Album Review: Bryan Adams – Roll With The Punches

Bryan Adams is an artist that needs no major introduction. The legendary Canadian has a plethora of hit songs and critically acclaimed albums under his belt, spanning over four decades. His output hasn’t ceased either, this being his 15th studio album and coming just three years after his last So Happy It Hurts. He’s returned this year with another collection of rock hits sure to fill seats on his next stadium tour.

The title track begins the album with aggressive guitar stabs before receding into an atmospheric recording of a winters breeze. When the song truly begins, its a standard upbeat rock affair, Bryan singing about picking yourself back up when you’ve been knocked down by life. Make Up Your Mind is a nostalgic slice of classic rock, complete with reminiscing lyrics on the past relationship at the heart of the track, while Never Ever Let You Go takes a poppier route musically and has a modulated chorus that gives the song lift. A Little More Understanding is an all-out blues rock banger that gives time at the halfway point for the guitar and organ players to shine, soloing back and forth.

The optimistic Life Is Beautiful is a vague but empowering cry for peace and love, comprised of inspiring messages to the young and old alike. Punchy harmonica opens the country-tinged Love Is Stronger Than Hate, a song that touches on outdated mentalities of proving your toughness by fighting and ‘getting two kids and a pickup truck’. Its warm acoustic instrumentation is as soothing as it is entertaining. How’s That Workin’ For Ya? feels like the opposing view on the same theme, the harmonica and mid-tempo remaining but Bryan taking someone down for being a miscreant. Two Arms To Hold You is a loving ballad, while the final two tracks, Be The Reason and Will We Ever Be Friends Again, are a pair of uplifting tunes, the latter bittersweet but full of hope.

Roll With The Punches is as surface level as rock can be, but it makes for an inclusive listening experience. At the level Bryan is at, the record is a perfect excuse to hit the road, with some of the tunes being perfect stadium rock bangers. No doubt fans will eat up what he and his band have cooked up here.

Ryan Bulbeck

Writer and Musician, Ryan Bulbeck has been published with a number of online publications, and has worked with a myriad of great artists, both as a performer, and as a producer. His most recent band The 295 are still active, playing shows around the UK.