(12-track LP/ 2002/ 'MERCURY RECORDS')
After 'Crush,' what Bon Jovi most wanted to do was to 'Bounce.' But have they bounced back is the question?
We aren't really used to this kind of nostalgic sentimentality from these 4 native New Jersey boys, especially not when their breakthrough, late-80's rock albums - such as 'Slippery When Wet' and 'New Jersey' - paced all out to prove that their testosterone levels were sky-high and gagging for the good times.
As their 90's albums came and went (and were critically acclaimed, and rightfully so, in the process), Jon-&-lifelong-friends showed off their maturing years with more mellow love songs as opposed to the rock 'n' roll of their old rollicking lust songs. Bon Jovi once were the masters of soft-rock anthems, and while the cool 'Distance' and snappy pop nature of 'Everyday' and title track 'Bounce' here do exude infectious energy and verge on being anthemic in their ways, the songs here largely lack any real catchy melodies or outstanding moments of originality. Give it one listen and you might huff-and-puff away totally uninspired as I almost did, which would have been hard given the fact that I am otherwise obsessed with Bon Jovi since their 'Crossroad' compilation back in 1994 was introduction enough for me to the world of rock music.
You've gotta give this album time. Just because they are no longer the tearaway lads they used to be, it doesn't mean they can't still writing cracking songs. What they lack in immediate bite they ooze in warm sincerity, and yes� they can even be excused for sounding EXACTLY like chart-smashing boy-band The Calling on 'Misunderstood.' Especially when the great piano melody of 'Right Side of Wrong' ensures this epic, stripped-down song penned solely by Jon harks back to Keep The Faith's magnificent 'Dry Country' glory. Similarly, 'Joey' is guided by David Bryan's piano melody and - I presume - brings the story of Joey up-to-speed, the character first introduced in the bands' classic anthem 'Wild in The Streets.'
'You Had Me From Hello' and album-closer 'Open All Night' (which, incidentally, is the title of a brilliant Bon Jovi bootleg album) may be bogged down with luvvy-duvvy, wishy-washy soppiness, but the higher-octane rush of 'Kiss Me Back To Life' is the redeemer with its damn cool bridge and energetic chorus that reminds of The Goo Goo Dolls' style.
The lyrics - dangling on one downside - are delectably crap throughout, though 'The Distance' and 'Bounce' ('I'll take the hit but not the fall') do act as self-help songs which is one positive.
Fond of Def Leppard, Bon Jovi rely on huge production values to carry their music. Admittedly, we have heard it all before and none of their stuff this time round is life-changing (if indeed it has ever been), but the truth is� 'Bounce' is still a classic mainstream rock album from one of my favourite rock bands.
So put that in your CD player and play it. (STEVE RUDD)
www.bonjovi.com