100,000,000 Bon Jovi Fans Can't Be Wrong... (The Premiere Collection/+DVD) [Digipak] - Bon Jovi > Reviews > One Big Original Boxset

Author's product rating:   

Originality	Definitely a cut above the rest
Lyrics	Thought-provoking
Quality and consistency of tracks	A couple of weak links
How does it compare to the artist's other releases	Good
Value for Money	Excellent

Advantages:	Big range of tracks, some real gems
Disadvantages:	Some stinkers

Recommend to potential buyers:

yes

Full review

This boxset was released in November 04, to mark 20 years of JBJ playing together, and comprises of outtakes and B-sides from previous albums.

When I was buying this (I dowloaded it, so didn't get the DVD unfortunately), I thought I was paying for a lot of demos and 'prototype' songs, but it was a good price (£6.99 the lot), so I was hoping it might yield a few good songs. I was pleasantly surprised when I found was that almost every song was of album quality, and even few that in my opinion were good enough for single release.

Although the boxset is listed under 'heavy metal', something I wouldn't really agree with, as this transcends genres, the brilliant thing about Bon Jovi is that he can carry off any track with real emotion and make every song sound very different - not an easy feat considering there are 50 songs on this boxset.

The music moves from piano ballads, and acoustic guitar, to lekky and bass, with some songs that seem to be only drums.

'Memphis, ' 'Last Train,' 'Kidnap An Angel' and "Someday Might Be Today" are brilliant power ballads, with a kind of rocked up version of James Blunt.

There are also various different types of music, with some heavy stuff - a bit like Black Sabbath - and reminiscent of hits they've had like 'Dry County' and 'It's My Life.'

Personally, I also round something that reminded me of Queen, much more than previous Bon Jovi albums.

This is not a greatest hits boxset packed full of hits that fans already own or an album that is basically formuleac songs to try and reach a high chart position. This is what you imagine the band doing when they're relaxing, and not looking for the Number 1s. They had fun doing this, as seen with the giggling at the end of some of the tracks. It is refreshingly honest, with no swearwords as I can recall, so suitable for pretty much anyone. I think that for this it has a much more honest quality than many other boxsets, and this makes it much better!

Disc: 1
1. Why Aren't You Dead?
2. The Radio Saved My Life Tonight
3. Taking It Back
4. Someday I'll Be Saturday Night (Original Demo)
5. Miss Fourth Of July
6. Open All Night
7. These Arms Are Open All Night
8. I Get A Rush
9. Someday Just Might Be Tonight
10. Thief Of Hearts
11. Last Man Standing
12. I Just Want To Be Your Man

Disc: 2
1. Garageland
2. Starting All Over Again
3. Maybe Someday
4. Last Chance Train
5. The Fire Inside
6. Every Beat Of My Heart
7. Rich Man Living In A Poor Man's House
8. The One That Got Away
9. You Can Sleep While I Dream
10. Outlaws Of Love
11. Good Guys Don't Always Wear White
12. We Rule The Night

Disc:3
1. Edge Of A Broken Heart
2. Sympathy
3. Only In My Dreams
4. Shut Up And Kiss Me
5. Crazy Love
6. Lonely At The Top (International B-Side)
7. Ordinary People (International B-Side)
8. Flesh And Bone
9. Satellit
10. If I Can't Have Your Love
11. Real Life
12. Memphis Lives In Me
13. Too Much Of A Good Thing

Disc: 4
1. Love Ain't Nothing But A Four Letter Word
2. Love Ain't Nothing But A Four Letter Word (Original Demo)
3. River Runs Dry
4. Always
5. Kidnap An Angel
6. Breathe (B-Side)
7. Out Of Bounds
8. Letter To A Friend
9. Temptation (International B-Side)
10. Gotta Have A Reason
11. All I Wanna Do Is You
12. Billy
13. Nobody's Hero