Albums: Good and bad, my thoughts about the whole thing

Many songs from 7800 are not what I'd call optimictic either, are they?

Yes ICE- you are partially right. But what I think, and it's surely only an opinion, is that Jon never meant to be the hard rock icon he became in the late 80s. He wasn't all that. He wanted to be Bruce Springsteen and Southside Johnny. What do this guys have to do with songs like Bad name, Bad Medicine, Let it Rock or Homebound Train?What do this guys have to do with the big hair? I guess Jon realized this as he did the Young Guns Soundtrack. Luckily , they have not turned into a Springsteen tribute but they needed the maturity.
On the other hand, I don't think this is the reason Jovi stopped rocking. No. They used to be a damn good live band during 1992 and 1996. I guess on one hand there is Jon who doesn't want to give his life on stage anymore and it's understandable. he has done so much shit during his previous 15 years. Well...that's whay Jovi lost most of their energy and you can say what you want- it's because of Jon. Some friends went to a Sebastian bach concert in Buda-Pest a few months ago and they said it was definetly the best show they have ever seen. We have seen Jovi, Maiden, Metallica together but they said none of this acts were as hungry as Sebitchain. He wanted everything, he gave everything and people were blown away. If Jon's bank account was somwhere at 5 mil $ and not 300 mil$ then I bet Jovi shows would be just as this.
The same about EUROPE. Have you seen them live recently? they're album is decent(to be nice)but their live shows are better than ever because they want to prove they are a great rock band.
What do Bon Jovi have to prove? And I am almost sure its the same with Metallica and U2. I would say this are the most succesfull 3 rock bands out there. Their live shows are ok, but none of them could blow you away like Sebastian Bach or let's say Europe or any of those club-bands StoneDeaf talked about.

To come back to the original question. I think the firts albums sucks a bit. it's not as worse as BOUNCE but hearing "She's only 17 but she acts full-grown" or "She don't know me!" - as I said before-anthems for pedophyles- just makes me want to puke.

I also said that 7800 is the most underrated album in the history of 80s mainstream rock. It should have revolutioned the genre but the weak production and the crappy videos kept it away of the place it deserved.

Slippery When Wet is one of those maybe 20 albums that changed the face of rock forever. It's everythinga good hard rock/classic rock record should have. Sadky theer are still parts BJ needed to work on on this record like WITHOUT LOVE which is a huge crap. But songs like WANTED DEAD OR ALIVE(the best song ever)and LET IT ROCK reminded more than any other band at that time of ZEPPELIN and PURPLE still not being cheap copies. It still has a pop side within hard rocking songs like RAISE YOUR HANDS or WILD IN THE STREETS - which makes it not like it most.

New JERSEY - absolute fabulouse. hard Rock perfection. That's how a rock record should be done. Great tunes, great solos, great dums, great vocals and here and there amazing lyrics.

Well...enaugh...

The 90s in the next post.

Also, if I had to actually choose I'd go for the "I cried, and I cried there were night that I'd died for you baby" pessimism played with good background music than for the "spread these wings and fly" optimism played with digital sounds on the background.

I found good music much more uplifting than just optimistic, cheesy words.

Springsteen may be more mature than Jon but he puts on an entertaining show and gives 100% every time. Jon doesn't even put in 50% most of the time.

Ice

That he does - I saw 12 Springsteen shows during the Rising tour - all outdoor - several in the pouring rain. Bruce absolutely amazed me (once again). You didn't hear the same phrases night after night (except for his anti-war speech) and out of a setlist of 24-26 songs at least 10-12 were different each night. That entire tour exceeded my expectations.

I don't know that Jon doesn't put in 50% most of the time though. Unfortunately, he has done that enough that people notice.

Another point I'll make about favorites though. Jon has a distinctive voice and a very pleasant voice. I'n not getting into the "he doesn't sound like he used to" argument but he still sounds good. Some people will listen to most anything the band will do simply because they like the sound of Jon (or Jon and Richie) singing. That is why I like These Days. Yes, I can hear the cheesiness but the SOUND of the album is wonderful and Jon's voice is in excellent form. I have other favorite "vocalists" that I will listen to even though I may not like "what" they are singing but I like the sound of them singing it. That does not mean that I love everything the band does - I can be just as picky as the next person - but they have a certain sound that I like and it can carry me past some indiviual songs that I might not listen to normally.

Kathleen

Devil, I think you're right on the money with Sebastian Bach & rest of them 80's act falling into club circuit. With lack of cash comes the hunger. On the other hand, what I was talking about from the start was them albums, not concerts. I was curious about people's *one* top album choise, and reasons for picking that particular album. Then draw some conclusions about info posted, that's all.

In defence of 1st album. It *is* naive, lyrically. But it's also fresh. Compared to any release from early 80s in this genre, it was and still is fresh and unique.

Just came to think of it, productions & videos from them first 2 albums. I have no idea how much cash was invested in them, but looking at the artwork and videos etc., it can't be much. Its like company didn't quite believe in them, but chose to give them a chance. Now, think about how them 2 albums would have been if done properly from the start. They had lots of potential, which was watered down in the recording process. They deff should have used someone to go through lyrics & cut out some over-the-top naive parts. And well, one can never mention proper production too many times.

My feelings exactly. When I am "forced" to choose a favorite, it's These Days followed very closely by New Jersey. So close in fact, that on some days I may reverse the order there. KTF is right up there too though. I just like the music of that time best. But that's true of all the music I enjoy. If I were to talk about my favorite artists and songs, most of them come from the mid 80's to the mid 90's. I guess that's when I was the most impressionable...I don't really know. But that doesn't mean I don't like the other Bon Jovi records or artists who came out at another time. Saying something is your "favorite" to me, does not mean saying you don't like anything else. We all have a "favorite" family member, or best friend...but that doesn't mean we don't like the rest of our family and friends. I know that's a drastic comparison, but you get the point I'm trying to make, I hope.

I don't exactly disagree here, but maybe it's got something to do with the fact that the band members actually HAD become more adult and mature...

As I see it, someone who is able to point out pessimistic moods and yet carries on is the purest optimist.

I couldn't have said it better.

I cannot help to think that I have read those exact same lines by you before.

I didn't copy it from another post, so I doubt it's exact...but there's a good possibility I've expressed the same feelings before! It's not like we haven't had this conversation once or twice in the past.