Adele - 21 (CD 2011)

key tracks:-
rolling in the deep
someone like you
turning tables
set fire to the rain

when adele first appeared a few years ago and winning her first brit award, before even releasing an album, expectations were high. her first album 19 came along and was a cracking debut for a young singer. nobody could predict that 2 years on she would make a massive leap forward with this stunning follow up.

first single 'rolling in the deep' kicks off the album, with its heady mix of blues, pop and soul, frank lyrics and belting vocals, its a great way to relaunch yourself into the public domain.
and album closer 'someone like you' as performed at the brit awards 2011, is dripping in personal hearbreak, and the simplistic piano only heightens adeles mature and powerfull vocal range. but the tracks sandwiched between these two very different and dazzling singles are no less amazing. blues, soul, pop and rock are fused seamlessly together to make a retro sound thats fresh and modern, and gets better with each listen. other highlights include the should-be-future singles set fire to the rain and turning tables.

the critics love it, the fans love it, and im almost certain that if you buy this cd, you will love it to...

'Sometimes it lasts in love... and sometimes it hurts instead'.

My expectations for this release were raised when I saw Adele perform 'someone like you' on Jools Holland - and it literally made me cry. It was the first track that I played when I got hold of the album, and I was pleased that she had stayed with the simplicity of the live performance - but slightly disappointed that the album version is a bit sterile in comparison. But this is nit picking. At a tender age Adele has proven herself as a fantastic writer and performer. Her vocals are distinctive and she is equally at home with pop, blues, soul and torch songs. There are any number of stand out tracks here, - in fact the first six are so good I instantly wanted to repeat play each track on first listen - just to take it in.

This is very much a break up album, sad, but uplifting at the same time. I liked 19 but had no great expectation that she could produce a second record of this quality. Suddenly I am a huge fan.

Highly recommended.

My expectations for this release were raised when I saw Adele perform 'someone like you' on Jools Holland - and it literally made me cry. It was the first track that I played when I got hold of the album, and I was pleased that she had stayed with the simplicity of the live performance - but slightly disappointed that the album version is a bit sterile in comparison. But this is nit picking. At a tender age Adele has proven herself as a fantastic writer and performer. Her vocals are distinctive and she is equally at home with pop, blues, soul and torch songs. There are any number of stand out tracks here, - in fact the first six are so good I instantly wanted to repeat play each track on first listen - just to take it in.

This is very much a break up album, sad, but uplifting at the same time. I liked 19 but had no great expectation that she could produce a second record of this quality. Suddenly I am a huge fan.

Highly recommended.

Believe everything you have heard and probably read! Without doubt this is an album which will be enjoyed by many – and for many, many years. The entire album is a delight from start to finish with some tracks which are indeed classics of the 21st century already and will probably be covered by many artists for many years to come. “Turning Tables”, “Don’t You Remember”, “Set Fire To The Rain”, “Someone Like You” .. I could go on and it would be curt to ignore the other tracks but we all have our personnel favourites! So very talented, so well-written and so well-performed by the musicians involved. I can’t fault it, I really can’t. Adele you have my admiration for your talent which in this day and age is truly unique for someone so young.

I bought the first album from Adele '19' and thought that it was so good, and not like anything that was currently in the charts at the time.

I bought the second album '21', hoping to get the same experience but in a different way. This album is one that will either grow on you or not. At the moment, I like one or two songs, but I don't think it's as strong as '19'. The songs released so far are the best.

Still, I'm very much in support of Adele and artists like her who are brave enough to try something different.