Artist: Bon Jovi Album: Slippery When Wet

Year: 1986
Duration: 44:14

Bon Jovi's Slippery When Wet: A Critical Review of the Iconic Album

Bon Jovi is a name that echoes through the halls of rock and roll history. The band's music has garnered an almost cult-like following for decades, with millions of fans worldwide. At the forefront of this musical revolution is perhaps their most iconic album to date, Slippery When Wet. Released in 1986, this album broke records and became a bestseller, solidifying Bon Jovi's place in the pantheon of rock and roll legends. In this critical review, we dissect the album's highs and lows, exploring its genre and the best songs that have inspired generations of fans and musicians alike.

To fully understand the genius of Slippery When Wet, we must delve into its genre and what makes it stand out in a sea of other rock and roll classics. The album indeed stayed true to the hard rock that fans had come to expect from Bon Jovi, but it also had pop undertones that made it incredibly commercially successful. Despite that, the album's heart lies in its rock roots that grab you by the gut and don't let go.

One of the best things about Slippery When Wet is its tracklisting. The album opens with the energizing Let it Rock, which sets the tone for the rest of the album. Other iconic songs like You Give Love a Bad Name and Livin' on a Prayer showcase the band's tremendous talent and ability to craft unforgettable melodies with first-class musicianship.

The album's most standout and innovative aspect is the use of talk-box intro in Livin on a Prayer, which has become a trademark sound of the band and rock music history. It's easy to hear why the album received critical acclaim around the world, cementing Bon Jovi's place as flag-bearers of the hard rock and pop genres.

However, despite the album's commercial success that sold millions of copies worldwide, it's not flawless. It suffers from some hiccup in arranging, which affects the pace of a few songs, but the flow is eventually restored. The album takes a brief detour from its rock and roll roots with Bonnie Tyler's co-written ballad Without Love, which serves to punctuate the album's rock sound even further. So while the album has some weaknesses, the strengths undoubtedly make it a rock and roll masterpiece.

Taken together, Slippery When Wet is undoubtedly one of the most iconic albums in rock and roll history. It features masterful musicianship, unforgettable songs, and a genre-straddling sound that appeals to a wide fan base. While it's not perfect, the album's strengths far surpass its weaknesses, making it an essential album for any rock and roll fan to have in their collection. Despite Bon Jovi having numerous other albums to their name, none capture the band's essence quite like this one. Slip into Slippery When Wet and get ready to rock out!