Customer Reviews

The Circle

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When I did a review for the CD Bon Jovi released two years ago, I wrote that the "Lost Highway" (the album's name) was more of a country road. Don't get me wrong, that CD was excellent, it debuted in the number one spot and included some of the best songs the band ever recorded. John Bon Jovi stated that the album was influenced by Nashville and was also recorded there. Two years later, with this CD, the band is back on the road to rock and roll, Richie Sambora said as much in a Rolling Stone interview recently. So what does that all mean for the fans? Simple-it's a good album.
The first single released was the music-with-a-message song "We Weren't Born To Follow"; a song about the average Joe facing hard times, and it is a quintessential Bon Jovi song. The turn back onto the rock and roll highway also means some blasts from the past; the melody for "Work For The Working Man" sounds a lot like "Livin' On A Prayer" and the new track "Thorn In My Side" shadows "Runaway" a bit. All this is not to say that this album is just re-hashed 'Jersey Rock'; "Live Before You Die" and "Fast Cars" are superb songs and the band rocks out hard on "Bullet". To the band's credit, "Love's The Only Rule" may very well be the most unique song Bon Jovi has ever recorded; the bombastic drums, John's vocal delivery and harmonic U2-style guitar solos help to make this song a pleasant surprise indeed.
When you listen to this CD, it's obvious that John Bon Jovi and band mates wanted to deliver the best rock disc that they could, but they didn't shy away from wearing their hearts on their sleeves; this album is full of social commentary, but even when it's veiled in rock bravado the lyrics show a real concern for the plight of the average Joe. Although seemingly not one to go around patting himself on the back all the time, John Bon Jovi is quite the philanthropist and does indeed walk the walk by helping the down and out and really trying to make a difference in people's lives. That sentiment carries through onto this CD. As far as the music goes, the drive down a country road two years ago was nice, but it's really good to hear the band race down the rock and roll highway once again. This is a good one.

We are so enjoying this CD, our entire family listens to it.
As well fast delivery service which is an added bonus.
Thanks

This is a very great CD. If you love Bon Jovi, you will love this one for sure.

I like Bon Jovi because my favorite band Cinderella got into the limelight because of them. Besides, I liked their heavy sound of the 80s. This album is heavier of any recent Bon Jovi albums during the last 10 years. The album is too real life oriented with lot of social commentary. Since I like songs that have social commentary, this is the single most welcome aspect of this album for me. Some of the songs will take you down to the memory lane as they sound like revamped older songs.

Song #1 'We weren't born to follow' is definitely a reference to the lives the rockers have lived and preached to their fans.

#2 'When we were beautiful' takes us back to the band's past, to thier glory days, and we can relate.

#3 'Working for the working man' is a heavier number with social commentary. This is my best song of the album.

#4 'Superman tonight" is a typical very slow Bon Jovi ballad, which I did not quite like.

#5 'Bullet' is another heavier song with social commentary. Richie Sambora breaks loose here with a great solo. This is definitely another of my favorite.

#6 'Thorn in my side' is very un-Bon Jovi song. There is another good solo by Richie.

#7 'Live before you die' is between a rocker and a ballad.

#8 'Brokenpromiseland' is another of my favorite blusey slow tempo rocker with great guitar solo, riffs and an overall excellent musical composition that is never a hallmark of a rock bands in general.

#9 'Love is the only rule' is a listenable rock song, but is certainly not my favorite.

I liked #10 'Fast Cars', which is a strange ballad that sounds good only if you can relate to automobiles. I have not quite heard songs like this before (may be a much heavier Deep Purple's 'Highway Star').

#11 'Happy now' is a power ballad that is one of my favorites because of riffs and the use of wah wah pedal.

#12 'Learn to love' is a nice listenable ballad.

My recommendation: Buy it. It is not one of their hard rocking albums of 80s, but is definitely listenable and enjoyable.

What can I say. Total rockin album, great songs, great instrumentation and some great videos have come out of this album so far. Looking forward to seeing the guys perform these songs live in 2010.

I haven't listened to this DVD. It was a gift. However, I HAVE listened to Bon Jovi solo and with his band. He is a great artist.