I could sound wearisome since I keep repeating that after the arrival of the grunge movement during the early 90s (which movement, of course and to be honest, did not last very long as the boy band frenzy appeared), Bon Jovi are one of the select few that survived unharmed. I strongly believe that this was achieved mainly due to their leader’s (Jon Bon Jovi) insight, who was very clever to manage a full rejuvenation of the band.

There is no doubt. You can either love Bon Jovi or hate Bon Jovi. The certainty lies to the fact that either way one cannot doubt their 25-year existence in the scene. It’s not bad…even if during the past few years they invented their own, new hit “formula” (“It’s My Life”) and even if every second year they give us the subsequent rock anthem (see “Everyday”, “Have A Nice Day”) with the exception of their previous “Lost Highway” where they decided to move on to a slight country approach which may have estranged their loyal fans, however it smashed in the US. In any case, they themselves made sure to let everybody understand that their 11^th studio album titled “The Circle” was going back to their roots and that it would contain lots of guitars; dare I say we missed them, indeed!!!

The first single “We Were Born To Follow” I am sure that you have heard before. Following the above “formula”, this is a “feel-good” situation with the appropriate lyrics to lift your mood. The fact that it’s chorus is a lighter version of “Born To Be My Baby” doesn’t change the fact that this is a song that grows on you in time. “When We Were Beautiful” boasts Jon’s U2 influence more than ever before. “Work For The Working Man” has a strong chorus, strong lyrics and it’s exactly what one needs to move on to “Superman Tonight” with its exceptional lyrics. “Bullet” comes next, where…Oh Yes…guitars from the past and solos from Sambora we haven’t heard for a long time. “Thorn In My Side” has  a 2005 feel and points to “Complicated”. One of the top moments of this album. Following the pretty good mid-tempo “Live Before You Die” comes “Broken Promised Land”. Here’s what’s the thing here: The song verses are identical to “All Along The Watchtower”…identical…Next “Love’s the Only Rule” which is my favorite. I believe that it could be an outtake out of “New Jersey”, nice and happy. “Fast Cars” brought to mind all the indifferent moments out of the “Crash” album and “Happy Now” is a U2ish speedy cut with a great performance. As you might have noticed, I have mentioned nothing about the Bon Jovi trademark…ballads…After all those years of playing and releasing albums, I can say that there is literally no ballad in this album. The slowest cut is the one closing the album, “Learn To Love” while it is not a conventional ballad. It’s a mid-tempo cut with a pretty good chorus and a hit-to-be in my opinion.

Conclusively I must say that the band in this particular album has put some serious work down. The drums are hard, the guitars a re solid and strong, the melodies nice. It’s not another “Bounce” or another “Have A Nice Day” and it sure is not another “Lost Highway”. What I know is that in their forthcoming tour, I’ll be somewhere out there to see them play…We said it before…you either love them or…(there’s no…or) .