So, two weeks afte the album got released I can say I'm still more excited about this album than I was with most albums at the same time in the last 16 years. I put THINFS in my top 3 of the post 2000 albums, yet it has its very own unique quality.

There's also an approvement in the lyrics... while I don't understand why Jon could put a "Living with the ghost" or "Devil" on the album besides "Knockout" and "Born again tomorrow"... but oh well..

I genuily like every song on the album and I think for once John Shanks has not ****ed it up as much as I was afraid he would. "Knockout" sounded strange at first, now I love it. There's a cool bassline going on in the verses and you can actually hear it for once! I discover something more in the mix almost every time I listen to it.

The guitars, while not playing virtuosic stuff, are more in the foreground, I love the groove in the title track and "God bless this mess".
Also Dave's keyboards are more prominent in the mix and not there to put sugar on the sound as on WAN. Actually, in most parts, the album has a very organic feel like a band actually playing together. The ballads follow a pleasant "less is more" attitude... "Scars on this guitar" reminds me of the sound the Stones had on "Exile"... it's so laid back.

I didn't expect me to like the album as much as I do. Here's to the new Bon Jovi.

Favourites:

Devil's in the temple
Living with the ghost
Roller Coaster
New Year's Day
Knockout

And most of the bonus tracks are great, too!