What About Now (album)

What About Now
Studio album by Bon Jovi
Released March 8, 2013[1]
Recorded January–August 2012
Genre
Length 51:36
Label Island
Producer
Bon Jovi chronology
Inside Out
(2012)		 What About Now
(2013)		 Burning Bridges
(2015)
Singles from What About Now
  1. "Because We Can"
    Released: January 7, 2013.[4]
  2. "What About Now"
    Released: February 11, 2013

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.[5] 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 he left the band later that same year and the last album where bass guitarist Hugh McDonald is an unofficial member before becoming an official member in 2016.

The album debuted at No. 1 in the U.S., where it sold 101,000 copies in its first week, debuting at No. 1 on the Billboard 200. What About Now became their 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.[6] The album has sold 220,000 copies in the U.S. as of August 2015,[7] and over 1.5 million copies worldwide,[8] going gold in Germany selling 100,000 copies.

Recording and production

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."[9]

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.[10]

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[11]

Also included as a bonus track and featuring a music video is the Richie Sambora single "Every Road Leads Home To You" from his latest solo album Aftermath of the Lowdown.

Artwork

The album artwork was created by Liu Bolin and was revealed on January 10, 2013. The cover artwork features the 4 members of the band painted behind a collage which features a soldier with a guitar and walking up a mountain with a yellow and blue American flag, 2 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.

Reception

Professional ratings
Aggregate scores
SourceRating
Metacritic50/100[12]
Review scores
SourceRating
Allmusic[2]
Daily Express[13]
The Observer[14]
Time Out[15]
Virgin Media[3]
Rolling Stone[16]
Daily Star SundayPositive
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.[12] 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",[17] 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."[13]

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]

Kim Carr and James Cabooter of Daily Star (United Kingdom) were positive, stating that "Bon Jovi are back to their rock roots on their best album for 20 years."[18]

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",[3] 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."[3] 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'.[2]

Track listing

Standard edition[19]
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."Because We Can"  Jon Bon Jovi, Richie Sambora, Billy Falcon4:00
2."I'm with You"  Bon Jovi, John Shanks3:44
3."What About Now"  Bon Jovi, Shanks3:45
4."Pictures of You"  Bon Jovi, Sambora, Shanks3:58
5."Amen"  Bon Jovi, Falcon4:13
6."That's What the Water Made Me"  Bon Jovi, Falcon4:26
7."What's Left of Me"  Bon Jovi, Sambora, Falcon4:35
8."Army of One"  Bon Jovi, Sambora, Desmond Child4:35
9."Thick as Thieves"  Bon Jovi, Sambora, Shanks4:58
10."Beautiful World"  Bon Jovi, Falcon3:49
11."Room at the End of the World"  Bon Jovi, Shanks5:03
12."The Fighter"  Bon Jovi4:37
Total length:51:36

Personnel

Bon Jovi
Additional Personnel

Charts

Weekly charts

Chart (2013) Peak
position
Argentinian Albums Chart[24] 7
scope="row" Australian Albums (ARIA)[25] 1
scope="row" Austrian Albums (Ö3 Austria)[26] 1
scope="row" Belgian Albums (Ultratop Flanders)[27] 8
scope="row" Belgian Albums (Ultratop Wallonia)[28] 16
scope="row" Canadian Albums (Billboard)[29] 1
scope="row" Danish Albums (Hitlisten)[30] 6
scope="row" Dutch Albums (MegaCharts)[31] 2
scope="row" Finnish Albums (Suomen virallinen lista)[32] 3
scope="row" French Albums (SNEP)[33] 46
scope="row" German Albums (Offizielle Top 100)[34] 2
Greek Albums Chart[35] 10
scope="row" Hungarian Albums (MAHASZ)[36] 4
scope="row" Irish Albums (IRMA)[37] 3
scope="row" Italian Albums (FIMI)[38] 5
scope="row" Japanese Albums (Oricon)[39] 2
scope="row" Mexican Albums (Top 100 Mexico)[40] 16
scope="row" New Zealand Albums (RMNZ)[41] 9
scope="row" Norwegian Albums (VG-lista)[42] 2
scope="row" Portuguese Albums (AFP)[43] 2
scope="row" Scottish Albums (OCC)[44] 2
South African Albums (RISA)[45] 8
scope="row" Spanish Albums (PROMUSICAE)[46] 1
scope="row" Swedish Albums (Sverigetopplistan)[47] 1
scope="row" Swiss Albums (Schweizer Hitparade)[48] 3
scope="row" UK Albums (OCC)[49] 2
scope="row" US Billboard 200[50] 1
scope="row" US Digital Albums (Billboard)[51] 2
scope="row" US Top Tastemaker Albums (Billboard)[52] 7
scope="row" US Top Rock Albums (Billboard)[53] 1

