Product Description North American CD/DVD pressing features one track unavailable on any other pressing, 'Who Says You Can't Go Home?' (featuring Jennifer Nettles of Sugarland). Both Bon Jovi's band rendition and this duet are featured on the disc. 'Multi-Grammy nominees Bon Jovi return with their 14th release, Have A Nice Day. The album's first single release, 'Have A Nice Day', is produced by John Shanks, Jon Bon Jovi, and Richie Sambora. Shanks was voted Producer of the Year at this year's 2004 Grammy Awards. Island. 2005. .com What does a wildly successful purveyor of 80s big hair power ballads do in an ensuing decade dominated by fervent shoe-gazing and other attendant alt.cliches? If youre Jon Bon Jovi, you scale back your bands ambitions, retool yourself as surprisingly accomplished indie film and TV actor, and (mostly) wait for the pop music tides to turn in your favor again. But JBJ and guitarist/collaborator Richie Sambora didnt let their bands lukewarm 90s fortunes dampen their knack for hook-savvy songcraft, as this muscular anthem-fest argues at virtually every turn. BJs songs here may be as infectious as ever, yet theyre seldom mere confections, often infused with alternating doses of bracing cynicism (the title tracks sarcastic riposte to the 04 election) and reflective, often bittersweet takes on histories both personal and otherwise. If it sometimes stoops to formula--the droning, metallic ethos of the obligatory big ballad "I Am" cant overcome some equally perfunctory lyricsits also an album with its share of warm surprises, be they unexpected nods to Dylan ("Last Man Standing," the acoustic idealism of "Bells of Freedom"), the hard-edged "I Want to Live" or a winning duet with Sugarlands Jennifer Nettles, "Who Says You Cant Go Home." Bon Jovi may deliver a sonically burnished triumph here by largely going back to the future--yet does it with one ear crucially cocked towards the anxious energy of the recent past. This Dual Disc edition also features all album tracks but one in High Resolution Surround Sound as well as the video for "Have a Nice Day" and an 04 Live From Atlantic City featurette with six live cuts. -- Jerry McCulley
B**D
4.6 stars--Best Bon Jovi album in years
After being one of many huge fans of Bon Jovi in the 1980s and into the early '90s, I admittedly jumped off their bandwagon in the mid-'90s when they released such lame singles as "Always" and "This Ain't No Love Song". They brought me back a bit at the start of this decade with singles "It's My Life" and "Everyday". I was able to give the albums those singles were on ("Crush" in 2000 and "Bounce" in 2002) four stars due to the quality overall musicianship of the albums, while lammenting the fact that they couldn't put together a more rocking effort beginning to end. I liked the modern vibe of their rockers and anthems on those albums; I just tired of acoustic ballad after acoustic ballad.Now comes this album. The band followed a similar marketing strategy in releasing a similar-sounding rocker/anthem with the title track as a first single. While others have complained about the similarity of this track to other recent singles, to me it hits the mark as much as ever. It's another catchy single that to me is the best of what Bon Jovi has been about in this era. But how about the rest of the album?For me, this album is Bon Jovi's best effort since at least "Keep The Faith", or maybe even "New Jersey". Along with the title track, I love the modern mid-tempo vibe of "I Wanna Be Loved"; the straight ahead rock of tracks like "Last Man Standing" and "Story of My Life"; and the modern rock sound of "Complicated" and "Novocaine". For sure, there are a lot of quality rockers on this album...more than at any time since "New Jersey", I would say.While a track like "Welcome To Wherever You Are" is a decent ballad with a nice sentiment, to me "I Am" is one of the best ballads the band has ever done. This track epitomizes what I want to hear out of Bon Jovi at this point in their careers. Not another boring acoustic ballad track, but a true POWER ballad with great melodies and an awesome modern vibe. I can't rave enough about this track. (I wonder if there is any chance it will get released as a single down the line?)"Who Says You Can't Go Home"--both versions--has truly grown on me as well. I'm not a country music fan per se, but I do like some of what may be called "country rock". For sure, the duet with Jennifer Nettles has been very enjoyable to listen to...I have gotten over the fact that this track is on the USA version of the album instead of two more rockers (neither of which I have heard to date).I have listened to this album for months and have debated whether it deserves 4 stars or 5 stars. I chose "4.6 stars" (rounding up to "5 stars" in Amazon's rating system) because I truly believe that the guys did the best job possible in making a rock album that will both please many of their longtime fans and yet keep hold of their younger fan base. The '80s are gone forever, and Bon Jovi fans who have accepted that should enjoy this album.
