The Circle

Bon Jovi

Product Details

• Audio CD (November 23, 2009)
• Original Release Date: November 23, 2009
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Island Records
• ASIN: B002RKXO6S
• In-Print Editions: MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 3.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (41 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #438 in Music (See Bestsellers in Music)

Editorial Reviews

About the Artist

"It's an interesting question to ask: Is that a fair dose of motivation or is that a chip on your shoulder?" Jon Bon Jovi posed that question to himself, and it's worth pondering. You might think that a man whose band has sold more than 120 million records and played before tens of millions of fans in the course of an illustrious 26-year career would be content to rest on his considerable laurels, at least for a while.

You might think that, but you'd be wrong, and the new Bon Jovi album, The Circle, provides irrefutable proof. As its title suggests, The Circle marks a powerful reassertion of Bon Jovi's commitment to the hard-hitting, uplifting rock & roll that has been the band's indelible signature since it began. The band share an abiding bond that informs and defines their music. It is a circle that remains unbroken.

"The album title," Bon Jovi explains, "has several meanings. Some may say that with this album we have come full circle. Others may see The Circle as never ending. I see it as very hard to get in to and even harder to get out of," the singer says with a laugh. Having had 5 studio records in this decade, there are songs on each record that represent the world around us. And while they don't always like what they see, they try hard not to see the cup as half empty. From the new single "We Weren't Born To Follow" to the powerful "When We Were Beautiful," the songs are as uplifting and anthemic as anything Bon Jovi and Sambora have ever written.

Another reason for the anthemic sound of THE CIRCLE is the re-emergence of Richie Sambora. "This is meant to be a stadium, turn-the-guitars-back-up record, and that's a testament to having Richie at my side," Jon says. "I can't tell you how much that's meant. With me and Richie, one and one makes three.

That flame burns at the heart of The Circle. "When We Were Beautiful" shares its title with the superb Bon Jovi documentary by filmmaker Phil Griffin. Like the film, the song is atmospheric and haunting. It opens with a sense of crisis: "The world is cracked/The sky is torn." Jon Bon Jovi hears the song as a true departure for the band. "That's a unique song," he says, "We've written hits, but this is something more, this is something different. I didn't want to sugarcoat things. Those lyrics are factual. As a country and as people, we hit a wall. But the idea is to try to get back to `when we were beautiful.'"

The new studio album, The Circle, was produced by John Shanks, who also worked with the band on the two preceding Bon Jovi albums, Lost Highway (2007) and Have a Nice Day (2005). The album has an underlying positive theme that is apparent throughout the songs. Whether it's questioning your vitality in "Fast Cars," or asking what the future holds in "Work for the Working Man," the songs are about the prospect of people having to find new directions in their lives. In these trying times every word relays the truth.

So The Circle, then, like all of Bon Jovi's best music, stares down the troubles that afflict our lives, and offers a bracing vision for overcoming those obstacles. It's stirring, and it's an emotion that, strong as the album is, will find its most convincing expression on the concert stage. And this is why Bon Jovi have managed to play over 2600 concerts to over 34 million fans in over 50 countries. "I can't believe I'm even saying this, but I can't wait to go on the road again," Jon Bon Jovi exclaims.

Product Description

2009 release from the veteran rockers. The Circle was produced by John Shanks, who also worked with the band on Have A Nice Day and Lost Highway. Includes the single 'We Weren't Born To Follow', one of the fastest selling tracks in the band's history.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

8 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars If you've heard crush there's not much different, November 17, 2009

By	S. Gage (Claremont, CA USA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: The Circle (MP3 Download)

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.

8 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Disappointed, November 13, 2009

By	Robin M. Hodge (Franklin, Tennessee United States) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: The Circle (MP3 Download)

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.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars 3-1/2 stars -- Across the diameter, January 6, 2010

By	Anthony Rupert "shut up, Shut Up, SHUT UP!!!" (Milwaukee, WI) - See all my reviews (TOP 500 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)

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