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Full Circle: Five Albums That Have Kept Bon Jovi Relevant
Jonah Bayer | 11.30.2009

Trends may come and go no matter what profession you’re in, however in the music world it seems like in the time it takes you to blink you could miss the next big thing… and the one after that, too. However although they’re a rarity these days, there are still a handful of rock acts who seem to weather shifting trends and gimmicks without abandoning their roots—and New Jersey’s own Bon Jovi embody that ethic. To celebrate the fact that band’s new disc The Circle just debuted at number one on the Billboard Charts, we thought we’d take a moment to look back at the act’s illustrious career and highlight five discs which have undoubtedly helped them get to the point they’re at today.

Bon Jovi’s Bon Jovi (1984) — Bon Jovi’s 1984 self-titled debut may not be their greatest album but in addition to including the, uh, runaway single “Runaway,” the album adeptly proved that the band had a keen sense of melody and musicianship that wasn’t present with most of their feathered-hair peers. By combining a hard rock attitude with song structures reminiscent of pop acts like Journey, Bon Jovi’s importance as a foreshadowing of what was to come for these future musical legends makes it essential listening.

Bon Jovi’s Slippery When Wet (1986) — Bon Jovi’s third album Slippery When Wet proved the band had mastered the art of writing the perfect rock hook, which is evidenced in FM radio staples like “You Give Love A Bad Name” and “Livin’ On A Prayer.” However maybe the most notable song on Slippery When Wet was the acoustic ballad “Wanted Dead Or Alive,” which proved that Bon Jovi didn’t need blaring amps or shredding guitar solos in order to win over new legions of fans.

New Jersey (198 — Every artist has a record that pays homage to his or her hometown and if Bruce Springsteen’s was Greetings From Asbury Park, N.J., Bon Jovi’s is the more succinctly titled New Jersey. Teeming with monster ballads like “Lay Your Hands On Me” and “Born To Be My Baby,” the album contained some of Bon Jovi’s biggest hits and, more importantly, solidified the group as one of the eighties’ most successful acts.

Crush (2000) — After a somewhat disappointing domestic reaction to the band’s 1995 album These Days, Bon Jovi exploded into the twenty-first century via their 2000 album Crush. Propelled by the ubiquitous single—and karaoke favorite—“It’s My Life,” the album introduced Jon Bon & Co. to a younger demographic and simultaneously proved that a well-written rock song can truly transcend genres and generations.

Lost Highway (2007) — With their 2007 album Lost Highway Bon Jovi decided to do something completely unpredictable and make a country album, however what’s more surprising is the fact that they pulled it off flawlessly (and still managed to work in guitarist Richie Sambora’s signature Talk Box effect). Although it’s peppered with steel guitar and mandolin, songs like “We Got It Going On” and “Everything’s Broken” showed that Bon Jovi are still capable of conquering new genres and growing old gracefully.

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