What About Now | ||||
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Studio album by | ||||
Released | March 8, 2013 [1] | |||
Recorded | January–August 2012 | |||
Genre | Pop rock [2] | |||
Length | 51:36 | |||
Label | ||||
Producer | ||||
Bon Jovi chronology | ||||
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Singles from What About Now | ||||
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What About Now is the twelfth studio album by American rock band Bon Jovi. Produced by John Shanks, the album was released on March 8, 2013 in Australia and March 12, 2013 in the United States. [4] The album was promoted throughout the band's 2013 Because We Can: The Tour. It is the last album to feature lead guitarist Richie Sambora before his departure from the band the following month.
The album debuted at No. 1 in the U.S., where it sold 101,000 copies in its first week. What About Now became Bon Jovi's third album in a row to hit No. 1 in US after The Circle and Lost Highway and their fifth No. 1 album during their career. [5]
In an interview given to Classic Rock magazine, guitarist Richie Sambora stated that the album was recorded before his solo album Aftermath of the Lowdown was completed. He and Jon started to write and before they knew it, they were in the studio with the band. "The record is now finished and sounding great, and we start our 2013 tour in February, so we'll be at a stadium near you very soon." [6]
Richie Sambora also characterized the new material as a compilation of “different elements”; yet reassured old fans that they will be just as pleased with the new work as they have been with the old for over 30 years. [7]
Music videos were produced for the first two singles "Because We Can" and the album titled track "What About Now". A music video was also made for the Jon Bon Jovi solo single "Not Running Anymore" which is included on the album as a bonus track along with the track "Old Habits Die Hard". Both songs feature on the soundtrack to the movie Stand Up Guys . On December 13, 2012 it was announced that "Not Running Anymore" would be nominated for a Golden Globe Award. [8]
Also included as a bonus track and featuring a music video is Sambora's single "Every Road Leads Home to You" from his solo album Aftermath of the Lowdown .
The album artwork was created by Liu Bolin and was revealed on January 10, 2013, three days after the release of lead single "Because We Can". The cover artwork features the four members of the band painted behind a collage which features a soldier with a guitar and walking up a mountain against a yellow and blue American flag background, two hands wrapped in bandages, a headshot of a woman, some roses, and the band's heart and dagger symbol. A pinwheel is also seen in the background. The cover artwork is also seen on the back, though the collage has more pictures to it and the band members are absent. [9]
Aggregate scores | |
---|---|
Source | Rating |
Metacritic | 50/100 [10] |
Review scores | |
Source | Rating |
Allmusic | [11] |
Daily Express | [12] |
The Guardian | [13] |
The Observer | [14] |
Time Out | [15] |
Virgin Media | [2] |
Rolling Stone | [16] |
NU.nl |
Critical reception of the album has been generally mixed. At Metacritic, which assigns a normalized rating out of 100 to reviews from critics, the album received an average score of 50, which indicates "mixed or average reviews", based on 11 reviews. [10] While Caroline Sullivan from The Guardian states that "the band have reached out with the sort of empowering platitudes and riffage that will give fans on this summer's stadium tour something to punch the air about", [13] Stephen Unwin from the Daily Express was less favorable, claiming that the album "is the closest thing to predictable from the poster boys of American rock ’n’ roll, which for their most myopic fans is the closest thing to wonderful." [12]
