It is my 80th favourite album of all time. But only my 11th favourite Bon Jovi / Jon / Richie album.

This is the review I wrote 12 years ago (!):

A promising debut. This album doesn’t exactly re-invent the wheel, and the band does sound a little too much like other, more popular bands of their day; sticking closely to the straight ahead pop metal template and offering little in the way of experimentation or innovation. However, some blistering guitar work and its meshing with the keyboards helps to lift the album beyond being a second rate clone of other pop metal albums. You can feel a real desire on the part of the brand to break out and take on the world here, and that excitement manifests itself in the music. The songwriting isn’t stellar by any means, but there are glimpses of the genius that would come later, and even at this early stage, their talent for writing songs that people can relate to shines. Overall then, an exciting, youthful, hungry album, albeit one that was played a little too safe to truly set the world alight.

8/10

Essential songs: Runaway, Roulette, Shot Through The Heart
Also great: Come Back
Also good: She Don't Know Me, Breakout, Love Lies, Burning For Love
Not so keen on it: Get Ready