I'm an Adams die-hard fan who knows his previous work inside out. However, I can be critical if he fails to live up to his talent, unlike sycophantic fans who lap up anything.

Stylewise, 11 is a very mild and toothless affair that mostly veers into adult contemporary territory. The days of `Reckless', `Waking Up The Neighbours', and even `18 Til I Die' are long gone. This album doesn't even measure up to the occasional excitement to be found in Bryan's latter-day work...classic older albums aside, you won't even find the excitement of, say, "Right Back Where I Started From" off of Room Service or "Before the Night is Over" off of On A Day Like Today.

In short, 11 is the worst album in Bryan Adams's career. The disc feels thin. That does NOT mean it sucks, asit boasts a handful of enjoyable tracks...this would be fine for another artist, but it doesn't measure up to the Adams standard. Tracks fail to cover fresh ground, have no rawness/edge, and none of the energy from Adams's vibrant live shows. 11 shows us an artist who really isn't hungry anymore; this much is clear in the album's sleepy vibe. It isn't simply a matter of soft AC stylings vs. edgier rock - the world class craftsmanship and brilliant hooks are mostly absent. This is especially disappointing in light of the return of class writer Jim Vallance. I used to defend Bryan against comments that singled him out as a corny, sappy ballad-crooner by pointing out lesser known songs, from "Touch the Hand" to "Only the Strong Survive". Now I can't defend him anymore.

While 11 is Bryan's worst album to date in terms of songs, sonically it's his BEST! The sonic elements are clear and well-defined: guitars are crisp and elegant, the bass solid, the drums organic and powerful (I wish 'Neighbours' would have had these instead of Mutt Lange's drum machine).

On to the music itself:

1. Tonight We Have The Stars: 8/10. Decent mid-tempo pop rock track, co-written with old collaborator Jim Vallance. No surprises or brilliance (and no balls!), but definitely a good listen.

2. I Thought I'd Seen Everything 8/10. The leadoff single: a catchy, pretty pop-rock confection. Maybe it's a bit predictable and is held back by a lazy & generic lyric ("when Im in your arms, I know I found the one/ it's just the way you are, makes me feel so much"). However, it features a great hook and melodic U2-style guitar in the chorus - the obvious choice for first single. This is an extremely commercial song, but we won't hold that against him because, after all, it's Bryan Adams we're talking about!

3. I Ain't Losin The Fight 7/10. Okay track with some rootsiness (harmonica, slide guitar and other countryish hints) and less pop sheen than the two previous numbers . Like the first song, it's nothing surprising or exciting, just some competent pleasantness to play in the background.

4. Oxygen: 7/10. Acoustic-based uptempo number driven by a steady drumbeat throughout..unfortunately, it sounds better on paper. The style is ok and it's among the better tracks on the album, it's just very blah and bland in the end. The chorus sounds like it's out of a toothpaste commercial.

5. We Found What We Were Looking For 3/10. God, what a plodding snoozefest. Possibly the worst track in the album...slooow, trite, and bargain bin quality. Mutt had a hand in this one, can't believe he's lost it so badly. This makes the clichéd and predictable "Flying" off Room Service sound like a gem.

6. Broken Wings 6/10. Total adult contemporary, and is extremely mellow and laid back. If you can get past that, it's well executed and has some feeling to it; the backing vocals that kick in with the 2nd chorus are a nice touch. Ultimately, though, it's a throwaway track that would have been fine as a B-side or soundtrack ballad. It's ok for the style, but closer to what Rod Stewart is doing these days...I'll take it for what it is, but this isn't what I truly want when I buy a Bryan Adams album.

7. Something to Believe In: 4/10. Boring as all hell....and yes, more adult contemporary to play in your local supermarket or elevator. It's like the poor, toothless little brother of "Broken Wings".

8. Mysterious Ways 4/10. By this point, the album reaches a standstill with yet another sleeping pill. Lyrically, this sees Bryan in introspective mode, pondering life's mysteries as in "This Side of Paradise". It's just lackluster and has no memorable melodies, hooks, or anything else. I dare you to listen and not press the skip button before it's over (if you don't doze off first).

