On his 17th studio album, Bryan Adams wraps himself in the Canadian flag like it was a superhero’s cape. How’s It Goin’ heralds a new canon of national anthems to soundtrack the surge in “elbows up” Canuck pride that’s swept the country in the face of economic and existential threats from the Trump administration. Adams wades directly into the fray on “51st State,” an upbeat heartland rocker where he laments the strained relationship with his neighbor to the south while cautioning against any attempt to replace the maple leaf with the stars and stripes. “Lake Ontario” is an even more pointed ripped-from-the-headlines rebuke of White House impropriety, as Adams shuts down the move to rebrand the titular body of water by declaring, “It’s a First Nations name/Not an executive order.” But How’s It Goin’ isn’t afraid to turn its critical lens inward: Be it on the title track’s satirical Stompin’ Tom-style travelogue or the sobering account of B.C.’s infamous “Highway 16,” Adams is keenly aware of the stark contrast between Canada’s natural beauty and the harsh socioeconomic hardships faced by its most vulnerable citizens. Our Favorite Moment: “The Battle of Lundy’s Lane” is a hymn-like stomp-folk sing-along that reminds us tense Canada/US relations are soooo 1812.