Phil Mongrendien, from the Toronto Star , criticized the track "Army of One" for finding them "descending into lyrical self-parody with its 'never give up' motif hammered home artlessly" [14] while the title track's guitar "hook nods too much to Kraftwerk's 'Computer Love' (and, by extension, Coldplay's 'Talk')". [14] James Manning, from Time Out, believes that the band "won't win any new fans with their twelfth album [...] but they're unlikely to lose many either." [15]
Ian Gittins, from Virgin Media, thought "the band's perennial propensity for clichés and Hollywood blockbuster-style happy endings invariably make it difficult to take Bon Jovi as seriously as they crave", [2] though he later admits that "there are some good tunes. It's a decent soft rock party album. It's probably also about time that Bon Jovi knew their limits." [2] For Stephen Erlewine, from Allmusic, "there aren't so many big hooks on What About Now -- just the raise-your-fist anthem of 'Because We Can,' with most of the sweetest melodies coming from the softer, quieter moments, such as the acoustic 'The Fighter' and the Christian ballad 'Room at the End of the World'. [11]
No. | Title | Writer(s) | Length |
---|---|---|---|
1. | "Because We Can" | 4:00 | |
2. | "I'm with You" |
| 3:44 |
3. | "What About Now" |
| 3:45 |
4. | "Pictures of You" |
| 3:58 |
5. | "Amen" |
| 4:12 |
6. | "That's What the Water Made Me" |
| 4:24 |
7. | "What's Left of Me" |
| 4:35 |
8. | "Army of One" |
| 4:34 |
9. | "Thick as Thieves" |
| 4:57 |
10. | "Beautiful World" |
| 3:48 |
11. | "Room at the End of the World" |
| 5:03 |
12. | "The Fighter" | J. Bon Jovi | 4:38 |
Total length: | 51:36 |
No. | Title | Writer(s) | Length |
---|---|---|---|
13. | "With These Two Hands" |
| 3:58 |
14. | "Into the Echo" |
| 5:04 |
15. | "Not Running Anymore" (Jon Bon Jovi solo song from the soundtrack for the film Stand Up Guys ) | J. Bon Jovi | 4:44 |
Total length: | 64:41 |
No. | Title | Writer(s) | Length |
---|---|---|---|
13. | "With These Two Hands" |
| 3:58 |
14. | "Into the Echo" |
| 5:04 |
15. | "Not Running Anymore" | J. Bon Jovi | 4:44 |
16. | "Old Habits Die Hard" (Jon Bon Jovi solo song from the soundtrack for the film Stand Up Guys) | J. Bon Jovi | 3:30 |
17. | "Every Road Leads Home to You" (Richie Sambora solo song from his album Aftermath of the Lowdown ) |
| 4:40 |
Total length: | 73:36 |
No. | Title | Length |
---|---|---|
1. | "Because We Can" (music video) | |
2. | "Because We Can – The Boxer: Act 1" | |
3. | "Because We Can – Astrid: Act 2" | |
4. | "Because We Can – The Beginning: Epilogue" | |
5. | "Because We Can – Behind the Scenes" | |
6. | "It's My Life" (Inside Out: live) | |
7. | "Lost Highway" (Inside Out: live) |
Weekly charts
| Year-end charts
|
Region | Certification | Certified units/sales |
---|---|---|
Australia (ARIA) [64] | Gold | 35,000^ |
Austria (IFPI Austria) [65] | Platinum | 15,000* |
Canada (Music Canada) [66] | Gold | 40,000^ |
Germany (BVMI) [67] | Gold | 100,000^ |
Portugal (AFP) [68] | 6× Platinum | 90,000^ |
United Kingdom (BPI) [69] | Gold | 100,000* |
* Sales figures based on certification alone. |
Country | Date | Label | Format |
---|---|---|---|
Australia | March 8, 2013 | Universal Music | CD, CD+DVD, Digital download |
Brazil | |||
Germany | |||
United Kingdom | |||
Ireland | Mercury Records | ||
France | Mercury Records, Universal Music | ||
United States | March 12, 2013 | Island Records | |
Italy | |||
Spain | |||
Canada | Universal Music | ||
Japan | March 13, 2013 |
Richard Stephen Sambora is an American musician, singer, and songwriter, best known as the lead guitarist of the rock band Bon Jovi from 1983 to 2013. He and lead singer Jon Bon Jovi formed the main songwriting unit for the band. He has also released three solo albums: Stranger in This Town in 1991, Undiscovered Soul in 1998, and Aftermath of the Lowdown released in September 2012.
