Kerrang's Review on "Destination Anywhere"

Jon Bon Jovi releases his first proper solo album through Mercury on June 16th titled 'Destination Anywhere', the album is very much a musical departure for the multi-platinum megastar.

Under the guidance of two top producers- Steve Lironi(best known for producing Black Grape's 'It's great when you're straight...yeah') and Dave Stewart, formerly with 80's mega-pop duo the Eurythmics - Jon has come up with a contemporary record, but one that still has it's roots in the hard rock style Bon Jovi are famed for. The album also features flashes of inspiration Jon got while listening to the radio when he was filming 'The Leading Man' in London last year - everything from Britpoppers like Pulp to various dance tracks and the Manic Street Preachers.

And here, in a Kerrang! world exclusive, is our guide to what promises to be one of the hottest albums of the year:

QUEEN OF NEW ORLEANS - a swaggering opening track built on a lazy Black Grape-style groove, featuring loads of full-on rock guitar. There's an infectious 'sha-la-la' hook that could be from a '70's glam rock anthem.

JANIE DON'T TAKE YOUR LOVE TO TOWN - a simple acoustic-style song, as hummable as 'Someday I'll Be Saturday Night'. It ends with Beatles-style orchestration.

MIDNIGHT IN CHELSEA - the first single from the album(now released on June 2), 'MIC' was not co-written by movie star Bruce Willis as was previously reported. the song is sure to surprise a lot of people with it's mellow dance groove. The lyrics, as Jon revealed to Kerrang! last year, were inspired by the people jon observed on the streets of London when he was making 'The Leading Man'.

UGLY - 'I wish I was as beautiful as you', croons jon in a very loose-sounding track featuring coolly laidback guitar and harmonica.

STARING AT YOUR WINDOW WITH A SUITCASE IN YOUR HAND - a moody melancholy tune with a subtle dance vibe. A monster hit if released as a single?

EVERY WORD WAS A PIECE OF MY HEART - a pulsing rocker with a truly brilliant chorus. sounds like the best song G.U.N. have never recorded! The lyrics concern Jon's relationship with wife Dorothea.

IT'S JUST ME - a ballard with a vaguely ambient feel to the production.

DESTINATION ANYWHERE - cool, acoustic-driven number with some clever production touches and a totally irresistable hookline.

LEARNING HOW TO FALL - features a groove that just floats along, lent a little earthiness by some harmonica that could have come from a Bruce Springsteen record. And Springsteen is,of course, Jon's musical idol.

NAKED - Jon gets funky, and a damn sight more funky than he has ever done on a Bon Jovi song at that.

LITTLE CITY - also the title of one of Jon's as-yet-unseen movies. If the title track to Jovi's last LP 'These Days' conjured up thoughts of Springsteen, 'Little City' takes the influence a step further. Mean & moody.

AUGUST 7TH - arguably the bravest song Jon Bon Jovi has ever written. The date recalls the murder of Jon's manager's six-year-old daughter, but despite the heavy subject matter, the song itself is an uptempo rock number with a driving riff that recalls Neil Young's proto-grunge anthem 'Rockin' in The Free World', a song played live by Bon Jovi.

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