Year-end charts

Chart (2013) Position
Austrian Albums Chart[54] 22
Hungarian Albums Chart[55] 96
Japan Oricon year-end albums[56] 85
Spain (PROMUSICAE)[57] 32
Swiss Albums Chart[58] 53
US Billboard 200[59] 138
US Rock Albums (Billboard)[60] 32

Certifications

Region Certification Certified units/Sales
Australia (ARIA)[61] Gold 35,000^
Austria (IFPI Austria)[62] Platinum 15,000*
Canada (Music Canada)[63] Gold 40,000^
Germany (BVMI)[64] Gold 100,000^
United Kingdom (BPI)[65] Gold 100,000^

*sales figures based on certification alone
^shipments figures based on certification alone

Release history

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

References

  1. ↑ What About Now at iTunes Australia store
  2. 1 2 3 Erlewine, Stephen (March 8, 2013). "CD Review: Bon Jovi - What About Now". Allmusic. Retrieved March 9, 2013.
  3. 1 2 3 4 Gittins, Ian. "What About Now". Virgin Media. Retrieved March 9, 2013.
  4. ↑ "New Single "BECAUSE WE CAN" available at iTunes today". bonjovi.com. January 7, 2013. Archived from the original on February 3, 2013.
  5. ↑ What About Now at iTunes Store. Retrieved on February 26, 2013.
  6. ↑ Caulfield, Keith. "Bon Jovi Debuts at No. 1 on Billboard 200, David Bowie at No. 2". billboard.com. March 20, 2013.
  7. ↑ "Upcoming Releases". Hits Daily Double. HITS Digital Ventures. Archived from the original on August 19, 2015.
  8. ↑ "Jon Bon Jovi Is Working on a New Album". Ultimate Guitar. Retrieved 2015-02-28.
  9. ↑ "Bon Jovi Didn't Visit Sambora in Rehab". Classic Rock Magazine. Classic Rock (176): 84. 2012.
  10. ↑ "Richie Sambora says new Bon Jovi record marks a musical evolution!". examiner.com. Retrieved 2013-01-02.
  11. ↑ "Congrats to Jon Bon Jovi on his Golden Globe nomination". bonjovi.com. 2012-12-13. Retrieved 2012-12-13.
  12. 1 2 "What ABou Now - Bon Jovi". Metacritic. Retrieved July 19, 2015.
  13. 1 2 Unwin, Stephen (March 8, 2013). "CD Review: Bon Jovi - What About Now". Daily Express. Retrieved March 9, 2013.
  14. 1 2 3 Mongrendien, Phil (March 10, 2013). "Bon Jovi: What About Now – review". The Observer. Retrieved March 9, 2013.
  15. 1 2 Manning, James (March 7, 2013). "Bon Jovi – 'What About Now' album review". Time Out. Retrieved March 9, 2013.
  16. ↑ Dolan, Jon. "What About Now". Rolling Stone. Retrieved March 12, 2013.
  17. ↑ Sullivan, Caroline (March 7, 2013). "Bon Jovi: What About Now – review". The Guardian. Retrieved March 9, 2013.
  18. ↑ Cabooter, James; Carr, Kim (January 24, 2013). "First Listen Bon Jovi What About Now/". Daily Star Sunday. Retrieved March 9, 2013.
  19. ↑ What About Now at Universal Music store
  20. ↑ What About Now at Bon Jovi's official website
  21. ↑ What About Now at Universal Music store Japan
  22. ↑ https://itunes.apple.com/at/album/what-about-now-deluxe-version/id601344226
  23. ↑ What About Now at iTunes Australia
  24. ↑ "..::CAPIF:::..". CAPIF. Retrieved April 8, 2013.
  25. ↑ "Australiancharts.com – Bon Jovi – What About Now". Hung Medien. Retrieved 2013-04-13.
  26. ↑ "Austriancharts.at – Bon Jovi – What About Now" (in German). Hung Medien. Retrieved 2013-04-13.
  27. ↑ "Ultratop.be – Bon Jovi – What About Now" (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved 2013-04-13.
  28. ↑ "Ultratop.be – Bon Jovi – What About Now" (in French). Hung Medien. Retrieved 2013-04-13.
  29. ↑ "Bon Jovi – Chart history" Billboard Canadian Albums Chart for Bon Jovi. Retrieved 2013-04-13.
  30. ↑ "Danishcharts.com – Bon Jovi – What About Now". Hung Medien. Retrieved 2013-04-13.
  31. ↑ "Dutchcharts.nl – Bon Jovi – What About Now" (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved 2013-04-13.
