I absolutley love Crush and Bounce but...

These Days is a really refreshing listen. Without a doubt Jon's vocals are phenomenal on there. It has a fantastic opening five tracks... I mean just look where the elimination thread has gone, but after that things get too unbalanced towards slow numbers.

These Days is an absolute gem of an album. It really does showcase some lyrical depth and great songwriting. I loved it from the moment I heard it. Then again I don't have need Bon Jovi to only do one kind of song. If a song isn't rock I don't write it off for that reason. A good song is a good song regardless of the rock or not aspect. These Days is quality listening. I think it took them to a whole new level.

Kat

I still rmember when the 'These Days' album was released,I was a wee bit disappointed with it,but,perhaps like all great albums,it grows on you,and it's hidden treasures come to the fore

I agree with jbjrsdc wholeheartedly when it comes to this album,it was a peak for Bon Jovi. There's more to life than 'party' songs like 'I'll Sleep when I'm Dead',These Days shows remarkable growth and some genuinely moving lyrical themes.

Every album up to that was a progression,if you listen to them back to back you can see how they honed their craft,and,with 'These Days',perfected it. The music was more subtle than any previous album,and along with the rock,they imbued the sound with the R&B & even soul. 'This ain't a love song' is pure soul music,Otis Redding could've sang it,absolutely wonderful stuff. Stylistically thier greatest album,lyrically their greatest,it really was such a huge step beyond what thier contemporaries(etc. def leppard,motley crue,posion) were doing. Mature & emotional yet still seething & visceral,and the playing is just exemplary -- just listen to Richie wail & thunder through some tracks while playing soulfully,sparingly & beautifully in others.

Since then,I think they've not progressed - 'Crush' & 'Bounce' were steps down,those albums just don't have the flair and creativity that simply pours from 'These Days'. I think the real progression after TD were Richie & Jon's solo albums - if you chose the best tracks from both,you can see where Bon Jovi could have headed after TD.

The progression from SWW to NJ to KTF to TD is absolutely Bon Jovi at the height of thier powers,a fabulous 4 album streak culminating in the rich musical tapestry of the genuinely great TD.

Long after we're all gone,and future generations look back at the 'Hair Metal' movement,they'll stumble across TD and wonder how a 'hair metal' act made an album so rich and inventive,alone among thier contemporaries,a masterclass of modern pop/rock.

Salute TD!

good post MelodyIreland