Way back in the mid to late 80’s and very early 90’s I was huge fan of  Bryan Adams as he grew in popularity from headlining theatres to playing stadiums and huge festivals across the country. Albums like Reckless and  Waking Up The Neighbours and  songs like 18 Til I Die, Run To You  and the Kids Want To Rock were all staples on the walkman, but Kids Want To Rock was twenty five years ago now and the generation that made Adams so successful in the first place have now grown up and most of them have kids of their own and, in some cases, possibly even grand kids. Bryan Adams has, in turn, grown up alongside them and moved away from those early hard rocking roots turning instead into a staple favourite on daytime TV and a favourite choice of weekend and closet rocking housewives and house-husbands everywhere.  Indeed to promote the lead single from this album, I Thought I’d Seen Everything, Mr. Adams has conscientiously hit all of the major chat shows and magazine programmes appealing to that very  demographic. 
 
Bearing all of this in mind new album, 11, album works quite well. It’s very laid back, almost horizontal at times, and is very west coast  with a touch of country in places. In 2008 Adams has more in common with say the Eagles than the Bon Jovis and Def Leppards of this world, the bands that he rose to prominence alongside. This is the sound of an artist playing for his predominately female audience, those who need a break form the stresses and strains of everyday life but isn’t that what music is all about anyway? The fact that Adams isn't the gung ho rocker that he was in 1983 isn't a problem. If that's what you want then there's his huge back catalogue to listen to, funnily enough 11 is his eleventh studio album and that in itself speaks volumes.

Highlights here include Oxygen, Mysterious Ways and Broken Wings and, also of note, is the fact that three of the tracks are co-written with Jim Valance his long time collaborator with whom he worked with on Reckless and Cuts Like A Knife if earlier days. Elsewhere producer extraordinaire Mutt Lange also co-writes three tracks and, whilst I would like to here Mr. Adams truly rock out again, that isn't likely to going to happen anytime soon., In the meantime 11  makes for great late night or lazy Sunday afternoon listening.

Let us know your views on 11

Track Listing

Tonight We Have The Stars
I Thought I'd Seen Everything
I Ain't Losin' The Fight
Oxygen
We Found What We Were Looking For
Broken Wings
Something To Believe In
Mysterious Ways
She's Got A Way
Flower Grown Wild
Walk On By
Way Of The World