So I finally got my hand on this album after two months of its release. I've listened to all the songs on the album at least once. Some I've added into my playlist and some I have not. Anyway this is my review so enjoy ^^
Band: Bon Jovi
Title: What About Now
Release Date: March 2013
Rating: 6.5/10
Song List:
1. Because We Can
2. I'm With You
3. What About Now
4. Pictures Of You
5. Amen
6. That's What The Warter Made Me
7. What's Left Of Me
8. Army Of One
9. Thick As Theives
10. Beautiful World
11. Room At The End Of The World
12. The Fighter
The Album is very different from from what one may normally hear from Bon Jovi. What About Now has really evolved from the days of Runaway and more notably Slippery When Wet. The 80's rock and roll band has really made sure that when the music game changes they adapt enough, but yet keeping their own integrity. Though this Album struck me as to how many catchy songs it has. It could also be because it has more of a 'Pop Rock' feel to it. Trying to reach to a new generation of music lovers is hard for a band like Bon Jovi because their age category are generally the older age. That isn't to say the younger generation listen to their music.
When I was listening to the album I felt myself going through a roller coaster ride. As cliche as this sounds I will let you know why. The album starts of with high intensity and gets you pumped up and feeling like you're on top of the world. Though as the album goes on, all of a sudden we are being rushed with emotions that are very powerful and very evident by the band. Then the tempo is lifted up again and we feel again like we can do anything. Finally at the end of the album the song The Fighter brings us to the end of the album and the end of the roller coaster ride. The slow playing of the acoustic guitar and the words "I am the fighter" plays ever so soothingly and in perfect harmony making you look back to your past in a humble manner.
Every song is unique and tells a story. The most notable is the song "The Fighter". It almost tells a story of a old man sitting in a rocking chair with a six string and just looking back on his life. That is the power this song has. Yet if you listen "Army Of One" you hear the story of a young man sacrificing his life for freedom. Maybe what the band is doing is to connect each song and tell a story of one character. We could say it's the life of Tommy and Gina, two very iconic characters that Bon Jovi have created ^^ (Sorry for the ramble there)
However, there is something that just is so different about the album that makes it hard to identify it as a Bon Jovi album. Gone are the days of Livin' on a Prayer and Keep the Faith, it's actually quite disheartening, but one must evolve to stay in the game. Maybe one day when they call it quits we will see the same 80's music they once would produce (I hope and I hope not at the same time).
To sum up. What About Now is an album that has the roller coaster ride feel to it. We go through lots of emotions and have the time of our lives until the last note is played and we go back to the beginning. Some of the songs are quite repetitive in the way the sound is, but yet each song tells a different story every time. I give it a rating of 6.5/10 because I personally feel like there is something missing. Though what it is, I still can't put my mind to it xD Anyways thanks for reading, and let me know what you thought about the reviewIf you liked it, I might do another one ^^
-Markus