The problem is that in these four songs where he plays, just be to adorn the song as filler or something additional. I hope that does not happen, and in those four songs have enough weight.

Hopefully Jon have an ace in the hole as It's My Life was for Crush.

Ballads are narrative poems that are intended to be sung; thus a story told in a song. So Poem and Story are the key words (along with slower tempo)...

Now most songs can be considered poems and most songs are stories however, the way I differentiate is, the poems must contain a lot of rhymes and the stories need to be concrete in the song itself where all 3 verses follow the same situation in some type of order...

Take I'll Be There For You for example.... There are a lot of verses that rhyme and the story is continuous from beginning to end...

IMO... Welcome is without a doubt a Ballad because it truly fits both. Bells of Freedom is not (again IMO) because the story isn't being told throughout all three verses - There are only 2 verses and there is no real Story being told...

I Am is tricky. I think if there was a third verse, it could possibly be but there really is no conclusion to the story... And it's a weak story at best...

ITA is not a power ballad! Are you out of your wits? The only power ballads on KTF (as that album features ITA) are I Want You and Bed Of Roses.

Actually, ITA can go either way... I think it's a little too fast to be one

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If there are "no ballads" on the album, the question isn't how any of us define a ballad, but how Jon does. ;)

Spot on! :D

Yeah and it is quite obvious Jon means typical power ballads (like Bed of Roses, NSG..) or clearly slow songs (like You Had Me, Diamond Ring, Memory) when he says ballads.

Hopefully we will have an album that sticks to the basic formula of rock music and surprises one or two of us, much in the same way Def Leppard did last year with their self titled album. Bon Jovi are no longer current or relevant to the masses so it just needs to be an album that people listen too and say 'actually that is pretty darn good'. They have written so many great songs and have a back catalogue of music that most bands would give anything for. This album will be a springboard for the world tour that follows and will have 3-4 strong songs that will be played and some forgettable ones too. Let's not try and think this will be something it isn't. In terms of songwriting and performance that peaked many years ago now.

Jon Bon Jovi always stated he never wanted to be a nostalgia act but to be honest that is what the band will now become. Let's accept it and enjoy the experience of seeing this great band (in whatever form) for maybe the last time or certainly one of the last few times.

Bon Jovi have given me so much joy and energy over the years. I am not ready to write them of just yet. One more roll of the dice...

Well stated... However, I think what Jon means by not being nostalgic is being one of those bands who do the summer amphitheater greatest hits tours... As long as he can do the arena/stadium tours and can play new music, he's cool... Like a Stones or a Springsteen or even a U2... They are no different than Jon at this point and he's fine being on that level...

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Yep agree with that