18 Til I Die

On 18 TIL I DIE, Bryan Adams abandons the MOR ballad format that made him a household name, in favour of a raw, unfettered approach. With the aid of producer Mutt Lange (who adds some guitar as well), Adams has assembled a raucous group of songs high on energy and low on gloss. The majority of the tracks on 18 TIL I DIE are powered by heavily-distorted guitar and insistent drums. more...

In addition to his new predilection for raw-bones rockers, Adams seems to have developed an irreverent sense of humour; note the lascivious, offbeat lyrics of "The Only Thing That Looks Good On Me Is You" and "(I Wanna Be) Your Underwear". In fact, his new-found lewdness might make this the first Bryan Adams album ever to be disapproved of by parents. Most likely, though, mom and dad will be pacified by "Have You Ever Really Loved A Woman", the soft, romantic megahit from the movie "Don Juan De Marco" that is the exception to Adams' new rocking rule.

Entertainment Weekly (6/7/96, pp.57-58)
- "...18 TIL I DIE is hackwork, yet hackwork so upfront about its intentions and so eager to please that it's hard to despise..." - Rating: B-