In summary:

They may have returned to the rock genre, but they forgot to bring any of their trademark hooks with them. As such, The Circle manages to satisfy and disappoint in equal measure.

The Circle receives 5/11.
★★★★★

Jon Bon Jovi once sang, “You can’t catch a fish if you ain’t got the hook.”

And that solemn line from 1988’s New Jersey does much to summarize the band’s 11th studio LP, The Circle.

It’s an album which sees Bon Jovi return to their rock roots – a surprising move after the commercial success of 2007’s country-tastic Lost Highway – but it lacks the air-punching anthems and trademark riffs we’ve come to expect from them.

Instead, much of the 53-minute runtime is wasted running around in circles (hence the name?) between sub-par ballads and mid-tempo rockers which don’t compare well to their earlier work.

Occasionally, though, they spring to life.

Standout track Thorn In My Side encapsulates everything we love about post-2000 Bon Jovi, with Jon sounding just the right amount of pissed off to inspire you to get up and give it one more shot, and the Springsteen-esque Work For The Working Man (the lyrics of which were framed and hung in the White House) is as close as they ever get to the classic Bon Jovi formula.

Elsewhere, though, highlights are relegated to the rare moments where the songs break free of John Shanks’ overly glossy production (e.g. the stylish verse arrangement of Happy Now, and the interesting lyrics of When We Were Beautiful).

The album received a frosty reception from fans, especially lead single We Weren’t Born To Follow.

Despite hitting the Top 10, long-term followers accused Bon Jovi of ripping of their earlier material to create the track. We’ll never know if they did this on purpose or whether it was just a coincidence, but one listen to Born To Be My Baby (from 1988’s New Jersey) and it’s impossible to unhear.

In summary:

They may have returned to the rock genre, but they forgot to bring any of their trademark hooks with them. As such, The Circle manages to satisfy and disappoint in equal measure.

The Circle receives 5/11.
★★★★★