Bon Jovi Review: Lost Highway Finds Bon Jovi Back at Top
By Max on Mar 11, 2008 in Artists
June 19, 2007 marked the release of Bon Jovi’s most recent album, Lost Highway. Despite mixed reviews and a seemingly upset rock fan base, the album has sold over 3 million copies in the U.S. alone and debuted on the Billboard 200.
They took the top spot on the list, a first for the band since 1988. It has also debuted at the top in Japan and was nominated for Best Pop Vocal Album at the 2008 Grammy Awards, though it did not win.
In support of the album, Bon Jovi put on a 10 show mini tour known by fans as the Lost Highway Tour, which sold out in many places around the world. But let’s be honest about the songs in Lost Highway. Only a few are getting real attention and even with it’s impeccable selling record, plenty of rock fans won’t touch it. Let’s take a closer look from my rock loving point of view:
Lost Highway
While Jon’s raspy and enticing alto voice is still a welcome sound in the new album, the country twang and literal lyrics of the song leave me feeling like his role as a family man these days has quashed the ‘in your face’ attitude that we have all come to know and expect from Jovi. Maybe his positive take on the direction in his life is exactly what the generation of the 80’s needs while raising their family. I, however, missed the rock, the rifts and the screams. I craved the Bon Jovi rebel in this song but I will admit that it’s a song the kids in my family can listen to with me.
Summertime
Summertime opens with a punk/80’s rock rift that’s hopeful but the song soon drops into a fun and poppy beach picnic song. It’s definitely the kind of song that I could play at a family get together but left me feeling empty the same way that Lost Highway did.
You Want to Make a Memory (Pop Version)
This song opens with just some strings, audio effects and beat riddled rhymes that are littered through Jon’s seemingly fun lyrics. The song soon turns serious, however and eases into a ballad that’s just perfect for the sound track on a chick flick.
If it had been a sad, lonely day I could have curled up with some wine and stared off into my imagination with this melancholy tune. It is the most professional and so far, best song on the album with my stamp of approval.
Whole Lot of Leaving
Soft and crisp guitar joined by Jon’s signature voice and some soft rock tinted with that country whine seem to make Whole Lot of Leaving a warm up point for the album. This song establishes the theme and marks my beginning to feel like Lost Highway is a decent compromise between what mom and dad want to hear at your family functions and the attitude rock that you prefer.
We Got it Going On
Caught somewhere between Metallica’s rough and rugged rifts, Billy Ray’s twang and the strange sounds of the synthetic 80’s, you get We Got it Going On. This song appears to be homage to Bon Jovi’s confidence and self image. It’s the kind of song that young line dancers want to hear in their clubs but made me remember what Bon Jovi negatively said about Williams and Oasis to a popular publication.
Any Other Day
Upbeat but melodic is the best way to describe Any Other Day and if it weren’t for how redundant the clear, loud opening that Jon delivers at the beginning of each song is, this one might have been given half a chance before I hit the next button.
Seat Next to You
The flowing steal guitars in Seat Next to You combined with Jon’s overwhelming voice, start this duet which really takes me back to the sappy 80’s Jovi I appreciate. Despite it’s overly simple lyrics, the song tells a story and I was easily swept away in it for a time. Though it hasn’t made my favorites list, I enjoyed listening to this one.
Everybody’s Broke
With an opening I could swear belonged to Alanis Morisette, Everybody’s Broke starts off a disappointment but is surprisingly saved by Jon’s attempt at conveying a positive message behind the trials and pains of life’s obstacles.
Rough but structured break downs leave you wondering what’s next and feeling fulfilled in the end. This excellent song definitely lets you know that the album is in full swing. It’s a great power ballad.
The Last Night
A Choppy and awkward start melts into a typical pop love song of struggle and promises. It was not a favorite of mine and the overly used country influence made me bitter over Bon Jovi’s new sound.
One Step Closer
The sweet but melancholic intro of this song crashes into a poppy and common sound that you swear was written by a young country star for a boy band. One Step Closer left me searching for relief with the next button.
I Love This Town
This very fun country song reminds you of the last time you were drunk in Mexico with friends. It opens up fast and fun and gets to the point very quickly, making it an instant hit. This is the kind of song you want to play at a party with mixed company, though it’s nothing you would have expected from Jovi when he was more metal.
You Want to Make a Memory (Pop Edit Version)
This is an even more professional version of the song. Any country twang is completely replaced by violin, melody and soft piano accents. The chorus is much stronger in this version though the pro quo duet that eventually comes in is a little too much.
All in all, however, this song is a nice example of a modern day Bon Jovi and I enjoyed it more than the previous version.
You Want to Make a Memory Live at the Cannery Ballroom
At this point, a live performance of this song on the album it was released with, making it the 3rd copy on the Lost Highway album, tells you that the band obviously released it as a single. It also tells you that perhaps the band already knew which songs were worth while and which ones weren’t.
In reflection of the album, which I thoroughly listened to for hours over a stretch of a week, I feel that Bon Jovi could have spent more time scrapping the many duds and releasing some more substantial songs than We Got it Going on, The Last Night and One Step Closer. While I agree that a couple of the songs they’ve chosen as hits are definitely pleasant to my ears, Lost Highway is a prime example of Bon Jovi’s recipe for success: Write lots of songs, hope that some will do well.
In support of the band; When Bon Jovi makes a hit, they really make one. Their singles never let them down and usually fill the stadiums they perform at. You want to make a memory, the Pop Edit Version, has been added to my long list of favorites. Rock on with Jon.
