What Do We Want In A New Album?

Here's a hypothetical;

Let's assume that the band have taken a break. It's 2017 and Jon is eager to write another album under the name of the corporation known as Bon Jovi.

Richie and Orianthi released a decent record in mid-late 2015 with lukewarm reviews, but regardless the duo plugged the songs endlessly in 'jam sessions' on the road. Richie and Ori have kind of grown apart - she realises that Richie is an old man and relies on little blue pills to get the motor running. Anyhow, Richie and Jon aren't on terms, but they aren't pitted against each other. There is an opportunity for them to reunite.

Tico, Dave and Hugh have had well-deserved breaks and are feeling refreshed and satisfied, albeit a little older. John Shanks is keen to continue his 10+ year stint with the band and is available if Jon so wishes, alternately he could look elsewhere. Jon has the option to employ Phil X and/or Bobby Bandiera as session guitarists in the studio, but only Bobby would be on the road.

Jon's vocal state is at his best since 2011 as the rest did well for him (wishful thinking I know).

My question to you, members of Jovitalk, is what should happen next? What should the lineup/arrangement be for the next (and possibly final) chapter of Bon Jovi? What kind of style/production should they aim for? How should their touring be scheduled? And most importantly how should Jon have his hair?

KS

They should go on having a rest until ... IMSERSO

I think it should be mid acoustic and mid tempos; I can´t see them going for another IML clone, but it will depend on how music industry developes in the next couple of years...Now times change at a greater pace.

Taking into account that Tico would be in his mid sixties I don´t think of them acting more than one every 3 days, maybe they would go for 12 a month. And this way I think the tour would last about a year and a half without taking into account some holidays.

I think he won´t be bald yet but he will start to wear more hats. Remember this; time will tell.

Write and record the best damn album they are capable of producing. Jon and Richie feeling the need to best each other might actually bring out something good, and break the complacency. Write a ton of songs, demo them, mix them up, maybe even re-write them in the process.

Also, some personal breathing space would probably help. If Jon wants to do stuff like the soundtrack tracks, give him that and rework that with the band to make it work. Same for Richie's stuff. Really, for the band members to actually be confident and proud about the material would help immensely.

I doubt I will ever like another album by them, but let's pretend there is still hope

I want better lyrics (meaning they should come from the heart) and not that cheesy and uninspired pseudo-songwriting) I want them to wait until they have something to say.

Some great melodies would be good, great built-ups, great guitar-layers.

Kick-ass rock songs like Hey God or at least something like Happy Now or Thorn or even Bullet.

I want some passion for a change, a tight band and I would love for all of them to really get involved and Jon and Richie really feeling the need to write songs and not just because they feel obliged to do so.

They should get into the studio, hire a good non-pop Producer and stay there for a few months .

14 years have passed since It's My Life was released and it's still the benchmark amongst fans when it comes to what they don't want to hear in future releases. Ironically when it was released in the year 2000, it was 14 years after Living On A Prayer was released and it felt like an eternity between the two songs especially with the emerging characters of Tommy and Gina.

I think time and money could make a great album.

- Pay a guy like Bob Rock to come back to produce so we could get some of that old school rock sound back.

- Jon needs to take his time in the studio stretching out his vocals and really try and deliver the way he used to.

- Use technology the best they could. I really don't care if Jon can't do the songs live. I just want a great studio album...

Unfortunately none of the above will ever happen. Jon is so far removed from being that rock star he once was. We could forget the old school sound and we should just get used to Shanks being the 6th member

I'd have a lot of (probably unrealistic) wishes for it:

- Get back to the bar band groove of 5 guys playing live

- Organic and natural producion that can be reproduced live without any additional musicians

- No song with a "live your life", "get down/up off your knees" and no superficial songs that are begging for social relevance

- Coming from the above: the guys should write songs they believe in, to which they can relate and which mean something to them - if they can't do that anymore they shouldn't even enter the studio

- Get rid of recording on a drum computer and a Shanks-guitar-track with relying on the technology to fix everything afterwards: demo and rehearse it until it sounds good and then record it that way!

- Take breaks inbetween the recording sessions and then get back to it with some distance to judge the material better: no one expects them to be in the studio 24/7 anymore like they did for SWW or NJ

- Most importantly: Jon and Richie - get your shit together and bring back your A-Game! If the current state they're in (vocally or with regard to the sloppiness on the lead guitar) is in fact the best they're capable of delevering - don't waste our time, even Shanks won't fix that mess...

Conformity is a bitch.


Make a great rock album for Bon Jovi is very easy. Simply join Richie, Tico, David and Hugh. Forget Bobby. They become five again. Hire a rock producer with good credentials (not Avril Lavigne or Johnas Brothers).

Jon has to hire the best rock producer of the moment. No search for wannabe best producer of the moment. One very important thing, that the album is not recorded in Jon's house again. Have to leave this place. After, they have to focus on making rock n roll instead of doing something for the radio of moment.

I would love to see Bob Rock again, or any change in producer would be welcomed. If, heaven forbid, Shanks were to continue with the band, I'd like a low-key version of HAND. However, without songs like the title track, Welcome to Wherever You Are and WSYCGH. Louder and more balanced backing vocals from the band as well. A few verses sung by Richie would be a blessing.

Little instrumentals and solos at the end of tracks or between choruses and verses would fill the songs up more and make them feel more interesting. Like that twin-solo that Jon Richie did in Thorn live would have been great in the studio:
Lots of demos! I wouldn't mind if they took 2 years to make the 'right' album. None of this rushing bullcrap.

And I think it's about time Jon grew a beard

KS

Nothing Bon Jovi is capable of delivering nowadays would please me I think. The number of variables that would need to change are way too many. If you are making a record suited for Jon's voice now, you have to deliver the passion element that they had in some other way. Richie and David have to step up with heart melting solos and arrangements. The music has to leave the basic boring structure it is wearing and make place for a great piece of music.

Truth is, I don't see that happening. There must be a will to do it from ALL members, a peace treaty between JBJ and Richie, love for music itself and not just commercial success and most of all, IDEAS. They aren't dropping more than 1 or 2 ideas per album.