Top tracks — play these first
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Because We Can Start here — This opening track sets the tone for the album with its upbeat energy and message of empowerment, establishing a rallying cry for listeners.
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What About Now — The title track encapsulates the album's central themes of reflection and urgency, urging listeners to consider their choices and future.
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Amen — A poignant ballad that showcases Bon Jovi’s softer side, it reflects on love and loss with emotional depth, contrasting with the more anthemic tracks.
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Army of One — This song combines personal introspection with a broader societal message, emphasizing individuality within community—a hallmark of Bon Jovi's lyrical approach.
Elevation
Our rating, out of 100 — and why.
AI-generated from five scored dimensions. An opinion, not a measurement.
The album features strong anthemic elements but lacks standout compositions throughout.
What we noticed
- The first three tracks feature driving guitar riffs and anthemic choruses, establishing a high-energy opening.
- Several songs incorporate reflective lyrics that shift to softer instrumentation, particularly in tracks like 'Amen' and 'Beautiful World'.
- The last three tracks slow down the tempo, creating a more introspective conclusion to the album.
- Composition 25% of the score
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6/10
- Craft 20% of the score
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7/10
- Durability 25% of the score
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5/10
- Distinctiveness 18% of the score
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5/10
- Sequencing 12% of the score
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6/10
the writing — melody, harmony, structure, lyrics
production, performance, arrangement
whether it rewards returning to it
whether it sounds like itself
running order, pacing, length
Known within its scene. Reported but not counted — how far a record travelled describes its reception rather than the record, and a newer release has had less time to travel than an older one.
Is this for you?
Good fit if you like
- steady mid-tempo anthems
- reflective moments for introspection
- for road trip sing-alongs
- uplifting choruses that energize
- consistent flow across tracks
Maybe skip if you
- prefer fast-paced immediate impact
- seek experimental or unpredictable sounds
Where this album fits
- In the catalog
- Late Career Highlight — Shows continued vitality and relevance in Bon Jovi's sound during later years.
- Themes
- arena-ready anthems· personal storytelling· resilience and camaraderie
- Career context
- Released on March 8, 2013, What About Now is Bon Jovi's twelfth studio album and their first since 2009's The Circle. At this point in their career, Bon Jovi was experiencing a resurgence following a period of lineup stability and renewed interest in their music, marked by successful tours and a loyal fanbase.
- Stylistic neighbors
- Def Leppard· Aerosmith· Poison
Tracklist
- 1 Because We Can Start here 4:00
- 2 I’m With You 3:44
- 3 What About Now 3:44
- 4 Pictures of You 3:58
- 5 Amen 4:12
- 6 That’s What the Water Made Me 4:25
- 7 What’s Left of Me 4:35
- 8 Army of One 4:34
- 9 Thick as Thieves 4:57
- 10 Beautiful World 3:48
- 11 Room at the End of the World 5:02
- 12 The Fighter 4:37
- 13 With These Two Hands 3:58
- 14 Into the Echo 5:04
- 15 Not Running Anymore 4:43
If this landed
Records by other artists that run on the same instinct.
Scars & Stories
The Fray
Shares anthemic choruses and personal storytelling with themes of resilience and connection.
Music from Another Dimension!
Aerosmith
Features arena-ready rock anthems and a blend of reflective lyrics about life and relationships.
Here and Now
Nickelback
Combines catchy hooks and hard rock elements with themes of camaraderie and personal growth.
Reference: Wikipedia · MusicBrainz · Wikidata
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