"Room Service" Finds Adams Roomed With Despair
T. Yap | Sydney, NSW, Australia | 10/10/2004
(4 out of 5 stars)
"Prime Cuts: Flying, I Was Only Dreaming, East Side Story
Emptiness, loneliness and despair are some of the words that emerged when listening to Adams' 11th studio release. The years of his itinerant life and in his own words "living out of a suitcase" has its toil on this gravel-voiced rocker. Aptly titled "Room Service," Adams' first full length studio album in six years, finds a craven Adams detailing his weariness in seriatim with a diary-like frankness. Recorded in hotel rooms and back stages while on tour in Europe, "Room Service" has a more organic feel relative to his more polished efforts from the early 90s. Further, unlike most of his albums, Robert "Mutt" Lange, aka Mr. Shania Twain, only has a hand in co-writing and co-producing only one track ("Flying"). Providing the musical muscle this time is Adams and Bob Clearmountain.
Though it is does not reed with the same immediacy as previous hits such as "Summer of 69 " or "The Only Thing That Looks Good on You," lead single "Open Road" is a typical Bryan Adams rock number aplomb with aggressive sounding guitars and propulsive drums. "Open Road" is not the only song that deals with the despair of life. With caliginous lines such as "I'm riding in the back seat-black limousine/staring out the window at a funeral scene/.../ah-it's a lonely, lonely road we are on," "The Other Side of Paradise," a more subdued rocker, continues Adams forlorn outlook on life. To show that he's no longer the dreary eyed romantic who sings about "All for Love," "Not Romeo Not Juliet" is a realistic song of acceptance of a romance full of warts.
While many artists have expressed the loneliness of touring in song, the title track is Adams' take on it. Though melodically not too memorable, it is perhaps Adams' most bona fide track. Lines such as "I've been on the road nearly all my life/Been around the world `bout a thousand times/Still a knock on the door makes me nervous/I think I'll see you standing there-but no/It's only room service" certainly will chill your spine with the scour of loneliness. Also of note is that Japanese and UK pressings of "Room Service" boast the inclusion of a bonus track "Blessing in Disguise," a rock and roll number with an uncanny melodic resemblance to Elvis' "All Shook Up."
Over his inveterate career, Adams has been known for his ballads. And here there is a couple; though one would wish Adams would cut more of those heart tuggers. Gretchen Peters, who is a notable songwriter in her own rights, teams up with Adams to write the soul searching "I Was Only Dreaming." An ode to a make-believe relationship has an added poignancy as it features a string arrangement and oboe from Adams's friend and long-time collaborator, Michael Kamen, who died last year. The other ballad "Flying," which is also the second single, is a Lange/Adams composition. "Flying" gives the enervated heart a rest as it is the sole positive entry here celebrating the joys of a heartfelt love. Though not as strong as his other ballads "(Everything I Do) I Do It For You" or "Have You Really Loved a Woman," "Flying" finds Adams at his romantic best.
Overall, "Room Service" though it is not as strong melodically as "18 Till I Die" or "Wake Up the Neighborhood," it is perhaps Adams' most veracious effort. For a man to admit such pain and loneliness, it is definitely noble and heart warming. But if art is a reflection of life, let's hope Adams will find true happiness and hope. But in the meantime, if you like to ponder these issues of life and hope or the lack thereof, here's a platter."
Track Listings (12) - Disc #1