Aimless Bon Jovi Loses Its Metal Edge

BON JOVI

“Keep the Faith”

Mercury

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Since Bon Jovi went on vacation in 1989, the slick pop-metal style that the New Jersey group so profitably pursued has been trampled by angry, chart-invading barbarians from the Northwest. “Keep the Faith” finds Bon Jovi casting about aimlessly, never coming close to finding a distinctive band sound or personality.

Among the styles tried on for size are Bryan Adams pomp, Black Crowes-style Stones-throwing, even some of Billy Joel’s blustering sincerity on the turgid butane ballad “Bed of Roses.” “Sleep When I’m Dead” and “If I Was Your Mother” may allude to Warren Zevon and Mott the Hoople songs with similar titles and themes, but the result is mediocrity, a drastic dumbing-down of fine sources.

On the plus side, the epic “Dry County” is an ambitious, well-constructed melodrama about economic disaster, and “All I Want” is that rare formulaic power ballad with some real feeling.

Despite losing most of its metal edge, Bon Jovi hasn’t changed fundamentally: It’s still a band of huge, oft-repeated hooks, yeomanly instrumental chops, bleating, undernourished lead vocals and songwriting that generally lacks inventiveness, depth and much sense of lived experience.