Cudgels ...

In the reviews here there was previously a variety of views: For some, it is "the best album since New Jersey", for others it comes with the best will not come close to the classics of the 80s / 90s. I think: The truth lies in between. Of course, Bon Jovi no longer make the same hard rock, as at the beginning of their careers. That would be boring and maybe not quite up to date. And at the same time it is also true that the last albums were partly to be desired in this decade some left. Some snoring songs have since spread, reminiscent more to pop than to rock.
However, "The Circle" acts as quite different, almost fresh. While they found only some proper rock hammer on the previous albums, here is the entire album from start to finish full of it. Not a single quiet pop song in the vein of "Misunderstood" or "Welcome To Wherever You Are" is to make out since. This includes even the ballads. In "Live Before You Die" I would even say that it approach comes almost as power ballads like "Always" and "Bed Of Roses" (when compared to such recent snoring numbers like "You Had Me From Hello" or "Thank You For Loving Me "thinks). The innovative for Bon Jovi ratios numbers like "When We Were Beautiful" can convince. One of my favorites: "Superman Tonight" because it comes from the right place! One should each song but also give time, because only then they can reach their full potential properly, so that they a never release (OK, "Fast Cars" is crap, but it can not well be all 12 songs well, haha ).
For me personally it has been a really good album. "The Circle" closes the circle because Bon Jovi return to where they once started: at the Rock! I thought it was at first very sad that I have the "Lost Highway" tour missed last year. But I'm even happier next or next year in "The Circle" tour to be there, because the whole new rock songs come live safely even better!