Track Listing

1. Tonight We Have the Stars
2. I Thought I'd Seen Everything
3. I Ain't Losin' the Fight
4. Oxygen
5. We Found What We Were Looking For
6. Broken Wings
7. Somethin' to Believe In
8. Mysterious Ways [From Cashback]
9. She's Got a Way
10. Flower Grown Wild
11. Walk on By
12. Way of the World [*]

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #224548 in Music
• Released on: 2008-03-18
• Number of discs: 1
• Format: Import

Album Description
Canadian rocker, bryan adams delivers his 11th studio album, err, '11' on march 17. Includes the first single 'i thought i'd seen everything'.

Customer Reviews

This "11" Only Goes Up To 4.5!
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).

Fans need to grow up
Bryan Adams may not be the greatest singer-songwriter of all time and alot of music critics may hate him, but people still enjoy his music. This cd is not the vintage 80's Adams because unlike alot of music fans out there, Adams grew up. He released three masterpieces in the 80's- Cuts Like A Knife, Reckless, and Into The Fire. Each album had a perfect ten tracks and non filler, then he released an awesome live album. Then he took a few years off and released the over bloated Waking up the Neighbours. It does contain some of his best songs and his most known song but alot of the tracks could have been left on the cutting room floor. Then Adams tried to get sexual ala Prince with the songs The Only Thing That Looks Good On Me Is You and (I Wanna Be) Your Underwear. The Only Thing That Looks Good on Me (Is You) is considered one of the worst songs ever made. He had a few minor ballad hits with Rod Stewart and Stings All for Love and on this album, Have You Ever Really Loved A Woman? After those few songs, Adams disappeared from the charts and the U.S.A. He still toured, made cds, but nowadays music goes thru stages and they didnt care what Adams was doing. However, he still rocks and puts on one hell of a show. You can tell when he performs that he loves doing it and he likes to make fans happy. As for this cd that no one seems to agree on, its a great cd. I like all the songs, they flow well together. Its not the 80s but everyone a musician has to change once in awhile. I wish American music fans were like over seas fans. Thats why all the good music festivals are over seas, because those people appericate good music. Not saying all American fans are like this but alot of them are.

Bryan Adams Delivers!
For a fan of Bryan Adams this release will not disappoint. I had only heard one song from the album before buying it -- but here's the thing... I know what I'm going to get. I buy Bryan because he always delivers great tunes - ballads -- and hits with an emotional impact an feel.

My top 5 favorite pieces from the 11 tracks include:
Track 9. "She's Got A Way."
-- Probably the catchiest tune -- you'll be singing it hours later. Reminds me of the vibrant nature that 18 'til I Die captured.
Track 4. "Oxygen."
-- Great lyrics and a riff that carries you up high!
Track 5. "We Found What We Looking for."
Track 7. "Somethin' to Believe In."
-- Both 5 & 7 are melodic ballads with a great rhythm and passionate bass.
Track 8. "Mysterious Ways."
-- Reminiscent of Elton Johns Rocket Man -- Bryan Adams brings a very mellow ballad into play and leaves the listener intoxicated.

Has a familiar feel to On a Day Like Today and Into the Fire. In my opinion both albums were widely over looked... as I think some may do here too. Don't if you've enjoyed the BA catalog then this one won't disappoint. I will say the album came in at around 47 minutes... not short but I usually expect 50-60 minutes these days.
Be sure to check out the BA [....]