The Richie Sambora & Orianthi album

I absolutely see the thread you're following to get there but I really really really really can't fathom that song being about Shanks. In 2004 they would be working on the box set and HAND at the same time. Richie said in interviews after he left he wanted more changes, different producers etc. I think using the same guy over and over and over is limiting creatively but in 2004 none of those were an issue. In 2004 Bobby wasn't even a backing member of the band for the tour, he did both Borgata shows in '03 and '04 but there wasn't a tour until November of 2005.

I think it's a personal song but if he's going through a divorce and the loss of his father that seems to be the more likely subject matter to me.

The interview you posted also hammers home the biggest issue people have with RSO. When they say he left Bon Jovi to do harder rock stuff, you are right he never said that. But he DID insinuate he isn't able to do longer guitar solos in the band and guitar based music is lacking in current records. So for him to leave the band less than a year after that and then eventually put something out that isn't guitar based at all it's strange.

What they're doing sounds "of the times" in a multitude of genres and I wonder if they're trying to find a sound that sticks and going in that direction when something clicks.

I'm sorry. I didn't mean to imply that Bobby and/or Shanks was the primary inspiration, only the changes that had taken place since their advent may have been in the mix. And you're right, they (or the changes in his role in the band) may not have been evident that early on; but he didn't write the song in 2004/2005. He wrote it in 2011/2012, looking back over the changes that occurred during the previous 7 years. I can't help but believe that the way his role had been diminishing over that time wouldn't have played into it to some degree. But as I said, that's just my gut.

That was one of the things he said. The problem I see, though, is that seems to be the only thing people remember him saying.

In that same interview, right before that, he also said: "One of the things I wanted to do was showcase my singing, because people put me into this box where I am a guitar player. There are a lot of people that have a preconceived notion of who I am as a person and a musician, and I think this record tried to break that mold. Even from a guitar-playing standpoint, what I don’t see in a lot of bands and a lot of records right now is a lot of guitar playing for self-expression -- playing solos..."

I'm not sure how you define "guitar-based" music because I'm much more into the vocals and lyrics. But Making History has a guitar solo that, to me, is reminiscent of The Next 100 Years, which along with Dry County, is one of the stand-out guitar solos on any of the Bon Jovi albums as far as I'm personally concerned. Walk with Me has an outro alone that's over a minute long and the instrumental break in Together on the Outside is over a minute, too. I'm not sure what people expect, but I guess they could do the guitarists' answer to In-A-Gadda-Da-Vida.

I'm not arguing with you because personal taste is just that, but there is a lot more guitar on Making History than on Rise. Maybe it's just not the style of guitar that people are looking for. IDK.

As far as style you could be right. They both said they wanted to explore different genres, but I would have thought they would have explored and then, like you said, find a style that worked before releasing new music. But that's just me. Maybe they are still looking for what clicks for both of them and for the fans. Other than that, I got nuttin'... *shrugs*

IDWTHTNYN cool video

You're not the only one Rolo. I don't know if it's the NSG and Ballad of Youth in it or what, but I feel like there's a Jon connection. A friend told me a while back that she had seen an interview when SITT first came out where Richie said Ballad of Youth was about Jon or he wrote it for Jon or something, but she couldn't find the interview, so take it for what it's worth. But it wouldn't surprise me.

There's also something about it that reminds me of One Last Goodbye. I think it's the bridge and I'm pretty sure there's something that feels very similar to that in One Last Goodbye. Or it might be Willing to Try. I've got to play the 3 of them back to back and see if I can figure it out.

As a guitar player the only thing that Dry County/Next 100 Years can be compared to the solo in Making History is the double time solo. That being said I dig that solo.

It's a matter of opinion but what they're putting out is not guitar based. It doesn't breathe organically and it's filled with lots of synths. Yes there's guitars but it's not.....Richie. It's so hard to explain what I have in my brain but with ever release Richie gets less and less guitar driven from Stranger forward. Undiscovered Soul was a turn into the poppier direction but it sounded organic, you can hear the guitars crisp and clear. Aftermath had more guitars and was such a great step in the right direction (for me) but lacked soulful lyrics on most of it. It was a pretty safe release as far as blues and soul go. This release even has a few songs with him playing no guitar at all. The majority of the songs don't have solos and I don't mean to harp on the one thing people keep bringing up but if he's going to say that he's surprised a lot of modern music doesn't have guitar solos and jamming and then put out something that is so far removed from what he's done in the past I think it's acceptable to question it, ya know?

I'm all for bands experimenting as they evolve but they're doing it right out of the gate. It's a lot of sharp turns and I feel like each thing they're doing is good but finding an audience that appreciates the bunch of sounds they've given us I think is going to make this difficult.

Wow, I really love We Are Magic. The talkbox lick/riff is awesome! Sounds like a hit to me. But like Taylor Swift in sound maybe..

I only like the solo on that song.

Think the new EP is better than the first