In a mixed review, "Chicago Tribune" writer Greg Kot found Rose's production over-embellished. "The Guardian" criticized the album as incohesive and "exhausting", but praised Rose's melodies. "Pitchfork" complimented the vocals but criticized the "dated" sound. "Q" considered the album overproduced, stating "by throwing everything at the wall and nailing up the stuff that didn't stick, has done himself a grand disservice". Kitty Empire, writing for "The Observer", accused Rose of "cribbing" from the industrial rock of Nine Inch Nails. "The New York Times" described "Chinese Democracy" as "a transitional album". Rock biographer Stephen Davis was more vitriolic and named "Chinese Democracy" "the worst album ever".