It's funny that you say it is not an improvement over the first album and many may agree with you, after all Jon always slates it so it must be bad (Sarcastic!). I think this was an improvement in a sense though as it's the first album where Bon Jovi started to find their own identity. The first album does tend to sound like every other rock band at that time. On Farenheit though Richie begins to develop his own sound rather than copying every other guitar player. The solo in Silent Night for instance was much more unusual and inventive than anything on the first album. I think the band as a whole really began to find their own sound on this album and for that reason I think it was a step forward. I really like the album and rate it above Crush, Bounce and possibly even HAND.