The band ripped...

DEF LEPPARD AND JOURNEY ANNOUNCE SUMMER STADIUM TOUR 2024 WITH STEVE MILLER BAND, HEART, AND CHEAP TRICK DEF LEPPARD AND JOURNEY ANNOUNCE SUMMER STADIUM TOUR 2024 WITH STEVE MILLER BAND, HEART, AND CHEAP TRICK

80s Heavy Metal

Def Leppard and Journey are teaming up for the Summer Stadium Tour 2024 with Steve Miller Band, Heart, and Cheap Trick! The Rock &...

Head East Release Their First album In Over 40 Years Head East Release Their First album In Over 40 Years

Rock

Legendary AOR band Head East is back and better than ever with the highly anticipated release of “Full Circle,” their first studio album in...

Listen To Brand New Ace Frehley Song "10,000 Volts" Listen To Brand New Ace Frehley Song "10,000 Volts"

80s Heavy Metal

Ace Frehley, former and original KISS guitarist will return with a brand new album called “10,000 Volts” on February 23, 2024. You can listen...

Rock Stars…Where Are They Now?

Where Are They Now?

W.A.S.P. was originally known for outrageous antics such as throwing raw meat into the audience and appearing to torture people on a horror-themed stage....

Winger...Where Are They Now? Winger...Where Are They Now?

Hard Rock & Metal

Winger released their debut album “Winger in 1988 and it scored the band its first platinum-selling album. Winger released its second album In the...

Britny Fox...Where Are They Now? Britny Fox...Where Are They Now?

Hard Rock & Metal

Britny Fox was formed in 1985 with “Dizzy” Dean Davidson on vocals, former Cinderella drummer Tony Destra, former Cinderella guitarist Michael Kelly Smith and...

badlands badlands

Hard Rock & Metal

After guitarist Jake E. Lee was fired from Ozzy Osbourne’s solo band, Badlands was formed when Lee recruited bassist Greg Chaisson, former Black Sabbath...

Hurricane...Where Are They Now? Hurricane...Where Are They Now?

Hard Rock & Metal

Hurricane started out in 1983-84 with the original lineup of lead vocalist Kelly Hansen (vocals/rhythm guitar), Robert Sarzo (guitar), Tony Cavazo (bass), and Jay...

Black N' Blue...Where Are They Now? Black N' Blue...Where Are They Now?

Hard Rock & Metal

  Black ‘N Blue was formed in 1981 and released four successful and critically acclaimed albums through Geffen Records including their self-titled debut (1984),...