Why 'Forever' is Bon Jovi's Most Heartfelt and Uplifting Album in Years
HTML-код
- Опубликовано: 9 июн 2024
- Bon Jovi 'Forever': Album Review - An album full of classic Bon Jovi anthems, but showing a more humble and vulnerable side in the story telling. This is a rock album but it also channels Jon Bon Jovi's New Jersey roots with elements of Southside Johnny and the Asbury Dukes shining through in places. This is my 21st Bon Jovi album and for context I have included some personal stories from my past.
Please Support Now Spinning Magazine
Become a Patron (free trial -cancel anytime)
/ nowspinning
Join the RUclips Channel
/ @nowspinningmagazine
Or make a donation via Ko-Fi:
kofi.com/nowspinningmagazinew...
Thank you everyone for being part of my journey and supporting me. Phil :)
Phil Aston | Now Spinning Magazine 
Видеоклипы
Bon Jovi has always had the ability to evolve and adopt to current times much more than most bands are able to do, hence their staying power much to the annoyance of their critics who are stuck to some era in the very distant past.
I love this album! I’ve already listened to it 6 times in full! I pre ordered every edition on the Bon Jovi website! I love Living Proof and Waves! Two classics! I love the guitar at the end of First Guitar! The whole album is great! I’m satisfied! I’ve been a fan since Lost Highway when I was a 16 year old! Great review here Phil!
Great stuff ! Thank you for watching - Phil.
Thank you so much Phil, so truly spoken. "Forever" make you even more long for the day that might come: an arena full of old and new fans, who really appreciate the perfect story teller Jon is and what a splendid band of musicians Bon Jovi is. All that stuff about his voice: thank the band for what they brought us in 41 years, be a bit nostalgic, but definitely be happy and FULL OF JOY like Jon himself, that they gave us this album!!!
Thank you - totally agree with your comment - Phil
Hi Phil… excellent review ! I bought the vinyl and cd and am really enjoying the album. I agree it’s very uplifting. Thank you Phil . Chez
Hi Phil, an excellent video and your discussion is absolutely on point. Bon Jovi are genuine survivors and their music has evolved over the decades. 'Living Proof' is also my favourite track and the album is very good. Many thanks. Cheers from Australia.
Thank you 🙏
Phil, Thank you for the review. Good day from the U.S.A.
Great review, thanks Phil 🙏.
I agree that it’s a sad and cynical reflection on media and more outspoken armchair critics that they can’t appreciate the hard work and success of a band who have so many great, iconic tracks in their catalog and millions of fans worldwide. It’s just like a case of hating success and envy. It doesn’t wash with me! I have about a half dozen BJ albums but I think I’ll be adding this one to my collection, on the strength of your review.
Great positivity!
Thanks again! 🙏
🤘😎🤘
Have to be honest Phil not a band i listen to,i wouldn't dismiss them.
I did see on that first Uk tour entertaining.
Never really followed.
He has had tough times respect.
Certainly an enduring band.
Honest and fair review.
Agree all other channels seem to totally diss it.
As usual they don't research they told everyone it wasn't go to be a heavy album.
Cheers Jonathan
True, the haters of the band is incredible, right from the 80's. But their music is always well received. its been number 1 on itunes since it was released and still is today. Am sure the critics are seething
@@user-vw1lz4pf6d I have never understood why "hate" is so widespread when it comes to media or music - or, indeed between people.
There's lots of musicians producing music that I don't particularly like but I don't need to "hate" them - I can just move along and listen to something else. I always respect any musician who can get up on a stage in front of a crowd and perform their music live. I wouldn't know a Taylor Swift song if you smacked me in the face with one, but I can respect her for bringing her music to her fans as she's doing currently (along with many other touring musicians).
"Hate" is what a toddler says when they say "I hate you mummy" for not buying a bag of sweets they want - it's immature and indicative of someone feeling entrapped by something they can't change when, in the case of music, just go find something that you do like. It's the same for TV shows, movies, etc. etc.
Thank you for your analysis! I agreed on all of them, except that my favorites are We Made It Look Easy and Hollow Man. But, to each their own, right? But yes, it's a great album and I'm happy his voice sounds better!
