Lack of solos

Just wondering what the thoughts are on the lack of solos on this album. I was shocked when The Distance just faded out, with no solo, after hearing one on the webcast. I think Undivided, The Distance, Love Me Back to Life, Hook Me Up really suffer for being so short and not having a nice Nex 100 Years type solo. Those songs I like a lot, and they all seem to end so quickly, The Distance especially needed a solo so they could give the chorus another few turns.

The CD doesn't lack solos. They may not be long, but they don't have to be long to be good. Sometimes less is more and one of the things I like about Bon Jovi is they don't typically do overblown guitar solos.

Becky

I liked the solo in Next 100 Years but I think after a while it got a little monotnious. I prefer relatively short solos.

Actually this as you call it 'lack' of solos is rather a common tendency. Recently I read an interview with Polish rock band called IRA (from Latin word meaning 'anger', not the republican army). Anyway - they haven't recorded anything for 6 years and now they released a brand new album (quite good, btw). And they were asked why there are no more such long guitar solos by the end of their songs. They changed the guitar player, so the person asking assumed that the new one is not capable of playing such solos... They have just answered that it is not a modern way of writing songs - 10 years ago it was a must for a rock song to have "something" between the second last and the last chorus. Just it... They are playing the old solos during the concerts, though... Myabe BJ just also do follow this tendency. And as I love Richie's solos (a'la Dry County), I don't really miss them as long as the whole song suits me.

I have to agree with Becky - sure there aren't any overblown solos (apart from Right side of Wrong - which is great), yet there r plenty of short, sharp solos that really hit the the spot.

I'm very uspet of the guitar solos. Richie is (IMO) one of the best gutiar players in the world, but what the hell happened? The solos are so short and so simple tuned that even I could pull them off.

I wanted so much more. And the whole album feels sorta sell-out.

Does simple mean bad? I don't think so...

Simple and short does mean bad for me, when they sound like an amature band.

C'mon, what happened to the dry county like solos? I want solos that sends lightning through the spine. I'm sorry, but Bon Jovi needs to take a break and listen some to the number of the beast by Iron Maiden.

Bon Jovi Aren't Iron Maiden though - never have been. Dry County is not a typical BJ solo. - The mini solo before the main one in DC is a typical BJ solo. The solo's on this album may be a tiny bit shorter, but I think are just as effective. And lets face it - the've done all the good solos before, this album is offering something new.

Mike

You're kidding, right? Just kidding? Amateur? Bon Jovi? Sounds like an oxymoron to me...

Well - BJ have never been an IronMaiden-ish band - and they will never be. And actually - if you want solos sending lightenings - just listen to IM. Then go back to BJ searching for something different...