The verses simmer along nicely before launching into a euphoric refrain an absolutely fantastic song and proof that the band can still cover new ground whilst retaining their identity. Promo single “Born Again Tomorrow” is one of the strongest songs here, with its thumping rhythms and melodies sounding like a mix between Bon Jovi and a dance anthem. The adrenaline fused thunder of “Knockout” cranks things up a notch as Jon rolls up his sleeves, spoiling for a fight, whilst “The Devil’s in the Temple”, an ode to the villains of the piece (namely record execs), shows off the band’s heavier side. “Living with the Ghost” follows the title track, briefly teasing a throwback to the ‘80s/early ‘90s with David Bryan’s dancing keyboards, before reverting to the safety of the modern rocker template. It’s a problem that pops up a few times, with the opening plucks of “Reunion” evoking memories of 2007’s “Whole Lot of Leavin’” likewise, you’d be forgiven for thinking you were listening to Chris Isaak’s “Wicked Game” when the tender ballad “Labor of Love” starts. The eponymous number kicks the album off with a chord structure that’s a bit too similar to the namesake song from 2005’s Have a Nice Day, leading to a standard Bon Jovi rocker with a massive chorus. David Bryan’s subtle keyboard work adds a great deal of depth here too, providing a warmth and vibrancy that greatly enhances the positive energy of the music. He sounds greatly at ease, as if a heavy burden has been lifted, allowing him to pour out his soul with a smile on his face. The front man, whose voice has been diminishing in power and range recently, is generally in fine fettle, with only one or two notes prompting a minor struggle. The lack of his vocals are a bit more conspicuous, leaving one to wonder how some of these songs might’ve sounded with his distinctive pipes backing Jon. The modern Bon Jovi records have left little room for him to let loose, merely allowing him to add some textures for aesthetic value (the same can also be said here, with only brief forays into solo territory for Phil X and Shanks). Fans have been worried about Sambora’s absence (this is the first time he has not had a writing credit on a Bon Jovi album), but truth be told, he’s not missed too much, at least from a lead guitar perspective. Song-writing partners Billy Falcon and John Shanks, who have both been heavily involved with several of Bon Jovi’s most recent efforts, again leave their mark on the songs, with only four of the album’s 12 tracks absent of either’s input. There’s a sense of accepting the past, embracing the inevitable and starting anew, from former fountain of youth Jon going grey gracefully to axe slinger Phil X and long time bassist Hugh McDonald being made official members of the band.įor all Jon’s talk of wanting this album to be the start of a new chapter, it is largely a continuation of the wheel he’s been spinning since his sophomore solo effort, 1997’s Destination Anywhere. It seems that the band has taken the knocks and blows in their stride and turned them into positive inspiration. Despite all the negativity fuelling this record, it exudes a remarkable amount of positive energy. Whilst it shares the same sort of lyrical ideals, it does so in a much more constructive manner. He had inferred that the sound of that record would run into This House Is Not for Sale, and in a way it does. There was an undercurrent of bitterness coursing through the otherwise buoyant sing-a-long a defiant middle finger with a wry smile as Jon took aim at those who’d left him aggrieved. The title track from last year’s Burning Bridges, a collection largely comprised of outtakes and leftovers, was indicative of the head space Jon was in around the writing of this record. After a mini hiatus that saw a few solo forays in the live environment, he regrouped with his band mates to conceive their thirteenth studio album, This House Is Not for Sale. The passive aggressive departure of longtime guitarist Richie Sambora, along with the not so amicable split with Mercury Records, their label for over 30 years, took their toll on main man Jon Bon Jovi. The past few years have been a bit torrid for Bon Jovi.
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