J**N
Love listening to this CD
I appreciate being able to listen to one of my favorite bands
S**N
Another Solid Album
Good songs:- Have A Nice Day- Last Man Standing- Last Cigarette- I Am- Complicated- Novocaine- Story of My LifeMediocre Songs:- I Want to Be Loved- Welcome to Wherever You Are- Who Says You Can't Go Home- Bells of FreedomBad Songs:- Wildflower- Who Says You Can't Go Home (Duet with Jennifer Nettles of Sugarland)Overall, I thought this was a very good album. It opens well with HAND and closes out very nicely with five good songs in a row (ignoring the WSYCGH duet). My favorite song is HAND right now, although I Am has a good beat and Last Cigarette is worth a few more listens. Between the opening and second half, however, there's really only LMS that stands out above medicore. Wildflower and the aforementioned duet are pretty bad, but there's a song like Wildflower on every Bon Jovi album and the duet...well, I really can't think of any justificiation for that. Still, even the mediocre tunes are better than a lot of music I've heard recently and having only two bad tracks on an album is an accomplishment these days. Another solid Bon Jovi album. Highly recommended.
J**K
A great Bon Jovi album
I love pretty much every song on this album which is quite an accomplishment because normally I'm a fan of iTunes where I can just buy the few songs that I like. I've been a Bon Jovi fan for a long time and one of the things I really love about this band is their endless capacity to remain true to their "Bon Jovi sound", if you will, while managing to make an album that is always relevant. This is a fun album, thoughtfully & insightfully written by guys who have been around the block but are still definitely having a great time doing what they love. Whether you are a new fan or a diehard, you won't be disappointed. The uptempo songs have infectious rhythms & riffs that you just might catch yourself humming later. And, as masters of the "power ballad", they manage to pull off some beautiful lyrics with terrific harmonies that don't get bogged down with anything sappy or overly sentimental. This album is just a good time waiting to happen so, buy with confidence, push play & enjoy!
S**H
Another gem in Bon Jovi's album cataloge
A rocking album that may have been one of the best album. While crush may have put them back in the limelight( I always believed they never went away) Bounce to me was like New jersey. A lot of songs seemed personal and also about the local people that was around the band. Have a nice day was the band's rock side coming back with more guitar riff and sounds. The title track also was a song that was making a statement about the band not caring about critics or people questioning the band, but also the people who deal with negative people in their life. Great album and always a part of my fav album to have with me all the time.
T**M
Bon Jovi Rocks
I have been a fan since "Runaway". Will always be a fan. If you have never seen this band in concert - you have missed an awesome live show. They are the best live band I have had the pleasure of hearing on more than one occasion. Hair Band? Not likely. They are professional musicians who happen to look good. They rock and I hope they rock 'til they drop!This is probably the best of their music in years. Actually, I really would have to say this is my favorite and I have all of their music. Who Says You Can't Go Home with Jennifer Nettles of Sugarland is my all-time favorite and I have actually worn out my CD since buying it - so it is time to get another one.
