I know nothing about Bon Jovi save the big super hits that catapulted him and his group to megastardom. Is there anything more to the once high-haired glam pop rock than just faux country anthem rock?
Let's find out.
Bon Jovi - Bounce - 2002 (buy it)
Okay. So Bruce had The Rising.
Neil Young had his album about 9/11 (I'm not a Young fan so I have no idea what it's called)
And Bon Jovi, being from New Jersey, they have to weigh in as well.
Okie dokie. Let's listen to Bounce.
Brother in the Rubble? Sister in the Crush? Ouch. Oh, hey, the chorus is coming up, I bet it's a downe---One for Love? Hmm...
You know what? This opener isn't half bad. It's gritty, painful and, for the first time I have no idea who they sound like. It's almost that, after rendering himself anonymous on so many records that sound like someone else, JBJ and the gang have actually managed to sound, dare I say, important? At the very least they sound like Bon Jovi.
Let's keep listening.
Whoever songwriter Andreas Carlsson is he's having a very positive effect on the Bongiovi crew. This album is shaping up to be more about moving on and picking up the pieces than it is about feeling bad about ourselves. Of course, both of those sentiments are uniquely American ones, but the moving on is what I would expect from these guys. Life is just another record, tour, movie, tv show, American Idol appearance. You gotta keep pushing forward.
It should be noted that just about 5 songs in and it still isn't horrible. I've just read the Ehrlewine review on allmusic and I totally disagree.
When he says that Sambora's guitars "never lets the music breathe" he's wrong. This album is about not being able to, in a way. That's the point.
"this is a record where Bon Jovi seems to have consciously decided to avoid everything that gives their music character, melody, and muscle" Um...Steve, have you been listening to the same band I have? Character? Muscle? Sorry, pal. This album actually has some power and crunch and assertiveness that the bright sheen of pop on Crush was sorely lacking.
After a crappo ballad we're hit with a dustbowl grunge song called "Hook me up" which has Jon channeling his inner Josh Todd (buckcherry). It works. It doesn't suck, at least.
Does Bounce work as a post 9-11 catharsis. I don't know. Maybe. It is definitely the band's most accessible and appreciable record in a long while.
Quick Note: I just read that the final track "Open all Night" was written by Jon as response to his character being cut from Ally McBeal. It's not a vengeance song but, rather, his sentiments on how he wished his character had exited the show. I think that's kind of a neat idea. It's not a great song, but it's not that bad.
You could do worse than to listen to Bounce.
Grade B
A Side: Everyday
Blindside: Undivided & Bounce
Downside: All About Loving You & Right Side of Wrong. (Oh, that's just awful. Horrid. Turgid. Painful. Embarrassing. Make-it-stop!)
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