The American public had better figure out what they’d do with a free Dr. Pepper, because Axl Rose might finally have harpooned his white whale. Several tracks from the oft-delayed Chinese Democracy hit the web yesterday along with a proposed track list, fueling speculation the album might actually be released in the near future. Though this is hardly the first time that “finished” tracks have hit the Internet, the fact that Rose has secured new management and entered in a good-natured publicity stunt with Dr. Pepper indicates that he might finally be ready to unleash Chinese Democracy.

The big question remaining, however, is if it will be worth a listen. Though some blogs have already attacked the leaked tracks as being dated and indulgent, that simply isn’t the case. They sound like Guns ‘n’ Roses songs. Rock might have moved on since Axl’s heyday, but he’s remained isolated from it. He’s an iconoclast. Chinese Democracy would only sound dated if Axl Rose was conscious of musical trends. With a musician like Rose, his voice is the only one that truly matters. I only hope that these leaked tracks lead to a full album release and triumphant stadium tour. The music world has been a little poorer for Axl’s absence. [Billboard]