What a nice surprise! This House In Not For Sale was/is a great album, but JBJ's vocal problems onstage were well-documented, and there was a fear that the band might cease to exist. Glad that's not the case. Bon Jovi, like U2 and Nickelback, are a band people love to run down, but aren't we all a bit bored with negativity now? The first Bon Jovi album was one of 1984's best, and the band have never really floundered since then. The song for Jon's daughter sounds very touching, as does the one for his wife. One great picture is the one of Jon Bon Jovi pot-washing at a restaurant he set up for deprived people. Must hear this album asap, and cheers.🙂
Yes, it is heartfelt, yes, it is his best in years, but to be fair, that was not very hard to achieve in the first place. His last albums were all just generic and flat. So is this one. But we tend to be more forgiving when listening to more seasoned rock stars. Bon Jovi were great in the late 80s/early 90s. Right up until Keep the faith they couldn't do anything wrong, but after that i kinda got fed up with their lalala sing along songs and they never brought me back on board. And neither will this album. Better than his last ones, yes, but still not very good in my book. Taking his recent struggles with his voice into account and for his still tangible love of music i would rate this one a 6/10.
Great review. So many of the words you used I used when I did a track by track review with my friend who hosts a RUclips series; “Bon Jovi Discussions“
I agree this album is fantastic. A couple of notes: “My First Guitar” is about Jon’s 1st guitar that he had sold as a teenager. He purchased it back about a year & a half ago. He took it home and started playing it and wrote this song. Jon also told us during an album listening party in NYC back in May, that the sequencing of the songs and ending with “Hollow Man” was deliberate. It represents were Jon is now. “… What do you sing when the songs been sung….” It’s a very personal and vulnerable song.
I’ve had the album on repeat for the past 5 days. Love it!
Thank you 🙏
It is a very good album, definitely an improvement over 2020! Excellent review!
I'm loving this album. Livin proof the people's house and walls of jericho waves are my standouts. Your right about the earworm
Wow, really didn't expect to see a Bon Jovi album review on your channel, Phil but I'm glad I did!
Discovered them in late 1985 together with my friend, it was Runaway for us as well, and then a song from the second album, The Hardest Part Is the Night. In early 1986 I bought the second album on cassette and played it to death, still really love it more than the average fan. Became absolutely smitten by the band (and Jon, of course, hey, I was a teenage girl at the time, lol) when Slippery was released and they became huge.
Once I came back to music and record collecting in my early thirties I kind of discovered the band again. But the last album that I really liked quite a bit was Bounce from 2002. These Days and New Jersey are my joint favourites in the catalog and I haven't been able to get into any of the post-Bounce albums, bar a couple of songs here and there, for twenty years now... but since you are so positive about their latest effort I think I'll give it a chance! Jon's voice is kind of hard to listen to, even after the surgery, he had such a great voice after all. His first solo effort, Blaze of Glory, is really great too and his voice was never better...
My taste in music is vast but I have always loved Bon Jovi. I agree there were some miss steps but I just feel that this one resonates with me. Thank you - Phil
Great re view phil ,100% agree on all levels 🎸🎸🎸🔥🔥🌹❤️
Spot on review. I agree with all your sentiments
Very good review m8 👏
Great review. Thanks for your sincerity and respect. I agree with most of what you have exposed here, but I'd also add that, being the 40th anniversary the "expected" (from discographics pov) would have been a Greatest Hits volume, and considering Jon's struggles it would have been "comfortable", but he doubled the bet and dived into their own history and wore his heart out, and wrote an amazing, vulnerable album, making a tour down their path and bringing brushes of their past into their sound today (the Blaze of glory, Keep the faith sound, even some Crush and Bounce sound, the talkbox). It shows an evolution, pays homage to their influences like Bruce or Southside Johnny, but the overall feeling is not nostalgic, it still is all about looking forward which has always been the core of BJ lyrics, to keep betting on the future. I also enjoyed that, along with this sense of Jon breathing out and being honest, it's how the band is there supporting and shining themselves, David, Tico and Phil are really strong on this one, great solos which were scarce on the last albums...I loved it. It brought me back to my teen years where I was so excited to have a new BJ album in my hands and listened to it over and over.
