Bon Jovi: Album Reviews & Discography
Few bands have navigated reinvention quite like Bon Jovi. From their mid-’80s breakthrough to the country detour of the 2000s and the post-Sambora rebuild, their catalogue charts the evolution of arena rock across four decades.
Below you’ll find in-depth reviews of every studio album, tracing the highs, the missteps and the moments that defined one of rock’s most enduring names.
Studio Albums
1984
Bon Jovi
Bon Jovi’s self-titled debut is by no means a classic, but there are a signs pointing towards the juggernaut they would eventually become.
1985
7800° Fahrenheit
Bon Jovi’s second effort is a rushed affair which fails to show their true potential.
1986
Slippery When Wet
Everything that’s great about the mid-80s rock scene is expertly captured within these ten tracks, by a band who have mastered their trade through years of non-stop touring.
1988
New Jersey
New Jersey is great when all of the pieces click together, it just doesn’t happen often enough.
1992
Keep The Faith
Bon Jovi progress to a harder sound on a record which features many career highlights, and sounds as effective today as it did back in 1992.
1995
These Days
These Days shows why Bon Jovi were one of the few bands to escape the grunge wave relatively unscathed. It’s an inconsistent listen, but the highlights rank amongst the best work of their storied career.
2000
Crush
Although an album of great inconsistency, there’s no denying its magnificent lead single.
2002
Bounce
The 9/11 overtones make up for a lack of hit singles on Bounce.
2003
This Left Feels Right
Although a brave move, this left feels somewhat unnecessary.
2004
100 Million Fans Can’t Be Wrong
This 4-disc collection of outtakes and B-sides contains some real bangers, but it’s monstrous size will surely only appeal to superfans and collectors.
2005
Have A Nice Day
Many of us scoffed when the ever-confident Jon Bon Jovi sat on a chat show couch and declared “Have A Nice Day is gonna be our best album since Slippery When Wet”, but he was speaking facts.
2007
Lost Highway
Bon Jovi’s transition from rock to country seems like a natural progression, and this is a solid enough record to suggest they may stay there permanently.
2009
The Circle
A welcome return to rock undermined by overproduction and a surprising lack of hooks.
2013
The Circle
The fact that the backstory is more interesting than the music should tell you all you need to know.
2016
This House Is Not For Sale
Against all expectations, This House Is Not For Sale finds Bon Jovi reinvigorated, trading heaviness for conviction and delivering one of their strongest and most purposeful records in years.
2020
2020
Bon Jovi’s attempt to create a pandemic-era time capsule is admirable in intent, but a shortage of memorable songs leaves 2020 feeling more well-meaning than essential.
2024
Forever
Catchy, reflective, and quietly defiant, Forever shows Bon Jovi still have something worth saying – and would serve as a fitting final chapter if this is where the story ends.
All Reviews & Stories
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A fitting final chapter for New Jersey’s favourite rock ‘n’ roll cowboys.
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Bon Jovi’s lockdown effort is among the weakest of their career.
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The first record of the post-Sambora era stands as proof that Bon Jovi’s instinct for survival remains their greatest strength.
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The band’s twelfth LP sees Jon Bon Jovi caught between the artist he wants to be and the songwriter he’s always been.
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Bon Jovi’s return to rock is welcome, but The Circle struggles to land its punches beneath layers of overproduction and too few truly lasting hooks.
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Bon Jovi’s successful transition from rock to country sounds exactly like you expect it would.
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Bon Jovi’s best work in over a decade.
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Bon Jovi celebrate their 20th anniversary with a sprawling boxset.
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Re-imagined versions of their classic hits seemed like a cool idea at the time…
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Largely an extension of Crush, the powerful 9/11 overtones of Bounce make up for a lack of hit singles.
Whether you’re discovering Bon Jovi for the first time or revisiting your favourites, these reviews trace the evolution of one of New Jersey’s most resilient rock bands.