Collecting quite the discography, releases his 17th studio album, ‘How’s It Goin’’, a set of thirteen tracks all inspired by the country that made him who he is today – Canada.
After writing a song for the documentary, Canada’s Wild Eastern Edge, Adams was “inspired to write songs about Canada” and “make a record about Canada”. ‘How’s It Goin’’ is not just an album, it’s a history lesson on the country and its culture.
From the moment you press play, you land in a jangly Americana soundscape with the title track, ‘How’s It Goin’’. Named after a greeting commonly used by Canadians, the upbeat track shows Adams’ journey across Canada, from Vancouver to The Yukon, with witty observations on life in the Great White North.
In the classic Heartland Rock track ‘Diesel and Dirt’ Adams reflects on growing up affected by economic turbulence, beautifully transforming his experience into an emotive track with raspy vocals, weeping guitars and thought-provoking lyrics – “the well is running dry / while the price of fuel climbs up to the sky / the margins are zero / trying to make ends meet”.
Leaning into the Americana sound he has perfected over the years, Adams crafts his own folk ballad to pay tribute to one of Canada’s most inspirational figures, Terry Fox. Not as well-known outside of Canada, Terry Fox was a young man who lost a leg to cancer but still ran the length of the country to raise money for cancer research before tragically passing away in 1980, at the age of just twenty two. The most touching moment on the album, ‘The Ballad of Terry Fox’ sees Adams commending Fox’s endurance – ‘he didn’t run for medals / he didn’t run for gold / but for people and their stories / that never would be told’.
When it comes to his home country, Adams doesn’t hold anything back, and this includes his strong feelings about the political relationship between Canada and America. In the bold rock track ‘51st State’, Adams’ spirited lyrics directly address America – more specifically Donald Trump and his tariffs. Mentioning the countries’ previous close alliance, Adams sings ‘maybe you forgot / maybe you just don’t care / we always stood beside you for that liberty we share’, but ultimately shares his view that Canada and America will always remain unconnected – ‘go and load us up with tariffs / but we’ll never be the 51st state’.
A perfect album for those wanting to learn more about Canada, Adams uses his engrossing storytelling lyricism to inform listeners about key Canadian events. Against folky guitars and with heartfelt vocals, Adams tells stories, from when Canada got its tenth and final province in 1949 on ‘When Canada Joined Newfoundland’, to the tragedy of the collapse of Vancouver’s Second Narrows Bridge on the emotional ode, ‘The Bridge’.
Another Americana extravaganza, this album is more about the message than the sonics. Empowering and patriotic, Adams succeeds in showing the world that Canada is about much more than maple.
7/10