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"Bon Jovi takes the risk of engaging in his lyrics in a period whose turmoil he conveys while distancing himself a little from his image as a group for young girls."
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4/5
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Jon Bon Jovi admires Bruce Springsteen since he discovered the world of music and took his first steps in it. If this admiration was not immediately felt from an artistic point of view, "What About Now" (2013) was there to bring it to light. In this very special year, especially in the United States, Bon Jovi is releasing his fifteenth studio opus. It should have been released on May 15 but, due to the Covid crisis, it was postponed to October 2 and is soberly entitled "2020". This late and the events that have taken place in the meantime have resulted in a change in the list of titles, relegating two of them to the role of bonus on the Japanese edition.
Jon Bon Jovi has composed almost all the tracks alone and he takes the risk here to engage himself strongly in the lyrics, thus following a little more in the steps of The Boss. 'Do What You Can' deals with the Covid crisis and the consequences of confinement, 'American Reckoning' with the death of Georges Floyd and the Black lives matter movement, 'Lower The Flag' with the armed violence following the Dayton massacre in 2019, 'Blood In The Water' denounces the tragedies suffered by migrants and 'Unbroken' was composed for the documentary 'To Be Of Service' dealing with the symptom of post-traumatic stress disorder suffered by many army veterans. Whether these positions are shared or not, the approach deserves at least respect, especially since the words are as deep as the undertaking is audacious.
Of course, Jon Bon Jovi is too eager to pay homage to his idol, and sometimes ends up looking too much like him, and the shadow of the New Jersey legend becomes blinding on titles such as 'American Reckoning', 'Let It Rain', 'Lower The Flag' or 'Brothers In Arms'. But the quality is there and the honesty transpires as much from the energy of some as from the delicacy of others. All the more so as the man always knows how to vary the ambiences and offer hyper catchy refrains. 'Limitless' and 'Do What You Can' are unstoppable and give the ensemble enough impetus to keep the listener captive until the dark and sad march of a 'Unbroken' destined to become an anthem. In the midst of all these emotionally charged pieces, 'Beautiful Drug' pours out its optimism, 'Story Of Love' surprises with its ditty on parental love based on a waltz rhythm and the introduction of 'Blood In The Water' is reminiscent of the Dire Straits of the 'Love Over Gold' era.
In the end, and while a first listening may destabilize many who will regret the breath of "This House Is Not For Sale" (2016), "2020" will reveal itself to those who will bother to tame it. At worst, some will be content to respect the risk taking and commitment reflected in several of the proposed titles, while regretting that the approach is not always mastered and sometimes verges on the plagiarism of Bruce Springsteen's work. At best, the others will let themselves be bewitched by pieces of great depth and enthralled by others of a communicative energy. In any case, this album will leave no one untouched and it is likely to provoke many heated debates. Doesn't that alone deserve a tribute? - Official website
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TRACK LISTING:
01. Limitless - 3:42
02. Do What You Can - 4:19
03. American Reckoning - 4:42
04. Beautiful Drug - 3:48
05. Story Of Love - 5:49
06. Let It Rain - 4:39
07. Lower The Flag - 4:55
08. Blood In The Water - 5:57
09. Brothers In Arms - 4:12
10. Unbroken - 6:07
LINEUP:
David Bryan: Claviers
Hugh McDonald: Basse
Jon Bon Jovi: Chant / Guitares
Phil X: Guitares
Tico Torres: Batterie
Everett Bradley: Batterie / Invité
John Shanks: Guitares / Claviers / Invité
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(0) MIND(S) FROM OUR READERS
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Top of the page
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(4) COMMENT(S)
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READERS
3.2/5 (4 view(s))
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STAFF:
3.2/5 (4 view(s))
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IN RELATION WITH BON JOVI
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OTHER REVIEWS
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OTHER(S) REVIEWS ABOUT BON JOVI
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