Reviews: Bon Jovi returns to blue-collar rock while Slayer makes the world bleed
Bon Jovi, The Circle (Island)
www.bonjovi.com
And now, let's pause to rejoice... Bon Jovi IS BACK!!! May The Circle remain
unbroken!
O.K., we all know that the band never really went anywhere... well, aside from
that little excursion into country-flavored rock with its last outing, 2007's Lost
Highway. The band, circa '09, finds itself rejuvenated to the rock-and-roll cause,
spewing forth huge anthems, chunky guitar melodies and meaty hooks and choruses
with The Circle.
Truth be told, Highway was not far removed from the familiar Americana groove
which Jon and the boys have been forging since Slippery When Wet back in '86. It
seems natural, then, that The Circle should fit comfortably into an impressive and
successful catalog. This time around, though, there seems to be a bit more
motivation for Jon as a lyricist. "Lyrically, I think it touches on who and what we
are as a country right now," he recently said, commenting on the album's themes.
www.bonjovi.com
And now, let's pause to rejoice... Bon Jovi IS BACK!!! May The Circle remain
unbroken!
O.K., we all know that the band never really went anywhere... well, aside from
that little excursion into country-flavored rock with its last outing, 2007's Lost
Highway. The band, circa '09, finds itself rejuvenated to the rock-and-roll cause,
spewing forth huge anthems, chunky guitar melodies and meaty hooks and choruses
with The Circle.
Truth be told, Highway was not far removed from the familiar Americana groove
which Jon and the boys have been forging since Slippery When Wet back in '86. It
seems natural, then, that The Circle should fit comfortably into an impressive and
successful catalog. This time around, though, there seems to be a bit more
motivation for Jon as a lyricist. "Lyrically, I think it touches on who and what we
are as a country right now," he recently said, commenting on the album's themes.
The opener/lead single, "We Weren't Born to Follow" is a rousing rocker in the sonic tradition of "You Give Love a Bad Name" or "It's My
Life" which clearly projects a patriotic message as to current U.S. global commitment. "Bullet" hits more close to home ("Dateline early
Sunday morning, shots ring out without a warning, no one seems to even blink in this town"), voicing sentiment to the ever-present disarray
within our own communities. Not to suggest that Jon is using The Circle as a podium, but it has been speculated that he may be considering
his options in the political arena... we'll see on that one.
Politics aside, good old blue-collar rock forged from the sweat of the everyman is where the band has always thrived. "Work For the
Working Man" could be the follow-up to "Livin' on a Prayer" (sans the Tommy and Gina reference) while a handful of tunes like
"Brokenpromiseland" and "Fast Cars" directly address the hopes, disappointments and dreams of the Average Joe.
Overall, The Circle offers a slice of life as seen from the boardwalks of the Jersey shores. It doesn't pretend to make all things right
anymore than it simply states that we, as Americans, are in this life together.
Life" which clearly projects a patriotic message as to current U.S. global commitment. "Bullet" hits more close to home ("Dateline early
Sunday morning, shots ring out without a warning, no one seems to even blink in this town"), voicing sentiment to the ever-present disarray
within our own communities. Not to suggest that Jon is using The Circle as a podium, but it has been speculated that he may be considering
his options in the political arena... we'll see on that one.
Politics aside, good old blue-collar rock forged from the sweat of the everyman is where the band has always thrived. "Work For the
Working Man" could be the follow-up to "Livin' on a Prayer" (sans the Tommy and Gina reference) while a handful of tunes like
"Brokenpromiseland" and "Fast Cars" directly address the hopes, disappointments and dreams of the Average Joe.
Overall, The Circle offers a slice of life as seen from the boardwalks of the Jersey shores. It doesn't pretend to make all things right
anymore than it simply states that we, as Americans, are in this life together.
| *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** |
Slayer, World Painted Blood (American/Columbia)
www.slayer.net
What can be said about Slayer, the godfathers of death/thrash/punk-metal, that
hasn't already been said? Try... I dare ya. Moreover, would anything less than
the band's trademarked riffage of brutality surrounded by lore of the dark regions
of human existence be acceptable? Nay, minions... nay.
World Painted Blood finds Slayer playing heavier, meaner and more focused than it
has in some time. The title track opens with a unique blend of ferocity and sublety
(a-la "Raining Blood" meets "South of Heaven") which rips your lungs right when you
think it is safe to breathe. From there, Slayer embraces a "fast is good, but
faster is better" approach reminiscent of the monumental Reign in Blood.
Thematically, we get the usual insight into war, death, destruction, the apocalypse
and the like. "Playing With Dolls" is cool and creepy with its Norman Bates/Ed Gein
necro-vibe. "Not of This God" will surely piss off anyone connected with the
current Wal-Mart-like mega-church movement. More tight-lipped, "Americon" is a
rare straight political observation likely penned during "The 'W' Reign 'o Terror":
"It's all about the motherf***ing oil / regardless of the flag upon it's soil."
www.slayer.net
What can be said about Slayer, the godfathers of death/thrash/punk-metal, that
hasn't already been said? Try... I dare ya. Moreover, would anything less than
the band's trademarked riffage of brutality surrounded by lore of the dark regions
of human existence be acceptable? Nay, minions... nay.
World Painted Blood finds Slayer playing heavier, meaner and more focused than it
has in some time. The title track opens with a unique blend of ferocity and sublety
(a-la "Raining Blood" meets "South of Heaven") which rips your lungs right when you
think it is safe to breathe. From there, Slayer embraces a "fast is good, but
faster is better" approach reminiscent of the monumental Reign in Blood.
Thematically, we get the usual insight into war, death, destruction, the apocalypse
and the like. "Playing With Dolls" is cool and creepy with its Norman Bates/Ed Gein
necro-vibe. "Not of This God" will surely piss off anyone connected with the
current Wal-Mart-like mega-church movement. More tight-lipped, "Americon" is a
rare straight political observation likely penned during "The 'W' Reign 'o Terror":
"It's all about the motherf***ing oil / regardless of the flag upon it's soil."
Individually, the band sounds spirited. Guitarists Kerry King and Jeff Hanneman have taken their rivet-iron rhythms and maniacal leads to a
protypical level; their fretwork is that from which all modern-day heavies are spawned. Dave Lombardo's drumming is nothing short of
well-articulated machine-gun fire. And Tom Araya... need I say, steady on the bass while the vocals are recklessly ambient; farggin' nuts...
a league of his own.
There's a certain drug-like euphoria which can be achieved by experiencing blunt-force sound. World Painted Blood, when listened to properly,
has the capacity to render one into a state of conscious paralysis. Enter at your own risk... you'll be glad you did.
protypical level; their fretwork is that from which all modern-day heavies are spawned. Dave Lombardo's drumming is nothing short of
well-articulated machine-gun fire. And Tom Araya... need I say, steady on the bass while the vocals are recklessly ambient; farggin' nuts...
a league of his own.
There's a certain drug-like euphoria which can be achieved by experiencing blunt-force sound. World Painted Blood, when listened to properly,
has the capacity to render one into a state of conscious paralysis. Enter at your own risk... you'll be glad you did.
