Liverpool Sound and Vision Rating * * * *
Forever leaves the lips of the poet with the sense of optimism that is never truly captured sincerely in any other study of human existence. We can eulogise and give meaningful declarations on how something profound will live on, how it will be etched in stone long after we have departed this mortal coil of ours, but in truth statues erode, buildings become condemned, governments and nations topple, heroes often fall.
Forever though is to be held tightly, explored deeply by the romantic and the dreamer with equal passion and drive, and whilst the voice of the originator may falter over time, what was created in its stead will be constantly played over in people’s hearts till the end of time.
Like many rock groups and performers that are steeped in their truth of the persuasive charm of idealising the American way and stories of another life where childhood and young teenage dreams weren’t sold on the basis of a buck or a quarter, but on the dreams bestowed of those that sailed oceans and toiled land, albeit taken from another’s culture, and gave rise to a sense of obligation and beauty to spread the word.
Jon Bon Jovi may have had the near titanic struggle to save his voice before heading to the studio to record the new album, Forever, but to come out the other side and create a piece of art with such dedication and confidence resounding from all quarters within the band is not only special but proves the purity of resilience of the human heart when it is besieged by Time.
To be clear, this is not the Bon Jovi of the mid 80s-mid 90s, this is not an album which will fill stadiums with a buoyant sense of congratulation and fierce outpourings of love from a city playing host, this is a recording more in tune with Time itself and the understanding that the music is now in a different place, a new realm perhaps, but one that still digs deep into the listener’s heart.
Some might say that the band, now 40 years on from their self-titled debut, have nothing to prove; far from it, there are always mountains to conquer even when you have scaled the largest on the planet, it just depends on your perspective, on the way you look upon the self being given a reason to continue and provide even just one more tale for the crowd.
In that the epitome of the New Jersey sound for many comes up smelling of electric groove and polished serenades, and in tracks such as We Made It Look Easy, Kiss The Bride, Living Proof, and in the co-written Ed Sheeren song Living In Paradise, Bon Jovi score highly and continue to be a reflection of a dream many of the crowd and listeners have come to realise about their own limited statues that will eventually crumble and turn to dust; but which will always have the energy of the lasting pulse firmly entrenched upon this Earth.
An album of sweet passion and memory, a place still filled with fondness for a group always willing to leave their mark.Ian D. Hall