Aloha !
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Originally Posted by Adam D
Bon Jovi have been given bad reviews their entire career.
New Jersey, These Days (especially in the US) were not reviewed well. And yet, we, as fans look at them as two of the best.
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Yes, and those have received well-written reviews and utter garbage much like the 2 reviews posted above. I like the Keep The Faith record but can see why someone with a more objective point of view would take points off. The second half of that album is a lot, lot weaker than the first. And face it, Bon Jovi fans haven't exactly been raving about the non-singles of the Keep The Faith record either. When was the last time anyone requested Woman In Love? Or put Fear on their list of requests? Mentioned I Want You as one of the strong ballads of the nineties?
The same goes for These Days. There's at least 4 songs on the album no one ever mentions. That's 25% of the record. It'd mean if everything else is perfect it'd still get a 7,5. Bon Jovi fans however pretend it's a 10/10 while no one has been bothered about If That's What It Takes. Wouldn't mind if Diamond Ring would never be played again. Bitter Wine? Meh, it'd be considered a filler song in the 00's. Bon Jovi fans view things with Bon Jovi coloured glasses. I'm guilty of it too, which is why I prefer my reviews unbiased.
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Originally Posted by Adam D
It's just refreshing to see an out and out positive review. Anyone can read it and look into it any way they choose.
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Sure, which is why I'm saying it reads like a press-release. It's the review the Bon Jovi camp wishes every magazine would write.
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Originally Posted by Adam D
I'm just speaking in generalities, but it's almost like any positivity towards the band is immediately met with second guessing.
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Because this band has been releasing album with an agenda. For every thing Bon Jovi do there's often an economical reason why. It's rarely an inspired reason. 2020 won't change that, it's too little too late.
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Originally Posted by Adam D
"No one can possibly just listen to the album and enjoy it, there has to be some ulterior motive."
If the review ripped the album to pieces, then "that guy knows what he's talking about!"
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Those are your words, not mine. This guy clearly knows what he's talking about. He also knows exactly which critical points to avoid. The lack of inspired guitar work since Richie left. No band feeling on the album because of Jon's "vision". The failing, autotuned, robotic vocals because Jon can't sing anymore. Rehashed metaphors, melodies and lyrics. All things to take into consideration considering both Bon Jovi's history and things you just can't avoid whenever you're listening to a new Bon Jovi song. It's not like these things can't be heard and yet they're avoided to a point that makes you wonder whether the person wasn't allowed to write anything negative.
Mind you, they did the same thing on the This House Is Not For Sale Tour, not letting in people who'd written a negative review in the past. It wouldn't surprise me if they did the same thing with the album, trying to make sure a positive buzz surrounds the release. And it's also where all the second-guessing comes from. Bon Jovi do things with an agenda, much like a (losing) political act. And why their credibility, or whatever was left of it, has fallen so hard the past 20 years. They chose to cater towards teenagers and ignored a large part of the fanbase they created with the eighties and nineties records and Jon now thinks he's speaking to an audience he's ignored for well over 30 years. Why should I care what he has to say?
Salaam Aleikum,
Sebastiaan