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 - Have a Nice Day - 2005 (Buy it)
Hooking up with a new producer seems to reinvigorate Bongiovi and Sambora, et al. This time it's John Shanks, Melissa Etheridge's guitarist and the pairing seems to suit them. The edge, the span of sound, the breadth of the recording, all of it carries that anthemic weight that we've come to expect from BJ. Everyone seems to be having a good time, bringing the best out of each other, especially on tracks like Who Says You can't Go Home.
The quasi country sound suits these Jersey cowboys like a nice hat.
Can't go Home steals from "Cupid, draw back your bow and Last Man Standing is copping from Boys of Summer but it doesn't matter because it just sounds so crackly and good and excellent. Go figure.
This record really doesn't let up and I find that it's a much more enjoyable experience than Crush. It's better than Bounce and right up there with the best of the band's oeuvre. Surprising, huh?
WAIT!!!! I got it! AFI. Thats who a lot of this sounds like. Modern "hard" rock. Power Pop of the moment. Especially on tracks like Novocaine and Complicated. (Strangely enough, both are song titles of (better) songs by power poppers like Green Day and Avril Lavigne.....hmmm...toss in the song Dirty Little Secret and it really makes me wonder what JB is going for here. Is he copying? Apeing? Trying to show them up? I don't know. But it's strange to take the titles of popular rock songs, write your own songs in the Power pop/rock vein and pass yourself off as original, eh)
Interestingly, where Springsteen has become older and wiser and wizened over the years, JBJ has energized himself and his music. When Bruce was in his mid-40s he was being all introspective and shit and Jon is realizing that his wheelhouse is Big. Rock.
Well done. Love this record.
My version contains the import singles, one of which, Unbreakable, is great and one other, These Open Arms, sucks. If you buy the album on itunes, it does not come with them. So, they shall not reflect this review.
Grade A (A solid album. One of their best.)
A Sides: Have a Nice Day & Who Says You Can't Go Home.
BlindSide: Last Man Standing (Riffy, driving rock. Tasty stuff even though it steals it's riff from Henley's Boys of Summer) Last Cigarette (Punchy, gritty rock. Love it)
Downside: Crazy enough, there really isn't one.
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