Bon Jovi - Lost Highway Review

Here it is, track by track. Might as well get it in before the deluge of reviews comes in the next few weeks.

1.Lost Highway
Never liked starting a CD with a title track. Don't know why. Not sure why I don't like this song very much. It's very cheesy country, and the "plastic dashboard jesus" line irritates me as much as everyone else. Seems Jon and Co. gathered up all the country cliches they could find and crammed them all into this song. Kinda catchy though. Good solo. 5/10

2.Summertime
I don't understand why people hate this song. Yeah yeah, cliched, uninspired lyrics...but it's fun. Not everything has to be Hey God or TAALS. There's nothing TRULY cringe-worthy in the words, and it has a fun, warm-weather vibe to it. 7/10

3.(You Want To)Make A Memory
A very emotion-filled song. It really feels like he's singing from the heart. It seems to be a love song, and not a song between friends, which makes me wonder if there's a little Bryan Adams-adultery theme in here with the "Your phone is ringing I don't wanna ask" line. Was there a solo...I must've missed it. I'd say one of the more powerful songs on the album. Maybe not a good choice for a first single (BJ is already known as a ballad band, I think), but a good song nonetheless. 8/10

4.Whole Lot Of Leavin'
Reminds me of a song from the box set. Last Chance Train maybe? Fun sound to it, and a mature discussion of a mature topic. Seems like there's a story in here somewhere, and I wish they had've done without the happy ending to it. I like the guitar (especially the solo), but they should've left it as a pop rock song instead of trying to work in the country feel. 7/10

5.We Got It Going On
Hate to say it, but I like this song. A lot. It's stupid. It's got lyrics that I'd cut myself before writing. But it's fun. Like One Wild Night, except not as intelligently written. It's a big dumb rocker, and unapologetic about that fact. It does not try to redeem itself at all, and I like that. 7/10

6.Any Other Day
Might just be the best song on the CD. Powerful, everyman style lyrics that manage to be positive and negative at the same time. I can't decide whether I like the verses or choruses more. Good solos, that really contribute to the feel of the song. Finally, a pop rock tune that doesn't try to fake the country edge. But yet, it's so much more. This one really resonates with me right now. I'll update this review when I figure out what this song reminds me of. 10/10

7.Seat Next To You
Sounds like it should've been on Destination Anywhere, but DA songs were actually good. I'll give the verses props though. Worthy of skipping, and that's the last I'll say. 3/10

8.Everybody's Broken
I had such high hopes for this song, and it didn't live up to them. Yeah, the verses are strong, but we've got that country affectation to deal with, and the chorus isn't nearly as good as it should've been. It's really quite bad, actually. I kept waiting for some rock, with those almost Bad-Horsie guitar sounds at the beginning and end of the chorus, but no dice. A nice, strong solo raises its score. 5/10

9.Till We Ain't Strangers Anymore
I hate to use the word adult, because that brings to mind teens standing in the magazine aisle snickering, but this is a very adult song. It's a conversation between two people falling in love, for either the first or second time. Usually BJ duets don't work out well, but Leann Rimes does a passable job here. And I like that they broke away from the conventional song structure. 7/10

10.The Last Night
If I'm still alone tomorrow night, can I sue for false advertising? In all seriousness, this is tied with Any Other Day for best song of the album. Sure there's no solo, but it doesn't need one. It's just a short, sweet, powerful and inspiring song. I love it. 10/10

11.One Step Closer
Wasn't this supposed to rock Dry County's socks off? It tries, but not very well. Stands ok on its own though. Good song about someone deciding to try living again. I will say this, BJ should try out some depression rock like on These Days, I think this more adult style of writing could work well with that. 6/10

12.I Love This Town
Some fun guitar, but corny lyrics. I can't decide if he's talking about the small-hometown type city, or like, a ghetto area. Worth skipping. 4/10

13.Walk Like A Man
Love this song. Reminds me, thematically, of Cat Stevens's Cats In The Cradle. One man's understanding of what it's like to be both father and son. Not the be all and end all that people are making it out to be, but a solid, touching country rock song. One of the few country rockers they pulled off right. 7/10

Overall:Decent album. Doesn't compare to the brilliance of KTF or TD, but then, what does? For a spur of the moment "Hey this worked once, let's try it again" type album inspired by WSYCGH, it's pretty good. Would've been better without the faux-country affectation. Then it probably would've been the next Destination Anywhere...which it is already, but it would've been even closer. It's a very grown-up album that solidly cements Bon Jovi's reputation as a grown-up band. And, the writing's a step in the right direction. Compared to Crush or even Bounce (which I do so dearly love), this shows downright brilliant songwriting in places. I'll be listening to this CD for a while.