Hopefully we hear 'God Bless This Mess' before July somehow

Hello,

I think it´s kinda strange BJ´s come-back to their label. I mean, it´s great, but hey, the band said what they wanted in BB, and it would have been enough for many corporations to say no to a come-back. And yes, BJ in your catalogue should mean more sales,... but weren´t they thought to be out of the label because the end of the contract?

All in all, wasnt´t BJ no interesting at all and because of that it was going to be their end with the label?

Is this new contract a sign that what Jon offered the bosses had a potential that didn´t previous albums?

Is there any hope left?

I think so...

Eighty albums sound different to ninety. And in this new decade we would have to have a change, but there is not. Everything keeps playing the same way for 15 years. And the last albums repetitive sounds.

That's why compare with ACDC always same. Do not mistake me, sure there good songs but ... nothing new.

Still, I disagree, the sound is changing from album cycle to album cycle. The Circle was atmospheric and jangley, HAND was faster tempo'd rock/pop clearly influenced by American Idiot. There's a noticeable change in style. WAN was a return to love songs, LH was stripped back with some twangs. The issue is mediocre song writing, I stand by this, not the general sound itself. So the next album's sound really cant' be predicted especially with Phil now in the mix. It's fair to say, based on the trends, the song writing itself might not have improved but they could surprise all of us.

Indeed they have surprised Island, hadn´t it been that way I really doubt there had been a new contract... Let´s cross fingers

The universe runs in patterns and why should this be any different? BJ albums come in twos. Think about it;

BJ and 7800 both energetic 80s rocker albums about girl troubles and partying. But both lack the wow factor.

SWW and NJ both anthem laden glam rock albums. Much slicker than their predecessors, both have a great cowboy themed ballad and numerous power ballads.

KTF and TD both darker and more mature. More socially concious and brooding. Jons voice has changed too.

Crush and Bounce are both early 2000 pop rock albums neither of which sound like their predecessors. Both full of live my life songs and saccharine post 2000 mid tempo rockers and ballads. Jons voice has altered again too.

HAND and LH, it is hard to deny LH came about as a result of the success of WSYCGH. Hence it was directly inspired by a song from HAND.

TC and WAN is easy, WAN is basically the sequel to TC. Jon said as much himself. TC is about the crash and the world changing and obama being elected. The title WAN asks what is going to happen next, obamas re-election etc.

So. If burning bridges is anything to go by (and it is) we can predict; Jon will sing in a much lower register, there will only be a limited no of live my life songs, majority will be slow stripped down ballads (like blind love and teardrop), Jon had an axe to grind and the bitterness probably hasn't gone 100%. Look for a song that can't be interpreted universally but just tells things as they were (ala burning bridges).

I get some of those similarities, I just don't think WAN and The Circle have anything to do with each other, both in sound and subject matter. But that's how I hear it.

Really? Maybe it was just me but I thought they are probably the most similar 2 albums for a decade!

Work for the Working Man, Bullet, Brokenpromiseland, Happy Now, I'm With You, What about Now and Whats left of me, are a raft of "socially conscious" songs that could all easily be off the same album.

Good point. I think while The Circle is flat out just socially concious/live your life songs, WAN is not as heavily in your face om the matter.

Because We Can, I'm With You, What About Now, Army of One, What's left of me,

vs

Pictures of You, That's what the Water Made Me, Room at the end of the world, The Fighter, Thick as Thieves, Amen, Beautiful World

The guitar work is mind dullingly simple. It kind of was too on The Circle but The Circle had more of an identity throughout, for better or worse. I think those 5 songs could fit on The circle if recorded differently, yeah.

harrystamper98 ‏ hi john, is the new bon jovi album "this house is not for sale" better than the circle? It would be great!!!

John Shanks yes!!!! It's gonna be awesome.im excited.