Bon Jovi: Bounce

By RUSSELL BAILLIE

(Herald rating: * * * )

This week's prize for best use of a movie line as song title goes to these vets for You Had Me At Hello, one of two power ballads which should tempt ciggy-lighter wavers into action on Bon Jovi's next global excursion. But the most impressive thing about Bounce - and despite Swedish boyband whiz Andreas Carlsson being co-credited on that track and cookie-cutter single Everyday - is how buoyant it comes across.

No, Jon Bon Jovi isn't about to make a great leap forward as a lyricist this late in his career and he still sings those ballads as if he's a finalist on Showstoppers. But the overbaked stuff is balanced by a run of Jovi-brand rock anthems like the 9/11-referencing opener Undivided, The Distance, the sub-Springsteen Joey, the Misunderstood, the churning-riffed air-puncher Hook Me Up and the similarly strident title track.

As cheesy as ever, yes, but unusually enjoyable.

Label: Island