I did a few of these with Crush, Bounce and TLFR all of which garnered less the positive comments on the whole, but this one should change all that.

Ironically enough, even though I was quick to praise all three of those albums, this wont be the same. With "Slippery When Wet" success dose not equal quality as far as I'm concerned. It was a landmark album no doubt and it gave birth to Bon Jovi but it was more about self realisation then top quality music. They had always said they knew they were a great live act but could never manage to get that across on their albums, and that's really what you see on SWW. It's an album made to sound good live and it dose, infact every song on the album sounds better when played live. Songs such as "Let It Rock", "Raise Your Hands" and "Wild In The Streets" are so thin lyrically but work so well live. "You Give Love a Bad Name" is the same to an extent but dose contain some very nice tounge-in-cheek lyrics.

On this album we began to see the great songwriters Jon and Richie would become. "Livin' On a Prayer" was the first time we saw that incredibley anthemic, optimistic songwriting ability but still being able to acknowlege all the hard things you will encounter in life. "Wanted Dead or Alive" was another terrific story-teller song and showed off the majesty of Richie Sambora. The three ballads on the album (strangley all placed back-to-back) are again very thin and an example that Jon and Richie were by no means accomplished songwriters at this time. All three are very '80ish and sound more like the words of a boy then a man.

The less said about "Social Disease" the better!

Slippery When Wet is a great album when your looking for some loud, fun rock and roll but it really is nothing more then that. 3 Stars.

Let It Rock- 3.5/5
Bad Name- 4/5
Prayer- 5/5
Social Disease- 0.5/5
Wanted- 5/5
Raise Your Hands- 4.5/5
Without Love- 3/5
I'd Die For You- 3.5/5
Never Say Goodbye- 3.5/5
Wild In The Streets- 4/5


Phil