Bon Jovi
Burning Bridges
Mercury
2015
Hmm... the title of this compilation of odds and sods, that Bon Jovi had written in the past by never quite finished, is probably a little “telling” that probably, Richie Sambora, is probably gone for good, although, maybe I’m reading a bit too deep... but with the album claiming to be releasing an album early next year, that means it’s already in the can, so... it can’t be a good thing for all those that still hold some hope that Sambo might come back...
On certain numbers there’s a certain “contemporary” touch, and some nifty ideas to conceal the fact that Jon’s voice is getting rougher with time – (he definitely should not keep on doing those silly three hour shows, were he starts huffing and puffing after the third song)... while on some others we get a bit of nostalgia and a trip down memory lane... for tracks that allegedly were “unfinished” – there’s only one Sambora credit, which seems at the very least, suspect… but then again the thing is after such a crappy album as “What About Now” anything, literally, anything would be better…
“Burning Bridges” is littered with “Jovi” clichés, from guitar licks and cadenzas that the band uses often to vocal melodies that are a trademark of the band, heck a couple of tunes, are probably alternative versions of some Jovi tunes you know and love, or at least maybe recycling parts thereof… All in all, without trying this is with the exception of a couple of good singles, the best material by Jovi since “H.A.N.D” not everything is a “gem” but then again, the band had a fair share of ropier albums, especially post millennial.
“Teardrop to the Sea” is a rather bittersweet, contemporary modern ballad, that’s not half as bad, but only works because Jon, “bleeds it”.
Actually on this album, although not always “perfect – there’s a fair bit of autotune” Jon, puts some enthusiasm into his performances, which helps a bit, because the past few albums, since “H.A.N.D”, were progressively more and more stale and generic...
“We Don’t Run” does its best to mimic “Anthemic Bon Jovi” and it’s mostly successful of recreating the fire of what felt like the better moments of post millennial Jov.
“Saturday Night Gave Me Sunday Morning”, reminded me of “Last Cigarette” during the verses and it’s the sole, song to feature an actual Sambora cred. Quite good actually.
“We All Fall Down” – bittersweet modern rocker, that tries to have a big bridge/chorus not bad, but decidedly, second rate material, that exploits a couple of good ideas, but would have not cut it as a single.
“Blind Love” soft piano ballad, credited solely to Jon, who probably cannot hit those “always” notes, so conveniently and softly, murmurs something akin to a “lullabylad”… decent but way too minimalist...
“Who Would You Die For” is another modern sounding number, more akin to what Duran Duran did on the “Wedding Album” and “Astronaut”, not aesthetically bad, but a little out of the ordinary for Jovi, more “solo” material, than band material... unless both merge into one...
“Fingerprints” is an acoustic, slow number, that has a bit of a UFO, Scorpions touch, but with J’s vox... again not bad, but the chorus ain’t perfect.
“Life is Beautiful” recycles to vocalism of “We Don’t Run” for its intro and then goes a little folk, thankfully not country... although that violin is suspect… :D Actually guilty as hell, of going for a very country cadence midway… haha, well this song sounds like what a jam between Jovi, the Waterboys and Keith Urban might have sounded, at least to my ears!
“I’m Your Man” could be sourced from pre millennial BJ material, or not, since it has a vocoded part, that sounds like it belongs to one of the earlier album but who knows... there are some nice licks, there too towards the latter part of the song.
“Burning Bridges” is Jon, doing cabaret and while at first is funny, this sideshow, sort of number, is a little bit of an embarrassment, as the avid fan couldn’t give a flying F#$K, about who might be getting the publishing money, a matter that seems to be quite stifling for BJ, if he’s even writing a song about it… now, whether that ire is directed to former comrades in arms, managers or to record companies, it’s unclear, but… I dunno…
Musically speaking it’s a pleasant enough collection of songs, not terribly original, but it has its moments and overall sound quite a bit more “cohesive” than anything the band (?) put out after “Have a Nice Day” which so far, has been their best work, this side of the millennium.
