BON JOVI: Bounce (ROCK): review / opinion to read on Music Waves

While "Crush" and the testimonies from the tour that followed this album showed a band in great shape and radiating good humour, the attacks of 11 September 2001 traumatised the United States. Bon Jovi, an iconic US band, has obviously not escaped the consequences of this shock, and delivers a new album, "Bounce", that is as dark as it is surprising for those who take a close interest in the discography of the legendary New Jersey combo.

Indeed, who could have expected the big riffs that pour out of 'Undivided' and 'Everyday', the two hits that open this opus? Bon Jovi may not yet be doing heavy metal, but the fact remains that they've never given us such dark, powerful tracks, even if the choruses remain fairly typical of the quartet's identity. And while the rest of the album returns to more familiar territory, the fiery whirlwind of 'Hook Me Up' and the sharp riff of the eponymous track are there to remind us that New Jersey isn't far from New York, and that its inhabitants aren't about to forget the columns of smoke billowing from the ruins of the World Trade Center.

Fortunately, not all the tracks are trapped in the cloud of dust created by the fall of the twin towers, and "Bounce" brings its share of sunshine. 'Misunderstood' and 'Love Me Back To Life' have immediate, catchy choruses, while 'The Distance' and 'Joey' take us down the highways with their epic US rock. Finally, the legendary ballads are still with us, classic and effective, even if 'All About Lovin' You' is reminiscent of 'Never Say Goodbye'. For their part, 'You Had Me From Hello' and 'Open All Night' show their delicacy by using a lot of acoustic, while 'Right Side Of Wrong' probably reaches the heights of the genre with a demonstration by Richie Sambora. The latter proves once again that you don't have to go overboard to touch people's sensibilities, and that technique is only as good as the emotion it serves. And if the guitarist's performance is remarkable throughout the 12 tracks on this album, what can we say about that of Jon Bon Jovi, who reminds us that he's not just a good-looking guy, but also a great singer? Able to vary his repertoire, he can be as delicate as he is aggressive, depending on the needs of the track.

"Bounce" is probably the darkest and least immediately accessible album in Bon Jovi's discography, and perhaps that's what makes it so charming and interesting. With it, the band prove that they're not just a hit factory and a phenomenon for midget girls. It's also a group of particularly talented musicians in tune with the times they live in. Capable of translating the feelings that society and events provoke, they also know how to help us forget them. - Official website

BON JOVI

BOUNCE

ISLAND

ROCK