
loss of direction & impending disaster
Review created: 07/28/08(updated 07/28/08)

As far industry standards go, this is an average cd by an above average band. As far as Bon Jovi goes, this is indeed a sub-par effort. Their skills have been muted on this disappointing outing.
Bon Jovi provides us with another slice of Americana (especially with I Love This Town and the title track), and as with older Mellancamp (the Pink Houses era), there are some vague spiritual notions but mostly the typical romantic inklings. This pop-country escapade eventually gets tiring after awhile.
The title track has already been made nauseous with radio overkill, unfortunately. Make a Memory, a sappy ballad is now making its annoying rounds as the second single. Even though it has some cool violin and piano, the bass-line makes it monotonous and boring (this would probably give Sambora time to change into another rattlesnake skin outfit and the drummer time to have a smoke). Got It Goin' On is supposed to be the rocker but it is campy and as stale as moldy cheese.
Although this cd is a bit disappointing, at least the band isn't embarrassing themselves like so many 80's classic rockers are doing nowadays. At least Jon is proving that he has matured a little and has learned a few things along the road, but the musical direction that has been taken here is still somewhat questionable. The band still knows how to rock and play to the crowd, but that is only apparent with past hits.
Incidentally, Christian rocker Russ Taff did the same thing about 10 years ago with mixed results. While his transition from Medals, which rocked, to The Way Home, which welded rock and country admirably as also attempted here, he then went totally country with Under Their Influence and his career never recovered. While Jon Bon Jovi isn't predestined for Gaither-ville just yet, it bears some concern as to whether continuing in this vein will be his demise, or if he'll recover his rockin' roots and resurrect his career.
This is pop, plan and simple. But, is it the fore-runner to further country endeavours in the future? Will Sambora ever cut-loose again? Lyrically, will Jon address his own political interests and mature beyond the encouragement of irresponsible relationships that is so prominent on the radio?
Stay tuned, I guess.
Review ID: 10000000008107420

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