Crush

Is this rock? Actually it isn't, it's rawwwk, which is almost the same except super-inflated and clad in spandex. Bon Jovi do exactly what it says on the tin, and this album contains no ground-breaking surprises from the Joisy Bois, no ventures in electro-dance, no world-music fusion. This is about wind-machines, stadium gigs and American punters who drive their mom's car to the show.

Thirteen tracks, and from the opening barnstormer 'It's My Life' we're in familiar territory: "It's my life, it's now or never, I ain't gonna live forever, My heart is like an open highway, like Frankie said, I did it my way . . .".

Yes, it's samey; yes, it's formulaic and ultimately empty, but it's not pretending to be Chumbawumba, and dang, it's FUN. 'Say It Isn't So' would be an ideal choice for the single, and 'Mystery Train' will please those of you who like the romantic rawwwk ballad.

While we're enjoying the good weather, this'll be the album on the CD player in my Dodge Viper convertable, top-down, volume up . . .

Hey, a guy can dream . . .