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9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
THE LAST GREAT BRYAN ADAMS ALBUM, September 14, 1999
By A Customer
After introducing himself to the pop world with the very likeable CUTS LIKE A KNIFE and RECKLESS, Bryan Adams settled into a mature groove when he produced this, the finest album of his career. Yes, the party-hungry angst of past albums is still here in songs such as "Only the Strong Survive" and "Hearts on Fire", but there is more - much more. From the opening chords of "Heat of the Night", it is clear that this album is different. The maturity and more adult-oriented outlook on life is evident on song after song as Adams looks beyond the usual topics of romance and partying to deal with issues as diverse as the desire to return home ("Rebel", "Home Again") to the sad story of Canadian soldiers who fought in World War I ("Remembrance Day"). I was convinced when I originally heard this album that, just as SCARECROW represented a turning point for John Mellencamp, this album would mark a turn by Adams toward deeper, more personal music. Unfortunately, this was not the case, and Adams subsequently turned his attentions to producing music that was more silly than anything else. Despite the disastrous musical direction Adams has chosen to take in the '90s, this album is wonderful, and marks the pinnacle of his musical achievements.
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8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
More stripped down and serious than Reckless, October 21, 2003
I wonder what fans who expected a followup just as hard-rocking as Reckless thought of Into The Fire. There are some engaging rocking songs and Keith Scott is still on board, but without the power chops that made Reckless such a hit. This is a more mellowed work, with some sobering topics that probably wouldn't have most music buyers scrambling to get this album. That's too bad for them, because that's exactly what makes this album a wonder."Heat Of The Night" was the first single of the album, and there's a bluesy lean towards the song. This was the only Top Ten single from Into The Fire. The title track is a light philosophical rocker on life and its pains, and is a sure sign of the maturity he embarked on during his later albums. He's a stark realist, given, "You could wait for your dreams to come true/but time has no mercy/time won't stand still for you." The title lyric has similar tones: "Well, I know what your heart desires/but you can't take it with you into the fire." Those who've been given the shaft on love will find their song on the third single, "Victim Of Love", which is my favourite song here. The part where the guitars stop with only the quiet percussion, makes the song wistful with Bryan's voice, which is down to a softened and tender rasp. Other times, he screams as if to stifle the pain. Love this lyric: "It's a table for one and a broken heart to go." Keith Scott's fiery guitar does wonders in this rock ballad. The stripped down but engaging "Another Day" is a somber look at the day-to-day look at the perils of unemployment. As the song opens, the protagonist has spent his unemployment check, probably on drink, as he can't remember the previous night, and has bills to pay. However, he does sound a bit callous and fed up when he says "Some people never learn/their life ain't my concern." After Iron Maiden and Europe, now it's Bryan Adams' turn to do a song on the injustices done to Native Americans with the sobering ballad "Native Son". Sung from the POV of an elderly Native, it tells of a time "before the wagons - before the soldiers' guns." There is anger-"like dogs we were driven from this place" and sadness-"With each new day that comes to pass/will the Great Spirit free us all at last?" in the song. "Only The Strong Survive" has stylings of 60's rock on the verses, something like the Easybeats, and the title refers to the perils of the fast life. "Rebel" is a look at the title character who returns to the town he left to be different. The rocking guitar melody has similarities to "Piano Man." He's caught between his situation now and his past days, but in the end, those "two worlds collide in a moment of truth." "Remembrance Day" is the Commonwealth equivalent of Veteran's Day, 11 November, and has Adams tackling those who laid down their lives fighting that war to end all wars. It's a somber ballad that puts paid the macho image of war-"We'd face the fighting with a smile-or so we said/if only we had known what danger lay ahead." "Well the guns will be silent/there'll be no more fighting/oh, we'll lay down our weapons/on remembrance day" goes the chorus. That brings to mind how actions put weight behind words of "no more fighting." Indeed, there was another world war twenty-one years afterwards. How many times will we say that, I wonder? The second single was "Hearts On Fire", which is a lightweight cousin of something that would've ended up on Reckless, which explains why it was released as a single, only to fall far below Adams' previous Top Ten glory. I wonder if the protagonist from "Rebel" experienced the feelings of wanting to go "Home Again", because I can picture him singing this first, before moving to the events in "Rebel." In this song, he's going back home to the girl he left behind. This was the second album Adams produced with Bob Clearmountain. His next co-pilot would be someone who'd given Def Leppard two hit albums and would become Mr. Shania Twain in the next decade. A jarring difference from Reckless, but meritorious nevertheless.
