It was the first album without Richie and the first with Phil X, but Phil was not an official member of the band. I thought it was great and brought back a little of the old Bon Jovi. It had some balls to it especially the last song “Burning Bridges” which was a big F#&k you to the record label. For me, it was the best thing they have done in over a decade. The other crazy thing about this one is that it was only released to feel a contract obligation as Bon Jovi wanted out of their record label. This album is actually a compilation of unfinished tracks that they did finish up but for me it felt like an album package. And I admit I like the title track and “Whole Lot of Leavin'”, but outside of that I don’t remember the rest as I have blocked it out. I did like the ballad “(You Want to Make) A Memory as the band can do ballads.
Although some of the songs themselves were good, I was bored with the whole package. You can argue that they have always been a little country which is a little true in that they write similarly to country songs and use a lot of the country tricks, but they are really a more rock with a bluesy influence thanks to Richie. The songs were dull and lifeless and again, it felt forced. The band is trying to be something they are not. Based on all this, it was a very successful album…it just sucked a lot. The album released 4 singles and it reached #1 and sold over 4 million copies. It is definitely Nashville-influenced, but it is not a true Country album. Despite what you have heard, this is not really a Country album. Bon Jovi had been making the same album over and over for 7 years and decided to change things up a little.
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