Slippery When Wet is the third studio album by American rock band Bon Jovi, released on August 18, 1986, by Mercury Records in North America and Vertigo Records internationally. It was produced by Bruce Fairbairn, with recording sessions taking place between January and July 1986 at Little Mountain Sound Studios in Vancouver. The album features many of Bon Jovi's best-known songs, including "You Give Love a Bad Name", "Livin' on a Prayer", and "Wanted Dead or Alive".
New Jersey is the fourth studio album by American rock band Bon Jovi, released on September 19, 1988, by Mercury Records. The album was produced by Bruce Fairbairn and recorded at Little Mountain Sound Studios in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. The album was the follow-up to the band's third album, Slippery When Wet, and reached number one on the Billboard 200 chart in its second week of release after debuting at number eight. It remained at the top for four consecutive weeks and was Bon Jovi's last album to do so until Lost Highway (2007). The album was named after the birth state of Jon Bon Jovi, New Jersey.
Keep the Faith is the fifth studio album by American rock band Bon Jovi, released on November 3, 1992, by Mercury Records. It is Bon Jovi's last studio album to feature all five original band members as bass guitarist Alec John Such was dismissed from the band in 1994, though it was not his last release with the band. It is Bon Jovi's first album to not be produced by either Lance Quinn or Bruce Fairbairn. The album was produced by Bob Rock and was recorded at the Little Mountain Sound Studios in Vancouver, British Columbia. Keep the Faith marked a change to a "more serious interpretation of the band's pop-metal groove". It is also Bon Jovi's longest album to date, clocking in at 66 minutes.
These Days (stylized as (these Days)) is the sixth studio album by American rock band Bon Jovi, released on June 27, 1995, by Mercury Records. This was the first album Bon Jovi released after the dismissal of original bass guitarist Alec John Such, and their first album to be recorded officially as four-piece band (without an official bassist, but featured Hugh McDonald as a session/touring member on bass guitar). The album, produced by Peter Collins, Jon Bon Jovi and Richie Sambora, is praised by many critics and fans as their best album. These Days is overall a darker album in contrast to the band's usual brand of feel-good, inspiring rock songs and love ballads.
Crush is the seventh studio album by American rock band Bon Jovi. It was released on May 29, 2000, by Mercury Records in the UK and on June 13, 2000, by Island Records in the US. It was produced by Jon Bon Jovi, Richie Sambora, and Luke Ebbin. The album marks the longest timespan between studio albums for the band, with five years between the release of These Days (1995) and this album. After the initial plan to team up with producer Bruce Fairbairn fell through because of his death a year earlier, Bon Jovi and Sambora hired Luke Ebbin to update their sound.
Bounce is the eighth studio album by American rock band Bon Jovi, released on October 8, 2002 through Island Records. Produced by Luke Ebbin, Jon Bon Jovi and Richie Sambora, the album was recorded at Sanctuary II Studio in New Jersey.
100,000,000 Bon Jovi Fans Can't Be Wrong is a box set by Bon Jovi, released in 2004 through Island Records. A collection of demos and B-sides, it was released to celebrate the band's twentieth anniversary and their milestone of selling 100 million records worldwide.
Cross Road is the first official greatest hits album by American rock band Bon Jovi, released on October 11, 1994, by Mercury Records. The album contains hits from all previously released albums from their debut, Bon Jovi (1984) to Keep the Faith (1992). The album also features two new tracks: the hit singles "Always" and "Someday I'll Be Saturday Night", as well as a new, updated rendition of "Livin' on a Prayer" entitled "Prayer '94" available only on the North American versions. "Runaway" was never recorded with the current band, though at that time there were plans to put a "Runaway '94" on the album but it was never recorded. The diner located on the cover of the album is the Roadside Diner in Wall Township, NJ, near the crossroads of Route 33 and Route 34.
