My thoughts on the band and my journey with them

At the risk of rubbing people the wrong way, it's kind of funny to point out how unhealthy die hards are for loving everything in a place filled with people who haven't been happy with the band's output in the last (insert number here) years and can't let it go. Healthy is a two way street. Finding a balance is tough for sure.

from the age of about 11-30 ish i was obsessed with the band, used to buy everything, have clippings from magazines in folders, posters on my wall.... every tv appearance from about 86 to about 2002 I recorded and have at least 3 full vhs videos of tv stuff at my mums......ruined relationships big time. lived breathed slept bon jovi...... then i grew up lol

what have you been listening to for the last 30 years?

Before I would say it's similar for me, but now I think differently. All those albums are very much flawed. My personal favourite (KTF) is basically trash in about half of its' length. TD that has mythological status in fanbase is very hit and miss. SWW as the best selling of this band and one of the best selling albums of all time in pop culture is combination of stadium hit singles and subpar hair metal fillers.

What I think makes a difference between golden years (1986-1995) and following output is mostly the perspective that Jovi was, first, THE pop/rock band of the times, and then, the international live iconic band with chip on the shoulder. Or even more bluntly, in the 80's, Jovi in the US was something like Bieber or Taylor Swift today. Similar to international scene in the 90's, regardless of grunge movement.

But later, Jovi was just another stadium band, with no real relevance on the radio and in charts, with few exceptions. I was introduced to band in 2005, but still I romanticized the legacy years, not only as legacy of the band, but also of rock music. But in this process, I did find myself overvaluating those early albums for wrong reasons.

For example, I do rate TD rather significantly better than 2020, but not primarily due to quality of songwriting or even producing (Shanks' best work IMO is 2020), but effort and possibilities of Jon's voice mostly. With 90's voice, Blood in the Water is perhaps better than anything on TD.

Just my two cents, I don't think anybody is wrong, just trying to rationalize all our perspectives. Still, even though HAND introduced me to the band, I don't see it as great album, but mostly cause fanbase don't see it. Quite frankly, there's no "perfect" Jovi album, just its meaning with context and live tour that then transcends the time and objective quality.

I am not sure what you mean. I have been listening to a lot of music over the last 30 years, from other bands and singers, as well as Bon Jovi. What was the point you were making?

let it go in what sense? no longer voice ones opinion that they don't like it, only positive comments allowed. I see nothing unhealthy about venting about Bon Jovi and their huge decline on a Bon Jovi message board.

I was just wondering what are some of the bands you have been listening to in lieu of Bon Jovi?

Let it go in that....accepting "this song/album/era isn't for me" instead of hammering it home again and again and again how much you dislike it. Sometimes the contant negativity feels like it stilts conversation.

Like, I don't care for 7800 Farenheit. The guitar tone, the production style...just doesn't do it for me. But I don't have the energy to remind everyone over and over how much I don't like it. But I love discussion and I love breaking down why you do or dont like something, when it gets to that point it's great.

There's absolutely a subsection of people who aren't going to like the new album, hated the last five or six and will make sure everyone knows it.

Ah ok. I mean I still listen to Bon Jovi too. I like 3 or 4 songs on each album aside from the classic 4.

Other bands. I am mostly into metal, so all the top bands in that genre like Maiden, Metallica, Slipknot, blah blah blah. Smaller bands like Edguy, Battle Beast, and Power Quest because I have a soft spot for power metal. I am not strictly a metalhead though.

Then a bunch of singers/bands that are not metal but I like maybe an album here, a few songs there.

I have no issues with the production or guitar tone on 7800.

Based on the last two albums, I think the new album will be awful, but I do genuinely hope I'm wrong, and will gladly make note of any songs I do like if there are any.