A**L
Blame it on the Love of Rock 'n' Roll
Nachdem ich von „Bounce" sehr enttäuscht war, gefällt mir dieses Album wieder deutlich besser.Es ist flotter und Richie Sambora lässt viele laute Gitarren sprechen. Ausgedehnte, melodische Solos im Stil von „Bed of Roses", „Blaze of Glory" oder „Living on a Prayer" gibt es allerdings nicht.Was mir an der CD nicht so sehr gefällt, ist der Sound. Er ist nicht „schlecht", aber er wird zu sehr komprimiert. Alles wird gleich laut, was dazu führt, dass man zum Beispiel Samboras zahlreiche Gitarrenstimmen nur noch schwer auseinander halten kann und sie eher nach einem dicken Gitarrenteppich klingen, unter den Bon Jovis Stimme gekehrt wird. Aber die Gitarren rocken endlich wieder. Das ist die Hauptsache.Für den Schlagzeugsound gilt ähnliches: Jeder Schlag klingt exakt gleich - wie gesampelt. Es fehlt an Attack. Störgeräusche wurden penibelst eliminiert - was leider dazu führt, dass die Schläge nicht frei ausklingen. Dieses ist nicht „schlecht", sondern viel mehr eine Frage des Geschmacks. Ich finde, es passt nicht richtig zu den rockigen Gitarren. Es wirkt mir zu elektronisch: Alles sehr exakt, aber mit wenig Gefühl. Nur High-Hat und Crash-Becken verschwimmen zu sehr und klingen mehr nach einem klirrenden Rauschen als nach gut abgemischten Becken. Dieser Sound wäre selbst für ein Live-Album etwas dürftig.Das Soundpolieren macht aber leider auch nicht vor Samboras Gitarren halt. Seine Metalriffs (z.B. in „I want to be loved") klingen nicht mehr nach dem ursprünglichen Bon Jovi Rock der 80er. Alle Wärme vom Anschlag, Umgreifen oder vom Verstärker wurde unter „Störgeräusche" eingeordnet und restlos eliminiert. Geschmackssache. Nur auf diese Weise klingt Anastacia inzwischen „echter" als „Rocker" Bon Jovi.Während der Song „Have a nice Day" die Power früherer Bon Jovi Songs besitzt und auf ganzer Linie überzeugt, wirken die Gesangsmelodien in den meisten anderen Stücken eher lustlos oder traurig. Während Sambora wieder richtig rockt, bekommt man von Bon Jovis einstiger Powerstimme weniger zu hören. Selbst über Samboras Metalriffs schafft es Bon Jovi, traurige Melodien in Moll zu legen. Kann er denn nicht endlich mal wieder mehr Energie aufbringen und mehr Lust am Singen versprühen? Und vor allem zum Dur zurückkehren?Die Texte sind wenig originell. Wem Texte wichtig sind, der sollte es lieber mit Nickelback versuchen.Der Gesamteindruck ist aber durchaus positiv. Bon Jovi ist wieder auf dem richtigen Weg. Neben „Have a nice Day" überraschen auch „Last man standing" und „Dirty Little Secret". Ungewohnte Gitarren, tolles Feeling. Perfekt.
K**
naja, nicht ganz "sehr gut" im Zustand wie deklariert
...ich würde sagen eine note 1,8 , nicht wegen dem restetikett auf der rückseiter der hülle - nein , ein zwar dünner aber doch grosser kratzer auf der cd.schade
Y**8
Ein gradliniges Rockalbum!
Was erwartet "man" vom neuen Bon-Jovi-Album?Nun, wenn man die verschiedensten Kritiken lesen darf, eine ganze Menge - und dazu noch absolut unterschiedliche Dinge... und wenn die nicht zusammenkommen, dann darf man keinesfalls zufrieden sein?!Das sehe ich anders! Bon Jovi sind eine Rockband (und sind es seit mehr als 20 Jahren!). Da ist es durchaus in Ordnung, wenn ein Album herausgebracht wird, dass nicht wirklich viele Balladen enthält und ein wenig "rotzig" und "schrebbelig" klingt!Über die Texte kann man streiten - aber Bon Jovi sind noch nie Poeten gewesen... Und nach nunmehr zwei Jahrzehnten immer noch eingängige Rocksongs (weitestgehend ohne fremde Hilfe) zu schreiben, ist sicher auch etwas, dass heutzutage nicht mehr selbstverständlich und KEINESWEGS verwerflich ist. ;-)Einzig und allein die Tatsache, dass bei diesem Album Richie Samobora's exellentes Gitarrenspiel zu kurz kommt, sei angemerkt.Ansonsten seien als Anspieltipps "Last Man Standing" und "Wildflowers" empfohlen und allen, die an solider (kommerzieller) Rockmusik ihre Freude haben, ein wahres Hörvergnügen gegönnt! :-)
R**E
You know what you are getting with Bon Jovi
Have a nice day is a typical Bon Jovi album, full of catchy chorus' and songs which are designed to be performed in a stadium and guaranteed to make you put your fists in the air and put a smile on your face. This album has the usual mixture of rock and a few ballads, with the bonus of the country style who says you can't go home which gives listeners a glimpse of where Bon Jovi were headed for their next album Lost Highway. However, this slight departure does not detract from a storming album which I thoroughly enjoy playing.
A**N
Excellent
Product is true to form.
