bill bodkin reviews the latest from New Jersey’s second-favorite rockers …
“Why does every Bon Jovi song always have to do with seizing the day and living for the moment?”
— Longtime Bon Jovi fan Brent Johnson, November 2009
As a life-long Bon Jovi fan, I was severely disappointed when I heard the song “We Weren’t Born To Follow.” It sounded so generic, so “been there, done that.” I had become frustrated with my one of my all-time favorite bands. I was severely underwhelmed by their country cross-over Lost Highway, their last rock record Have A Nice Day and I absolutely hated their greatest hits re-imagined album This Left Feels Right. I figured The Circle was going to be a tired re-tread of the classic Bon Jovi sound.
But when I popped the album into my CD player after receiving it as a gift for Christmas, I was extremely surprised. The boys were back in town.
Despite their status as rock royalty, Bon Jovi is still a blue-color band. This entire album could’ve easily been entitled Fanfare For The Common Man (although Emerson, Lake and Palmer would’ve been pisssssed) because it’s an entire record of songs that as my esteemed colleague said are all about “seizing the day and living for the moment.” They are songs written for the common man who’s lost his job and has to look his family in the eye. It’s filled with pick-you-up-by-your-bootstraps anthems and lyrics that could make even the most down on your luck guy look up at the sun and throw a fist in the air. This Circle is the musical panacea that the working man (who loves Bon Jovi) has been looking for.
By no means is this a perfect record, nor is it Bon Jovi’s best work. To me, Crush is still is their most enjoyable, mature and most polished album. But The Circle can really hold a warm place in any Jovi’s fans heart. Outside of its “reviving the spirits of the common man” theme, it’s also Bon Jovi’s return to rock ‘n’ roll, and most importantly, the re-introduction of the world to the amazing guitar work of Richie Sambora. Simply one of the most underrated guitarists to grace the stage, Sambora brings the thunder — shredding, solo-ing and voice-boxing his ass off.
One of the most surprising things about The Circle is that there are no typical Bon Jovi prom-ready slow-dance love songs to be found. In fact, if one appeared on this record, it would’ve ruined it. For this type of album, it’s just not needed. And if you really need one, the band has plenty of them in their catalog.
There are some emotional tunes here — but they’re more emotional in the Springsteen/Mellencamp sense than the “Always” Bon Jovi sense. In fact, these more “rocking” emotional tunes are some of the best ones of the album: “When We Were Beautiful” and “Learn To Love.”
If you’re a frustrated Bon Jovi fan looking for a return to the good old days of rock ‘n’ roll or are someone in need of a little inspiration, then pick up Bon Jovi’s The Circle.
I’m surprised you know Emerson, Lake and Palmer. Now I guess I’ll need to borrow a copy of Circle to burn my own CD or maybe have “someone” else do it.
I will gladly lay down on your bed of roses and love you always, I will be your baby as I was born to be and fall into your arms if you get down on your knees for me, if you swear to me we can make it I will take your hand and go down with you in a blaze of glory, these days i believe I can keep the faith and be your bad medicine while giving love a bad name, I wanna make a memory with you and bounce with you while drinking bitter wine, its my life and i will gladly let you lay your hands on me while our hearts break even, its hard letting you go but were living on a prayer and its a saturday night so lets have one wild night, its now or never as were wanted dead or alive so lie to me and let it rock and lets make it baby!!!!!
Who is Bon Jovi and what is this ‘Circle’ you are talking about?