Search - Bon Jovi :: These Days

Just as good as, if not better than, Keep The Faith

Earl Weinz | Boston, MA | 01/19/2006

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I know that some BJ fans are not into this album. What I don't understand is how many of those fans who love Keep The Faith don't like These Days. The albums are very similar: You got your arena rock songs in I Believe and If That's What It Takes. It's Hard Letting You Go, This Aint a Love Song and Lie To Me are gorgeous ballads no less beautiful and melodic than I Want You and Bed Of Roses. Hearts Breaking Even and Something For The Pain are a bit heavier, up-tempoed ballads (if there is such a thing) just like In These Arms. These Days is just a more abridged version of Dry County. Keep The Faith is your real rocker/punkish song, which is just like Damned (and both their ends feature the same descending scream of "Yah Yah Yah!"). If I Was Your Mother is the real straight rock song, and so is Hey God as well as what My Guitar Lies Bleeding In My Arms builds up to. In short, the one difference between the two albums is that KTF is a more light-hearted album with songs such as Blame It On The Love of Rock&Roll, I'll Sleep When I'm Dead, and Little Bit of Soul, whereas These Days is much darker with songs such as Hey God, Something To Believe In, and, now that I think about it, basically every song on the album. However, this darkness is in no way a turn-off. In fact, it makes the album genuine and powerful and full of emotion. I've said it before and I'll say it again: These Days is my all-time favorite Bon Jovi album. Keep The Faith kicks ass, Slippery When Wet and New Jersey are laden with hits and timeless tunes, Crush is poppy and catchy, This Left Feels Right is a unique, mature, highly appreciated redesigning of their hits, Bon Jovi and 7800 Farenheit are classic in their own right, but THESE DAYS IS THE COMPLETE PACKAGE! Every song is filled with emotion. Every song has beautiful, thoughtful lyrics (unlike If I Was Your Mother, where the song rocks, but the lyrics are weak). Every song is perfectly arranged with awesome instrumentation and flawless vocals. If you're a Bon Jovi fan who dislikes this album, but likes Keep The Faith, take my word about the similarities and give it another listen. If you're a Bon Jovi fan who likes neither, you're hopeless. If you're not a Bon Jovi fan, but know their hits, listen to These Days; it's the ultimate Bon Jovi album."