Music review: Bon Jovi 鈥� 鈥淭his House Is Not for Sale鈥�
If every picture tells a story, then the cover of Bon Jovi鈥檚 latest album speaks volumes about the band鈥檚 legacy.
鈥淭his House Is Not for Sale鈥� is the New Jersey rocker鈥檚 14th studio release and the first without guitarist Richie Sambora. The new material finds the band focused and inspired with infectious arrangements that possess the rock spirit that made Bon Jovi one of the biggest rock bands of the 1980s with tracks like 鈥淩unaway,鈥� 鈥淪hot Through the Heart,鈥� 鈥淚n and Out of Love,鈥� 鈥淵ou Give Love a Bad Name,鈥� 鈥淟ivin鈥� on a Prayer,鈥� 鈥淲anted Dead or Alive鈥� and 鈥淏ad Medicine.鈥�
These rock classics, enhanced by the music video revolution unleashed by MTV, helped fuel the soundtrack of my college years with a plentiful bounty of sweeping guitar chords and catchy sing-along choruses that made for some memorable Friday and Saturday nights.
The title track is a rousing rocker about integrity and staying true to yourself with Jon Bon Jovi declaring, 鈥淭his house was built on trust/That鈥檚 what it is and always was/No wrecking ball could knock it down/This house was built on higher ground.鈥� The charismatic frontman goes on to describe the blood, sweat and tears he鈥檚 poured into the band over the last 30 years singing, 鈥淚 set each stone and I hammered each nail/This house is not for sale/Where memories live and the dream don鈥檛 fail/This house is not for sale.鈥�
Songs such as 鈥淟abor of Love,鈥� 鈥淏orn Again Tomorrow鈥� and 鈥淩ollercoaster鈥� are engaging reflections on navigating life and a career in the music industry.
鈥淚 got some blood under my nails/I got some mud on my face,鈥� confesses Bon Jovi on 鈥淕od Bless This Mess鈥� as it highlights the hard work, determination, acceptance and perseverance needed to stay the course.
The fighting spirit featured on the anthem 鈥淜nockout鈥� is delivered with steady punches of grit and flowing sweat as Bon Jovi announces, 鈥淗ere comes the knockout/My time is right now/Turning your lights out/I鈥檓 throwing down.鈥�
The house of music that has been built by Bon Jovi is firmly centered on a strong foundation of rock (and roll) and will certainly stand the test of time.
Clint Rhodes is the 缅北禁地 music reviewer. He can be reached at clinton43@me.com.