Thank you for sharing your thoughts - Phil :)
Great review, haven't listened to jovi since slippery, faith, but will give this a listen, tks .
After not listening to much from Bon Jovi since the 80's, I am really enjoying this latest effort.
I listened to it after catching the documentary. And I agree there is plenty of echoes of Springsteen and that
whole scene in New Jersey.
I'm surprised as anybody that its good, to be honest. I have listened to it multiple times and love the positive
messages.
Hi Phil. Thank you for the great and honest review, just like you i have all their albums and this is such a great album. Really loved it.
Thank you 🙏
I’ve been a Bon Jovi fan since I saw them support Kiss in the mid-80s. I’ve not been keen on the last couple of albums, but this one is a return to form. A couple of songs remind me of Train, which is no bad thing in my book. My favourite songs are Living Proof, Walls of Jericho & Waves. Great to hear a positive review!
Well I’m 36 and got into Bonjovi from my parents they are not much older than Jon . We have every album and cd they ever put out . Went to their first concert at 10 years old and was hooked ever since . We got everything from the forever album the cds the signed cds all the tee shirts and still waiting on a few things . Even belong to their JBJ Experience. Love Thank you good night we watched it a recorded it at the same time, Bon Jovi always and forever btw I’m from the US New York City! I know the uk always loved Bonjovi.this is the first time l saw your channel , my x boyfriend name was Phil lol and l have friends in the uk . I know your 5 hours ahead of us so it’s 4:15 pm here and it’s and it’s 9:15 in the uk . Good night Phil and everyone else here 😊
Thank you 🙏
Hi Phil really amazing breakdown of full album always been a Jovi fan. Album on repeat its hard to pick a fav song of it the more I listen to it....this is the people's house so like ktf love it ,,🤘
Thank you 🙏
Phil Aston, oh my God, i needed, really needed to hear somebody like you, i understand you, I agree w your review, although I don't like all the songs as much as you do, but, overall, it's a good record, some songs could have been a bit heavier, don't know why they have chosen a softer mix...well, but I'm with you anyway, I'm a huge huge Italian fan of BJ....anyway, would be great talking about this band n music in general with a few pints of beer, you are a guy with similar taste of music as mine....well it was good listening to you, all the best, big hag
Thank you 🙏
How can you not love the best album of all time.
Including the best name for an album ever.
Slippery When Wet
Thanks Phil for once again giving an honest review. Was never really into Bon Jovi apart from a couple of obvious choices. Then i went to a Tribute act, with my son who loves BJ. A great couple of hours full of great tunes. Bought the Best of.. and a couple of others in charity shops. That whole hair metal etc image still does nothing for me. Always felt it got in the way of the music. Anyway Phil, how about a video about your musical career. Apologies if i have missed one. Keep up the truly fantastic work you are doing.
Thank you very much - Phil
Great reaction
Thank you 🙏
I love this album nice review my friend take care
Thank you 🙏
Good stuff as always Phil. I have heard many good words about this album. The special thing about the band is their broad acceptance. I have friends who could hardly be described as fans of rock music but they all seem to really like Bon Jovi.. The band has always existed on its own terms with an enduring musical formula that continues to appeal.
Thank you, same here. Their music crosses genres and generations. Phil :)
Excellent review Phil. JBJ's showing his influences on the album. As well as those you mention I picked up The Beatles- ADITL (Seeds outro) and Pink Floyd's Mother (Hollow Man). Nothing wrong with that and it's a great album.
Thank you - Phil
Great review! I think it’s the best bon Jovi album since lost highway
Thank you for your thoughts! I’ve seen the points you make done in the negative so I love your take on it!
I feel this album is perfect if it’s the last and excellent as the beginning of the future!!!
Thank you 🙏
Not generally a fan of the band Bon Jovi. I hought they were too permed, too pretty and too popular and somewhat generic, in an 80s hair metal way. Then in the early 90s I heard Wanted Dead or Alive on the radio and was blown away by how good it was. I even bought the 45 single as a secondhand purchase. It's the only Bon Jovi song I like and it's perfection.
