Every where I go on here I see people comparing every album to These Days, over and over again. Some people here don't care for it, but the majority does. So I figure I am gonna see if I can solve this....

About 2 years ago, my girlfriend and I broke up, and well I was down. One day I was on the computer trying to find some music that will fit my situation, since I was tired of all the songs I had in my library. I was never a Bon Jovi fan, so I said what the hell, why don't I see if he has any good music videos. So, I go on Windows Media Player and search Bon Jovi, and only 2 music videos came up, These Days and This Ain't a Love Song.

I didn't want to hear This Ain't a Love Song, cause I wanted to hear a love song . So I watched These Days. And I watched it again. And again. Everything in that video was perfect to me. Jon even had the same hair I current did . The lyrics was great, and I wanted more. So I watch This Ain't a Love Song, and let me tell you, I was speechless. Everything I wanted from a love song was there. I felt like he was telling me what just happened in my life.

I refused to download these songs, I wanted the album. So I constently watched these videos over and over again, until These Days came in the mail. At first the songs that grabbed me was Something for the Pain, This Ain't a Love Song, These Days, Hearts Breaking Even, and If Thats What It Takes. I listened to the whole cd every night. Hearts Breaking Even really stuck in my mind, it sounded so different from everything I heard...ever. And since If Thats What It Takes was two songs away from Hearts, I decided not to skip the one in the middle....

I didnt like Something to Believe In at first, I thought some lines were cheesy, but since it was in the middle of two of my favorite songs, I listened to it anyways. And then one day....wham...the song knocked me on my ass. The pain, the longing for hope...Something to Believe In became more than just a song, it was something I was searching for.

After that, I began to like all the other songs on the cd (except Diamond Ring), each one offered something different. I began to look for performances of these songs and I found the Live in London DVD. After that I saw Yokohama 96. Floored again by these songs, I did some research. I wanted to see how many of these great songs does Bon Jovi put in their set, night after night. To my surprise, none. I found out that These Days didnt sell well in America, but across seas it did very well. The only songs the play off that album is Something to Believe In, These Days, and Diamond Ring, and those are very rare to say the least.

I also noticed how the band was doing during that time. Jon could still sing the high notes if he tried, he didnt have to arrange songs too much differently, and everything still sounded like the records. Bon Jovi did great covers during that time, like Imagine, and all in all, the band was in their prime. But it wasn't the band I recognize today. Jon doesn't sing as well as he did back then, the lyrical value has diminished greatly, the songs are very poppy, the band wasn't the same.

Crossroads should have been released after These Days, because truly thats where the cross between Bon Jovi and New Bon Jovi lies. Nothing today sounds remotley like the first 6 albums, and its a shame. The great songs are missing in setlists, and I dont know why This Aint a Love Song isn't played, especially after American Idol.

All in all, I have to agree with this board with These Days, it is the best record Bon Jovi has released, maybe cause it was different, or in the band's heyday, or maybe everyone loves these songs cause Bon Jovi never plays them, any way.....These Days is where Bon Jovi left their legacy, and maybe one day that legacy will return.