  32. ↑ "Bon Jovi: What About Now" (in Finnish). Musiikkituottajat – IFPI Finland. Retrieved 2013-04-13.
  33. ↑ "Lescharts.com – Bon Jovi – What About Now". Hung Medien. Retrieved 2013-04-13.
  34. ↑ "Longplay-Chartverfolgung at Musicline" (in German). Musicline.de. Phononet GmbH. Retrieved 2013-04-13.
  35. ↑ "Official Cyta-IFPI Charts - Top-75 Albums Sales Chart - Εβδομάδα: 13/2013" (in Greek). IFPI Greece. Retrieved March 23, 2013.
  36. ↑ "Top 40 album DVD és válogatáslemez-lista – 2013. 11. hét" (in Hungarian). MAHASZ. Retrieved 2013-04-13.
  37. ↑ "GFK Chart-Track Albums: Week 11, 2013". Chart-Track. IRMA. Retrieved 2013-04-13.
  38. ↑ "Italiancharts.com – Bon Jovi – What About Now". Hung Medien. Retrieved 2013-04-13.
  39. ↑ "Oricon Top 50 Albums: 2013-03-25" (in Japanese). Oricon. Retrieved 2013-04-13.
  40. ↑ "Bon Jovi – What About Now". Asociación Mexicana de Productores de Fonogramas y Videogramas. Archived from the original on March 25, 2013. Retrieved 2013-04-13.
  41. ↑ "Charts.org.nz – Bon Jovi – What About Now". Hung Medien. Retrieved 2013-04-13.
  42. ↑ "Norwegiancharts.com – Bon Jovi – What About Now". Hung Medien. Retrieved 2013-04-13.
  43. ↑ "Portuguesecharts.com – Bon Jovi – What About Now". Hung Medien. Retrieved 2013-04-13.
  44. ↑ "Official Scottish Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 2013-04-13.
  45. ↑ "South African Top 20 Albums Chart". RSG (Recording Industry of South Africa). Archived from the original on May 18, 2013.
  46. ↑ "Spanishcharts.com – Bon Jovi – What About Now". Hung Medien. Retrieved 2013-04-13.
  47. ↑ "Swedishcharts.com – Bon Jovi – What About Now". Hung Medien. Retrieved 2013-04-13.
  48. ↑ "Swisscharts.com – Bon Jovi – What About Now". Hung Medien. Retrieved 2013-04-13.
  49. ↑ "Official Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 2013-04-13.
  50. ↑ "Bon Jovi – Chart history" Billboard 200 for Bon Jovi. Retrieved 2013-04-13.
  51. ↑ "Bon Jovi – Chart history" Billboard Digital Albums for Bon Jovi. Retrieved 2013-04-13.
  52. ↑ "Bon Jovi – Chart history" Billboard Top Tastemaker Albums for Bon Jovi. Retrieved 2013-04-13.
  53. ↑ "Bon Jovi – Chart history" Billboard Top Rock Albums for Bon Jovi. Retrieved 2013-04-13.
  54. ↑ http://austriancharts.at/year.asp?id=2013&cat=a
  55. ↑ "Összesített album- és válogatáslemez-lista – eladási darabszám alapján – 2013" (in Hungarian). MAHASZ. Retrieved January 22, 2014.
  56. ↑ "2013年のCDアルバム年間ランキング" [2013 CD Albums Yearly Ranking] (in Japanese). Oricon. 2013. Archived from the original on December 26, 2013. Retrieved December 26, 2013.
  57. ↑ "Top 50 Albumes Anual 2013". Promuiscae.es. Retrieved 2014-02-03.
  58. ↑ http://hitparade.ch/year.asp
  59. ↑ "Year End Charts - Billboard 200 - 2013". Billboard. Retrieved 30 December 2013.
  60. ↑ "Year End Charts - Rock Albums 2013". Billboard. Retrieved 30 December 2013.
  61. ↑ "ARIA Charts – Accreditations – 2013 Albums". Australian Recording Industry Association.
  62. ↑ "Austrian album certifications – Bon Jovi – What About Now?" (in German). IFPI Austria. Enter Bon Jovi in the field Interpret. Enter What About Now? in the field Titel. Select album in the field Format. Click Suchen
  63. ↑ "Canadian album certifications – Bon Jovi – What About Now?". Music Canada.
  64. ↑ "Gold-/Platin-Datenbank (Bon Jovi; 'What About Now')" (in German). Bundesverband Musikindustrie.
  65. ↑ "British album certifications – Bon Jovi – What About Now". British Phonographic Industry. Enter What About Now in the field Keywords. Select Title in the field Search by. Select album in the field By Format. Select Gold in the field By Award. Click Search
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