Cheap On a Day Like Today [Australia Bonus Tracks] (Music) (Bryan Adams) Price

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Customer Reviews of On a Day Like Today [Australia Bonus Tracks]

Bryan Adams Grows Up - Finally
I have never been a Bryan Adams fan. His music (and songwriting) has always seemed so childish and immature. His foray into AC ballad land didn't help the situation. However, something happened to change my opinion on this CD. Quite simply, it's the songwriting. His collaborations with Phil Thornalley and, most importantly, Gretchen Peters has raised the level of quality of his music. Unfortuantely, not a whole lot of people got to hear this in the U.S. with the problems over the A+M/Polygram/Universal merger. The Bryan Adams on the title track may have been a bit too much of a shock for them. It's acoustic-rock sound a la Brit Rock was a good departure. The meaty part of this CD is found in the middle with a succession of good songs - "Fearless" sounds great; as does "I'm A Liar". The studio version of "Cloud Number Nine" is infinitely better than the danced-up single release. And "When You're Gone" is just fun to listen to. A good collection from an artist who seems to be very directionless these days - 2 live albums and 2 greatest hits albums in the space of 5 years?? Come on...

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Strong follow-up to spectacular project
"18 Til I Die" was classic Bryan Adams...all at once hard rock, adult contemporary, and pop. "On a Day Like Today" plays it a little safer but still stands out in Bryan's considerable body of work.

"How Do Ya Feel Tonight" and "C'mon C'mon C'mon" are fine rockers, and the title track was a wise choice for a single. "Getaway" is a true gem, however, with its hard rock matched up to computer-enhanced rhythm section; the contrast of real instruments with sonic boom, along with a terrific chorus, makes this one of Bryan's finest songs ever. Also enjoyable, "Fearless" manages to sound like classic Adams without slipping into the realm of redundant.

"I'm a Liar" and "Cloud Number Nine" have a lighter quality that reminds one of the Eagles and other 70's light rock...and that's no insult. The inclusion of a Spice Girl surely gives pause to some, but Melanie C. manages to blend well with Bryan on the engaging rock tune "When You're Gone."

The album slips into a trio of average tunes near the end: "Inside Out," "If I Had You," and "Before the Night is Over" are nothing special but still listenable. "I Don't Wanna Live Forever" is this album's token speed-rock tune usually found on an Adams project; however, Bryan's recent inclusion on a charity album for breast cancer research (he was on the cover as well) make its title seem a little eerie. Surely he meant it to be another fun, rock-while-you're-young anthem, and it's definitely a fun track if you can look past the irony. The album closes with a Lennon-esque ballad, the beautiful "Where Angels Fear to Tread."

All in all, the album isn't as diverse and striking as "18 Til I Die," but this is still Bryan Adams at his most listenable. A day like "Today" is a good one indeed.

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Adult Contemporary Adams - but less 'Personal Passion'
Bryan Adams' "On A Day Like Today" again marked a new chapter in a legendary career. In the 80s, Bryan did some great work on albums such as "Cuts Like a Knife", his signature album "Reckless", his deep album "Into the Fire", and his commerically successful "Waking Up The Neighbours". Following that string of 4 albums, Bryan released "18 Til I Die" which really didn't achieve the glory of those past 4 albums. His next Studio album was this one and unfortunately, this album keeps Bryan Adams stagnent and makes me wonder if he will ever achieve the heights he had in the 80s.

Like "18 Til I Die" this is not a terrible album, but it just doesn't reach the high standards set by Bryan Adams in the past. Unlike "18 Til I Die" which was an album in which Bryan Adams had a "Mid Life Crisis and Youthful resurgance", this album goes back toward a more mature Bryan Adams. I can best describe this as his "Adult Contemporary Album". Most of the songs could easily be played on an "Adult Contemporary" or "Mix" station. A big change on this album is the absence of Robert "Mutt" Lange (Mr Shania Twain). Lange was a major contributer from a musicianship, songwriting, and production standpoint on the last 2 albums. Lange was never able to achieve the great songwriting that Bryan had with Jim Vallance in the 80s, but didn't do a bad job. The replacement for Lange was producer Phil Thornalley. Thornalley also co-writes some songs with Bryan. The other main co-writer with Bryan is Gretchen Peters whom Bryan worked with on the "Unplugged" live album. As for the Adams Band - Mickey Curry, Dave Taylor, and Keith Scott are all back. Gone is keyboardist Tommy Mandel.

So what doesn't help this album reach the bar that Adams has set. My big feel is that many of the songs lack the personal passion that Bryan brought on all of his albums up until this one. There are 4 songs ("Before the Night Is Over", "I Don't Wanna Live Forever", "When You're Gone", and "Cmon Cmon Cmon") on this album that do show the old passion, but for the most part it does lack the personal passion. Especially the title track "On a Day Like Today" - I thought one of the weakest tracks on the album was picked as the title song. The song does nothing to stick in my mind. It is really the four songs I list above which really carry the album as a whole.

"Before the Night Is Over" has almost a feel from "Reckless" to it. It is the strongest song on the album. Just from the opening chords and lines "Hey Baby". If I were the record company and Adams, this would have been the single I released. "I Don't Wanna Live Forever" quick tempo to it and has some great raspy vocals and harmonies, although it doesn't quite have a feel from "Reckless" (this song really stands more on its own as opposed to comparing to past works. "Cmon Cmon Cmon" has a very 90s feel to it and it almost reminds me of "Rock On" and kind of reminds me of a much softer and more mature version of Michael Damian's "Rock On".

"When You're Gone" is the most interesting and eye-catching song. The reason is that Melanie C from the Spice Girls (better known by her Spice Girl persona 'Sporty Spice'). This song starts with almost a retro Beach Boys start. Don't let the Spice Girls connection shy you away from this song. Melanie C holds her own in this song and blends her harmonies beautifully with Bryan on this song. Melanie C basically does background vocals for the entire song and my only complaint is I would have liked to hear her get a little more of a solo (she does get a couple of solo lines). I give Bryan credit for not being afraid to put a Spice Girl on one of his albums.

So Bryan Adams will go the Adult Contemporary Route marking another chapter in what is sure to be a Hall of Fame Career. This won't be one of his albums that gets him into the Hall of Fame, but it won't prevent him from getting in.