ALBUM: Bon Jovi ’Burning Bridges’

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So after 30 years and the release of their thirteenth album, Bon Jovi are parting ways with their record label – so what? Back in the ’80s Bon Jovi established themselves as a hair-band with an edge, and achieved mammoth success with the release of Slippery When Wet and monster singles ‘Livin On a Prayer’ and ‘You Give Love A Bad Name’. Since then bassist Alec John Such has long since departed and the question now entering my mind is, without Richie Sambora are they now even Bon Jovi? The surprising thing is after a number of mediocre album releases there are still people out there who care.

Three decades on most people pretty much have an opinion on Bon Jovi and current album Burning Bridges will do little to change it. Opening track ‘A Teardrop To The Sea’ picks up where previous releases left off and just as the song title suggests it is a song of little or even no significance. With front-man Jon declaring Burning Bridges was originally intended as a fan album and has only been released to fulfill contractual obligations, it does not inspire much positively to the music buying public. With an angry Jon singing ‘We Don’t Run’ the track somehow reminds me of Jay-Z, Rihanna and that other clown singing ‘Run This Town’. ‘Saturday Night Gave Me Sunday Morning’ offers some hope to the loyal fan-base who will no doubt make connections to previous track ‘Someday I’ll Be Saturday Night’. ‘Blind Love’ stumbles along whilst acoustic number ‘Fingerprints’ should be called lullaby as it nearly sends me to sleep.

With the mish-mash collection of songs it proves difficult to find highpoints with many of the songs sounding like they would be better suited to the long awaited follow-up to Jon Bon Jovi’s solo album Destination Anywhere. ‘I’m Your Man’ may appease those 40 plus females still dreaming of being Mrs Jon Bon Jovi whilst final and title track ‘Burning Bridges’ has a humourous tongue and cheek country feel to it and as Jon sings “sayonara, adios, auf wiedersehen, farewell… here’s one last song you can sell”. You can almost see the smile on his face as he announces to his fans and current label Mercury there will be a new album for release in 2016.

For die-hards only and even at that save your money for the next album, donate to a food-bank, save a dog or do something positive… Do not spend money on this.

Burning Bridges is out now via Mercury Records. 

Bazza Mills
@bazzamills

Bazza Mills
G'day my name is Bazza Mills! Whilst my wife watches reality TV shows, I enjoy listening to music, going to gigs and taking some photos. Growing up between Scotland and Australia exposed me to a variety of music and my tastes range from The Stone Roses to Guns N Roses. Typically, I love most things guitar based and have a love for live music and photography!