I came across BJ when "runaway" single came out. Heard it from the radio couple of times, and from the first time it sounded fresh. I was into bands like Black Sabbath, Led Zep & Iron Maiden at that time, and Bon Jovi offered whole different approach: slightly more melodic yet guitars with lotsa "edge" spiced with catchy choruses. Still, I didn't see them as mainstream or pop back them, just something fresh. After buying the album, I was even more convinced. 2nd album got me even more hooked on them. They managed to put out slightly heavier album, still with catch stuff. Sure, looking back both 2 albums are bit naive, especially lyrically, but the magic is still there. Of all the BJ albums I still most often choose to play either of them 2 first ones.

Then came SWW. A disappointment. Rough edges were smoothened, getting closer to mainstream. Getting closer to pop. Ok so they experienced with new approach......wrong. NJ, more of the same. I kinda lost interest. Everything that 2 first albums promised were wiped out with these 2 releases. There was nothing that would separate them from other bands of same genre. They got as boring as the genre itself. Plus at time there were new bands coming that did offer somewhat new approch. It was obvious that BJ were not going to evolve into ROCK band of a lifetime, they sold their souls to pop & mainstream.

Out of the blue came KTF. Back to rocking track. So I was hooked again. Still there were those lame ballads that just yell out "radioplay".....besides than that, it is a solid rock album. I went like "Wow these guys are a rock band after all!"...Wrong. TD. A sorry excuse for a rock album. It doesn't even sound like Jovi. They tried to be a serious band. Failed. It's nothing but mediocre pop song after another. Few rock songs among the crap didn't save it for me. It was obvious that they attempted to gather bigger audience going with more mature approch. They just didn't realize that noone expects them to be serious, they should be larger-than-life-stadium rock damnit. Ok I felt I was done with them.

Cruch and bouce. POP. Nothing more to them, just pop. Catchy choruses are still there. but no rock. Ok, this time they dont even try to appear as rock band, for which I do give them credit. If they choose to be pop its all fine with me. After hearing both albums couple of times, I did find myself enjoying them, especially crush. I didnt look at it as rock album, as pop record its way over average. In fact, comparing it to several outher pop acts out there, BJ seemed to find their spot & actually be better than the competition. Nice comeback.

TLFR. OH MY F**KING GOD!....honestly I can say it's one of the worst albums I have ever heard. Not a single positive thing to say about it. Compared with recent predictable tours, I'm back at the state of being done with them. Next album? Well, it's better be kick-a**-rock album (which I doubt).....

As u see, I've been "in and out of jovi" time and time again. Well, I don't like (or dislike) them because of the name, only cos of what they produce. At this time, I have a strong feeling about them being done. But on the other hand, I thought the same when TD came out......

What I'd truly enjoy....would be "real" live album. Preferably from 80s. when they still had lotsa energy on stage. Yeah there are thousands of bootlegs out there, but haven't come across properly produced live recording yet.

WHAT I'D WANT TO SEE OUT OF THE SET?

Most of them old standards. Especially Bad Name, Bad med & Prayer. Those are worn out, plus the band can't even do them properly any more, their performance of them old standards has been tired and lacking passion for years. Or if not gone, they should pull a suprice out of their a**es every night. C'mon, they got hundreds of songs to choose from, it can't be too hard to rehearse like 30 or 40 for a tour....changes in the set would make them fresh again. It's been like same songs in same order, replacing few in between every tour, but running order stays quite the same. It's like, if u seen them on tour 2000, dont bother going again, they've not changed a bit.

Oh and most of all, I wouldn't want to hear "shout" ever again.