Bon Jovi - Have a Nice Day

Have a Nice Day, Bon Jovi's ninth studio album of original material, picks up where 2002's Bounce left off, showcasing a harder, heavier band than either 2000's Crush or Jon Bon Jovi's 1997 solo effort, Destination Anywhere. Not only that, but this 2005 album finds Jon Bon Jovi picking up on the serious undercurrent of Bounce, writing a series of angry, somber neo-protest songs that form the heart of this record. While he's not exactly explicitly political here, there's little question that he's dissatisfied with the world today, whether it's about life in small town America or the sorry state of pop music; he even goes so far to write a variation on Bob Dylan's classic "Chimes of Freedom" with "Bells of Freedom." Since he's stretching out lyrically, the band finds a comfort zone in sticking in the tried-and-true arena rock that's been their signature sound for 20 years now. While they sound appropriately grand and powerful -- this is one of the few groups that sounds right at home in large venues -- at times they pump up their choruses a little bit too much, so they sound strident, not anthemic. That heavy-handedness, coupled with a loud but colorless production from Bon Jovi, guitarist Richie Sambora, and John Shanks, with Desmond Child acting as executive producer for the whole thing, gives Have a Nice Day a sound that's a bit too monochromatic for the band's ambitions, or for its own good: at times, getting through the record can be a little bit of a chore, since there's not much fun to be had here. Nevertheless, it's hard not to admire Jon Bon Jovi's attempt to stretch himself, particularly when he balances his earnestness with tunes as gentle as "Wildflower." ~ Stephen Thomas Erlewine, All Music Guide

Name Credits B.C. Smith Programming Brian Vibberts Assistant Chris "Lumpy" Hofschneider Technical Support Chris Lord-Alge Mixing Christian Mock Digital Editing, Engineer Dan Dugmore Guitar (Steel) Dann Huff Audio Production, Producer, Mandolin, Bouzouki David Bryan Keyboards David Campbell String Arrangements Desmond Child Executive Producer Eric Hirshberg Creative Director Femio Hernández Mixing Assistant George Marino Mastering Hugh McDonald Bass, Guitar (Bass) Jeff Rothschild Engineer Jennifer Nettles Vocals, Duet Jeremy Wheatley Mixing John Shanks Audio Production, Producer Jon Bon Jovi Vocals (Background), Producer, Vocals, Audio Production Jonathan Yudkin Fiddle, Mandolin Justin Niebank Mixing Keith B. Armstrong Mixing Assistant Michael Bryce Art Direction Mike Rew Assistant, Technical Support Obie O'Brien Engineer Olaf Heine Photography Paul Buckmaster String Arrangements Richie Sambora Vocals (Background), Producer, Audio Production, Guitar Rick Parashar Producer, Engineer, Audio Production, Digital Editing Smitar Krnjaic Mixing Assistant Talin Baharian Art Direction Tico Torres Drums, Percussion