Crush (©2000 Island)

It's My Life / Say It Isn't So / Thank You For Loving Me / Two Story Town / Next 100 Years / Just Older / Mystery Train / Save The World / Captain Crash & The Beauty Queen From Mars / She's A Mystery / I Got The Girl / One Wild Night

This is another post pop-metal Bon Jovi record. Crush is much stronger than the previous two efforts Keep The Faith and These Days, although they had their moments. "It's My Life" rocks and sets the tone for most of the twelve tracks. There are the usual sappy ballads, and they aren't so bad that you want to turn off the stereo. "Two Story Town" bugged me for a while until I finally figured out that it sounded a lot like a certain Joan Osborne song in places. There are even some musical nods to the Beatles. Overall another solid non-threatening release that is good ear candy, and fun to play loud.

Reviewed June 28, 2000

Bounce (©2002 Island)

Undivided / Everyday / The Distance / Joey / Misunderstood / All About Loving You / Hook Me Up / Right Side Of Wrong / Love Me Back To Life / You Had Me From Hello / Bounce / Open All Night

Oh look, another Bon Jovi album. They're still making albums you say? Yup, here's another album by the other band that won't go away. Bon Jovi keeps on truckin' and somehow manages to keep their fan base happy, and still generate new fans. I'll admit to a soft spot for the one-time hair kings. They've survived because they're actually (gasp) good. Sure they pollute the airwaves with their absolutely horrible rock ballads (of which Bounce features more than a few), but when they cut loose on the rockers they're still among the best out there. They borrow and steal from everybody, which is part of their charm. All of their songs sound vaguely familiar for a reason.

I'm not bashing the boys - I keep buying don't I? Nothing cutting edge here, just an old fashioned rock and roll band putting out a more than decent rock and roll album.

Reviewed October 29, 2002

This Left Feels Right (©2003)

01 Wanted Dead Or Alive 02 Livin On A Prayer 03 Bad Medicine 04 It's My Life 05 Lay Your Hands On Me 06 You Give Love A Bad Name 07 Bed Of Roses 08 Everyday 09 Born To Be My Baby 10 Keep The Faith 11 I'll Be There For You 12 Always

I read a lot of negative fan reactions to this album when it came out, but I always said I'd reserve judgment until I'd had a chance to listen for myself. So just how much bad medicine is collected here? Well, I really wanted this to be more alive than dead - but I was obviously living on a prayer as I've been listening to this everyday trying to keep the faith, but this thing gives music a bad name.

This is not a greatest hits album - and I wouldn't put it in the same pile as the plethora of unplugged albums. This is a re-imagined collection, and if you're a purist this collection will be as welcome as anal fissures. However, if you're a casual fan and don't mind change there are actually a couple cool surprises here. But overall, I'm not sure who this was supposed to appeal to. Some of the arrangements belong in an elevator near you, and others work despite the layers of cheese, but there just aren't enough of them to make this an memorable listening experience. Sometimes things are just best left alone, right?

Reviewed December 18, 2007