Customer Reviews

The Circle

5 star:		(22)
4 star:		(11)
3 star:		(7)
2 star:		(6)
1 star:		(6)

 

 

First, let me get something off my chest about the album...

I looked at ticket prices last night for his new album tour to the Honda Center and Staples Center. Nose bleed ticket prices were $150 and $120 respectively a couple days ago. So Jon, when you and Richie write songs like "Work For The Working Man" and you sing about dreams, hopes, and essentially the hard honest work many people do how is it you charge so much for seats so far away? That's saying nothing of the seats closer. I've loved your music since I found a cassette tape (7800 Fahrenheit) at camp when I was a kid. I've never been able to see you and before you start to decline vocally which is inevitable I'd like to see you at least once.

Ok, now about the album...

There are good songs on this album but there will be nothing that really jumps out at you. Work For The Working Man to me, took as close of a step back to the 80s with Jon's old bluesy rock songs. He does prove he has vocal strength in a number of the songs but the songs are certainly softer than the 80s. That being said, it's not the 80s anymore folks and Jon isn't 20-something anymore.

"We Weren't Born To Follow" is an upbeat song that I like because it really raises your spirits. In our current time, there's a lot to balk about in the news and politics. While Jon certainly sings about how things are now he does inject something upbeat and positive into the album with this song.

I'm not really certain I can classify "Superman Tonight" as a ballad but for anyone that's been in love it's a song we can all identify with. It most certainly is a song that after one day of owning the album I find myself singing along to.

"Bullet" is a grittier sounding song. Again, a bluesy sound permeates this song from time to time. Perhaps it's a bit country inspired Kid Rock-ish in spots but I still enjoy listening to it.

"Thorn In My Side" is a bit generic while being higher tempo. It hasn't really grown on me yet but perhaps it will the longer I listen to it.

"Live Before You Die" is a quieter song. It's a song that really makes you think about how eventually " there'll come a day you'll have to say hello to goodbye". So...the message is don't take tomorrow's sunrise for granted and make sure to live as full of a life as possible. I like the song because it's how I live my life as best as possible. I may only be 31 but I have my bucket list...the things I want to do and accomplish before times runs out. I wouldn't say this song is for everyone though.

"Brokenpromiseland" is a pretty cool song for me. It's definitely a song that has a bluesy twang to it but ya know what? I'm kinda digging the bluesy twang in Bon Jovi. I never listened to his last album (the country one) but I don't mind what he's being doing since Crush.

I'm still listening to the album trying to allow the other songs time to grow on me. The ones I've written about are ones that I have a solid opinion about and for the most part, enjoy. Don't expect a huge rock album out of this. It's nothing even comparable to his 80s and early 90s music. If you liked Crush then you will enjoy The Circle, simply put.

I have every album that Bon Jovi ever made and I always get them the day that they come out as I keep up with their music. This is not their best work at all. It is kind of a downer. I work and go to school and don't need to hear music about working or how hard things are, I live it. Also, "We weren't born to follow" is really the only good song on it. I hate to say that but this is just not good. I have seen them twice live and the best albums were Slippery When Wet and New Jersey. Bounce and Have a Nice Day were awesome recent works then downhill from there.

Every time I hear Bon Jovi is releasing another new album, I cringe, yet I always end up downloading it, giving it a shot. As is the case with their previous 3 albums or so, this is absolutely dreadful, almost tarnishing the Bon Jovi name. They honestly should have given up recording new music 10 years ago, just like Poison did. If they want to tour the country, I'm all for it. Play the favorites, and keep it at that. But no, they insist on recording new music, and each album just continues to get worse and worse.

I grew up with Bon Jovi. I was born in the 70's, so in their prime in the 80's, Bon Jovi was one of the best in the biz. They even continued their greatness into the mid 90's, with the Keep the Faith album, which was excellent. Everything they've done in the 2000's has been forgettable, and their last 2 albums especially, have been downright awful.

Bon Jovi is one of those bands that were at their peak in the `80s and are still managing to release platinum-certified albums some twenty years later. But that luck also comes with a price: people will listen to their newer stuff and then get mad because it doesn't sound like their older stuff. This is something negative reviewers don't seem to understand: Bon Jovi is not going to make another Slippery When Wet, nor should you expect them to. That was in the past; leave it there. Anyway, now it's time for the band's latest offering, The Circle.

I don't think "We Weren't Born to Follow" is a bad song, but there are better songs than that, especially the next two singles: "When We Were Beautiful" and "Superman Tonight". And "Fast Cars" (which sounds a little like Matchbox Twenty's "If You're Gone") is passable. That's about it, though, because the rest of the songs don't really sound a whole lot different from each other, and keep-your-head-up songs like "Learn to Love" and "Work for the Working Man" don't exactly have the most innovative lyrics.

You can still tell The Circle is a Bon Jovi album, and it's nice to listen to, but there really isn't anything mind-blowing here. B.I.F.

Anthony Rupert

Being an avid fan of Bon Jovi - I am a bit biased. This is a great cd.

This album grown on you quickly and there are many very strong songs and a few jems. It's a great album for working out or hiking. It's uplifting and inspiring and lyrically strong as many of the lyrics can be imagined in your own life.

"Love's the only rule" is one of my top favorites.. very catchy riff.

This is one of those albums that you listen to all the way through and when it's done you're surprised it's over that quickly.

I hardly write reviews for music albums because there's enough reviewers out there.. but this is such a great album and don't listen to the reviewers who say it's like previous albums.. I have all the albums of the 90's and 2000's and it's defn unique.

It helped me in a very rough time in my life.

Another great album by my favorite band! Always waiting for the next album!! They never disappoint me. Of course I am a little biased in my opinion--- but I can't help it -- they rock!

Like many, I own all of Bon Jovi's CDs, have bought them all on the release date and have been happy with all of them through the release of Have A Nice Day. This one sounds to me like they grabbed Slippery When Wet and tried to re-record it by changing a few chords and putting different lyrics over the music. Also, after 30+ years of releasing records and touring, making millions of dollars in the process, I just don't buy into that they can relate to working a hard 40 hour work week, struggling to pay the bills, etc. Sorry guys, I hate to give a bad review but on the heals of a very lame country record attempt, (Lost Highway) this one just came out tired & lame.

There is one stellar song on this CD which makes it worth buying. So go buy it. Welcome back Bon Jovi.

I have been a loyal Bon Jovi fan for the past 25 years. This albums delivers the music that I have grown to love all these years. Bon Jovi has done it again. This would be an excellent addition to anyone's music library.