The most uplifting songs are “Street of Dreams” (a leaked song previously titled “The Blues”) and the exceptionally satisfying “Catcher in the Rye” (a softer, more sophisticated reworking of “Yesterdays” that occupies a conceptual self-awareness in the vein of Elton John or mid-period Queen). The fragile ballad “This I Love” is sad, melodramatic, and pleasurably traditional. There are many moments where it’s impossible to tell who Axl is talking to, so it feels like he’s talking to himself (and inevitably about himself). There’s not much cogent storytelling, but it’s linear and compelling. The
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