Waking Up the Neighbours cover

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

  • →
    Is Your Mama Gonna Miss Ya? Start here — establishes the sonic palette early
  • →
    (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.
  • →
    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.
  • →
    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.
  • →
    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.

50 /100
Foothills
Higher than 23% of albums we've rated

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
6/10

the writing — melody, harmony, structure, lyrics

Craft 20% of the score
7/10

production, performance, arrangement

Durability 25% of the score
6/10

whether it rewards returning to it

Distinctiveness 18% of the score
6/10

whether it sounds like itself

Sequencing 12% of the score
5/10

running order, pacing, length

Influence 6/10

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

Reference: Wikipedia · MusicBrainz · Wikidata