2020: The New Album

OK, I've survived tens of pages requesting the album, then a few more the bonus tracks.

I can't write reviews. Maybe because many feelings and emotions and thus opinions are boiling in me.

I'm bit torn about some things, don't know if I'm happy or unhappy about them

A lot of slow songs. I'd definitely need more rockier songs. On the other hand, it's what Jon should do given his state of voice. Plus These Days has a lot of slow ones as well. Don't take it that I compare those two. And I actually hate those "The best since -enter an album-" when TD is the most frequent one.

I couldn't get into it. I deliberately hadn't listened to any snippets before I listened to the album. It kills the experience for me. An so did knowing the four tracks. I even started the album and turned it off after DWYC, I was bored. It has the weakest first half of any album.

Jon shouldn't listen to his wife regarding singles Limitless is utter garbage. Beautiful Drug is a huge letdown for me, but a better song anyway. The similar intro riff to THINFS kills it for me for the first time. Actually the drums kick in better than in THINFS. I didn't feel threatened byt the "dangerous solo". Happy to hear a solo but nothing spectacular, just good and fitting the song. I absolutely hate the robotic programmed backing vocals. That's what kills to song for me for the second time. Relying on the tape while playing live just sucks but can be done less abviously. No band would ever sing like this. And basically the chorus is just weak.

So the only faster song that I like is Let It Rain. A good one!

I learned to like Unbroken, the choir version helped a lot. On the other hand, I initially liked DWYC but it wore of quickly. Plus the whole world hopes for the song be dated as soon as possible. Not a fan of country so the alternative version doesn't help, live it sounds more like this one (ridiculous guitar sound).

The four songs didn't promote the album in a good light. I had the lowest expectations so I was really positively surprised to hear Story Of Love. That songs somehow speaks to me. I thought it was some kind of lullaby but then the outro kicked in. Elevated the song a lot.
Fortunatelly many of the slow songs offer something special in them. Lower The Flag is unique.

There are too many songs suitable for bonus tracks. And actually the bonus tracks are not those Unbroken works as a closer. American Reckoning would as well. DWYC sounds too differently so it doesn't fit the album at all. So possibly a bonus track.

The album really creates an atmosphere. I'm so happy Jon is old-fashioned in this way and wants to release albums as units. Not a collection of songs over some time or separate singles. Within this album, I fine with American Reckoning and I really like Unbroken. I didn't when they were released earlier = mistake releasing them at all. Unbroken was for a movie, makes sense.

As the previous ones - the album lacks a signature guitarist. Even though I'm really surprised how much guitar and solos made the final cut - again something we didn't expect given the singles.
Imagine Blood In The Water with at least a bit inspired Richie on guitar. With an outro.

I was losing hope in Jon and the band and they proved me wrong. Happy about that.

On the other hand, I enjoyed and still enjoy THINFS, which is playinig now - iTunes app on my PC just doesn't stop playing at the end of an album and continues with the next one. And using my today's standards for 2020, I must say THINFS sounds great (it would benefit a lot from similar production as 2020).

Sorry for all the typos and the length. I wanted to write down a few ideas and ended up with that. Still not a review though, just thoughts.

Agree re signature guitarist.
Phil x is a hired gun
On the songs I really like, I cant help but feel how much better would these sound with Richies guitar and vocals.
The guitar, although I'm pleased it's there, doesn't have that stamp of a guitarist doing his thing.

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Not sure if this has ever been uncovered, but remember last year when Jon allegedly played a new song on that JBJ cruise and asked fans not to film/share it?
That was Lower The Flag and it originally was in a higher key than what ended up on the album.

So since Bon Jovi is playing Beautiful Drug at the Ellen Show on Thursday, it would be nice if they released it as a single on Friday (plus the music video maybe). The song needs to be played on radio stations, it's such a nice song. Also it would attract peoples' attention to the album for sure.

We talked about it above, the video might need to be refilmed.

Sick of people comparing 2020 songs to other songs. Its not like other artists don't copy themselves and other people. Just enjoy the songs for what they are and be happy we have them

If anyone can dm a link to Shine and Love Can it would be greatly appreciated. Thanks

Yes!!!! Exactly

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Good call. I forgot about that. Maybe someone will post it now

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I really don't care about Richie on guitar, as his work with Bon Jovi was lazy, to say the least, since Bounce. What I miss about Richie is his vocals. I can only imagine Richie's vocals on a song like Shine, how much it would be better.