Music Review: Bon Jovi "What About Now" CD

If there was ever a band who's motto should be "Who cares what the critics say!" it is New Jersey's native sons Bon Jovi.

The band has been making music and touring the world since the hair band dominated MTV hey day of pop metal.  The thing is... Bon Jovi some how survived that period of music and risen above it by continually selling millions of records worldwide.

Since 2000 the band has released 6 studio albums that have sold 31 million units.  That's not albums from the 80's like "Slippery When Wet" and "New Jersey" I'm talking 6 albums since the start of the new millennium!!  That is a number that cannot be denied and yet... the critics never give this band their due.

Since 1995 Rolling Stone Magazine has given every Bon Jovi album 3 stars!!  That would be equivalent to a 6 out of 10 or 60%... a failing grade for every Bon Jovi album since 1995.  Come on Rolling Stone!  These guys are better than that.  Bruce Springsteen gets a 5 star review every time he releases an album and yet these guys only merit a 3... every time!  I don't think the critics at Rolling Stone magazine even listen to new Bon Jovi CDs they just stamp it with 3 stars and send it on it's way and that is not fair because this band has released some amazing music.

According to my personal rating scale of "10 out of 10"... 2000's "Crush" and 2005's "Have A Nice Day" are both 10's and 2009's "The Circle" is close behind with a 9 out of 10.  So how does the band fair with the follow-up to 2009's "The Circle?"

Well it's been 3 1/2 years and nothing much has changed in the Bon Jovi songwriting camp.  Most of the tracks on the just released "What About Now" still have the predictable "working man succeeding" lyrics and the song titles follow suit as well: "Because We Can," "Army Of One" "Thick As Thieves" and "The Fighter" just to name a few.

But just because the themes are once again familiar doesn't mean it's bad and there are definitely some standout tracks on "What About Now" that need to be heard.

Songs like "That's What The Water Made Me," "What's Left Of Me," and "With These Two Hands" all co-written with singer/songwriter Billy Falcon are fantastic and JBJ might want to start using Falcon's songwriting talents more often.

"What About Now" is definitely not the best Bon Jovi album in recent years but with 15 songs to choose from you can definitely find enough pleasure among the retreads.

Drumroll please... 7 out of 10 drumsticks!!!