English singer-songwriter, Adele, received the 2009 Grammy Award for Best New Artist after the success of her debut album "19", released in 2008. Three years later, the songstress returns with her sophomore effort simply titled "21", which has already garnered critical acclaim and topped the album charts in may countries. The album is a step up from the artist's previous effort, which was a hard task to accomplish, because Adele experiments with different sounds in order to create an album that does not come off as just one extremely long track. The vocals that are present will blow your mind, true talent is showcased here.
The critically and commercially successful album begins with one of the best songs on the entire track list. "Rolling in the Deep" fuses genres of soul and gospel to create a true masterpiece. Adele's vocals are a powerhouse on the track as they always are; but hints of attitude are present during the performance which sets the song apart from anything the artist has done before. The final product us a beautiful creation which will be become the greatest hit of her career. The story behind "Rumour Has It" is the typical story of a love gone badly. Where the track truly succeeds is in the quality of the songwriting. The lyrics flow very nicely and the vocals that are provided really give the song some life. The chorus nay be unoriginal and stops the track's true potential, but it is another well done piece of music by the artist that changes its vibe and tempo towards the end to become something completely different. Adele's vulnerability becomes apparent on "Turning Tables". She invokes so much emotion singing about the one that she loves, but knows that she cannot be with them. The production is kept simple in order to allow the artist's true talent to shine, and shine bright it does. With one listen you will be able to feel everything that the singer is feeling which is what every song should strive to do. The track is effortless and amazing as usual. The piano driven "Don't You Remember" is good in every way, but its downfall is the fact that it will get lost sandwiched in between other amazing tracks. The vocals are great, and the production does not do anything wrong, but I just could not really get into the track even though it seemed very heartfelt. I will say that the last minute of the song is by far the best because the delivery and tempo gets picked up a little. Another highlight off the album comes from "Set Fire to the Rain". The main reason for the praise given to the song is the fact that it is a different sound for Adele which I enjoyed very much. The performance is one of her best and the chorus is a great moment in itself, but it keeps the whole thing from becoming boring or sounding similar to the rest of the tracks. Everything about the track works: lyrics, vocals, and all. The album continues with "He Won't Go". The song begins with a slow instrumental intro and that pace is kept throughout the entire track. Again, I find that the material and vocals are the best that they could possible be, but nothing about the song makes it truly memorable. I would classify the song as "average", something I have hears before, a track that was needed to fill up some space. It is just not what I would consider my favorite. The slow, ballad-like vibe of "Take It All" is what makes it become a haunting moment for the album. Unlike the track before it, the song will be remembered for the pain that the artist is going through. The performance is another job well done and is an example of why Adele is a true artist and not just another artist that relies on producers to make their voice sound good. The track is amazing and everything about it is done right. The somber beats and vibe seemed to have disappeared once "I'll Be Waiting" begins to play. Adele's vocals are powerful as she belts out lyrics telling the man that she loves that she will wait for him no matter how long it takes. The chorus is loud and contains a certain sound that has not been heard before on the album. The song is very soulful, sounds like a classic, but kept modern at the same time to create a great listen. The song that anyone will be to relate to is the beautifully written "One and Only". To me, the message that I carry away from the song is the story of two friends becoming much more. With amazing vocals, Adele confesses her love for the one that she wishes to hold close to her. The song may sound like something the artist has already done before, but if you look deeper into the meaning you will be able to discover something entirely new. "Lovesong" is as soft and sweet as the entire album gets. The track is one that anyone will find comfortable singing to the special someone that they have space for in their heart. The ballad is perfection due to the fact that the lyrics come off as if they were lifted straight from the artist's diary. The pace of the song is just right and it gives off the mood needed to fully bring out the song's true potential. The album closes with one final amazing music moment. "Someone Like You" finishes the album on a high, positive note mainly for the fact that it is another memorable, chilling performance from the artist. Each note is hit the way that it should be and the material describing love will hit a chord with any listener. Loving someone is hard, but Adele shows it is harder to let someone go because you know it is the right thing to do.
"21" was completed just as the singer reached the young age of twenty one. The album showcases mature material dealing with love and heartbreak and vocals that would impress any music lover, whether they are a fan of the genre or not. Adele has proved that she is nothing but immense talent, racking up awards wherever she goes. This latest effort is an improvement from her debut and will surely gain more recognition for the artist. For powerful vocal talent, tracks that are written to perfection, and a cohesive sophomore effort, "21" receives a strong and solid 90%.
Tracks to Hear: "Rolling in the Deep", "Set Fire to the Rain", and "One and Only"
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