Bon Jovi: 'Lost Highway'

Has a band ever divided opinion quite as much as Bon Jovi? Their stadium-bashing, no-brainer rock flogs zillions, while simultaneously enraging a couple of million others. Empty-headed, lyrically-vacuous, fist-pumping, flag-hoisting anthems that have a stench of American highways and Harley Davidsons oozing out of their guitar riffs is what they make. Love it or despise it, they certainly sell. While the UK fashionistas were clamoring over shoe-gazing, pasty-faced indie acts like The Smiths in the '80s, America was buying copies of Slippery When Wet by the dozen and beating their chests to the chorus of 'Livin' On A Prayer'.

Their new single 'Lost Highway' fits the stereotypes of what a Bon Jovi tune should sound like so snuggly, it could almost be a parody of the band. There are lyrics about flying down motorways with references to Jesus, the 'Radio', and sunsets added for good measure. Throw in some chugging guitars, a gargantuan chorus, some mammoth hair-metal guitar solos and you'll realise the whole thing's as predictable as an episode of Scooby Doo. If you liked Bon Jovi before, you'll love this record - there's no doubting that - but it does beg the question, isn't there more to rock music than this?