Bryan Adams is coming in concert to Charlotte, NC on May 4th, 2019.  I thought this would be a great date night for my wife and I so bought 2 tickets.  With each pair of tickets you buy, you get a copy of the new Bryan Adams album ‘Shine A Light’.  I hadn’t bought any new Adams stuff in quite some time so I was glad to get this and I thought, why not review it.  So, here is that review.

The first thing I noticed is that Bryan is more Easy Listening than he is rock now and I guess that comes with age.  And getting through those first two tracks was not easy to listen to at all.  The first song is the title track, “Shine A Light”, and was written by both Bryan and Ed Sheeran.  Yes, the Ed Sheeran.  It is a catchy enough song, but it is pure pop dribble.  And the second track is no better as it is a duet with Jennifer Lopez called “That’s How Strong Our Love Is”. Yes, the J-Lo herself.  Now if you can make it through those tracks, it will get better, I promise.

“Part Friday Night, Part Sunday Morning” is probably my favorite song on the album.  It is a fun, good old-fashion rock song that Bryan is really good at it.  Great tempo and great rhythm and all around good time.  Not to be out done is “Driving Under the Influence of Love” written with his long time writing partner, Jim Vallance.  Another rocker that takes me back to Bryan in the 80’s.  These are the two songs that should have kicked off this album rather than that crap before it.  It is uptempo and has a guitar solo.  What more could you want.

“All or Nothing” has the old Bryan guitar sound and is a mid-tempo rock song, but the chorus is what bothers me with this one.  The chorus is more generic and the song overall lacks any kind of heart.  Too bland. “No Time For Love” sounds like an old 50’s/60’s style rock song with a little rockabilly, a little piano and happy guitar solo.  This one picks me back up and is quite enjoyable.

“I Could Get Used To This” is another great rock track.  With all it’s “hoo hoos” and “yeah yeahs” it keeps the feet tapping, the head bobbing, and at under 2 minutes is a get in, get out good time.  Then we get the slow ballad “Talk to Me”.  It meanders along at a real slow tempo and comes close to losing you, but Bryan’s vocals keep you engaged just enough and it starts to grow on you.  At least it is not a real cheesy pop ballad.

“The Last Night On Earth” is another upbeat song that moves at a quick pace that feels like you are running.  The quick delivery and tempo makes you want to get up and dance.  “Nobody’s Girl” is not a bad song, it is more filler than killer.  Some nice keyboards, but too bland for me.  And then we get back to the cheesy pop song with “Don’t Look Back”.  It feels like modern Bon Jovi song which is already bad enough.

The best song on the album might actually be the cover of Thin Lizzy’s “Whiskey in the Jar”.  Bryan turns it in to a masterpiece filled with his raspy vocals, acoustic guitar and some great harmonica.  It is slowed down a little and brilliantly interpreted.  He turned it in to his own song.

Track Listing:

1. Shine a Light – Delete
2. That’s How Strong Our Love Is (feat. Jennifer Lopez) – Delete
3. Part Friday Night, Part Sunday Morning – Keeper
4. Driving Under the Influence of Love – Keeper
5. All Or Nothing – Delete
6. No Time For Love – Keeper
7. I Could Get Used to This – Keeper
8. Talk to Me – Keeper
9. That Last Night on Earth – Keeper
10. Nobody’s Girl – Delete
11. Don’t Look Back – Delete
12. Whiskey in the Jar – Keeper

The track score is a 7 out of 12 or 58% which isn’t great, but the keepers are really good and I have them now in my Bryan Adams playlist.  Overall, I would score the album a 3 out 5 Stars (barely) as there is some good stuff on here once you past those horrid first two songs.  Bryan still has it in him and delivers some really great songs on here. He keeps it fun and entertaining and that is all I really want anyway.   I can’t wait to see him live next month and will definitely write-up a review of that as well.  I feel it will get a much better review.