To the "Alec" lovers:

These Days is depressing, it's R&B, it's not rock.

I agree with Yomama, after Alec left Bon Jovi changed and not necessarily for the better. Not that Alec's leaving had anything with that, but still.

And Alec is sorely missed in all the pre-1989 songs. YGLABN will never sound the same without his high harmonies. Nor will Drift Away. Or many other songs of the era. I can agree with the fact that he fumbled a lot live, but he was still light years above Hugh in stage presence. Not that I'm blaming Hugh, he's just a hired gun.

After Alec left/got fired the band seemed to become more "adult". And being an adult doesn't go well with being a rock band. I don't mean you need to act all juvenile delinquent, but a certain amount of craziness and unpredictability should be present in any rock band. Haven't seen that in Bon Jovi in years.

As to why Alec got fired, it's funny to see how many experts here are. "I heard from a stranger who heard from a friend that...". Who cares? We all know that the real reason wasn't that he couldn't play live, since we have the bootlegs to prove he wasn't that bad. I believe that Jon's attitude and Alec's attitude had a lot to do with that. And the fact that Alec hasn't really talked about it apart from the interview he gave right after leaving the band makes me think Jon paid him silent.

Ice

See, this is a valid and well worded argument.

I agree with Alec shutting up. You'd think he'd milk the situation for all it's worth to get another 15 minutes of fame in.

Agreed. Current Bon Jovi is safe and 80's Bon jovi was unpredictable but I don't think he was the sole reason why.

Every single member of Bon Jovi now has kids and their priorities have changed. They are not interested in being crazy over-the-top rock stars. They lived that fantasy in the 80s and so it does not excite them anymore- they have grown up and settled down which is only natural. Alec leaving probably nothing to do with that change. I take Iceman's point about the 'crazy' element of rock but they probably feel it would be very forced if they try to recreate that now and it may indeed be awkward.

This is excatly what I've been trying to say all along. Thanks Ice for cleaning that up for me.

I was actually going to mention that "Jon paid him silent" too but I thought it would take people over the edge here.

The band become more "adult" with Keep The Faith, for better or worse. And the fact that BOR was an explosive adult-contempo hit off that record is why TD sounds the way it does. I don't think it has anything to to with Alec frankly. As for Jon "paying him to be silent" I'm not sure what to think TBH. I'm sure Alec got a nice amount at the end, and in turn signed some sort of confidentiality agreements, but he also strikes me as the type who wants nothing to do with the music industry anymore, hence his lack of public presence.

Slightly off-topic, but am I really the only person who thinks Huey looks damn cool on stage?

There's only so many songs about partying and girls you can sing about.

Also, it's not depressing. If you live in a head space where music can depress you then you need to see a shrink.

Nope, it's an endless inspiration.

If you live in a head space where music doesn't move you and make you feel anything, I say it's you who needs the shrink.

Ice

Depression - a mental disorder characterized by extreme gloom, feelings of inadequacy, and inability to concentrate.

Maybe a rethinking of your wording perhaps?

Valid argument, but that statement almost made me not read it. R&B, really? Come on then.

And depressing? Most good music comes from negative or depressing feelings. It's okay to not like an album, but... really? R&B, too depressing? It's not like their are songs about Jon slicing his wrists open.

Yeah. It has elements of R&B in it but so do a lot of classic songs. Depressing? The only thing that comes close, subject wise, is Letting you Go, My guitar lies bleeding and MAYBE Something to believe in. That's not the whole album.

How can an album be both R&B AND Depressing?