Search - Bryan Adams :: 11

This "11" Only Goes Up To 4.5!

Jef Fazekas | Newport Beach, California United States | 08/26/2008

(3 out of 5 stars)

"What can I say...I've always rooted for Bryan Adams. A part of me always felt he had it in him to move beyond the popmeister leanings of his early hits and become one of the great storytellers of his time, ala Mellencamp, Petty, Seger and, dare I say it, Springsteen. Later albums like INTO THE FIRE, WAKING UP THE NEIGHBOURS and 18 TIL I DIE confirmed this, proving both adventureous and creative. However, I think the days of striving for greatness are behind Adams now. Instead of being compared to Petty or Mellencamp, he now almost assuredly will be lumped with B-listers like Corey Hart, Rick Springfield and Walter Egan (all of whom, I admit, I love!). Why? Because he just doesn't seem to care anymore. Yes, he still tours quite a bit, but his blossoming career as a photographer seems much more important to him...making records just seems to be an afterthought. Starting with 2005's ROOM SERVICE and continuing with this year's 11, he has just phoned in his performances, seemingly putting out new records just because he "has to" or "it's time." Most of the material is weak and uninspired, the production amateurish at best (No doubt a major part of the reason no American label was willing to pick up and distribute this latest release). Things get off to a particularly weak start, with roughly the entire first half of the album being way below par. First up is "Tonight We Have The Stars", one of those power pop numbers Adams was so famous for in the early to mid-80's. Love the opening lines of "We'll save ourselves a bottle/Of California red/We'll drink it on a Tuesday/Let it go straight to our heads", but it's all downhill from there. The same can be said for "I Thought I'd Seen Everything"....this is nothing new. We have the mid-tempo arrangement, the urgent (but by the numbers) lead vocal and lyrics from Songwriting 101 ("I love your kiss me mouth ~ and your static touch"). Sorry, but this is NOT the work of a man nearing 50, who's been in the business 30 years! Things don't get any better with "I Ain't Losin' The Fight." Now, I don't need everything to be "deep"...heck, I LOVED the 80's!...but I DO need a song to A) have some substance, B) be clever or C) be fun. These tracks are none of the above. These are just routine numbers, cranked out in order to fill up a CD. And that's sad. Things finally come alive with "Oxygen", a glorious blend of acoustic guitar and garage band sass. Pounding drums and blistering electric guitar provide a power and energy that has been missing thus far. Add a lead vocal that's honest, sincere and from the heart (and gut), and you have one of 11's best cuts. "We Found What We Were Looking For" has some admittedly sappy moments to it, but overall this really is a lovely song. "Commitment" is a big word, and it often doesn't get it's just dues. That all changes here with the simple lines "Didn't fall to pieces/Never lost our reason/Never stopped believin/Ah, never stopped ~ believin." Once again, from the heart...and the gut! Things take another bad tumble with "Broken Wings", one of the most pre-fabricated songs I've heard in years. Take a uninspired arrangement, add an over-the-top lead vocal, then toss in lyrics like "You give me love/When love is all I need" and "When I was blind/You came and opened up my eyes", and you have a song anyone, but particularly someone with Adams' experience, should be ashamed of. "Somethin' To Believe In" is a mixed bag....the verses have a nice, easy-going quality to them, while the choruses are bloated and heavy-handed. It really is true....sometimes less IS more. If Adams had just stuck with the strings and acoustic guitar...! Up next is the disc's true masterpiece, the haunting "Mysterious Ways." From the atmospheric strings to Maire Breatnach's stunning fiddle, everything comes together in perfect harmony. Add some lovely lyrics ("They say the heart is shaped just like a fist/Holding in it's feelings/I say the heart is like an open hand/Holding out and healing") and you have a real gem. Ditto "She's Got A Way." Mark my word, if this song had been on CUTS LIKE A KNIFE or RECKLESS, it would have been a HUGE hit, played at weddings for decades to come...it's THAT infectious! Once again, simple, sincere, naked and REAL....11 could have used so much more of this! I LOVE this song! "Romantic" with a capital "R!" "Flower Grown Wild" puts an interesting spin on the whole groupie thing...before any of them got on that bus to Hollywood, they were someone's daughter, with a "childhood name." Adams' rough, edgy lead vocal conveys the desperation of a tale that often ends with nothing more than going "home to nothin but a loaded gun." Powerful stuff. The album ends on a strong note, with more than a hint of what "could have been." "Walk On By" is a muted tale about following your dreams. Adams' hushed lead vocals, sweeping strings and delicate acoustic guitar and Breatnach's powerful viola all coalesce into a thing of shimmering beauty. This track deserves not only to be heard, but to be a hit as well. It's a shame that can't be said about most of the cuts off of 11. Here's hoping that, when it comes time for his next release, Bryan Adams will rededicate himself to his craft. I'd hate to think he "could've been a contender." (As with all my reviews, I am giving the disc an extra half a star for including the lyrics)."

Very enjoyable

RBM | White Cloud, Mi. | 06/15/2009

(4 out of 5 stars)

"Unlike the dyed -in-the-wool Adams fans who said they expected more, we were very pleased with this album. It had good balance across the tracks, was very listenable, and did not not become tiring to us in repeated play time.



Based on this experience we would not hesitate to explore more of his music."