I remember when it came out and the British rock press gave it some pretty bad reviews...especially Raw magazine when it was awarded a paltry one star in one of the worst pieces of music criticism I've ever read.... in general I just think that many reviewers at the time were taken aback by the bands change of direction as the album has some of the strongest material that Jovi have ever recorded. The first seven tracks are sublime, lots of different sounds and ideas in the writing and musicianship which mark a distinct progression and a more mature outlook for the band...theres plenty of social conciousness evident in tracks like Dry County, I Believe and the title track.... while Bed of Roses delivers possibly the best lyrics that Jon has ever written. The weird and ultra heavy If I was Your Mother still remains one of my all time favourites with that killer riff and darker lyrics...certainly different to anything Jovi had done before....I dont think the rest of the album holds up as well...Fear and Save a Prayer are interesting and certainly fit in with the mood and tone of the record but Woman in Love, Blame it on the Love and I Want You are fairly mediocre, bordering on the cheesy. Its a very good album and a strong statement from a band that most people believed would be killed by the grunge movement but I don't think it is quite as inspired as New Jersey or These Days.