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7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
1987's Best Album of the Year, November 15, 2003
Bryan Adams' 1984 "Reckless" release established himself as an icon in the music industry. Many called him Canada's answer to Bruce Springsteen. "Reckless" was a huge commercial success spawning 6 Top 40 singles, so when the follow-up to "Reckless", "Into the Fire" was released the bar was set high. Bryan Adams returned with much of the "Reckless" team in tact - co-writer Jim Vallance, producer and mixer Bob Clearmountain, and band members Keith Scott, Dave Taylor, and Mickey Curry. Thus the formula was set to pick up where Reckless left off.This album did not approach the volume of sales that "Reckless" did. However, this album took the next step in Bryan Adams' career and froma quality standpoint, reached heights well and beyond what "Reckless" had set. Bryan who now is getting closer to age 30 in this album gets away from his tales of a college-age male and starts to explore more serious themes in life. It's clear that the commerical success of "Reckless" put Adams in the spotlight and probably had to make him grow up quickly. Now we see a new found maturity in Adams while maintaining the rock and roll edge and intensity that Adams had brought to all of his previous work. No doubt, this album is a masterpiece and gets my nod for "1987 Album of the Year". "Heat of the Night": is the first track on the album. It was also the first released single and was a Top 10 hit. It is the most widely known single on the album. It's a solid track in its own right. It really does provide a nice launching pad from "Reckless" in that it does have the rock and roll edge, but it does show the more mature Adams. Perhaps Adams explores the pressures he found in real-life as a music icon when he says "Couldn't take the pressure, had to leave it behind". The drumming of Mickey Curry is very strong on many tracks on Into the Fire and this song is no exception as Curry really shines. "Into the Fire" is the title track and is very different than any Adams track. The opening Guitar sequence immediately sets a theme of intensity. Adams and Vallance fire out some great lyrics as Adams belts out the opening words "Life - thin as a thread". When Adams sings "Your life's at the crossroads, you watch as it slips through your hands" - we see Adams still exploring this maturity with age theme. Perhaps this is why this became the title track. "Victim of Love" was released as a single as well. This has a nice keyboard overlay with guitar and bass work. Ian Stanley who used to be with Tears for Fears plays keyboards with Vallance on this song. In this song, Bryan explores a broken heart from the guy's point of view. We don't often hear this from the guy's view, but Bryan does a masterful job here bringing a lot of intensity to great lyrics. One great line is when Adams sings " One goodbye was really all it took, now you thumb through the pages of your little black book, but somehow all the numbers look the same". Great song, great intensity, great work. "Another Day" is one of the album's best songs. Nice guitar work and great drums again by Mickey Curry. In this song I get a lot of feel for Vancouver, BC where Adams is based. I guess it has an urban theme to it and possibly the lyrics "Had a job but it fell through, landlord says the rent is due - Oh - Another Day". In this song, Adams explores the everyday problems of life. Since many musicians struggle early. This song is catchy and will leave you wanting more. I'm very surprised it didn't get airplay because I felt it could have easily been a #1 song. "Native Son" is where Adams explores issues beyond those hit by a man hitting his late 20s. Native Son is a song that tells the plight of the North American Native American Indian from the Native American's point of view. The lyrics are so strong that you believe very clearly that Adams understands this position. Especially when he sings "Like Dogs, we were driven from this place, such injustice, time will not erase. All these changes cannot be undone." This track is underrated, but it adds an element of nationalism to this album. Ian Stanley from Tears For Fears again contributes guest keyboards. "Only the Strong Survive": If you saw the movie "Problem Child 2" with the late John Ritter, this song is played during the opening of the movie when John Ritter takes Junior and moves to Oregon. This is another stellar song. This one is more of a throwback to what we saw on "Reckless" and it proves that Adams hasn't moved away from his roots completely. But this song shows Adams maturity has continued his growth as a musician. Mickey Curry has another nice performance on drums on this track. "Rebel": If there are any comparisions to Adams' being Canada's Bruce Springsteen, then I can see this being Adams' answer to Springsteen's "My Hometown". This is a lyrically strong song in which Adams plays a man returning home to a town where he wrecked havic during his teen years. This song parallels a lot of what the album says - Adams moving away from his wild College Days and finding a new found maturity. "Remembrance Day": This is another nationalistic track on the album. It also might be the best track. Once again another strong Ian Stanley contributed keyboard with some great guitar work and hauntingly good Mickey Curry drums. This song describes Canada's contribution to the first World War. The lyrics "The time will come for you and me, we'll be going home when this bloody war has ended" once again has Adams singing from the character's perspective in this song as well feel this story being described from someone who was in the war. Adams and Vallance did their homework here because the end result is outstanding. "Hearts on Fire" was the second single released from this album. It is a great song. If you get Adams' Live! Live! Live! album there is even a better version that was done live in Europe. Like "Another Day" this is a catchy song with quick short song lines combined with some great guitar work and drumming. The band really backs Adams up great on every track.. I look at this song as the opposite of "Victim of Love". In this one, Adams is smitten and brings his rock and roll intensity to describe this. "Home Again" is the final track of the album and sometimes is the most forgotten song. It's a softer song that wraps up this outstanding set. Kind of like "Rebel", Adams explores the theme of coming home. Perhaps a lot of parallels to his real life that took him on the road so much during the 80s. Curry again shines on drums and there is some nice organ work to complement things. All in all, this album is a must have. If you liked Reckless - take the next step because this album really takes you higher!
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