Have a Nice Day is the ninth studio album by American rock band Bon Jovi, released on September 20, 2005. Produced by John Shanks, the album was recorded at Sanctuary Sound II in New Jersey, and Ocean Way Recording in Hollywood, California.
Stranger in This Town is the first solo studio album by Richie Sambora, the guitarist from the New Jersey band Bon Jovi. The album was released in 1991, while Bon Jovi was on a 17-month hiatus. Jon Bon Jovi also released a solo album, Blaze of Glory (1990), during this period.
American rock band Bon Jovi has released 16 studio albums, three live albums, five compilation albums, five EPs, 66 singles, 14 video albums, and 71 music videos. Bon Jovi has sold over 130 million records worldwide, making them one of the best-selling bands of all time. As of 2018, the band has sold 21.8 million albums in the US Nielsen SoundScan era. Billboard ranked Bon Jovi as the 45th Greatest Artist of all time, achieving 6 No. 1 albums on the Billboard 200 & 4 No. 1 hits on the Billboard Hot 100. According to Recording Industry Association of America, Bon Jovi has sold 34.5 million albums in the United States.
Lost Highway is the tenth studio album by American rock band Bon Jovi, released on June 19, 2007, in the US through Island Records. Produced by John Shanks and Dann Huff, the album was recorded at Black Bird Studios, Nashville and NGR Recording, Hollywood.
"(You Want to) Make a Memory" is a song by American rock band Bon Jovi, which was released as the first single from their tenth studio album Lost Highway (2007). Written by Jon Bon Jovi, Richie Sambora and Desmond Child, it was released for radio airplay on March 20, 2007, and for download on the US iTunes Store on April 17, 2007. The song is a ballad, and was performed at several nationally-televised events in an effort to promote the single. "(You Want to) Make a Memory" peaked at number 27 in the United States, making it Bon Jovi's last single to break the Top 40 on the Hot 100.
The Circle is the eleventh studio album by American rock band Bon Jovi. Released on November 10, 2009, the album was produced by John Shanks. The album debuted at number 1 in several countries, including the U.S., where it sold 163,000 copies in its first week.
Greatest Hits is a compilation album by American rock band Bon Jovi, released by Island Records on October 29, 2010.
Aftermath of the Lowdown is the third solo studio album by Richie Sambora which was released in Japan on September 12, 2012, in the United Kingdom on September 17, and in the United States on September 18, 2012 as digital download and on September 25, 2012 as physical CD. For the first time in his 30-year career, Sambora signed with an independent label, Dangerbird.
"Because We Can" is the first single released from Bon Jovi's twelfth studio album, What About Now. The single premiered on radio on January 7, 2013. Richie Sambora characterized the new material as a compilation of "different elements"; yet reassured old fans that they will be just as pleased with the new work as they have been with the old for over 30 years.
Burning Bridges is the thirteenth studio album by American rock band Bon Jovi consisting of new songs, as well as formerly unreleased and unfinished songs. Released on August 21, 2015 by Mercury Records. Produced by John Shanks, it was the first release since the departure of former guitarist Richie Sambora in 2013, with Shanks handling the lead guitar parts. Burning Bridges is their last album to be released through Mercury, marking the end of their 32-year relationship with the label. According to Jon Bon Jovi, the album serves as a "fan record" to tie in with an accompanying international tour: "It's songs that weren't finished, that were finished, a couple of new ones like the one we released as a single 'We Don't Run'." Burning Bridges was followed by This House Is Not for Sale, the band's fourteenth studio album released in 2016 which featured all new songs.
This House Is Not for Sale is the fourteenth studio album by American rock band Bon Jovi. It was released on November 4, 2016, by Island Records. It is the band's first studio album with Phil X on lead guitar after he replaced founding member Richie Sambora in 2013, as well as the first album to feature bassist Hugh McDonald as an official member after having played with the band in a touring/session capacity since 1994.