New Jersey Bon Jovi

Capitalising on what would ultimately be the biggest-seller of their career, Bon Jovi quickly reconvened to record a follow-up that as far as many were concerned might as well have been called Still Slippery And Still Wet.

But was it really that simple though? Certainly at face value much of what is on offer here follows the same anthemic crowd-pleasing top 5 hit stadium fodder with sprinklings of Boss lyrics around the edges, but many of the songs are slightly longer and a little more varied, such as with the small gospel inflections tugging at the fringes of 'Lay Your Hands on Me'.

In other words, here was a glam metal band that for all the World seemed like just another artifact of their time but underneath the peroxide and leather were beginning to wonder what other areas of musical knowledge they could tap into. Considering the way things would pan out over the next two decades, this is actually an even more interesting thought now than it was back then. 1992's Keep The Faith would later be regarded as a radical reinvention of everything Bon Jovi, but did that process actually begin, very slyly, on New Jersey? Believe it or not I think that might just be the case.

At odds with everything I've just said, in the grand scheme of things this is indeed the final celebration of Bon Jovi's original crunching guitars, stinging synthesisers and massive barnets, so hardcore fans of this era will wish to stop here. But for those interested in the tiny hints of what was to come on offer here, travel onwards four years into the future...

É sim um álbum de glam rock. Mas é muito mais do que isso. Bon Jovi é a grande banda que saiu dos anos 80, e a única a continuar relevante, e muito por conta da sua capacidade de pegar o ouvinte pela garganta. As composições que podem parecer simples e bobas, ganham profundidade conforme o álbum avança. O trabalho de Richie Sambora é absolutamente fantástico, e os riffs de "Bad Medicine" e "Born to be my Baby" estão entre os melhores riffs dos anos 80, e seus solos são fantásticos e realmente inventivos. É inacreditável que Sambora permaneça como um dos guitarristas mais substimados do rock, tendo feito álbuns incríveis como "Slippery When Wet", o próprio "New Jersey", e dois álbuns posteriores: "Keep The Faith" e "These Days".
As composições são maduras, e a dupla Jon Bon Jovi e Richie Sambora formam uma das duplas mais incríveis e inventivas da história do rock.
O trabalho de David Bryan nos teclados dão vida a todas as músicas, e mesmo que imperceptíveis em alguns momentos, ele sempre está lado apoiando e levantando o trabalho de seus companheiros de banda.
Tico Torres está pulsante e imparável aqui. Uma máquina da porrada, que bate com muita força, precisão e ritmo invejáveis.

1. Lay Your Hands on Me 3.5/5
2. Bad Medicine 2.5/5
3. Born to Be My Baby 5/5
4. Living in Sin 5/5
5. Blood on Blood 5/5
6. Homebound Train 4.5/5
7. Wild Is the Wind 5/5
8. Ride Cowboy Ride 3.5/5
9. Stick to Your Guns 5/5
10. I'll Be There for You 5/5
11. 99 in the Shade 1.5/5
12. Love for Sale 4.5/5


Bonus Tracks/Demos

1. Love Is War 5/5
2. Judgement Day 4/5
3. Full Moon High 4/5
4. Growin' Up the Hard Way 4/5
5. Let's Make It Baby 5/5
6. Love Hurts 5/5
7. Backdoor to Heaven 5/5
8. Now and Forever 4.5/5
9. Does Anybody Really Fall in Love Anymore? 5/5

Tavan33 12/30/23
I love this album! New Jersey is an improvement over Slippery When Wet! This album continued their success as the greatest rock band of all time! I love the vibe and energy on this album! The songs are fun and enjoyable!

Polished to ultimate shine pop-rock super album by the super group. 5+

Extremely overrated and just idiotic! What else can I say? Stupid drunk Buttrock without meaning. Weak lyrics, bad sound quality. Lame!