Re: Would you still be a BJ fan if....

Same here. Although my state has also changed. There was a time when Crush came out that I was enjoying rock music, and the band where matching what I wanted. Now my tastes have gone slightly heavier, but the band has gone more pop and now country. It's going to take a really good solid rock album to get my interest back.

If I heard MAM/Lost Highway on the radio. I wouldn't buy the album, I wouldn't even download it.

heeeeeeeeeeehehehehehehehehe

Honestly, i don't think i can answer this because there are years of BJ music embedded in my life and I can't wrap my head around all that music not being there so.....

U2 getting better??? Hmm I don't know about that. Not that they aren't a great band but for me the last couple of records just weren't that memorable. Bono still has a great voice although I've heard some cracks in it the last two or three times I"ve seen them live. they put on a very good show, but I still prefer BJ live over pretty much everyone. Of the eight shows I've seen so far this time out, my overall impression of Jons voice is that it is solid and strong for the most part, he's singing well right now.

Very interesting question. Thanks for making me think . . .

Would I be a fan based on just Lost Highway? Probably not. JBJ calls it "music without prejudice" (a phrase I'm about up to here with, btw), but I call it music without an identity. I actually go through phases of my life where I listen to country music, but when I do, I want real COUNTRY music. Not pop with a few random country instruments tossed in because country is making $$. Country goes through this invasion from other genres every few years. (Alan Jackson even wrote a song called Gone Country about the phenomenon years ago. In one simple song, he did a fine job of explaining the whole thing.) When country swings a little to the pop side of things and there start to be more country songs crossing over onto the pop charts, artists from other genres take notice. They try to imitate the sound and voila -- music with no soul whatsoever. Definitely not country. "Country-influenced." <shudder> Another phrase that makes me gag. So, had I never heard of BJ before Lost Highway, and had I known that they were attempting a country-influenced album but weren't really country, I'd have never listened to it.

I also think that BJ did a poor job of choosing country artists with whom to collaborate on Lost Highway. Big & Rich aren't country. They're a carnival side-show, and I think they make a mockery of real country artists. (My most sincere apologies to the European fans if BJ really follows through on their threat to have B&R open for them on the European leg of the tour. Having never seen them live, I tried to have an open mind when I saw them in NJ. Egad. Sorry, no can do.) And LeAnn Rimes . . . well, she wasn't as bad a choice as Big & Rich, but she wasn't the best choice, either. There are truly amazing female voices in country music today, and there always have been. Rimes' voice is okay, but I don't think she ever lived up to the promise that she showed when she debuted as a wunderkind with Blue. There are certainly MANY better female voices in country. (Listen to the new Trisha Yearwood CD. Now that's a voice.) I've seen JBJ say that BJ and Rimes have a lot of mutual associates in the music business. Wonderful. How convenient. But not necessarily the best way to pick a duet partner. (Didn't they already do the convenient thing when they sang with Olivia D'Abo? Did they learn nothing?!)

All that being said, I did listen to Lost Highway. I don't love it, but I don't hate it either. There are even BJ albums besides TLFR that I rate below it in my own personal rankings! It has some songs that I really like (including one that no one else likes -- Seat Next To You), but too many that are just sort of there. I can appreciate that Richie probably needed to do SOMETHING at that point in his life, but I'd have prescribed rock therapy or BLUES therapy (Dear God, why not?!) instead of country-influenced therapy.

If I look at the album only, no, no way I could become a fan with LH.

If I also consider the context, even less so because there are many bands out there that are much more creative and impressive live than Bon Jovi, when in the late 80's they were in the top 3 bands.


Ponrauil

I can totally relate to your post.

Not only would I not even like them if this was their first album, but I have lost total interest on them since this country thing came along.
I am def. living in Bon Jovi's past. For me, These Days was the last good thing they ever released. Have a Nice Day was a nice attempt, but Lost Highway in my opinion is the biggest mistake and the worst piece of crap they ever came up with.

I think I would. I've being buying more straight country stuff since late 2005, and if I heard of a new band out of Jersey with a soft-rock/country/adult-contemparory sound I'd buy it, and like it.

I enjoy LH, it's just the 3rd quarter that lets it down. It kills the enjoyment, the flow. If Track 8 was a stronger track it would feel much better overall IMO.

I wouldn't be a fan because the singles they've released have not been strong enough and certainly in the UK they have barely been on the radar. And most of the album is just very average.

Unlike with previous BJ albums I very much doubt if they made a single NEW fan in this Country from LH.

I can't agree about U2 getting better and better either, but at least they do what they do best and not try jumping on band-wagons. They made a mistake with the Pop album but I think they acknowledged that and went back to what U2 was all about.

I hope Bon Jovi do the same otherwise they are in danger of disappearing up their own back-sides!

Errrrr.... nup!

Definetely! If I never heard anything else of BJ before I would think this band is a band writing non memorable Supermarket-junk-music.
Thank god I listened to them b4 that desaster!