New Jersey review: They say that to really free the body, you've gotta free the mind

Last_Man_Standing · #21 05-09-2007, 03:07 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Alphavictim

LYHOM is the worst song on the album, the Slippery counterpart Let It Rock was a lot better IMO.

Agreed.

message was too short

Captain Walrus · #22 05-09-2007, 08:00 PM

Homebound Train – Bookended by a deceptively lazy blues guitar lick, this is actually one of the most balls-out, kick-ass rock songs the band have ever done. An insane burst of drumming and utterly monstrous groove-laden riff kicks this one into high gear, backed up by some very low-key organ. The pace and rythtm of this song are utterly pummelling, with Richie and Tico sounding like they’re locked in an almost constant race to the finish. Jon’s voice is as wild and unrestrained here as I’ve ever heard it, throwing out ad-libs (“All aboard!”) and imitation train whistles all over the place. The typical Richie guitar solo is absolutely ripped to shreds to become a screeching duel between the lead guitar and organ, which in turns manages to somehow sound at times like it’s being played on a turntable, while the riff and drums in the background never let up. Then, with the groove being kept by a powerful bassline, and the rest of the band taking up the train whistle imitations, Jon unleashes one of his most formidable rock screams ever, with “Here I come, b-baby, baby WAAAAAAAAHOW!”. A climactic dual guitar and organ pattern slams us back into the chorus, repeats a few more times, and the fades out to the sound of Richie’s lick from the beginning being repeated as the train chugs away. Absolutely exhilarating. If I have one criticism of this song, it’s that its theme, seemingly that rock n’ roll is the Devil’s music, seems a little bit forced coming from a band who’ve made no secret of their faith. But it’s mostly forgivable when the song rock quite as hard as this one does.

4/5

Kathleen · #23 05-09-2007, 08:15 PM

Homebound Train is one of my favorite songs of all time. I know some people don't think it suits Jon's voice but I personally think it's perfect. Excellent review.

Kathleen

Living_on_my_Hair · #24 05-09-2007, 08:40 PM

Nice review. I would also give an honourable mention to the bassline, its awesome. Especially during the breakdown in the middle, the ''I'm on my way now...headn home....can i come etc'' part.

Some funky ass shit right there! Keep the faith eat your heart out.

andi

Tough Talk · #25 05-09-2007, 10:10 PM

These song reviews by Walrus really show how wonderfully *lush* New Jersey is instrumentally speaking. And yet the album breathes and doesn't feel musically too dense, either. It's a fine balance they found here...

Cowgirl77 · #26 05-11-2007, 06:15 PM

New Jersey is my favourite album

Captain Walrus · #27 05-13-2007, 05:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Suojelusperkele

Do you play some instrument, or maybe ten instruments? I don't know how the **** do you notice this much shit from the songs. I mean these layers, cymbal fills, synthesizer patterns, bass lines and whatnot you're talking about... where do you get this stuff?? I have never heard any bass line in any song, let alone could compare the bass lines of Born To Be My Baby and Livin' On A Prayer, and probably the only song where I've ever noticed the guitar riff is Hey God because there the riff is so out in the open that you can't possible ignore it. Are you all some ****ing music wizards and gurus or am I deaf?!

In any case, these reviews are nice but I think you spend too much time describing what happens in the songs and the review of the entire album is too long. You don't have to describe every note (tho I don't even know what the hell is a note) that is played on the album in order to make a good review, you just need to sum up the album in a clever and witty way. But it's still interesting to read these, if only to find out about things I've never known anything about.

That's the weirdest thing I've ever read. No, I don't play any instruments more than at a very basic level, I just listen to things. Considering over on the boxset thread you are urging people to go listen to Love Ain't Nothing harder, you don't seem to be listening all that hard yourself. What exactly do you hear when you listen to a song? Admittedly some bass lines can be hard to pick out, but the one on Prayer is pretty damn distinctive, and seriously, you've only ever picked out one Bon Jovi riff? That's bizarre

I review the way I want to review. I want to explain exactly why I like or dislike a song, so I can figure it out in my own head, and possibly make other people notice things they may not have before. I don't want to "sum up the album in a clever and witty way", I want to think about it and try to explain it

Wild Is The Wind review should be up at some point today

bjcrazycpa · #28 05-13-2007, 06:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by The Walrus

Wild Is The Wind review should be up at some point today

Good as that is by far my favorite song on the NJ record.

deb

BonJovi1988-1992Mark · #29 05-13-2007, 09:32 PM

Love the review The Walrus

(Both the Slippery/Jersey reviews have been gripping,and full of detail!Bringing every song to life.)

Cant wait for the review of my fave song ever:

.Wild Is The Wind:

Fave Bon Jovi song of all time! Wished they would have played it Live more in there prime.Vastly Underated,Easliy one of the best songs they ever produced

Captain Walrus · #30 05-14-2007, 01:21 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Suojelusperkele

I don't know what I hear, I don't know crap about any instruments. I can tell that's a drum and usually that that's an electric guitar but that's about it. I don't know shit about any "cymbal fills" or "layers" or whatever... In the beginning (only at the beginning though) of Keep The Faith I can hear bass guitar but that's the only time. Yeah I can hear the guitar riff of Hey God but I can't think of another song where I can hear a guitar riff. I'm thinking, I'm thinking... well there's maybe a couple more, probably I Could Make A Living Out Of Loving You has a guitar riff and then the edit version of I Believe, I think that starts with a guitar riff. Maybe one or two other songs. You must have studied music or something cause you know that much stuff.

I did Music at school up until the age of .... 14, that count?

Cos I'm feeling charitable ... stick on Livin' On A Prayer. That pulsing noise that starts 14 seconds in? That's the bass line

Now stick on Lay Your Hands On Me. When Jon shouts "Come on!" you'll hear an electric guitar start. That guitar is playing a riff

I mean, c'mon, free your mind. What's the point of listening to music if you're not going to, y'know, listen to it?

New Jersey review: They say that to really free the body, you've gotta free the mind

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