On A Day Like Today (1998) Review by Steven Stanley

Nothing but summer nostalgia comes to mind when I put this album on, it's a great album. Blatantly influenced in sound by Britpop, it has a quality 'Oasis' vibe to it. The first 5 songs on this album are where it truely shines, 'How Do Ya Feel Tonight' is a moody rocker with raw guitars that builds up to a superb crescendo not unlike something off a Verve album.

If 'Native Son' off the 'Into The Fire' album is the most underated song, then 'C'mon C'mon C'mon' & 'Fearless' off this album run a bloody close second. 'C'mon C'mon C'mon' has a subtle verse that lulls you into a false sense of security before it launches into the hardest, rawest kickass chorus of BA's career. You are greeted by a wall of guitars and attitude - the coolest song he's ever done? Yeah! Likewise 'Fearless' has a very similar vibe and a killer chorus, Adams rock at it's very best. Once again amazing he's never played this song live. 'Getaway' a perfect upbeat song for driving in the summer is also pretty up. Title track, 'On A Day Like Today' just oozes a feel good factor. "On A Day Like Today, The Whole World Could Change, The Sun's Gonna Shine, Shine Through The Rain"... great song. The video he did for this was also his best ever, featuring a puzzle you had to solve while watching it.

After the first 5 tracks though... which in my opinion is the greatest start to an Adams album ever apart from 'Reckless'... things lose their way a bit. I'm not sure on the lyrical strength of 'I'm A Liar' although the guitars in the song are great. I actually really like 'Cloud #9' within the context of this album, the chicane mix especially is absolutely fantastic and was perfect for it's time - still is. Great summer song... although it should have been released in summer and not May where a rocker like 'Fearless' or 'C'mon C'mon C'mon' should have took it's place. A few badly timed single choices let this album down a bit. There's some great rockers on here but all the public saw from it was the slightly mellow (but great) 'On A Day Like Today', 'Cloud #9' and 'When You're Gone'.

Now, 'When You're Gone'. Although I loved this song when I got the album, and it's a great duet... his live shows and constant trick of getting people onstage to help him sing it has gotten older than time itself. I now just cringe everytime I hear this song. Yes, it's a great pop song but it's just been so overused it's untrue. Granted though, when I first heard this album I thought it was great... so new listeners to this will think likewise. It's a catchy number and really brightens the album up after the slightly sombre start lyric wise.

'Inside Out' and 'If I Had You' mellow things out even more... the former being a great play on words but as far as ballads go this is a weak one for Bryan's standards. 'If I Had You' is well produced and has a great guitar outro. Things get going again with 'Before The Night Is Over' and 'I Don't Wanna Live Forever'. The latter being a decent rocker but not holding a candle to it's live counterpart which rocked like a motherf&%$er. The production is tame in comparison with handclaps in the chorus and dare I even say it... sounding a bit poppish? 'Before The Night Is Over' on the other hand is basically a homage to 'One Night Love Affair' off the 'Reckless' album while the guitar outro's sound distinctly like Natalie Imbruglia's 'Torn'. No surprise that her producer Phil Thornally also worked on this album. Nothing wrong with that though... two great songs fused together to make an enjoyable Adams rocker. Neither of these 2 songs really did it on the album for me though... as they looked tame in comparison to 'Fearless' and 'C'mon C'mon C'mon'.

The album closes with 'Where Angels Fear To Tread' and 'Lie To Me'. 'Angels' is great lyrically and brilliantly produced while 'Lie To Me' is a fitting end to all in all a pretty good album. The only thing that stops this from being a 5 star outing is the slightly poppy feel to some of the rockers, and although the slower numbers are generally great - they maybe made the latter half of the album a little too sombre.

Key Tracks:
C'mon C'mon C'mon
Fearless

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