New Music Friday: Carly Rae Jepsen, Bon Jovi, And Disturbed

By Michael Cerio

PHILADELPHIA (CBS) -- Nostalgia is important. Things that remind us of the past seem bigger and more vital than ever as we refresh Twitter feeds and consume media at a pace only slowed long enough for us to click "like." Maybe that's why we cling to nostalgia now more than ever. We're rebooting 80's movies, relaunching 90's television shows, and buying retro t-shirts at Target. It's a breather from life enjoyed via a smartphone screen.

Music isn't any different. We tend to gravitate towards the things that shaped us along the way, whether it be an era or an artist. It's why arenas are still packed for Billy Joel and Motley Crue concerts. We like things that sound like growing up.

Unfortunately though, we rarely embrace new music from these beloved musicians, likely because it doesn't come from "our time". The next generation of songs don't come pre-loaded with the memories and the way it made you feel. They don't get the aged effect of appreciation. They become the songs you head to the bathroom during so you don't miss "Born To Run".

It's an interesting thing to keep in mind this week, as several artists return with new efforts, and one manages to tap into an era very successfully. These are some of this week's new releases for New Music Friday.

Carly Rae Jepsen – Emotion

In 2012, before you were group texting your Dubsmash and long before dumping an ice bucket over your head made you a humanitarian, lip syncing a Carly Rae Jepsen song on YouTube was all the rage. Hey, we just met her, and it was crazy, but "Call Me Maybe" became gigantic and inescapable. For good reason, it's a perfect pop song. However, her album didn't do nearly as well and most thought Jepsen was destine to sit at the one hit wonders table with Chumbawamba and the Baha Men. But now here's Emotion, Jepsen's follow-up that captures the spirit of 80's pop music effortlessly and precisely. Emotion is a time capsule drenched in neon, sporting leg warmers and hanging out in the mall food court, yet somehow it never sounds campy or ironic. Right down to the saxophone solos and keyboards, Emotion may be built in another decade, but its heartfelt delivery makes it work. Trying to capture the pop sound of the 80's isn't groundbreaking, ask Brandon Flowers' "The Desired Effect", or even Taylor Swift's "1989", but here it shines in full color with sincerity.

Bon Jovi – Burning Bridges

Here's what we know for sure. Richie Sambora is no longer in Bon Jovi. Burnt out by an endless cycle of touring he decided to step away from the band after 2013's What About Now. Here's what's unclear. Today's new Burning Bridges is said by Jon Bon Jovi to be a "fan album". One comprised of songs polished up to get out in time before their international tour. One more item for the merch table maybe? The "real" new album will be coming next year. Either way this certainly sounds like an album, and I don't believe the "real" album will be for all the non-fans out there, so this is a new Bon Jovi album. You can tell though that they dusted off some old tunes to patch Burning Bridges together as nothing quite sticks. Like a dustpan full of cutting room floor remnants. For example, "We Don't Run" finds Bon Jovi clumsily mixing finding salvation through "your touch" with being not afraid of "burning bridges". Hopefully the "real" album finds salvation from Burning Bridges.

Disturbed – Immortalized

It's been five years since Disturbed last album, but even after a lengthy hiatus they've stuck to the "if it's not broke, don't fix it" philosophy. If you're wondering what Immortalized sounds like, just imagine all the other songs by Disturbed. It's tough to blame them since all they do is release number one albums, but there is very little variations on the formula. Grinding power riffs dueling with howling singer David Draiman, ooh ahh ahh ahh ahh. The one curve ball here is a piano and strings cover of Simon And Garfunkel's "The Sound Of Silence". Yes, you read that right.

Also out this week is new music from old favorites Method Man, P.O.D., and Buckcherry. The calendar says 2015, but can we really be sure?