In summary:

The New Jersey rockers return with Bounce, but not even Richie Sambora’s ultra-heavy guitar can save what is an average bunch of songs.

Bounce receives 6/11.
★★★★★★

How do you follow up an album as successful as Crush?

Easy, you re-write it!

This appears to have been the general consensus as Bon Jovi entered the studio to complete Bounce, their 8th album, set for release in late 2002.

That’s not to say this LP is without its fair share of standout moments, but rather that it’s simply hindered by a copy and paste style which never lets any of the new tracks break free of what came before.

For example, lead single Everyday, which became a huge hit for the band in 2003, is a direct attempt to re-create the magic of It’s My Life, yet it lacks the inherent catchiness of its predecessor.

The standout track is album opener Undivided. Written in the aftermath of the 9/11 attacks, it captures everything you’d expect from a Bon Jovi number about pulling together after such atrocities, standing tall as not just the best track on this album, but perhaps one of the best they’ve ever created.

It also features an incredibly heavy riff from axeman Richie Sambora, who seems to have decided that he’s going to It’s My Life the fuck out of everything by wielding a low lumbering guitar at every possible opportunity.

Sometimes this works (e.g. Undivided), but many times it squashes the music beneath it.

Elsewhere, we get a couple of strong ballads (The Distance, Right Side Of Wrong) and a few decent rockers (Hook Me Up, Misunderstood, Bounce) but nothing that’s going to trouble the mainstays of the band’s live catalogue anytime soon.

In summary:

The New Jersey rockers return with Bounce, but not even Richie Sambora’s ultra-heavy guitar can save what is an average bunch of songs.

Bounce receives 6/11.
★★★★★★