Album review: Bon Jovi's 'The Circle'

"Who's gonna work for the working man?" wonders Jon Bon Jovi on the new album by the long-running outfit that bears his name. Well, Bon Jovi is up to the job: On "The Circle" this band of Jersey boys makes a recession-appropriate return (after appealing forays into pop and country) to its old blue-collar arena-rock style; "Work for the Working Man" even recycles the pumping talk-box groove from the band's 1986 smash "Livin' on a Prayer," and lifts the factory-floor sound effects from Billy Joel's "Allentown" for good measure.

These guys obviously mean business when it comes to the victims of big business.

Produced as were the band's previous two discs by Top 40 staple John Shanks, "The Circle" shows off Bon Jovi's still-sharp knack for wedding blandly optimistic sentiments to predictably soaring choruses. Unfortunately, it's getting pretty hard to tell one song from the next: First the singer's telling us "We Weren't Born to Follow," then he's remembering "When We Were Beautiful"; later, he reveals that "Love Is the Only Rule" before demanding that we "Learn to Love."

After all that sloganeering, "Fast Cars," near the end of the album, appears to promise something simple, refreshing, maybe even Ramones-like. Alas, no dice: "We are fast cars on the inside," Bon Jovi proclaims over a cascade of surging power chords. "There's no turning back on the highway of life."

-- Mikael Wood

Bon Jovi
"The Circle"
Island
One and a half stars (Out of four)

Comments

[Paco]

Totally agree with the critic. This album is just horrible. Bon Jovi lost all emotion, and freshness in 1995. Jon's voice is gone and Richie feels he is "so a songwriter" that he is not nailing one decent guitar solo in the whole album.
John Shank's work: Over production!

[rebecca]

i totally diasgree... i think the album is amazing and they can only get better as they get older. just think about all the stuff they know and how they can use ot to their advantage!!

[Dan]

Totally disagree with the critic. I find it amusing that one of his major criticisms is that the song names contradict themselves (which they don't). So just because 'Love's The Only Rule' is before 'Learn To Love' you think it doesn't make sense? What kind of a review is this! Besides, they are both song title statements and have no cross-reference to each other.

Paco... emotion? This album is full of emotion and power! Instrumentally and vocally it is layered with it! And 'not one decent guitar solo'? It seems to me that you really haven't listened to this album at all, which is a shame really.

This album rocks, with plenty of emotion and uplifting rock tracks and power ballads. Highly recommended.

[Bounce442]

I agree and disagree with the review. Here it goes... I was somewhat disappointed with the new album upon the first listening. After track 3 (Work for the Working Man) the songs blend together. I think it did this for several reasons.

1) Jon's voice: For the most part, everyone is estatic about how good his voice sounds. Yes, but for the most part it is because he played it safe and several songs suffer for it... for example Bullet... the only hard rocker on the album. The chorus loses effect because Jon stays in the same range as the rest of the song, when on any earlier album he would have gone up.

2) It is a dark album: Lyrically this is their best work since These Day. It is different how the music does not support the lyrics, which are (for the most part) optimistic. This is not really a bad thing. Brokenpromiseland is all the more brilliant for it... a dark song with a hint of optimism... okay, a little more than a hint.

3) The tracklisting: I believe that the tracklisting is part of the cause of the majority of the "same song-diffent track" feel that I first heard on the album. I believe if they had placed "We weren't born to follow" as track 4 and moved up "Thorn in my Side" and "Love is the Only Rule" to the A side, it would have had a completely different sound. Try this:

1) When We Were Beautiful
2) Love is the Only Rule
3) Thorn In My Side
4) We Weren't Born To Follow
5) Superman Tonight
6) BrokenPromiseLand
7) Fast Cars
8) Bullet
9) Happy Now
10) Work For the Working Man
11) Live Until You Die
12) Learn To Love (GREAT CLOSING SONG!)

On that note, I also think if that replaced Happy Now with a "last ciggerette" or "Mystery Train" the album may have felt a little better as a whole. I think an innocent, fun track wouold have given the album a kind of shine that it lacks. Maybe they were trying this with Fast Cars? Don't get me wrong, despite what the critics have to say, it is a great song... but it is kind of misleading. THe title suggests a fun pop/rock song, but what the listener gets is a "highway of life" song written by a 47 year old man (yet who has much more energy than this 28 year old man).

It did not take long for the album to take shape... maybe three listens. It is what it is and for the most part, worth your time, attention, and 12.99. The Circle is a good soundtrack to the spectaters of the world we are living in today. I feel that songs like "Work for the Working Man" are somewhat insincere and should be replaced with something from the heart. I am sure "Work..." is inspiring for those who have been hurt by this economy, but are they the ones running out to buy the album? I am sure they are not the ones paying $200-$2000 for a ticket to their show (YES they are selling tickets for over $1800 a piece)! I am not critisizing them. They work hard and do a lot of good with their time and money they earn from these shows but it just seems ironic I guess.

The Hits: When We Were Beautiful, BrokenPromiseLand, Love Is the Only Rule, Thorn In My Side, Learn To Love, and Fast Cars

The Filler: Bullet, Happy Now, Live Until You Die, Work For The Working Man

[The Album Review Blog]

Glad I'm not the only one who thought they were recycling Livin On A Prayer. I feel like at least one of these songs is ending up on a pickup truck commercial one day.

[Pat]

This is a really good album condering how many songs the band has writted and their age. This is probably one of the same critics who would say that Kanye or the Jonas Brothers were tallented musicians, ie has no idea what he is talking about

[Andy]

I disagree! I think this album is really good-not as good as have a nice day but this proves that bon jovi is still a kick ass band with the most uplifting lyrics!!

I love bon jovi and i will see them when they come to atlanta!!

