So, what's the verdict of Jovitalk on Richie's record?

Aftermath of the Letdown

After soaking this album in a little more, I'm now able to give a more in-depth review.

First off, this album sounds NOTHING like HAND PT2. I can't even hear Jon singing half these songs which brings me to my first point.

I can totally see why one of the fan favorites is 7 Years. It's the most Bon Jovi esq type song on the album. This I can hear Jon singing. And I do agree that it is the best song on the album hands down!

The other closest Bon Jovi type songs I hear are "I'll Always Walk Besides You" and maybe "Nowadays" Maybe "World" and Maybe "You Can Only Get So High" but lyrically, they don't fit Jon’s style.

Moving on.... I struggle to determine what category this music falls into. You got Foo Fighters, Nickelback, Bon Jovi, and I even think there is a Richie Sambora song or 2 on here somewhere. On the flipside, if we only get a Richie album every ten years, I guess some diversity could be considered a good thing. I believe these songs are from multiple years which probably explains the diversity. I can hear "Nowadays" being done right after Bounce. The Voice Muffle in combination of that particular Foo Fighter style... '03 '04 '05

People are throwing the term Overproduced around. This is 2012 and unfortunately how they make music today. Just like the way someone from 1956 who grew-up on Doo-Wop would think Led Zeppelin II is overproduced, we think this is overproduced. Is it? Is it not? I don't know but I don't like certain effects that this album and what all music of today contains. I'm just not a big fan of this digital era..... It's difficult to describe sound but it's that voice muffle sound (auto tune) in "Burn That Candle Down" and "Nowadays". I've heard that used in other songs and it worked (AKA Bounce). I'm just not too sure if it works with these songs but they are still enjoyable either way. Kind of like a visual special effect in Avengers. Does the Hulk look real or like a cartoon. Sometimes both but the movie is still enjoyable. It would be better to just paint Lou Ferrigno green, but the cartoon Hulk doesn't ruin the movie. Just like the Voice Muffle doesn't ruin the song. Not a big fan.

As someone else commented somewhere, I believe these songs will come to life live. I can see a song that most don't like like "Taking a Chance On The Wind" becoming a fan favorite once played live.

Let’s get to this "Sugar Daddy" tune. I actually don't think the song is that bad. What I think ruins it, is the title and word "Sugar Daddy". As soon as you hear that title, you visualize Richie with and 18 year old school girl. Let’s face it, the term is creepy.....The song itself has a Mike Posner - Cooler Than Me sound with some My Chemical Romance - na na na mixed in. It's not too bad of a song once you get past the word Sugar Daddy. I think in time, that could be overlooked.

Stranger was an artistic, soulful, bluesy record. It was brilliant. This is more contemporary. I can't even compare one album to the other.

As far as Undiscovered Soul comparisons go, "Every Road Leads Home To You" is "Hard Times Come Easy" part 2. I could also hear "I'll Always Walk Beside You" (which is an excellent song too btw) and "You Can Only Get So High" on Und Soul too.

I do like the last song “World”. I’d like to hear Richie do this one live too. Soft guitar, borderline a- cappella. I think if done right it could have that moment.

Overall, my rating still remains the same, 7 out of 10. Everyone listens to musically differently. Some put the headphones on and analyze the shit out of every track while others, like myself, listen to it from a distance. While I'm working, cleaning the house, driving in the car, etc.

I'm glad we got this release. It's an enjoyable listen. Richie rocks but Jon is still the better lead singer. Richie may have the stronger voice but it's Jon that can carry a song better.

I like it a lot and gave it 8 out of 10.
Don't know if I'll think the same about it in a year, but for now I really enjoy the Wall of Sound, weird noises, jamming, rough solo-ing etc. Heck, I even like Sugar Daddy. Guess I'm easily pleased when it comes to Sambora solo efforts.

Ok the good is good - 7 years gone, Broken Wing, Burn The Candle Down & Every Road...

The rest is just bland.

Sugar Daddy - is so bad I cant describe it.

Sugar Daddy reminds me of We Got It Going On. I know I shouldn't but I can't help but like it. I reckon it will go over great live with a full jam.

After one listen, I'm liking it a lot. It's a bit of a bewildering mix of styles, but there is a lot of good stuff on there, and more feeling and power (and guitar! and rock!) than we've seen from Bon Jovi in a long time. Overall I'm pretty impressed so far.

I think I even quite like Sugar Daddy, sure it's juvenile and immature, but isn't rock music supposed to be?! The album seems to be a mix of Richie as a frustrated rocker and Richie as a frustrated poet, and since both sides have been in decline within Bon Jovi for a long time now, that's alright with me

Hello people of JT, long time no see

I thought I'd pop on this one topic to share my view on this record.

Straight to the point, it's the first release since 1995 and These Days that gives me this signature BJ feeling I had discovering SWW, NJ or KTF on at least one song.

At last something that's not overthought and overworked for what the boss thinks the audience will want to hear a year after they hit the studio, if you see what I mean...

At last something that's honest, where the simple and humble happiness to be there and share the music shows.

Aftermath of the Lowdown is not a masterpiece, far from, the production sucks, lyrics are terrible at time and it's messy as hell (hey, it's Richie). But man would I have enjoyed even half the mess and clumsiness that's in there on anything from Crush to the Circle.

I'd urge anyone to promptly forget the first two tracks, they'd fit on Lost Highway. Enough said.

But from this abyss BJ's been in for way to long Richie swims up to the surface song after song, and find himself as I wish he'd always been. Burn the Candle Down or Taking a Chance on The Wind have this vibe of his that shined on his Wind Cries Mary cover, Seven Years Gone is the obvious classic in there and he closes the album with World, which reminds me a lot of The Answer. This is Richie, with his talent, his flaws and his actual influences like Hendrix or the Beatles. Sure it could be better, but all I want to say in the end is "Welcome back!". Now let's build on this for future efforts.

Overall a very nice surprise for me, an honest 7.

PS: on a side note, this album shows quite a lot of what BJ's been missing for a while. One of the main things I'd list here is real drum lines. Where the **** has Tico been these last 17 years? Anyone else felt this?

In short: The album is really really good, and much much better than what I expected after all the reviews here. I now had plenty of time to listen to it, and it keeps getting better. I like every track on the album, not on such great terms with "Sugar Daddy" yet, but I don't hate it.

Great songwriting, great singing, and more guitar than on the last BJ albums combined. Not a big fan of the messy production, but it doesn't ruin it. Weakest track? Probably "Weathering The Storm". Best? "Seven Years Gone", "Walk Beside You", "Learning How To Fly", "You Can Only Get So High".

And I really enjoy "Burn The Candle Down" & "Taking A Chance On The Wind".

It's not Richie Sambora by numbers, there are a couple of tracks that surprised me in a good way.

So, 8/10.

Agree with both points!

There is slightly more drumlines on "The Circle" though, like "Love's The Only Rule" - finally, some toms are used again. It's part of why I like the song so much.

love the live stuff we are getting, the album is more a collection of songs that strike me in different times

seems like whenever I listen to a song on shuffle and hear it amongst other music I like it better than when I took in the whole thing at one listen, maybe I am listening closer?

need some midwest shows dammit

Dave