Crush has always come under quite a bit of crtisism and I really can't see why. I've been listening to it alot recently and I've totally recaptured my love for it.

Firstly I should say that Crush was the first album I ever bought, let alone my first BJ album, so it obviously has a special place in my heart. I remember thinking after I listened to it for the first time that I would never come across an album as good as that ever again, how naive I was, now perhaps if I had followed the band for many years and after the musical delights that were Keep The Faith, These Days and Destination Anywhere, I probably would've expected major things. Crush is a complete departure from anything they've ever done, to a point they were going back to their roots on it, not that it's anything like SWW but whereas every album up to this point had pushed Bon Jovi into new ground, with this album they didn't even try. Now I don't see that as a bad thing. It was as if they had nothing really important to say, so they just tried to put together an album full of great rock and roll songs, again I know they could be interpreted as an insult but I mean it in the best possible way.

It was just like they had achieved major success, they had told us who they were and now they we're comfertable where we are and we want to make good music and I think that's what Crush is all about.

Track by Track:

It's My Life was saying something. It was telling us exactly where Jon was in life and it has that slightly embittered rock star voice meshed with a hugley uplifting and optimistic universal tone. It's just a superb rock song. 5/5.

Say It Isn't So was an example of Jon Bon Jovi's sublime and diverse songwriting ability. It was a nice departure for the band as it sounded completely unlike anything they had recorded previously and it had a superb vocal from JBJ. 5/5.

Thank You For Loving Me could be the most under-rated ballad they've ever made. I think this song has everything that makes a top class power ballad. It has origional, heartfelt lyrics, sung with soul and passion mixed with superb music. It has the same magic that Bed Of Roses has and shines a light on everything that is wrong with AALY. 5/5.

Two Story Town is maybe my favourite song on the album. A great story, simple but intelligent lyrics and nice guitars. It's just a very simple, very catchy rock song. 5/5.

Next 100 Years is another great song. Whether intentional or not comparisons will always be made to Dry County and this song certainly dosen't have the epicness of DC and therefor comes off feeling a bit second rate'ish. Still a great song though. 4/5.

Just Older is such a brilliant rock song. Great driving guitars and drums with a great solo and a really well written lyrics. 5/5.

Mystery Train is a song I really like. Yes it may be poppy but it's got a great lyric and is catchy as hell. Reminds me a bit of those classic accoustic gems Noel Gallagher has written over the years. 4/5/

Save The World is cliched and cheesey but it's still rather enjoyable. The music is uninspried and feels like a bady imitation of Always, the lyrics are fairly cringe-worthy but it all builds to a great creshendo and Jon sings the hell out of it and for that I actually quite like it. It's enjoyable cheese. 3/5.

Captain Crash and The Beauty Queen From Mars is the best song and my favourite song from the album. I just adore this song. I love the story, I love the characters, I love the creativity of the song, I love the weirdness of it, I love the music, I love that it's sounds kind of poppy but it's all rock, I love the funness of it and as I said, I love everything about it. I really think this is the most creative song Jon and Richie have ever written. 5/5.

She's a Mystery is a funny one because taken on it's own I can't fault it. The lyrics are fantastic, the music is beautiful and it really is a gorgeous song but I can see no justification for why it made it on to the album because it virtually kills the flow of the album. 4/5.

I Got The Girl is similar to the last one, on it's own it's a cool little rock song with fun lyrics but I don't see why it made the album. It's not a track that should ever make an album. Would've made a good box-set song. 3/5.

One Wild Night is a prime example of what a poor producer Luke Ebbin is. The whole album could've been vastly better in the hands of a classy producer I can't believe they left this song completely undone. The 2001 version is 100x better. 2/5.

Overall Crush is a fantastic record, it dose falter towards the end though. Save The World should've been replaces since 2 ballads in a row was a bit much and the ending could've been tightened up but a couple of mis-placed songs dose not equal a failed record, far from it. I'd give it 4 STARS.


Phil