Amazing what a haircut can do.

Jon Bon Jovi's new coiffure finally reveals his lovely eyes and high cheekbones. Looking like an older, greasier Christian Slater, Bon Jovi wears long layers that fall gently into his rugged face. Yeeow.

Oh . . . uh, his band just released a new album too.

Ahem, after the early glam years of trenchcoats, feathered hair and Slippery When Wet, Bon Jovi is back in New Jersey sporting the dirty look. But it works.

Keep The Faith, the group's lastest release, follows in the tradition of classic singles such as "Livin' On A Prayer" and "Runaway."

It's a chunk of pure rock -- thick and loud and real.

And although it mentions a stylist and a hair and make-up artist in the credits, the group's music seems to belong more to a hometown corner bar than to a glitzy club.

This album will bring out more diehard Bon Jovi fans, into ripped jeans high-tops and Skoal Bandits, waving their fists in the air. But who cares?

Singles such as "Keep The Faith" and "Little Bit Of Soul" embody real rock -- pop with an edge and a little bit of jacked-up four-by-four.

It's music to drink beer to --while you hold your significant other and think happy thoughts about mom, apple pie and America.

And just as "I'll Be There For You" dripped gratifying cheese, Keep The Faith's clichéd love songs please just as much.

"Baby I want you like the roses/Want the rain/You know I need you/Like the poet needs the pain/I would give anything/My blood my love my life," Bon Jovi sings in "In These Arms."

While the title track, "Keep The Faith," enjoys airtime on MTV, showing Bon Jovi walking city streets like a homeless model, other tracks are sure to taste success on the charts.

"I Believe," the strong opening track and "I'll Sleep When I'm Dead," scream 'single! single!' -- they're definite crowd-pleasers.

But a few of the tracks explain macho snakeskin boots. Songs such as "Woman In Love" give love a bad name.

"If lust is just a dirty dog/I've been scratching with the fleas/I've been waking up your neighbors/Barking up your tree."

But beside those useless tracks, Keep The Faith does as much justice to Bon Jovi's hard guitars and voices as Jovi's stylish locks do to his cute little smile. Awww.