Keep The Faith [Remaster]

Performer: Bon Jovi
Engineer: Gary Platt; Obie O'Brien; Randy Staub
Producer: Bob Rock
Distributor: Universal Distribution

Notes: Bon Jovi: Jon Bon Jovi (vocals, guitar); Richie Sambora (guitar); David Bryan, Tico Torres, Alec John Such. Digitally remastered using 20-bit technology by George Marino (1998, Sterling Sound, New York, New York). This is an Enhanced CD, which contains both regular audio tracks and multimedia computer files. Personnel: Jon Bon Jovi (vocals); Richie Sambora (guitar); David Bryan (keyboards); Tico Torres (drums). Audio Mixers: Bob Rock; Randy Staub . Recording information: Little Mountain Sound Studios, Ltd., Vancouver, British. Photographers: Caroline Greyshock; Anton Corbijn. Unknown Contributor Roles: David Bryan; Jon Bon Jovi; Richie Sambora; Tico Torres; Alec John Such. Keep the Faith reintroduces Bon Jovi after almost four years of side projects and hiatuses. The musical climate shifted considerably in that time, and this fact hadn't been lost on the band. Faith blatantly brings to the surface the Bruce Springsteen influence that was always lurking in Bon Jovi's sound and uses it to frame Faith's more serious cast of the band's established pop-metal groove. "I Believe" and "I'll Sleep When I'm Dead" amp up the blue-collar gospel revivalist feel of Springsteen's "Tunnel of Love," dropping in triumphant power chord changes to ensure arena readiness. But Bon Jovi also took a page from Springsteen's Big Book of Epic Songwriting, padding Faith's center with ambitious balladry and a nearly ten-minute story-song that wouldn't be out of place as a full-album-side, '70s rock experiment. Elsewhere, hit single "Bed of Roses" wisely aims for the verdant adult contemporary pastures pointed to by Bryan Adams with 1991's "(Everything I Do) I Do It for You," instead of gripping stupidly to the Aqua-Netted mane of glam rock power balladry. Later experiments with straightforward hard rock falter, since they don't sizzle like the band's vintage material and fall flat next to more inspired material like "In These Arms." But while miles of open highway separate the songwriting of Jon Bon Jovi and his mates from that of Springsteen, Keep the Faith deserves plenty of points for ambition, and it does succeed in updating the band's sound, even if the replacement parts were bought used. ~ Johnny Loftus When KEEP THE FAITH was released in 1992, it had been four years since the commercial success of NEW JERSEY. Times and tastes had changed, with bands like Nirvana and Pearl Jam stealing the spotlight. KEEP THE FAITH reflects the change, as the straight-ahead, Springsteenish rock of past efforts gave way to the more adult-contemporary sound; they even cut their hair! "I Believe" is a rocker about looking inward for salvation. "Keep the Faith" holds up to the band's earlier material in hard-rocking style. "I'll Sleep When I'm Dead" (co-written by Desmond Child before he was "Livin' La Vida Loca") is about making every minute count. "In These Arms" is another standout track, and sounds the most like the pop material on NEW JERSEY. "Bed of Roses" is an excellent ballad featuring guitarist Richie Sambora on background vocals. The band takes a stab at a rock epic with the 10-minute "Dry County." "Little Bit of Soul" is just that--a gritty, bluesy number about not giving up. While KEEP THE FAITH is quite different from the band's early days, it shows that the Garden State rockers weren't content to be mired in a sound from 1986. Mature, good-time rock & roll. When KEEP THE FAITH was released in 1992, it had been four years since the commercial success of NEW JERSEY. Times and tastes had changed, with bands like Nirvana and Pearl Jam stealing the spotlight. KEEP THE FAITH reflects the change, as the straight-ahead, Springsteenish rock of past efforts gave way to the more adult-contemporary sound; they even cut their hair! "I Believe" is a rocker about looking inward for salvation. "Keep the Faith" holds up to the band's earlier material in hard-rocking style. "I'll Sleep When I'm Dead" (co-written by Desmond Child before he was "Livin' La Vida Loca") is about making every minute count. "In These Arms" is another standout track, and sounds the most like the pop material on NEW JERSEY. "Bed of Roses" is an excellent ballad featuring guitarist Richie Sambora on background vocals. The band takes a stab at a rock epic with the 10-minute "Dry County." "Little Bit of Soul" is just that--a gritty, bluesy number about not giving up. While KEEP THE FAITH is quite different from the band's early days, it shows that the Garden State rockers weren't content to be mired in a sound from 1986. Mature, good-time rock & roll.

Spin (1/93, p.65) - Recommended - "...a beat-happy record...Very chunky..." Q (12/92, p.117) - 3 Stars - Good - "...a series of immensely likeable anthems..."

In the early 1980s, aspiring New Jersey musician John Bongiovi assembled a rock band, secured a record deal, and changed his name to Jon Bon Jovi. By 1986, Bon Jovi's brand of melodic hard rock was a runaway hit, with the band's third album, SLIPPERY WHEN WET, achieving massive international success. In addition to the catchy singles, the singer's chiseled good looks only led to more adoration and, eventually, movie and TV roles. By channeling the earnestness of his hero, Bruce Springsteen, and reining in his glammy look, Bon Jovi outlasted his hair-metal peers for decades beyond their '80s heyday.

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