Not the best Bon Jovi album, but a great comeback anyway

A review by Chris

Now I know there are a lot of people out there who will disagree when I say that this album is not on par with Slippery When Wet or New Jersey. It's not so much the band's fault as the fact that I like the 80's power anthem stuff better than the raw, edgy 90's stuff, like this and These Days. However, I will still say that this album pumps the blood with the best of them, and there are a couple of killer tracks that will undoubtably cause you to press the repeat button over and over again. Here we go....

1) I Believe - A good opening track that shows the transformation of Bon Jovi from party band to self-reflective band. It's got power, energy, a decent hook, and overall, it's a good song. (7/10)

2) Keep the Faith - The second best song on this album. Again, it's got a little soulful quality, and has that trademark big Bon Jovi chorus. A great song live and Richie does some good stuff on the geeeeeeetar. (8/10)

3) I'll Sleep When I'm Dead - This one's a funny one, and it's pretty catchy too. The band's having a little fun, but i don't know, it's somewhat forgettable. Not a bad one to listen to mindlessly. (6/10)

4) In These Arms - Tied with Keep the Faith as the second best song on the album. Just a great buildup into a magnificent chorus. Powerful lyrics and a great one to sing along to. (8/10)

5) Bed of Roses - Hands down, the band's best song post-New Jersey, with the exception of maybe Always. I think it's one of the holy trinity of Bon Jovi power ballads (Always, Bed of Roses, I'll Be There for You) Jon must have had some serious inspiration for this one, because the lyrics are very effective and rich. On top of that, it just tugs at you with emotion and most of all, a huge, tantalizing hook. "Baby, blind love is true!!!!" Amazing. (10/10)

6) If I Was Your Mother - I guess I can rock out to this one, but the lyrics are just kinda weird. The whole thing about being as close as a girl's mother is kinda freaky, at best. Maybe that's just me, but this is not their best. (5/10)

7) Dry County - The song that diehards say is the masterpiece of the century. That's fine, but I don't think it's as sophisticated as some would make it out to be. A good song, sure, but it's a little long, takes too long to build up, and by the time the good chorus comes around, I've already lost interest in a not-so-believeable storyline. That being said, I like listening to it, when I want to mellow out. (7.5/10)

8) Woman in Love - I guess it's ok, but I don't know, it doesn't really do it for me. Richie's good in this uptempo number, so it's certainly one to listen to once in awhile. (6/10)

9) Fear - It's heavy, which is good, but again, it lacks that special quality that makes certain Bon Jovi songs great. I hold my boys to a special standard though, so it's still a good song. (7/10)

10) I Want You - The beginning guitar stuff really reminds me of Def Leppard. Besides that, I'm a softie for BJ power ballads, and I think this one is underrated. Everything is good, including the chorus, although it's not as catchy or memorable as Bed of Roses, or even Thank You for Loving Me. I like the song a lot though, because it's got some spunk. (8/10)

11) Blame it on the Love of Rock and Roll - A really good song that just rocks from beginning to end. Jon makes it really clear why he does what he does. A gem near the end of this album. (8/10)

12) Little Bit of Soul - Putrid. Skip. Oh wait. It's the end of the album. Awwwwwwwwwww. (1/10)

There you have it folks. My take on Bon Jovi's Keep the Faith. Understand, some of my ratings may seem a little lower, but that's only because I want to make it clear how much better Slippery and New Jersey are. Still, I think it's a great album nonetheless, with some songs that prove that the transition was worthwhile. A keeper, and their third-best album to date.

Rating: 4/10

back to album information page