What is it this month? Every other album I’ve listened to for review purposes has some sort of Bon Jovi influence or connection! Starting off with Bon Jovi's own new album 'Have A Nice Day, which is a big return to form, I’ve since reviewed the  new Jaded Heart opus, who’s old singer was supposed to sound like Jon Bon Jovi, and now I’ve got the Johnny Lima album 1.2 to review and whether Mr Lima likes it or not he himself does sound  an aweful lot like JBJ,  but then again little things like that that have never stopped many other artists from having a career! 

Version 1.2 is, in actual fact, a complete re-recording of Mr Lima's first self titled album that first saw the light of day back in 1996. To be honest I was very surprised when he was picked up by Now and Then Rcords at the time but after hearing this new album I can totally understand why. Yes Lima does sound like JBJ but  that isn't really a cause for complaint especially as the album comes over as a cross between the first two Bon Jovi albums and Rick Springfield circa Living in OZ - absolute stunning album by the way. And moreover, given the fact that Bon Jovi themselves stopped doing this sort of rock about twenty years there may just be a gap in the market for an album of this ilk. 

The album opens, as it means to go on, with 'Never Gonna Let U Go' characterized  by with a big riff andan extremely  humable chorus and then comes another great little rocker in the shape of  'Little Runaway'. A brief change in direction sees 'Rock 'N Roll River' sounding like Motley Crue crossed with those good ol' boys of southern rock  38 Special and on this particular track Lima even manages to forego the Bon Jovi like vocals bringing more of the Vince Neil nasal twang to the party. However Bon Jovi are never far from mind as 'Here For You' brings things back on track being, as it is, a Bon Jovi style power ballad.  

I may be sounding repetitive by now, but 'Reckless Heart' keeps the Bon Jovi comparisons going with a riff that has a very similar feel to the 'In And Out Of Love' intro, but hey 'Drift Away'  changes things up slightly as it is the most modern sounding track on the album and for some reason is more reminiscent of Nelson than Bon Jovi....'Crazy 'is a great slow rocker that features a big brooding riff and then we get 'Fire Of Love' with its picked intro before it turns into a more typical mid tempo rocker with the keyboards providing the driving force of the track - the guitar solo is stunning though. 'Another Lonely Day' is an acoustic ballad and I’ll leave it at that and 'Into Your Arms' reminds me of old song but one that, at the moment I cannot quite put my finger on. 

The trio of songs that that round out Version 1.2 kick off with the almost grunge flavoured mid-temp track that is 'Something's Gotta Change'  before finally closing out with 'If I Had A Heart', a track that one can say is simply ok, and then the big ballad 'Fly Angel'. 

Overall I must say that I’ve really enjoyed listening to this album and to be honest that is something I was not expecting to be saying at this point in the review as, if truth be told, I’m not the worlds biggest fan of Bon Jovi. More to the point, not having heard Lima's other two albums, 'Made In California' and 'Shine On' one thing that Version 1.2 has made me want to do is check out those two releases and that can only be seen as a positive result in the re-recording process of the debut record.

Version 1.2 is an album that is easily recommended to any Bon Jovi fans who miss the sound of that bands first two albums and anybody who like good time party rock in general as this is a record made for a Saturday night out at your local rock club, and of course for the live arena. Having never seen Lima live I have it on good authority that he is one hell of a showman and with  songs like these that is hardly surprising.

Let us know your views on 'Version 1.2'

Track List

Never Gonna Let U Go
Little Runaway
Rock'N Roll River
Here For You
Reckless Heart
Drift Away
Crazy
Fire Of Love
Another Lonely Day
Into Your Arms
Something's Gotta Change
If I Had A Heart
Fly Angel

Line Up

Johnny Lima – Vocals/Guitars/Keyboards
Bernie F. Diaz – Drums
Craig Takeshita – Lead Guitar
Ryan Freeman –Vocals