Bon Jovi: Lost Highway

 Does recording an album in Nashville make it a country album? The rock group, Bon Jovi, seemed to hope so when recording their new CD, “Lost Highway.” 

Jon Bon Jovi’s recent success with the Jennifer Nettles duet, “Who Says You Can’t Go Home,” appears to have led the group down the country road.  The title song, “Lost Highway,” has typical ‘road song’ lyrics: 

“In my rearview mirror
My life is getting clearer
The sunset sighs and slowly disappears
These trinkets once were treasures
Life changes like the weather
You grow up, grow old or you hit the road round here…” 
 

“We Got It Going On” has the attitude and sound of a Big and Rich song – probably because they co-wrote the song with Bon Jovi and Richie Sambora.  The duet with LeAnn Rimes, “Till We Ain’t Strangers Anymore,” is a slowed down attempt to capture the popularity of the Nettles song. It has a nice melody but lacks good lyrics. 

Many of the songs are typical of Bon Jovi throughout the years and includes several powerful ballads. Recording some tracks in Nashvile or using a country CD producer, Dann Huff (of Keith Urban CDs) doesn’t make a country album. Bon Jovi has had great success through the 80’s and 90’s and today being a rock group from Jersey – and there is nothing wrong with that!  Maybe you stick to what you know.