During the first few years of the 90s, Bryan Adams reigned as one of the world's biggest chart-toppers. The crossover success of his melodic power ballads, such as "(Everything I Do) I Do It For You," "Do I Have to Say the Words," "Please Forgive Me" and "All For Love" played a large role in the multiplatinum sales of his 1991 album, Waking Up t...

During the first few years of the 90s, Bryan Adams reigned as one of the world's biggest chart-toppers. The crossover success of his melodic power ballads, such as "(Everything I Do) I Do It For You," "Do I Have to Say the Words," "Please Forgive Me" and "All For Love" played a large role in the multiplatinum sales of his 1991 album, Waking Up the Neighbors, and his greatest hits collection, So Far So Good. However, as the decade progressed, Adams' popularity began to slip, partially due to a lackluster record (1996's 18 Til I Die), partially due to the changing trends. The biggest criticism of 18 Til I Die was the absence of strong ballads and the unbalanced, grunge-rock anthems. With On A Day Like Today, it is obvious that Adams took 18 til I Die's criticism to heart; the album shoots for a crossover success by using a softer, tamer sound. Unfortunately, most of the songs prove just why Adams has been unable to generate a real hit in the last few years: he's obviously run out of ideas. Nearly all of the melodies lack good hooks, and the lyrics to such songs as "If I Had You" are miserably trite (though lyrics were never a noteworthy talent for Adams). Especially unforgivable is the cheap single "When You're Gone," which "features" backing vocals by Melanie Chism of the Spice Girls, which can be taken as obvious attempt by Adams to stay in the public's eye by hiring a "star of the minute" who plays music nothing like his own. Fans will find On A Day Like Today to be a better album than 18 til I Die, but they will still probably agree that MTV Unplugged is Adams' best late-90s record. ~ Barry Weber, All Music Guide