Waking Up the Neighbours
Bryan Adams · 1991
74 min · 15 tracks · alternative rock
Melodic rock anthems intertwine with heartfelt ballads, showcasing Bryan Adams' distinctive raspy vocals and emotive songwriting.
Top tracks — play these first
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Is Your Mama Gonna Miss Ya? Start here — establishes the sonic palette early
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(Everything I Do) I Do It for You — This iconic power ballad showcases Adams' ability to blend emotional depth with commercial appeal, becoming a defining track in his discography.
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Can't Stop This Thing We Started — An upbeat anthem that captures the essence of early '90s rock energy, this track highlights Adams' knack for catchy hooks and relatable lyrics.
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Do I Have to Say the Words? — This song features poignant lyrics that articulate vulnerability and longing, making it a standout moment of emotional resonance within the album.
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Thought I'd Died and Gone to Heaven — This track combines lush instrumentation with romantic themes, illustrating Adams' skill at crafting radio-friendly songs that still feel personal.
Elevation
Our rating, out of 100 — and why.
AI-generated from five scored dimensions. An opinion, not a measurement.
The album blends rock anthems with ballads but lacks strong cohesion and depth over time.
What we noticed
- The first five tracks are upbeat and driven by electric guitars, while the subsequent tracks shift to slower tempos and more introspective lyrics.
- The album features a prominent use of layered harmonies in the choruses, particularly in tracks like 'Can't Stop This Thing We Started' and '(Everything I Do) I Do It for You'.
- Composition 25% of the score
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6/10
- Craft 20% of the score
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7/10
- Durability 25% of the score
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6/10
- Distinctiveness 18% of the score
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6/10
- Sequencing 12% of the score
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5/10
the writing — melody, harmony, structure, lyrics
production, performance, arrangement
whether it rewards returning to it
whether it sounds like itself
running order, pacing, length
Significant within its genre. Reported but not counted — how far a record travelled describes its reception rather than the record, and a newer release has had less time to travel than an older one.
Is this for you?
Good fit if you like
- dynamic journey with emotional peaks
- heartfelt ballads for reflective moments
- sing-along anthems for gatherings
- uplifting tracks for road trips
Maybe skip if you
- prefer instant gratification tracks
- avoid lengthy, immersive experiences
Where this album fits
- In the catalog
- Breakthrough — This album solidified Adams' reputation with major hits, including a chart-topping single.
- Career context
- Released on September 24, 1991, Waking Up the Neighbours marked a significant moment in Bryan Adams' career as it followed his commercial peak with the previous album, Reckless. This album solidified his status as a leading figure in the rock genre of the early '90s, featuring multiple chart-topping hits and further expanding his global audience.
- Stylistic neighbors
- John Mellencamp· Rod Stewart· Bon Jovi
Tracklist
- 1 Is Your Mama Gonna Miss Ya? Start here 4:40
- 2 Hey Honey – I’m Packin’ You In! 3:59
- 3 Can’t Stop This Thing We Started 4:29
- 4 Thought I’d Died and Gone to Heaven 5:48
- 5 Not Guilty 4:12
- 6 Vanishing 5:03
- 7 House Arrest 3:57
- 8 Do I Have to Say the Words? 6:11
- 9 There Will Never Be Another Tonight 4:40
- 10 All I Want Is You 5:20
- 11 Depend on Me 5:07
- 12 (Everything I Do) I Do It for You 6:34
- 13 If You Wanna Leave Me (Can I Come Too?) 4:43
- 14 Touch the Hand 4:05
- 15 Don’t Drop That Bomb on Me 5:58
If this landed
Records by other artists that run on the same instinct.
Dizzy Up the Girl
Goo Goo Dolls
Shares emotive rock ballads and anthemic choruses with a focus on romantic themes.
Keep the Faith
Bon Jovi
Combines hard rock energy with heartfelt lyrics, echoing similar themes of love and resilience.
Rush Street
Richard Marx
Features polished production and emotionally driven songwriting, aligning closely with romantic balladry.
Reference: Wikipedia · MusicBrainz · Wikidata
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