Bon Jovi

Keep The Faith (1992 Mercury/PolyGram Records)

1. I Believe
2. Keep The Faith
3. I'll Sleep When I'm Dead
4. In These Arms
5. Bed Of Roses
6. If I Was Your Mother
7. Dry County
8. Woman In Love
9. Fear
10. I Want You
11. Blame In On The Love Of Rock & Roll
12. Little Bit Of Soul

13. Save A Prayer (bonus track on Japanese version)
14. Starting All Over Again (bonus track on Japanese version)

Aside from the regular Japanese version, there is also a limited edition Japanese version that includes a second disc with the two bonus tracks, live versions of some of the songs from the album, and the Spanish version of "Bed Of Roses."

Derek's Review
How do you follow up the phenomenal New Jersey? Well, if you are Bon Jovi, you decide to wait for four years and then deliver a follow-up not only in a different decade, but with hair metal gone from the charts and grunge bands taking over.

So what's the verdict on this? While it falls a bit short of the last two Bon Jovi releases, it holds up really well for a 90s album from an 80s band. Basically what we have is a bit more modern, mature sound on this release. Plenty of Bon Jovi though: we have some rockers, some rollers, plenty of ballads, a few experiments, and an overproduced sound. "I Believe" starts the show and re-introduces Bon Jovi to the world. A lot has changed, but Bon Jovi, for the most part, is consistent up until this point in their career. "Keep The Faith" is a little more ambitious of a song, but they pull it off well. We get a few classics from this album: "I'll Sleep When I'm Dead," "Keep The Faith," "Bed Of Roses," and some fan favorites like "Dry County." It's good to hear that after some personal problems for the band during the New Jersey tour, the band sounds re-invigorated and really sound like one cohesive rocking unit. "I'll Sleep When I'm Dead" recalls the 80s and I will get on my hands and knees and kiss their feet for remembering the decade that made them legends. "Bed Of Roses" is perhaps Bon Jovi's second or third greatest ballad, in my opinion (interchangeable with "Always"). But it's a damn amazing song and no review could do it justice. Unfortunately, since this is a 90s album done by an 80s band, there's some weird experimentation. Now this isn't overly done, but I have to say I am not a fan of "If I Was Your Mother." But hey, that's just me. This leads into "Dry County," the continuation of Jon Bon Jovi's Young Guns II: "Blaze Of Glory" side project. This song works well though, it's rough, it's rockin', it's a cowboy song. "Woman In Love" and "Fear" keep the pace upbeat and we slow it down again with "I Want You." While the song is good, it just doesn't compare with "Bed Of Roses." "Blame It On The Love of Rock & Roll" is exactly what I want to hear. When I think of Bon Jovi, something like this comes to mind. You have that bar band sound with enough appeal to fill a stadium of people. Perhaps nothing more true has been written than "Every little boy wants to learn to play guitar/So he can pick up all the chicks/And be a rock 'n' roll star." God knows I wanted to. "Little Bit Of Soul" is an effective way to close this album.

Unfortunately, I do not own a version with "Save A Prayer" or "Starting All Over Again" on it. But, I have heard "Starting All Over Again," and I'm pissed that it's not on the U.S. version. I love that song.

Ultimately, Bon Jovi could go nowhere but down after New Jersey, but I will give them a lot of credit, because it's only a small step instead of falling off the ladder. This is rock solid. While I wouldn't recommend it for a newbie, if you are a diehard fan you should own it, and if you are a casual fan, give it a listen.

Derek's Picks: I'll Sleep When I'm Dead, Bed Of Roses, Keep The Faith, Blame It On The Love Of Rock & Roll

Derek's Rating: