Customer Reviews

18 Til I Die

5 star:		(13)
4 star:		(14)
3 star:		(11)
2 star:		(4)
1 star:		(3)

 

 

A Greatest Hits package signals the peak of an artist's commercial and critical success all too often. But Bryan Adams showed he still has plenty to offer on "18 Til I Die," his first release after his "So Far So Good" compilation.

The feel-good rocker "The Only Thing That Looks Good on Me is You" and the slick ballad "Let's Make a Night to Remember" made well-deserved dents on VH1 and rock stations everywhere. Unfortunately, plenty of other deserving cuts were overlooked by the public eye. "Do to You" and the title track are among Bryan's best examples of crank-the-amps-and-let-'er-rip, and "I Wanna Be Your Underwear," however crass the title may sound, has clever lyrics, an infectiously funky backdrop and one of the catchiest choruses of the decade (not to mention endless possibilities for a music video). Elsewhere, "Star" features a sampled drum loop adding a fresh twist to a classic Adams ballad, while "I'll Always Be Right There" ditches rhythm and finds Bryan accompanied by a warm and elegant string section.

This isn't to say "18 Til I Die" is without fault. "It Ain't a Party if You Can't Come 'Round" is the sort of thing Adams has done a few times too many, and "Black Pearl," singing the praises of interracial sex, isn't so much a politically correct rocker as it is a pale "Brown Sugar" rewrite. But missteps are forgiven when we're treated to the inclusion of "Have You Ever Really Loved a Woman," Bryan's gorgeous, flamenco-influenced ballad from the film "Don Juan de Marco"...cynics leery of movie tie-ins be damned; this track is beautiful and one for the ages.

Throughout the album, the production of Robert John "Mutt" Lange is in top form, ditto for Adam's radio-friendly voice. In the hands of someone else, a title like "18 Til I Die" may sound like a midlife crisis, but with Adams it's a testament to his die-hard, youthful spirit. Rock on.

Maybe people don't like the "new" Bryan Adams, but the music is so strong on this album. The songs rocks, like no other of his records.
Just play it loud!

Brian Adams can really write great songs and this album is full of them. Now some of the songs may not be as honorable as others, but at least Adams is honest. This record will take you for a ride from its fast/fun songs such as "18 Till I Die" to the slower songs such as "I'll Always Be Right There". "Have You Every Really Loved a Woman?" is also a great song.
Mutt Lang did a great job producing this record. The flow of the record is incredible. When I listen to most records I skip around, but I don't with this one. The key is how the songs are spaced out. There is a silence of up to almost 10 seconds after the slower, more thoughtful songs and as short as less than a second after the fast songs. I'm not really sure about the science behind the timing of the album, but it is a great album. There is a song for every type of listener on Brian Adams' "18 Till I Die".

Bryan Adams has always been one of the most interesting solo rockers. The first record I remember purchasing myself at the age of 7 was Bryan Adams' 1984 album Reckless. With that in mind, I feel no shame in saying that I am a fan of Bryan's music.

His career might have recieved a renewed boost in the early 90's with the classic Robin Hood: Prince Of Thieves ballad Everything I Do (I Do It For You), but the lyrics and music on 18 Til I Die still sounds as raw and electrifying as it did in the early to mid 80's. The title track says it all with lines like "someday I'll be 18 going on 55..." True to the lyric, Bryan doesn't seem to be growing any older as far as the record is concerned. He sings about things that only adolescents would dare sing about, take (I Wanna Be) Your Underwear for instance. However, Bryan delivers such charming rockers as The Only Thing That Looks Good On Me Is You which ranks up there with Summer Of 69 and Cuts Like A Knife as one of his best rock songs, the groovy hit single Let's Make A Night To Remember, the uplifting Star, and the ballads You're Still Beautiful To Me, I'll Always Be Right There, and I Think About You.

18 Til I Die signifies Bryan Adams' most commercially successful work over the past decade. It also symbolizes that there's no growing up completely for Bryan Adams, at least not for now, but why should he grow up?

He'll be 18 til he dies alright!

