Okay here is my review of the new album.
I'm a little bit underwhelmed by the final album version, after hearing the songs live there is a lot more potential to the songs (This mostly due production & mixing). Don't misunderstand me I still think it is a good album and I still enjoy but I hear that they did not exploit the full potential of quite a few songs.
I don't really mind Shanks as a guitar player but I think it is time to at least hire someone who can challenge Jon & the rest of the band (probably not going to happen since Jon feels safe with John). But let's move on to the songs.
This House Is Not For Sale:
This is a standard Bon Jovi song these days, nothing really special and radio friendly. The I'm Coming Home part makes it stand out a bit more which I think is a excellent hook. I understand why it became the first single but musically it wouldn't be my first single choice. I think it's better than BWC and I don't mind listening to THINFS so this one I give a 6/10.
Living With The Ghost:
This is a great song in my opinion definitely one of the best of the album. I think the lyrics are really good on this one. There's nothing more to say for me 9/10
Knockout:
This song has a nice energy, maybe it could have had a little more aggression in Jon's voice. Lyrically not the best one but I still enjoy it. 6/10
Labor Of love:
This is one of the songs that doesn't really do anything for me at the moment but one I listen to from time to time. I think it is an okay-ish song. 6,5/10
Born Again Tomorrow:
Also one of my favorites of the album. But it doesn't mean it's perfect, I personally like the live version better. The album version could've been mixed better in my opinion. This one could've done really well if it was released as single. Phil did a good job on the solo. 8,5/10
Roller Coaster:
A nice catchy chorus, vocals on the album version are a bit to robotic. A song that could end up in my playlist. 7/10
New Year’s Day:
I like the idea and the story behind this song. This one of the songs where I prefer the live version a bit over the album version where it has more prominent guitars. 6,5/10
The Devil's In The Temple:
This one rocks and this song inspired me to write when I first heard it. But the keys could have been a bit louder. Also the guitars could have been heavier, which it is on the live version I think. If this was present it would have been a 10 out of 10 but I have to give it a 9/10, which is still great!
Scars On this Guitar:
This is a nice song and has lyrics I can relate to. I've nothing more to say on this one, it's nice. 7,5/10
God Bless This Mess:
Fills the gap nice between Scars and Reunion. It's an okay song, again a standard Jovi song these days. Like the lyrics though. 6.5/10
Reunion:
Much better then we first heard it. Props to the band and Shanks for making it better. Now I can actually listen to it. Lyrics are typical Jovi. 6,5/10
Come On Up To Our House:
Nice song to ''close'' the album. It got a Christmas vibe to it but I don't mind. 7/10
Now the bonus tracks
Real Love:
Another song that doesn't do anything for me at the moment. Personally I think the lyrics is a bit better than Blind Love so that I prefer Real Love so there for a 6/10
All Hail The King:
Nice rock vibe to it, not as much as Devil though. Like the soul, soul, soul part and a nice solo by Phil. Lyrics are good enough for me as a bonus track. 7/10
We Don't Run:
Prefer the BB version but this is a great song, I remember the first time I heard I was really surprised how it sounded in a good way. It stood the test of time for me so far. BB 9/10 - THNFS version 8.5/10
I Will Drive You Home:
A nice surprise and in my opinion the best bonus track of the album. I like the ending, it's different which makes it really interesting. Also really like the lyrics. 9/10
Goodnight New York:
Another okay song, not one I skip at the moment. 6/10
Color Me In:
Nice, slow and laid back in my opinion. It works well with I Will Drive You Home and Touch Of Grey. But glad it only is a bonus track. 7/10
Touch Of Grey:
A good song, although it could fit on a few albums post-2000. But since the album is not full of these songs I can really enjoy this one. Also I like the lyrics. 7,5/10
Scores:
Without the bonus tracks: 7,2
With the bonus tracks: still 7,2 lol
Overall score of the album is a 8 I think.
Why? Well because I feel that this is an album which I didn’t have with WAN, which have a few songs I like and I skip the most. Now when I’m looking back at my scores for WAN I will defiantly rank some song different but at least the score of all song combined is lower which is a good thing in my mind, I have the feeling that THINFS will have more songs that will stay.
I also have the feeling that the album could have reached a score of 8,5 or even 9 (a 10 for me is really, really rare) when the mixes on some songs were better and if the overall production was better. For me the production in the Shanks-era falls flat and makes the songs almost sound that they are from the same album in my opinion, it’s too repetitive. I think their collaboration should have stopped after Lost Highway or The Circle, I don’t mind him co-writing once in a while. Producers like Shanks can only last for a certain amount of time and I think BJ and Shanks are well over that date. But enough about that.
I know it’s quite a long post (probably the longest one I’ve written lol) but this is my overall impression. Feel free to agree or disagree, no hard feelings from my side haha
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