The CD selection at CVS is like a box of chocolates, you never know what you're gonna get. Usually forcefully submitted to a small stock along the wall full of bargain disc. You might be able to find a long lost
Boston album, or a rare
Styx live disc. Search a little deeper and you might find this 2003 promo CD to promote
This Left Feels Right, which is quoted as
"Greatest Hits... With a Twist." So when I went to CVS, shopping for my usual Tampax and oatmeal cookies for a lonely afternoon, this caught my attention for the lean mean grilling price label of $2.99.
Really you get only one sample song from that twisty greatest hits thing. A stripped apart, reworked version of the 1986 arena rock anthem
"Wanted Dead Or Alive." Completely revamped with acoustic guitars, distorted vocals, and a darker tone. Actually changing the structure of the song so much to where only die hard BJ fans would enjoy for nostalgia reasons. It's not too much of a departure from the original to begin with. Jon Bon Jovi's vocals isn't as fun to listen to with the ambiance sound effects holding his voice up. Well the vocals are basically what drags this version down. Nifty guitar effects added that adds flavor, more of a quick low-tuned grind every so often. The song ends with quick orchestral cuts over acoustic guitars.
1986 Wanted Dead Or Alive > 2003 Wanted Dead Or Alive
As an added bonus, to try to make this worth while, a live version of
"The Distance" from their album
Bounce recorded in Japan in 2003.
"The Distance" itself is a beautiful song. Seeing it played live is a beautiful experience within itself. But this live performance isn't translated well and doesn't give it much justice. The aroma around the crowd isn't felt like on other live recordings, even though you can hear their presence. The song is played will, and is 5 minutes of a pure joygasm. Of course its chorus driven, but the song doesn't need to be held together by the chorus, much like other latter
Bon Jovi songs. The instrumentals felt mellow, you can hear the acoustics, the harmonicas, Jon's soft voice slightly echo due to the live recording. It still is a good live track, but doesn't hold a candle to what you can get seeing the song played live with your mommy during the Bounce tour.
Seeing The Distance played in person > Studio recording > This live recording
There you have it, one new song that doesn't improve, but diminish what the original had. Based on this promo disc, the one song doesn't get the point across to pick up
This Left Feels Right. The live recording is a nifty feature, but isn't enough staying power to keep this interesting. It's basically something for
Bon Jovi fans to pick up if they feel iffy about picking up the full length album.
The Sludge's Thumb Ups:
Well I guess since this only two songs, I can say that
"The Distance" is a thumb up.
