★★
As with so many bands from Bon Jovi’s era that are still releasing new material, time has ravaged them – and it shows.
Gone is the rasping range and tone of Jon Bon Jovi’s voice, gone are the screeching guitar solos, gone are the imaginative thematic anthems we still rock out to today.
Instead, in This House Is Not For Sale, we’re treated to a plethora of Auto-Tune, overproduction, samey melodies and sickly sweet ballads that all induce but one thought: do Bon Jovi really need the money?
This record flits about, hopping from one style to another. The title track lacks anything particularly heart-rending. ‘Knockout’ is just daft, an example of Bon Jovi trying to stay edgy in their advancing years, as is ‘We Don’t Run’.
‘Living With The Ghost’ is quite moving, but it’s the exception: with 17 songs on the tracklist, this set is just far too long. Each song hovers between four and five minutes, and with no real ball-grabbing moments in sight, it all makes for a tedious listen.
If Bon Jovi are still in it for the love of music, then This House Is Not For Sale comes over a little sad.
Bon Jovi’sThis House Is Not For Saleis available now through Universal.
