Power Station Sessions, The - John Bongiovi

Author's product rating:   

Originality	Definitely a cut above the rest
Lyrics	Sublime
Quality and consistency of tracks	Mixed
How does it compare to the artist's other releases	Average
Value for Money	Excellent

Advantages:	JBJ playing alone before the band; good tracks; different styles
Disadvantages:	A few weak tracks

Recommend to potential buyers:

yes

Full review

An early collection of tracks by the masterful Jon Bon Jovi - but back in the days when he was an Italian-American wannabe rockstar Bongiovi, who just happened to be blessed with a close cousin who owned a recording studio - "Power Station".

His cousin Tony, who recognized the potential in his relative (and worked with him early on) gave JBJ a few recording sessions in out-of-office hours. This is the result - the best 14 tracks from 1980 to 1983 by JBJ as an (almost) solo artist, before the band Bon Jovi and the track that hit the big-time, "Runaway".

I bought this in Virgin Megastores a few months ago, with a few quid left over from my lunch break.

I'd only just got into Bon Jovi, and wasn't actually sure that this album was them (it was entitled John Bongiovi)- but at £2.99 it was a risk I was more willing to take, I figured it must be at worst a dodgy tribute band.

But opening the album sleeve I found a nice little biography of Bon Jovi pre-band, spanning three pages, written by Malcolm Dome of TotalRock Magazine. It was actually really interesting reading of JBJ's rise to fame - if it weren't for Tony Bongiovi the great man would probably be a club singer at a club in New York right now, such was the cousin's input.

Unfortunately there was acrimonious rift that formed between the two when JBJ hit the big-time, and Tony wanted more credit that John was willing to give him.

But back to the album, I would say that considering it is basically a first attempt, it is surprisingly good, a bit like a new Ciao member getting a 'very helpful' rating first review. Not exceptional, but very good.

Its a bit more 'pop' than 'metal' rock, and the a Queen sounding to some of the songs.

What I have found is that when you first listen to this album, you can hear bits and pieces of good stuff, but then, when you're expecting a really kickass chorus, or you can hear in your head how you think the music should go - it goes off at a rubbish tangent.

What I'd suggest is persevere with it for a few weeks, then listen to it again a week later after taking a break from it. This time you'll be captivated - singing along, and wondering how so many record companies missed the potential in JBJ.

1. Who Said It Would Last Forever - Not a bad song. Can't help but sing the chorus now. 7/10

2. Open Your Heart - A good tempo on a really nice tune. A bit of jazz! 8

3. Stringin' A Line - One of these songs that sometimes you love, and sometimes you hate. It's basically a 'heartfelt ballad', where there is potential, but it's not carried through. Jon seems to be feeling the (excellent) lyrics, but they aren't conveyed accross brilliantly. 6

4. Don't Leave Me Tonight - Quite a grungey sound for the time, mediocre. 5

5. More Than We Bargained For - Another ballad, but much better. An excellent beginning to it - and the feeling is put more confidently.across much better in this than Track 3. (I'm actually playing the songs as I'm writing about them, and I don't want to change this one) 9

6. For You - There are good bits to this, but it's not one of my favourites. It does get better towards the end, but the chorus is poor - and the music sounds like a barn dance. 6

7. Hollywood Dreams - Definetely the best song on the album. A real gem. I know people will be quick to disagree - and despite the different genres - it is like Mr Brightside by the Killers, my favourite ever song. There - I've said it. Feel free to attack me for that. 9

8. All Talk, No Action - One of these foot-tapping songs that you don't particuarly like, but is catchy all the same, and you find yourself murmuring: "you're all talk, no action" at inoppurtune moments. 6

9. Don't Keep Me Wondering - A realy nice guitar riff at the beginning and the lyrics are really good, but they're sung with that stuttering tone that sounds good to start with, but then just winds you up. 6

10. Head Over Heels - This is another real good song. Its slightlygrungy again - but a much better example. Generally I don't like songs where the drums are more prominent than the guitar at times (despite a superb riff), but this is not a bad example. 8

11. No One Does It Like You - As I mentioned above, this is an example of the song where you think you know where it's going - but then it shoots off at a tangent. It's pretty mediocre, and there's an annoying choir in the background going "aaaAAAHH!" or "oooOOOooo" as he's singing. The lyrics are really good apart from that, which picks it up from a 4 to a .... 5.

12. What You Want - This is very different from the other songs; it starts off with just lyrics; then turns into a full-blown powerful rock ballad; then back to soft. It's interesting - a whistling-along-to song rather than foot-tapping, and JBJ gives his best performance on the album on what is an average song basically. 7

13. Don't You Believe Him - Very fast tempo. This one is complicated to explain. Good lyrics, but not one you'd sing out loud - simply because they go too fast to remember them. Not a bad song though. 6

14. Talkin' In Your Sleep - I really like this one. It's one that builds up like Bohemiam Rhapsody - although not the style of music at all - just the way it's done, with a quiet 'setting the scene', and moving onto shouting down the microphone. The tune fits together fantastically, and the lyrics (yes I know I'm on a bit of an "awesome lyrics bender") are once again very very strong. It's like a power ballad I guess. 9

So that's it. I'd recommend this album, especially if you get it cheaply as I did. As the blurb says, it's not fully-fledged genius, but you can definetly hear the spark of an ingenius talent that will go on to rock the world with his twenty year + career.