Recommended

B+

This CD is different than all of the other Bryan Adams' CD's. Bryan reaches out to teenagers of the 90's with a grungy sound. He still reaches out to adults on the ballads. He also brings out his sexual side. Back when this CD was released, Bryan had the Kurt Kobain look to match the grungy sound. I reccomend this CD, but don't expect it to sound like the older BA CD's.

Bryan's songwriting talents come full circle on this stunning, spectacular release. His ballads are instantly classic and his rockers pack more punch than most alternative groups' half his age.

The album kicks off with "The Only Thing That Looks Good on Me is You," a spirited rocker that deserved a higher perch on the pop charts. "Do to You" is the gritty, down-and-dirty followup that boasts a manic tempo and irresistible, intense guitars. "Let's Make a Night to Remember," another single is classic Adams, complete with self-harmony, romantic lyrics and plenty of guitar riffs.

The title track is a tune that would have sounded perfect cranked up at pool halls and bars, had anyone at A&M bothered to release it as a single. "Star" is a lovely ballad that gets its juice from a programmed drum loop and the welcome inclusion of a piano, an instrument not entirely common to Bryan Adams. "(I Wanna Be) Your Underwear" got a lot of critical slack for the bluntness of its title, but the slow grind of the rhythm and clever lyrics make this one of the album's strongest, most enjoyable tracks. The start of each chorus line ("I wanna be"...etc.) is nothing if not anthemic, and the sample used in the drum track nicely compliments, not compromises, the song's rocking feel.

"We're Gonna Win" is a decent enough speed-rocker, and "I Think About You" is the sort of ballad we've come to expect from him. But "I'll Always Be Right There," on the other hand, is a mature and dignified declaration of love helped along by a drop-dead gorgeous string section.

"It Ain't a Party (if You Can't Come 'Round)" and "Black Pearl" are the only songs the album could have done without..."Party" features a run-of-the-mill shuffle beat and "Black Pearl," a rocker that finds Bryan coming down with a touch of jungle fever, is passable but a little unnecessary; surely he's not the first white rocker to get down and dirty with a woman of color. "You're Still Beautiful to Me" adds a nice hint of country, and the classic "Have You Ever Really Loved a Woman?," with its crystal-clear rhythm track and exotic guitars, remains not only one of Bryan's finest ballads but one of the finest movie themes ever.

This album is at once an argument for Bryan's classic sensibilities, the razor-sharp production of Robert John "Mutt" Lange, and the old-fashioned ability ignore trends and simply rock. Previous Adams projects sold more copies and had more hit singles, but never mind...this is Bryan Adams at his absolute finest.

Bryan explores new horizons, that's fine, but the result is not as good as we are use to with this artist. It is a good cd, there is few songs that I don't really like but I would say that I like 80% of the album and Bryan is still a very good signer and composer, good rocking songs, excellent ballads (Let's make a night to remember and Have you ever really loved a woman) and more...

This is a great album, one of my all time favorites. I brought it when it was first released. I lived in Australia at the time. I am in my 40s and I lent it to our 18 year old daughter, who is generally into all that hip-hop and rap..., but after she played this album she was hooked and her whole musical tastes are now developing for all kinds of music and many different artists.
She loves all the songs on the album as I do. What a mixture of styles! He makes you laugh with 'I Want to be your Underwear' and then you cry over 'Have you Ever Really Loved a Woman?'.
I think that is one of the things I love most about the album. I hate to put on an album which will set a mood for its entire length. You know, all sad songs and such. This one stimulates all your emotions. Plus, they are all true to Brian Adams, he writes great songs.
Our daughter moved, along with 'MY' album, to another state some months ago. When she came home for Thanksgiving she brought it with her and asked me if she could keep it. I let her have it and now I must buy another copy. It's nice to know that some things can bridge the generation gap, especially where music is concerned.

this album is a must for any adams fan - it's his happiest, most honest and kickass album to date. the usual bulletproof ballads are there, along with some great dance/rock anthems. by the way, the inlay artwork (with photography by anton corbijn and andrew catlin) is pretty cool.

bryan adams continues to get better and better. he is the greatest rock artist that has ever lived. Songs on this ablum have everything, love, rock, excitement and shear youth.