CD-Review: Bon Jovi - "Burning Bridges"

It was a huge surprise when the guys of Bon Jovi announced a new album just four weeks ago. But to be honest it isn't that "new", because "Burning Bridges" consists mainly of songs that were originally written for older albums. It's not a collection of demos, because the tracks were recorded a few months ago, so this LP is supposed to be a "fan album" to fill the gap until a brand new record arrives in 2016. It also marks the first record in Bon Jovi history without Richie Sambora on guitars (which makes it to a Jon Bon Jovi solo record in my opinion, but later more on that). The big question is: can this album shine, where its predecessor failed?


To die-hard fans, who love the band since their early days, the latest album "What About Now" was a huge disappointment. I mean it's well known that all albums after "These Days" from 1995 got more and more repetitive and weak with each new record. There were always some loveable songs on all of them, but that's simply not enough for a legendary band like Bon Jovi which produced hits on the assembly line back in the days. With the departure of Richie Sambora in 2013 things got even more worse, because the fanbase was split in two groups that were arguing with each other who is to blame for this break.

So, to those of you who don't like the stuff since "Crush" I just can say: you also won't be happy with "Burning Bridges", because the major sound is still the same like it was on "What About Now". I read some of the songs were written for "Slipepry When Wet" (1986), but I can hardly find them, because the production is again a typical John Shanks production. That means beside some solos, the guitars a mixed in the background and the overall sound is too polished and focuses too much on Jon Bon Jovi's vocals, which sound a bit more rough this time (especially on "We Don't Run" or "Who Would You Die For").

Let's get to the songs themselves: the album kicks off with the ballad "A Teardrop To The Sea". Yes, a ballad! Why the hell you start a Rock album with a ballad? OK, I have to say this one is a very atmospheric and melancholic piece of music with a nice moody guitar solo in it, but it isn't the best start for a Rock album. The following "We Don't Run" should have been the opener, because this one is the over-the-top-hit on this record and simply the best Bon Jovi song I've heard since "Have A Nice Day"! It features a more agressive vocal style in the verses and ends up in a massive anthemic chorus. That's the kind of Bon Jovi song I want to hear more often! Also drummer Tico Torres really kicks ass on this song and is not just playing his standard programm.

With "Saturday Night Gave Me Sunday Morning" we reach the next earworm. It's the typical Bon Jovi pop-rock hit. The little problem I've with that song is that the chorus is stolen from Nickelbacks "Gotta Be Somebody". Listen to both songs and you'll see how brazenly Bon Jovi copied the melody from Nickelback.

Do you remember my review to "What About Now"? I talked about a "ballad overkill" in the end of the record. The same happens now on "Burning Bridges" in the middle of this album. "We all Fall Down" is a slushy calm ballad and things get even more calm with the following "Blind Love", which is just a piano ballad. To be fair I have to addmit that this piano tune developed after a few listenings to one of my favorites, because it features a very sweet melody. This could have been an even better song with different arrangements.

If this wasn't enough we get to hear a third ballad, called "Who Would You Die For". Another more melancholic track and definitely not my favorite song on this album. Now we are all in ballad-mode, so why not presenting a fourth ballad in a row!!!! "Fingerprints" kicks off very slowly, but can build up a certain tension which makes it to one of the better ballads. At the end of the song we also get to hear a very extensive guitar solo. That really surprised me. Can't remember one Bon Jovi song in the last 10 years where the solo was that long.

With "Life Is Beautiful" and "I'm Your Man" we luckily break through this "wall of ballads" and it was very refreshing to hear those two solid pop-rock tunes.
And now we come to the most horrible song Bon Jovi ever recorded: the title track. I don't know how I should describe it. "Burning Bridges" feels like German "Schlager", which means it is a song for a beer tent on a village festival. It just sounds horrible. It seems like Jon & Co. wanted to be funny with that one, so you shouldn't take this song too seriously, but it's just absolute crap and embarrassing to hear. Luckily this nightmare is over after two minutes.

So what can I say in conclusion? This album simply has too much calm moments. There are just 10 songs on it and half of it are ballads - ballads that never reach the quality of "Bed Of Roses", "I'll Be There For you" or even "Thank You For Loving Me". Then you have the standout-track "We Don't Run" and the rest is solid fare. That all is packed in a powerless production. But what I miss the most is Richie Sambora. Not just his guitarplay. I miss his voice and the vocal harmonies between him and Jon that made so many Bon Jovi songs so special. This magic is simply gone. Anyone who says Richie is not needed doesn't really understand what the essence of Bon Jovi was all about.  

"Burning Bridges" sounds like a Jon Bon Jovi solo record to me, because the remaining members Tico Torres and David Bryan don't contribute something to the whole songwriting or the way how everything is arranged. 

In the end of the day this isn't a "fan album", because the fans want to hear the big Rock band Bon Jovi and not more whiny ballads. A huge Rock'n'Roll record would have been pure fan service. I can't understand why they don't have the balls to do an ass kicking rock record again. "Burning Bridges" has lots of good ideas, but they are not implemented in full scale. Why they don't turn the guitars to the maximum? Why this polished production? They have nothing to lose, because the fans buy everything with the brand "Bon Jovi" on it. I think these questions can only answer Jon Bon Jovi himself. 

If you like to see how it's done right listen to the new Trixter album ("Human Era"), which is very close to Bon Jovi's stuff.

Finally we have another more disappointing release for die-hard-fans. Only those who loved the previous two albums maybe find something groundbreaking here. I just can recommend you to lower your expectations, then you have another mediocre album of a former glorious band.

 6/10

Tracklist:

01. A Teardrop To The Sea

02. We Don't Run *

03. Saturday Night Gave Me Sunday Morning *

04. We All Fall Down

05. Blind Love *

06. Who Would You Die For

07. Fingerprints *

08. Life Is Beautiful

09. I'm Your Man *

10. Burning Bridges

* best tracks 

http://www.bonjovi.com/