Over 130 million albums sold. Let that sink in for a minute. That’s how many records Bon Jovi have sold in their 30 year career. It’s beyond impressive.
While they may have been lumped in with the throwaway hair bands of the 80’s, after 3 decades in the music business, the boys from New Jersey have firmly established themselves as not only the biggest rock band of all time, but also one of the most relevant musical acts ever.
With their 13th studio album (This House is not for Sale) hitting the charts at number 1 just a few weeks ago, there is no denying Bon Jovi’s staying power. They’ve outlasted all the trends by continually delivering their brand of meat and potatoes rock and roll. They know what their fans want, and the Jon’s ability to deliver number single’s is something to behold.
Since the bands last album in 2013, they lost founding member and lead guitarist Richie Sambora, broke up with their record label, and dealt with personal trauma behind the scenes that Jon has gone on record as saying left him battered and bruised. However, with great pain come great songs, and this new record, which can best be described as the spiritual successor to 2005’s Have a Nice Day, offers fans 12 new songs that fit nicely in the bands catalogue.
From the fist pumping arena anthem tracks like Knockout and This House is not for Sale (THINFS), to the country influenced Scars on this Guitar, this is in every way a Bon Jovi album. However, where the album shines best is on tracks like Labor of Love (which was clearly inspired by Chris Isaak’s Wicked Game), New Years Day and Devil’s in the Temple. These tracks show a clear effort by Jon and long time producer John Shanks at evolving Bon Jovi’s trademark sound and it works.
As a life long fan of Jovi and the boys, I can confidently say that there is no forgettable tracks on this album. If you’re looking for filler, you won’t find it here. After being disappointed with the bands last couple of releases, THINFS retains Bon Jovi’s trademark gritty optimism, while also producing tracks that feel much more raw and emotional than anything they have released in the past 10 years.
While not their best work (that spot is reserved for the criminally underrated These Days), Bon Jovi’s newest release feels like the band’s most personal offering to date and is a true renaissance for the band. It’s also incredibly refreshing to see an aging icon (Jon Bon Jovi) acknowledge the realities of getting older instead of desperately trying to hide it. His hair has gone grey and his voice isn’t what it once was, but he knows how to craft a song and there are few performers that can match his on stage presence.
With sonic nods to their heyday sprinkled into their modern recipe, THINFS should satisfy new and old fans a like.
Best Track: Labor of Love
Stand out performer: Phil X (Sambora’s replacement).
Verdict: 8/10
Review – Randy Smith
Share this :
