Crush

by

Bon Jovi

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After five years of hiatus, solo albums galore and certain *movie deals*, Bon Jovi are back with a vengence! "Crush" is a mixture of classic Bon Jovi at its best, and way more listenable than dreary, mellodramatic 1995 album "These Days".

Please don't be misleaded by the first track - "It's My Life". The song sounds remarkably similar to their big 80's hit "Living On a Prayer" (hardcore fans will notice that Tommy and Gina's story continues), but the rest of the album isn't the same at all. "Say It Isn't So" sounds like something Matchbox Twenty would sing, because it does sound rather, well, young (I myself am still debating who would sound better singing lead - Jon or Rob Thomas..) but Bon Jovi pulls it off pretty darn well! "I Got The Girl" and "One Wild Night" sound rather victorious and will be great for rock parties. "Captain Crash & the Beauty Queen From Mars" is unique (and not just by title!) but enjoyable and fun.

As for ballads, rest assure there are a few, and they're good too! "Save the World" starts off a bit like their '94 hit "Always", but has its own unique sound and will be great for relaxing - with your loved one or on your own, whilst gathering your thoughts. If this song gets released I'm sure it'll be a massive hit.

In a nutshell, Bon Jovi has managed to keep the old sound that we know and love, and adapt it to sound suitable for the fresh new 21st century. The band hasn't gotten *old*, and track 6 explains it well: They're "Just Older".

When Bon Jovi cuts loose on "Crush" they produce some of the best music they have ever created. The opener "My Life" simply rocks, and has such a powerful chorus you can't help but sing along. The second song "Say It Isn't So" is a nice blend of the classic Bon Jovi sound mixed with elements of modern rock that comes off really well, another toe-taper. The sixth song on the disk is really great, "Just Older" shows you how the band's matured and is set to a killer Richie Sambora guitar track. Again the chorus of "Just Older" was just made for cranking up and singing along with. "Captain Crash and the Beauty Queen from Mars" is a really cool song that kind of blends the Bon Jovi sound with 70's pop lyrics, and it's a wierd combination the really rocks. The last song on the disk "One More Night" is a Hair-Metal anthem that would have fit in perfectly on "Slippery When Wet". This is the music that brought Bon Jovi to the dance, and "One More Night" shows that, though they might be older, they can still crank out the jams. Unfortunately for "Crush" the rest of the album is made up of ballads that just don't compare to previous releases. "Two Story Town" and "Next 100 Years" are bland, there really is nothing that stands out about either songs. If you like Bon Jovi for the harder edge, you will like "Crush" for the 5 songs listed above. If you want the ballads, you may still like "Crush" by don't expect songs on par with "Die For You" or "Silent Night".