Well so long as the “newer” album is more towards anthemic and less towards goofy pop and country, I suppose I could half-heartedly check it out… but for the time being, I might just stay on this bridge, for as long as it stands...
On certain numbers there’s a certain “contemporary” touch, and some nifty ideas to conceal the fact that Jon’s voice is getting rougher with time – (he definitely should not keep on doing those silly three hour shows, were he starts huffing and puffing after the third song)... while on some others we get a bit of nostalgia and a trip down memory lane... for tracks that allegedly were “unfinished” – there’s only one Sambora credit, which seems at the very least, suspect… but then again the thing is after such a crappy album as “What About Now” anything, literally, anything would be better…
“Burning Bridges” is littered with “Jovi” clichés, from guitar licks and cadenzas that the band uses often to vocal melodies that are a trademark of the band, heck a couple of tunes, are probably alternative versions of some Jovi tunes you know and love, or at least maybe recycling parts thereof… All in all, without trying this is with the exception of a couple of good singles, the best material by Jovi since “H.A.N.D” not everything is a “gem” but then again, the band had a fair share of ropier albums, especially post millennial.
“Teardrop to the Sea” is a rather bittersweet, contemporary modern ballad, that’s not half as bad, but only works because Jon, “bleeds it”.
Actually on this album, although not always “perfect – there’s a fair bit of autotune” Jon, puts some enthusiasm into his performances, which helps a bit, because the past few albums, since “H.A.N.D”, were progressively more and more stale and generic...
“We Don’t Run” does its best to mimic “Anthemic Bon Jovi” and it’s mostly successful of recreating the fire of what felt like the better moments of post millennial Jov.
“Saturday Night Gave Me Sunday Morning”, reminded me of “Last Cigarette” during the verses and it’s the sole, song to feature an actual Sambora cred. Quite good actually.
“We All Fall Down” – bittersweet modern rocker, that tries to have a big bridge/chorus not bad, but decidedly, second rate material, that exploits a couple of good ideas, but would have not cut it as a single.
“Blind Love” soft piano ballad, credited solely to Jon, who probably cannot hit those “always” notes, so conveniently and softly, murmurs something akin to a “lullabylad”… decent but way too minimalist...
“Who Would You Die For” is another modern sounding number, more akin to what Duran Duran did on the “Wedding Album” and “Astronaut”, not aesthetically bad, but a little out of the ordinary for Jovi, more “solo” material, than band material... unless both merge into one...
“Fingerprints” is an acoustic, slow number, that has a bit of a UFO, Scorpions touch, but with J’s vox... again not bad, but the chorus ain’t perfect.
“Life is Beautiful” recycles to vocalism of “We Don’t Run” for its intro and then goes a little folk, thankfully not country... although that violin is suspect… :D Actually guilty as hell, of going for a very country cadence midway… haha, well this song sounds like what a jam between Jovi, the Waterboys and Keith Urban might have sounded, at least to my ears!
“I’m Your Man” could be sourced from pre millennial BJ material, or not, since it has a vocoded part, that sounds like it belongs to one of the earlier album but who knows... there are some nice licks, there too towards the latter part of the song.
“Burning Bridges” is Jon, doing cabaret and while at first is funny, this sideshow, sort of number, is a little bit of an embarrassment, as the avid fan couldn’t give a flying F#$K, about who might be getting the publishing money, a matter that seems to be quite stifling for BJ, if he’s even writing a song about it… now, whether that ire is directed to former comrades in arms, managers or to record companies, it’s unclear, but… I dunno…
Musically speaking it’s a pleasant enough collection of songs, not terribly original, but it has its moments and overall sound quite a bit more “cohesive” than anything the band (?) put out after “Have a Nice Day” which so far, has been their best work, this side of the millennium.
Well so long as the “newer” album is more towards anthemic and less towards goofy pop and country, I suppose I could half-heartedly check it out… but for the time being, I might just stay on this bridge, for as long as it stands...