Bon Jovi - Bounce Review
Posted by Jodes Serner on 10.07.2002
For the most part, this CD is good. Damn good. Jon and the boys pull off a well-rounded CD that most of their fans will like.
New Jersey’s other musical “Icon” returns with a diverse selection of songs, which still hold true to their roots while ever-expanding their musical repertoire. For the most part, they pull off a well-rounded mix of songs that most of their fans will like, if not love.
I really wasn't sure if I could get into Bon Jovi anymore, since their last CD "Crush" didn't really win me over. I'd actually pretty much had given up on Bon Jovi around 1995. Maybe it was a lukewarm concert they gave here in Edmonton that year, or maybe the direction of their music wasn't grabbing my attention, but I must say with “Bounce” they've won me back.
Jon & Co. kick things into gear hands down with the opener “Undivided”, which is their 9-11 tribute song. It grabs you from the get-go and doesn’t let up. It starts off very with a very “nu-breed” feel to it, but when the chorus hits, it’s classic Jovi at their finest. It’s definitely their hardest rocking song in the last 10 to 12 years. The message is one of courage and strength, and how America came together in its darkest hour. It is a fine salute to the brothers, fathers, mothers, and daughters who made the ultimate sacrifice and to those who survived that unforgettable day. The US Armed Services should use this tune to recruit, because I definitely wanted to go kick some serious ass after hearing it, and I’m not even an American!
“Everyday” is the current single and at first, I really didn’t think too much of it, but it’s definitely one that grows on you. How can you not love the Wha-Wha-vox box of Ritchie Sambora at the beginning of the song? It’s showing that Bon Jovi can still produce catchy songs and rock with anyone in the new millennium, and still sound fresh. That is something that a lot of bands from that era are sadly missing in their newer releases (Poison, Dokken, Motley, etc)
“I Go The Distance” is another up beat rocker with the definite flavour of Creed, but instead of going straight to the clone sound, Jon pulls out the string section and acoustic guitar, and makes it work, until the chorus. Then the Creed influence is almost overwhelming, and drags the song down a couple of notches. I still give credit to Jon and the boys for keeping up with the times and pulling it off for the most part.
On “Hey Joey”, Jon and Ritchie must have had a serious sit down with the Boss, because this tune is got Springsteen written all over it, both musically and lyrically. From the physical description of “Joey” to his life, family and his dreams, even the line “I’ll pull some strings and get blackbird wings and break us out of here” is straight from the Boss’s playbook. I guess there must be a code in Jersey to allow such things. But in all honesty, is borrowing a thing or two from Springsteen really all that bad? I’ve got no problems with it! The song itself is a good mid tempo, piano driven number, which will have you realizing that Joey and his friends will make it in this world after all.
“Misunderstood” sounds eerily similar to the Calling’s “Wherever You May Go”. It even has similar lyrics in places, but doesn’t hold up as well as the Callings song does. I guess being associated with “Enterprise” will cement that song for an eternity. “Misunderstood” is another in a long line of upbeat, catchy, and radio friendly songs, which if released, will probably be lost in the shuffle amongst the Creed’s, Our Lady Peace’s etc.
What a Bon Jovi CD without a power ballad? “All About Lovin’ You” is the first ballad and well, it’s in your typical Bon Jovi fashion. It’s not as good of course as “Bed of Roses or “I’ll Be There For You” but with the right video, this song will be huge.
With “Hook Me Up” the heaviness that is heard in the 1st two songs is back. This one is definitely for the fans of the 80’s Bon Jovi material. It has that has all the makings of a great rock song: a wicked riff, thunderous drums and a great chorus. What else can you ask for? Well for one, how about two rocking tunes back to back?
A groan of disbelief filled the room when I heard the next track, “Right Side Of Wrong”. It was definitely not what I was expecting after hearing the previous track. It’s another BALLAD! And not just your typical ballad, it is another story! This one sees a guy who can’t feed his kids so he turns to a life of crime. Maybe we were wrong about Joey Keys; maybe this is how he actually ended up! It should be entitled “Hey Joey pt. 2”. The possibilities here are endless! Ritchie Sambora’s guitar work is truly amazing on this track and during the solo he gives the song a “November Rain” vibe. I honestly don’t have a problem with the song, I like it, and it gets better with every spin on my CD player. But, if it were up to me, it would be at the end of the CD. It would definitely make the rest of the CD flow a bit better if it were there. Aside from that, it would not surprise me if Jon ends his concerts with this song.
“Love Me Back To Life” is Bon Jovi having that Creed influence again. The start is so much like “Take Me Higher” it’s not even funny. The rest of the song doesn’t fare that much better unfortunately. It just doesn’t do anything for me. Its style has been done so often in the last few years that it’s become passé. There was no reason for two “Creedish” sounding songs. This is one of the songs that should have been left off the CD and possibly put on the “Everyday” CD Single, or one of the follow-up singles.
“You Had Me From Hello” is yet another ballad, but instead of the “power ballad” cliché, starting soft and ending hard, (see Bon Jovi, Firehouse, Def Leppard, Styx, etc) it is a hauntingly gentle, acoustically driven song which makes you want to pour your heart out to that someone special. The harmonies are exceptional and over all it is the best ballad on the CD. Will it be their version of Def Leppard’s “Long, Long Way to Go”? Only time will tell. If it is released as a single though, look out.
Just when you think the rest of the CD is bound to be middle of the road adult contemporary mush, the rock gods smile again and give us “Bounce”. This one is also for the “Slippery When Wet” or “New Jersey” fans, because this tune could have very easily fit on those two albums. It’s a 3 minute and 10 second throwback to what put Bon Jovi on the charts 16 years ago. It’s your straight-ahead, in your face rock track, that demands it be played live.
Finally, “Open All Night” ends in another yawner ballad. I don’t even know why this made the album. It’s pure drivel. It’s so incredibly dull that even being on the “Everyday” single is being too generous! This track only has one true home, and that’s on some shelf deep in a record company vault, never to be heard again!
This CD flows amazing well for the most part. It would flow even better if “Love Me Back To Life” and “Open All Night” were taken off and replace them with “Breathe” and “Another Reason To Believe” (from the Everyday CD Single). By doing that, you will then have the 2nd best melodic rock CD of the year.
For the most part, this CD is good. Damn good. Jon and the boys pull off a well-rounded CD that most of their fans will like. It has something for everyone: Heavy rockers, great middle of the road contemporary rock, and sure fire top ten hits with “You Had Me From Hello” and “All About Lovin’ You”. The only complaints that I have (which are pretty minor) are the amount of ballads (4), the ordering of the last 5 songs, and their attempt at sounding like Creed in a few places. Other than that, it’s definitely one of the better releases this year, right up there with Def Leppard’s “X”, Harem Scarem’s “Weight of the World” and Butch Walker’s “Left Of Self Centered”.
