Review of Bon Jovi's "Crush"

What else would one expect from American supergroup Bon Jovi other than their now formulaic, big rock sound? Predictably, their latest release Crush (2000) doesn’t stray too far from the tried and tested Bon Jovi approach. The tough sounding vocals, clichéd lyrics and catchy hooks are all there.

Hopefully, this doesn’t sound too patronizing. Bon Jovi isn’t the most sophisticated fare you will ever listen to. It’s certainly not Mozart, or Keats. But what Bon Jovi do, they do well. Most people probably know what this band sounds like, and what their approach is. This album isn’t different. If this style already appealed to you, then Crush will be similarly entertaining. For the critics, this will be simply more ammunition.

A couple of tracks stand out. ‘Next 100 Years’ and ‘It’s My Life’ are as good as it gets for Bon Jovi fans. The former has a fantastically frantic guitar solo as its conclusion. And ‘Its My Life’, the single, was a great note on which to launch the band’s comeback (with their previous work, These Days, dating back to 1995), and, indeed, to begin the album. Catchy- even by Bon Jovi standards- it is one of those songs that, for want of a better phrase, just grabs the listener by the throat.

Apart from these songs, though, the others are pretty standard. As aforementioned, the band stick to their safe, clichéd-rock formula. Again, it is worth noting that they do this well. Crush certainly reveals their talent for producing one enticing tune after another. However, the packaging will definitely not be to everyone’s liking.

RATING: 6.5/10

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