9. She's Got a Way 8/10. The best ballad on the album. Solid with its soaring chorus and melodic guitar. Very enjoyable as it builds to a midtempo AOR feel...you can see hints of BA's fine songwriting chops shine through. Unfortunately, by the time you reach this song, you've been bludgeoned to death with the album's awfully sleepy pacing and are in no mood to listen to another mellow track. It's surrounded by mush, but the song would stand out more in a better, more evenly-paced album.

10. Flower Grown Wild 5/10 - Mediocre. Not terrible, just totally `meh' middle of the road fluff (quality-wise, think "Nowhere Fast" off Room Service). The lyrics and music shows a little more originality than the rest of the album, and the chorus is alright I guess. Fine to listen to a few times, but there's nothing to see here if you're not hardcore. Again, this isn't what I want in a BA album, especially after a 4 year absence.

11. Walk on By 8/10 - Slow track written with Vallance that has a minimal arrangement, it's only an acoustic guitar and strings. It's actually very beautiful in its simplicity and creates a stark, vaguely poignant atmosphere. As with "She's Got a Way", you're in no mood to hear it after so much adult contemporary fluff, but it would fare better in a different album.

Conclusion: The disc does have some redeeming features, but is a mediocrity overall. If you're a casual fan, skip it altogether; or download tracks 1, 2, 9, and 11 off Itunes if you're looking for your Adams fix. Bryan has lost his sense of adventure, has no fire in his belly or desire to bring anything fresh to the table. At least the sound of the album is top notch. As with Room Service, Adams recorded this on the road...he really needs to spend some time in a proper studio with his amazing band (and maybe some new collaborators) so he can focus and put all his effort into recapturing some excitement and edge before he continues to slide towards becoming an artist for the oldies crowd. To me, this album has Bryan in crisis; hopefully he'll snap out of it, but word has it he's not interested in recording any more full-length albums because they don't sell in today's climate. Of course, he's confused correlation with causation: if he released a monster album, MAYBE IT WOULD SELL! It's a waste of talent and gifted musicians....no one is more disappointed than I am.

For a fan of Bryan Adams this release will not disappoint. I had only heard one song from the album before buying it -- but here's the thing... I know what I'm going to get. I buy Bryan because he always delivers great tunes - ballads -- and hits with an emotional impact an feel.

My top 5 favorite pieces from the 11 tracks include:

Track 9. "She's Got A Way."

-- Probably the catchiest tune -- you'll be singing it hours later. Reminds me of the vibrant nature that 18 'til I Die captured.

Track 4. "Oxygen."

-- Great lyrics and a riff that carries you up high!

Track 5. "We Found What We Looking for."

Track 7. "Somethin' to Believe In."

-- Both 5 & 7 are melodic ballads with a great rhythm and passionate bass.

Track 8. "Mysterious Ways."

-- Reminiscent of Elton Johns Rocket Man -- Bryan Adams brings a very mellow ballad into play and leaves the listener intoxicated.

Has a familiar feel to On a Day Like Today and Into the Fire. In my opinion both albums were widely over looked... as I think some may do here too. Don't if you've enjoyed the BA catalog then this one won't disappoint. I will say the album came in at around 47 minutes... not short but I usually expect 50-60 minutes these days.

Be sure to check out the BA [....]

Bryan's voice has never sounded better. This is a great CD, a mix of upbeat and laid back songs. My favorites are Tonight We Have The Stars, I Thought I'd Seen Everything, Mysterious Ways, and Walk On By. If you have enjoyed his last few albums, you'll like this one too!

Unlike the dyed -in-the-wool Adams fans who said they expected more, we were very pleased with this album. It had good balance across the tracks, was very listenable, and did not not become tiring to us in repeated play time.

Based on this experience we would not hesitate to explore more of his music.

Este es un buen album, tiene un sonido es bastante acústico (no es un unplugged, pero se podría llegar a serlo). Realmente me gusto mucho escucharlo una y otra vez, tiene temas muy buenos, sobre todo el primer single "I Thought I'd Seen Everything", por mencionar uno de los tracks. Si eres fanatico de Bryan Adams, no dudes en comprar este cd, y si no lo eres, estoy seguro que te va a gustar, tiene temas muy interesantes y bien elabordos.