Nice review as always Phil. I agree with you on how you feel about the songs and how it’s a much different album than previous ones. In my opinion it’s a better album than a few of the recent ones. I would have liked a bit more edgy Guitar and longer solos as Phil X is very capable but like you said they have a different style now. I think I was one of the few that really liked the Lost Highway album and this one is certainly very similar to that.
Thank you for watching - Phil
Quite partial to a bit of Bon Jovi- seen them live twice and they were brilliant (wolves and villa parks) - Mrs N a big fan so have brought the album for her birthday - look forward to listening! (Nice joint present but don’t tell her 😂)
With Richie it would have been amazing though 🙏
I had the first three albums (the missus has them as well as a couple more recent albums) but "Slippery When Wet" is in the same category (for me) as Whitesnake's "1987" album, Heart's "Heart" album, Jefferson Starship's "Knee Deep In The Hoop-La" album and Europe's "The Final Countdown" album - namely, I don't need to hear any of those albums ever again because they were all played to death during the MTV years of the late 1980's and I am just bored with all of them, despite loving them all at some point in the past.
I recognise Bon Jovi's talent and resilience in making music for so long but they've drifted into an "Americana" sound along with Tom Petty, Bruce Springsteen, REM and Bob Dylan that I have never been keen on anyway - a few songs here and there, but that's it.
In my defence, I love "Britishcana" in the form of our "pub rock" like The Pirates, Eddie And The Hot Rods, Dr. Feelgood, Wilko Johnson (RIP), Brinsley Schwarz, Nick Lowe and a few others, and I don't think many Americans get that side of our music either - so it works both ways.
My friends got me and the missus tickets to see a Bon Jovi tribute act in Southampton last year, I was expecting to hate it but ended up enjoying it because there's no denying they've written a few good tunes (as have Tom Petty, Bruce Springsteen, REM and Bob Dylan) - but they'll just never be a band that I can get into much, albeit I recognise they are popular and good at what they do.
Britishcana ! love that :)
@@NowSpinningMagazine Actually, "Britcana" works better, I think - and should include any band that could be classified as "pub rock".
Possibly a topic for a future video? You can't go wrong with Eddie and the Hot Rods, Dr. Feelgood, The Pirates, Ian Dury, Tyla Gang and many others.
Very good album 7/10
Living proof
Waves
Seeds
People house
Kiss the bride all excellent songs.
Lyrics wise beautiful
More guitar would’ve been nice tho. Jon sounds good
Kind of lost interest in them after These Days as they were morphing into a style (too political for my tastes if I’m to be honest) that I couldn’t go with, and without Sambora on the payroll then that was me done. So this will be an album that won’t appear on my radar I’m sorry to say. All that being said I did watch the recent documentary and I had to tip my hat to JBJ for being brutally honest about the struggles he’s had with his voice and for that I hope the album is a success for him and they get the chance to tour it where he can deliver 100% of 100% rather than 100% of 80%
Bon Jovi was only ever political on 2020. This isn't that. JBJ has said in interviews that this album is about joy. He even wrote a song about his daughter getting married. As for Richie, Jon has been making the same music since 2005. Richie didn't leave until 2013.
I was a big fan of bon Jovi, but after THESE DAYS I didn't like any of there albums, they lost there spark and for me the albums became Jon's solo albums, I've heard legendary and it's an ok song, after seeing your review I decided to check out this new album, maybe I'm expecting to much but it's just ok.
Hi Phil - nice review, but to be honest I am not a fan. I dont know why - I have just never got into their music and dont have any of their CD's. Phil X is an amazing guitar player, I guess Bon Jovi pay the bills - right? lol. Off subject a bit, but there are 7 or so American bands I just cant get into. Great musicians all, and hats off to them for their longevity and success. GNR, Kiss, Aerosmith, Bon Jovi, Grand Funk, Journey & Dream Theatre. I dont know why, but that's music for you isnt it lolol. I do listen to lots of NEW music, but I guess being a teenager in the UK in the early, mid 60's - say no more. Keep up the good work Phil. Cheers Doug
Phil, Bon Jovi the band have only made 17 studio and live albums. I've been a fan since 1984 but Forever is my second least favourite album.
Hi Rob, sorry I should have said I was also including his solo albums. Phil :)