"Artistic freedom made this record possible," says Jon Bon Jovi. "Musical freedom to explore--and emotional freedom to express what was in our hearts."

The result of that freedom is Lost Highway, an album Jon describes as "a Bon Jovi record influenced by Nashville."

Bon Jovi explains. "Nashville is all about songs and songwriters. If you're someone like me who loves songs and hanging out with songwriters, Nashville is the place. I thrive on that feeling and I'm inspired by that creative ambience."

The result, a haunting set of 12 new and original sounding songs, is a stunning, multi-layered look into the nature of love and life in all its glory. Love, like life, is lost, found, forgotten and reclaimed in this collection.

The moods are many, but the core feeling is pure Bon Jovi.

"Writing this record with Jon was deeply cathartic," says Richie Sambora, who collaborated on ten of the songs. "I was going through emotional changes that were new for me. An ailing father. A painful divorce. The start of a new chapter in my life. I poured everything I had into this project, every last bit of soul at my command."

"For over twenty years now," Jon explains, "Richie and I have been close collaborators. Even when our songs create fictional stories, they reveal our states of mind. To a large degree, Lost Highway focuses on the light that love brings. When you shine the light on love, you see the chinks in the armor. You see every crevice, every crack. And that's all right".

Lost Highway is Bon Jovi's tenth studio album since the band formed in the early eighties. One hundred and twenty million albums and 2500 concerts in over 50 countries later, Bon Jovi is enjoying the greatest popularity in their history.

2008-06-28 -- 3/5:: Not Bad!
The album is not bad. I was expecting the same music that was on his cable concert and that is not what was on the album. So including the diapointment that the main song I wanted was not on it I have to say that the album was just "OK".

2008-05-30 -- 5/5:: Artistic Statement (?)
For 25 years Bon Jovi has been keeping the Jersey Shore Sound alive, but unless Southside and others (most famously The Boss) they have always been combining it. This time the choice fell on country. Yes, it's not a joke, it's country... although using a banjo in the background or just having "Big & Rich" sing with you doesn't necessarily constitute Country... or Western for that matter.

And let's be frank, Jon can give a thousand more interviews telling everybody who doesn't want to hear it that evolving into country is just an artistic statement, this record has foremost paid off econonomically for the band. It was just a given that any country-pop-rock-combination would work in small-town America, the first Billboard #1 debut since "New Jersey" is just proof of that.

But let's stick with Jon's argument: Let's assume that this album is just an artistic statement, just about the beauty of writing songs, and not about selling tickets or anything. If the art tells us anything about the artist, then the question is obvious: Is this new direction a sign for a creative burnout? Or is this album to the band what a haircut is to an abandoned woman?*) Or, to concentrate on other members of the band, to a failed acting career?

Disregarding that, there is just one bottom line: If you buy Bon Jovi, you get Bon Jovi, no matter what. You get the Jersey Shore, the Pop, the Rock, the Captain Kidd, the King of Swing, the Tommy, the Gina, the Country (attempt), the Live Experience... the uncomparable... just the good ole Bon Jovi. They've given us the soundtrack to all of our Twentysomethings' lives.

Keep the faith these days-ly,
Team Heaton

*) By the way: Alcohol is not the answer, even if you just broke your shoulder.

2008-05-30 -- 5/5:: Another great Bon Jovi album
I got this as soon as it came out. Another great album from the guys in NJ. It certainly has a much more country sound than any of their earlier work, but that's not a bad thing. A slightly different flavor, but still distinctly Bon Jovi. Didn't like it quite as much as Have a Nice Day, but it's still a great album.

2008-04-30 -- 2/5:: No more than average (2 1/2 stars)
Personally I don't like Bon Jovis's evolution. I know times have changed, but one thing I know is that music does not have a time, I listen to Bach, music that was written more than 300 years ago and it moves you and touches your soul. I listen to any of this album's songs, and they don't even come close to a song like "You give love a bad name" or "Bad Medicine", and I am not even going to compare them to "Wanted Dead or Alive". What happened to their music?, this CD is just average, not even a shadow of the music they composed in their early years. I guess inspiration has gone. If you are new to Bon Jovi I suggest you buy the best of them, when they still had the magic: "Slippery when wet" and "New Jersey" have the energy lacking in their latest albums. Just try and compare any song, you will see what I mean. If anyone disagrees with me, your opinion is welcome, I just need to know what happened to them, could you explain it to me?? Because I don't get it.
Anyway, this album has two songs I think they are OK:
- whole lot of leaving
- Stranger

2008-04-24 -- 5/5:: Incredible. One word: MASTERPIECE!!!!

I must say I was introduced to Bon Jovi's music in 1992. I think it was the best time period to get to know the band. At the time the band and the whole music scene was changing and I immediately fell in love with the band's new sound. Of course I was aware of the existing of the band before 1992 as well, but when Keep the Faith came out I think the band gained a wider audience. I consider that album a watershed in their career. At the time the album was the most listened one among my albums. As I was getting older and wiser of course my taste changed and after These days I lost my interest in the band. Now I've got all their albums but this latest release is considered the most powerful and artistically the most mature album they have ever written. They proved they have grown up and can gain themselves a brand new audience in another music genre as well. I take this change for a very good step after "Have a nice day".
I just simply can't get enough of this album. I keep listening to it every day. It deserved number one status all around the world.
BRAVO BOYS KEEP ON ROCKING!