BON JOVI "This Left Feels Right"
by Donna Anderson

Cover: 3 Wrong Turns out of 10.
Once again a typical boring Bon Jovi cover. It's a photo of a guy (but you can't see his face) sitting on a suitcase plastered with Bon Jovi logos looking like he's waiting for a ride. Did I make it sound exciting as it really is - good! : ) Ya know I just remembered that Tico is supposed to be an "artist" who sells paintings and stuff when they are between albums. Can't he come up with some cool art for one of their album covers one of these times?

Booklet: 5 Cheaters out of 10.
The booklet features an interview with Jon and Richie covering how the album came together (along with some photos and the typical thank you's - no lyrics though). They discuss who they worked with and why they changed it from their original concept. The album was originally supposed to be an acoustic "best of" album with maybe a few extras thrown in. Jon said he would have felt like a "cheater" for doing that and he wanted to give his fans something with value. So instead they re-wrote and re-recorded 12 of their best songs in lets say a very different way. After listening to this album I feel cheated for what it turned out to be; I would have been much happier with an acoustic album. The best part of the album is the photo on the back - mighty fine!

Songs: 2 Prozacs out of 10.
PLEASE do not listen to this if you are depressed or this may just put you over the edge. Or maybe as a Bon Jovi fan it was simply horrifying to hear how awful this album is. I am almost embarrassed for them that they actually released something that sounds this bad. I'm not sure what is worse this album or the Bon Jovi Tribute album. Probably the worst thing on this album is the new version of "Livin' on a Prayer". Jon does a duet with the Producer's wife and I think I'd rather hear the neighbor's cat in heat all night than listen to this one again. She sounds like a little troll woman that lives under a bridge; I have no idea what they were thinking. Other songs that they ripped to shreds and pretty much ruined include: "Bad Medicine", "You Give Love a Bad Name", "I'll Be There For You" and "Always". Other songs included in this little treat are: "Wanted Dead or Alive", "It's My Life", "Lay Your Hands on Me", "Bed of Roses", "Everyday", "Born to Be My Baby", and "Keep the Faith". I'll let you make your own conclusions on those.

Comments: I know a lot of hardcore Bon Jovi fans and even they don't like this CD. I hope this doesn't indicate the direction Bon Jovi is going in the future. If you read the interview you'll see that they seem to think that this album and producer is the greatest thing to come along since Metal Sludge. Hopefully when they see their sales in the toilet and hear all of their fans pissed off they will change their minds. Overall I only recommend this one if you are into being tortured or you have a really good sense of humor.