Butch Walker, when MV last saw him, was in Train. He released a song in the early 2010s called “Summer Of 89.” It reflects on growing up in the pre-internet age and at one point says: “nobody told me Bryan Adams wasn’t cool, the TV just told me he was.”
Genuinely, I’ve never cared less about what’s “cool.” I like what I like, and I’ll take whatever anyone wants to say about it. But for well over 40 years, I’ve loved Bryan Adams.
Which brings us to album number 16 in a storied career.
“Roll With The Punches”—the song specifically, but also the album—has the sound that Bryan Adams has made feel so effortless over the years. Arena rock. And you best believe he’s not apologising for it. He’s big, brash, and he wants you to like the songs. What’s wrong with that?
There’s a glee in the closing solo here, just as there was when he played it live in the spring, when MV went to see him.
That night he also played the blue-collar rocker “Make Up Your Mind”—a singalong, energetic thing about getting back with your ex. Maybe it’s the girl from “Run To You,” maybe not. Maybe another affair. Who knows? What I do know is it’s supremely well done and sounds like a million dollars.
“Never Ever Let You Go” isn’t the power ballad you might expect. Its chorus is infectious, and you just wish Bon Jovi and the like could sound this modern without being boring. It’s pop, yes, but the bloke is popular.
And it’s striking how modern this all sounds. “A Little More Understanding” has a Stones groove and a soulful heart—and 2025 needs more empathy, that’s for sure.
What’s refreshing about Adams is how positive he is. In other hands, “Life Is Beautiful” might sound twee, but he means it.
Take “Love Is Stronger Than Hate,” with its Springsteen vibes. The small-town images burst forth, and he’s looking at the simple beauties of life. “Home is where you are safe,” he sings, and there’s such warmth in that.
But he’s grooving here too, and there are some mighty ones. “How’s That Working For Ya” revels in the protagonist’s (deserved) misfortune. It’s also one of the best songs here.
And of course, there are some tearjerkers. “Two Arms To Hold You” carries a touch of folk, but it proves there’s nobody who writes better ballads than Adams.
If you fancy a bit of a power-pop chugger, then “Be The Reason” has you covered. Even better, it subscribes to my worldview that the world on the TV news isn’t reality. I believe most people are decent, and it’s about time the media reflected that. (My own little protest is that we never run negative reviews on this site, but I digress.)
Oddly, for such an upbeat record, things end on a downer. “Will We Ever Be Friends Again” sees him longing to see her once more. The hopeless optimist in him, though, clearly reckons if he does, he’ll win her back.
So, for all the optimists, for all those who believe something good will happen, for those who reject hate: “Roll With The Punches” is for you.
Rating: 8.5/10
