Forever

Bon Joviのデビュー40周年にあたる今年、約4年ぶりとなる16枚目のニュー・アルバム『Forever』を全世界同時リリース!

1stシングルは全世代を勇気づける最強の応援歌「Legendary」フジテレビ系水10ドラマ『ブルー・モーメント』の主題歌に決定!
アルバム・プロデュースは前作に引き続きシンガー・ソングライターでギタリストのジョン・シャンクスとジョン・ボン・ジョヴィ。

Bon Jovi opens Forever with a triptych of songs whose titles seem like testaments to the bands legacy. Perhaps Jon Bon Jovi isnt explicitly singing about his long-running band on "Legendary," "We Made It Look Easy," and "Living Proof," but its hard to ignore the fact that Forever arrives 40 years after the groups debut, accompanied by the four-part documentary Thank You, Goodnight: The Bon Jovi Story. Far from hiding from their part, Bon Jovi are embracing their status as survivors, a designation that comes with its share of loss, including the 2013 departure of founding guitarist Richie Sambora -- an event that doesnt play into Forever as much as Jon Bon Jovis 2022 vocal cord surgery. Some latter-day records showed evidence of vocal wear from Jon, an issue thats prominently discussed in Thank You, Goodnight. As the first record Bon Jovi has made since their singers surgery, it also functions as an unveiling of a revived band. Whether its through the miracle of medicine or the recording studio, Jon does sound more robust than he did on, say, 2020. Its also true that Bon Jovi isnt making music that would push their singer to his limits. Forever is filled with ballads and midtempo anthems that would sound bigger on an adult contemporary station than an arena. The subdued nature is accentuated by Bon Jovis proud embrace of nostalgia, a sentiment that surfaces again on "My First Guitar." Despite the frequent glances over their collective shoulder, Bon Jovi dont seem content to live in the past. They never attempt to conjure the cheerful charms of Slippery When Wet. When they get the crowd singing along on "Walls of Jericho," its knowingly corny, lacking the trashy abandon of their biggest hits; Jon seems more comfortable singing about the impending nuptials of his daughter on "Kiss the Bride." This sense of refinement suits a group who knows theyre a bit older and a bit slower than they were 40 years ago but theyre grateful to still be happy doing what theyre doing all these decades later. ~ Stephen Thomas Erlewine

大統領選を踏まえて作った前作『2020』がリアルタイムの社会問題も反映してシリアスな出来になったのは当然だとして、その反動もあるのか今回のボン・ジョヴィは久しぶりにポジティヴな要素を前面に出しているように感じられる。実に20年来の共同プロデューサーでもあるジョン・シャンクス(ギター)とライヴ・サポートだったエヴァレット・ブラッドリー(パーカッション)が正式加入して今回から7人組になっているのも凄いが、プレイヤー同士の一体感や躍動感は却って高まっているようにも感じられ、近年の安定志向に飽き足らない人にも薦めたい。ライアン・テダーやエド・シーランらもコライトに参加。
bounce (C)亜蘭済士