[Phil Jel]

Hi, I'm from the UK and saw your review and thought it was a load of rubbish, every song they do has a meaning and people can relate to the songs. I be honest i'm really struggling at the moment with debts because of what the world has been through and the one thing that keeps my head up is this album. Bands have to progress and change their music style and if you think it's that bad then don't listen to it. Just so you know I am not some fan who has just express these feelings, I actually work fo the music industary, so stick to writing your papers and give up trying to review music cos like I said at the start your rubbish at it!

[Jimi Hendrix]

DISSAPOINTED compared to the awsome intense rock songs from previous Bon Kovi albums. Not enough single not guitar work, there's just plain old on beat, repetative, boring chords. On a POSOTIVE note, check the solo of bullet - where the hell was more of that??

[Paul Bastian]

Tell me, Mikael Wood, how many albums have you sold? How many number one singles did you write, sing or perform on? Are you in the Songwriter's Hall of Fame? You expected something Ramone's like from Bon Jovi? Are you serious??? Critics are the lowest form of life - they can't perform music, write books, or make movies yet they think they know everything about them when they critique them. If they knew so much, why aren't they out there giving the people what they really need according to them. Maybe it is because no one would buy any of it because people know what they like. It is like that Tim McGraw song- "Who Are They". Bon Jovi fans have always loved the music understand who and what they are - they have never needed to be something they are not; and the one's who don't get it are missing out on the fun.

[Alice]

Man, this review sucks like the one I recently read about Muse's "Resistance". Why don't you listen more closely to the albums, Mikael before you have to meet your deadlines? All the tracks on "The Circle" evoke great meaning and depth in themes that are relevant and affect all of our lives in one way or another. "Fast Cars" isn't about just driving fast, but about our missteps, "so many hearts end up in the junkyard..." I've been listening non stop as this is an awesome, introspective album! It ROCKS! It makes me question what I stand for and it inspires me to stand up for what I believe. This is a ***** album!

[ariadne]

Well, you know how it goes. Those who can, do (write, record music, act, seek office). Those who can't, style themselves as critics. Bon Jovi will be laughing all the way to the bank, supported by his fans who buy his music, enjoy it, go to his concerts, enjoy them. Meanwhile, you toil away at your pettiness. Pop and hiss, indeed.

[Rod]

Uffff, worst critic I havent't heard yet. Mikael, you didn't said one(1) fact that will stand behind your words. And, Bon Jovi facts aren't on your side more than 100mil albums and fans all over the world is something that you missed out in this critic. Are you musicion or what? I disagree with you my man, with your work and critic. You should find yourself a new job, and ask yourself who's gonn work for you when you got fired. Dear Mikael Wood your critics are garbage. One is sure, The Cirle is decent Bon Jovi album, it is good album, a nice to listen, and you have some songs to enyoj when listening. But it is away from their best album, but this album is surely better than your critics man. Give up man, and please don't criticase anyone anymore please. Take care man

[gazza]

i have to disagree with the critic. this is another excellent bon jovi album and i feel critics look for faults with music too much, rather than taking a song for what it is, what kind of a buzz it gives you, how catchy it is and how much you want to sing along to it. the only part i agree with is what was said about the song fast cars. i must admit i expected it to be something different but i still like the song and keep singing along to it (even though i can't sing). i think its their best album since keep the faith. just to set the record straight, i am a fan but i always try to give the most genuine opinion i possibly can and not be biased towards them. there is one of their albums i dislike but one thing is for sure, it certainly aint this one. brokenpromiseland is a tune i am particularly impressed with and i cant wait to see them live again. fantastic!!

[Taylor]

You're trying to compare Bon Jovi to the Ramones? Really?

And is "sloganeering" really the way you want to describe the songs? Because it's not workin' for me, much like the album is not workin' for you.

Bon Jovi has something to say with their music. If you take the time to really listen to a song like "When We Were Beautiful," you'd think about it differently. It's a deep, sentimental, beautiful song that even a Ramones fan should be able to appreciate! Same with "Learn To Love." And you can't think for one second that "We Weren't Born To Follow" and "Work For The Working Man" are not relevant to the world today. All one has to do is listen to know they're extremely relevant. And the fact that "Working Man" resembles "Prayer" is fantastic... it really gets the point across.

Lyrically, this album is as brillant as the rest of their music. Everything they've released since 1992 has had a lot of meaning behind it. It's not just arena rock anthems anymore. There's depth and heart in all of these songs. What makes people love Bon Jovi so much is that they can relate to what the songs are saying. This album is no different than the rest of them in that respect, but it still feels like the next step for Bon Jovi.

[Yvonne McNamara]

It sounds to me like you're a Bon Jovi hater. This album is one of the best albums on the market today. It's filled with emotion and great music. It's relevent and uplifting. What is your problem? Sounds to me like you didn't really listen to it.....and you call yourself a critic.....that's a joke!

[Thomas Stapler]

This is REALLY suprisin!!! I've been waiting for an album that shows their rock side again...
It's been a long time since then!
I just hope one of his songs are showin soft sides
cause... My opinion is that's the best side i've seen from him EVER!!!
Bed Of Roses has helped me through a lot, This Aint A Love song helped me through my first heartbreak...
I just say, "Thank you Jon...for ALL your words"

[NatalieChristine]

This review is hilariously horrible. The Circle is the number one album in the country. The new Bon Jovi album rocks. The album has only been out for 2 weeks and it's the #1 album. I mean HELLO...GET A REAL JOB!!!!!
Natalie

[Walt Ribeiro]

'Fast Cars' is a great song. I really like Bon Jovi's music, in fact I arranged Living on a Prayer for orchestra. Their melodies and long standing commitment as a band is very refreshing. Looking forward to the new album - great post!