[Santa_Fe]

God knows why Bon Jovi felt the need to recut its best songs in an adult alternative style with Patrick Leonard as the producer. In the thorough liner notes — presented as an interview between Jon Bon Jovi and guitarist Richie Sambora — by the suddenly ubiquitous David Wild, Jon claims that the roots of the album derive from a Japanese show he recorded where the intent was to release live, acoustic versions of the band's standards. Alas, the recordings weren't up to snuff, so the band reentered the studio and cut versions that have more overdubs than the original releases. To its credit, the band sounds committed to this rather bizarre project, an endeavor so unconnected to reality that actress Olivia d'Abo — best known for either her role on The Wonder Years or her lead in the brilliant '90s indie film Kicking and Screaming, depending on your viewpoint — provides counterpoint vocals to "Living on a Prayer," while "Bad Medicine" boasts breathy, echoed vocals that suggest it was conceived as a reflective affair, not as a dumb hard rock song. This holds true throughout the album, and while the arrangements are relatively interesting, they're never improvements on the originals and never rise above the level of novelties. And while longtime fans may find it worthwhile on that level, it doesn't offer proof that the band's songs are resilient enough to withstand new arrangements, nor does it shed new light on Bon Jovi or prove that the group is maturing gracefully. And all of that is really too bad, because the songs have stood the test of time, sounding better in their original incarnations than they did upon release, plus the group was moving in the right direction with its last album, adjusting to the sound and feel of middle-aged maturity seemingly effortlessly. This, however, sounds simultaneously safe and hazy, the sound of a band that's earned the right to indulge itself and has followed that inclination too far. — Stephen Thomas Erlewine

So, what do you think of this?

[Kathleen]

Ouch

Kathleen

[choclady]

plus the group was moving in the right direction with its last album, adjusting to the sound and feel of middle-aged maturity seemingly effortlessly.

agree with the statements about olivia, but the rest of this review is too negative imo. i like the album as a whole, i think its interesting what they've done, especially with IML, LYHOM and Bad Name...
(now go on bash me people )

[Christo]

Who was she in the Wonder Years?

[choclady]

Originally Posted by Christo

Who was she in the Wonder Years?

the sister (forgot the name... the blonde hippie one)

[Christo]

Originally Posted by choclady

the sister (forgot the name... the blonde hippie one)

I liked that show. They still show them on Saturday afternoons.

[Jonny Sambora]

They def did not move in the right direction with Bounce!!!!!!!!!!

[Iceman]

Originally Posted by Santa_Fe

while the arrangements are relatively interesting, they're never improvements on the originals and never rise above the level of novelties.

nor does it shed new light on Bon Jovi or prove that the group is maturing gracefully.

the group was moving in the right direction with its last album, adjusting to the sound and feel of middle-aged maturity seemingly effortlessly.

the sound of a band that's earned the right to indulge itself and has followed that inclination too far.

Damn right!

Ice

[Iceman]

Originally Posted by choclady

(now go on bash me people )

BASH!

Ice

[Stut]

It´s just an opinion. And we all know what they say about opinions. Some like it and some don´t.