these days

I'd say life itself should make people feel good...
And music like These Days (album) should help people do some soulsearching that eventually makes them feel better when they're down...

These Days is my favorite BJ album. If BJ never made it, I'm pretty sure this site would not be here today

Peter

IMO, in 'These Days' Richie's explored his skill by include some part of blues, which it's the root of his music/inspired. He's a great guitar musician. No doubt it.....

I think we should start a club...the These Days Appreciation Society (TDAS) ha ha More people than I first thought "GET" this album which is wonderful. I though only me and my brother heard it in the same way.

As to whether its depressing....hmm

I suppose so. But Jimi Hendrix was quoted saying that he cant write happy songs. And "Foxy" was about the only one. I mean, to me yea lyrically its subject matter that isn't bright skies, easter bunnies, and "we'll give it a shot" AND THATS WHY I LIKE IT

These Days reflected how I was feeling at the time, and often still do sometimes. And listening to it doesn't bring me down, it gives me hope. Because I listen to These Days thinking "well Jon and CO. feel this too, they understand how i feel about the world - i'm not alone" THat is not depressing that is inspirational.

I think that it is a very open honest and raw album, that if you're the kind of person who likes to live in a bubble about the world being a great place then it will be difficult to enjoy, because it will bring you down to a level of thinking that you dont want to think about. Realising some nasty truths about human nature, and the world we live in. I'm not saying this is bad its cool if you can live like that but at that time, and even now I cant do that. I cant shut out the bad and only let in the good to my life, i'd be fooling myself.

Music has many different purposes, but the most humanity i get from it is feeling a connection through music and lyrics, and I feel that connection most through truth. I'm not saying that the truth is always bad. I mean bounce has some fantastic inspiration on it. Undivided makes the hairs on the back of my neck stand on end, because of how powerful the music and the lyrics are. That is no way a depressing song!

But I do feel that throw away music that makes no point in anyway (i.e a pure money machine for example) is MORE depressing than These Days, even if the song subject is happy. Because its just showing how messed up things are....

These Days

These days is the best album of Bon Jovi (IMHO) ever.......

Yes..these days lack rocking songs.....like KTF..and fun songs ...like Blame it on the love of Rock N' Roll in KTF..

I, by no means, say that KTF is not as good as TD.. They are good in each other ways. When you listen to KTF.. you will feel like you have strength to face the world again.. Songs like I Believe, Keep The Faith..

On TD, with lyrics like " Saw a vagabond king, wear a strylofone crown, wonder whether I might end up the same..." and "If you don't believe in Jesus, how can you believe in Pope..if there is nothing but survival, how can we believe in sin.." one cannot help but feeling down?? Well, it might not be really depressing ..but to some extent it will put you to "thinking mode" like do nothing, stare around and think about everything and anything....... I really hope to hear more like these from BJ...

So there is something good in These Days after all Don't take me too seriously here...

that's quiet bizarre. I was talking yesterday with a friend of mine who said that SWW and NJ weren't like... how to say it properly? some bands can't forget their past, and past is like a permanent ghost for medias, fans... it's kind of a syndrom. remember the eagles? they did Hotel California in 76, and The Long Run went out only in 1980, the success was so big they didn't what to write to go on again. BJ don't have this problem. I think that's why they evolved so much. if you compare every record, not one sounds like the last. perhaps you can compare the first and 7800, but after, no record is the same than another. there's a lot of difference between the wild youth in SWW and the maturity of TD. I think people who likes music can find anger, pain, love, friendship, good vibrations and great feelings in the whole BJ discography.
I'm not found of TD, it's a bit too quiet, but the demos on B-sides weren't better (or even as good) as the songs on the record. Through Diamond Ring is an old track written during the NJ sessions, it fits very well in this album.
I can understand that people think it's their best record. not for me, but if they really like it, cool, listen to it

It's a great album, but it's one of the slowest. I do like it a lot, but I think all of the other albums show off Tico's talent much more.

Some songs are a little too music-loud.. Like Hearts Breaking Even..the music is much louder than the vocals.

Bounce only has THREE BALLADS. Jon and the guys said it themselves, and anyone who knows Ballads can clearly see it. People complain that there are too many, but say nothing about their beloved These Days.

That is because These Days ballads are so perfect.