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Review
One of the few real beneficiaries of The X Factor effect – her version of Dylan’s Make You Feel My Love has been darting about the top 40 since the audition rounds, showing more staying power than poor Joe McElderry’s last two singles combined – Adele’s stock has risen significantly since becoming the first recipient of the Brits Critics’ Choice award. Since then she’s picked up Grammys and broken the States as a bonus, so the pressure was clearly on for her next move to deliver big. And, oh my, with 21 doesn’t she just.
The last few years have seen those who started strongly become mightily unstuck on their sophomore efforts. For every Lily Allen there’s been a Kate Nash or a Duffy – the latter’s comeback, Endlessly, seems to have fallen on significantly fewer ears than the 2.8 million who liked her debut – so it’s a treat to hear that no such problems beset 21. It really is so marvellous, you’re almost compelled to stand up and applaud it after the first listen.
With a top-notch production team behind the album, including Rick Rubin and Paul Epworth, every track is a highlight. Current single, Rolling in the Deep, is a modern soul stomper about an errant ex; the literally banging Rumour Has It channels the avenging rock‘n’roll soul of Wanda Jackson; there’s a fine, mellow, acoustic bossa nova-y take on The Cure’s Lovesong. Don’t You Remember is a classically styled ballad, which feels like the sort of tune you’ve known all your life – many are certain to bawl along to it the next time their hearts are broken; and the blues-bruised I’ll Be Waiting could’ve come from any Willie Mitchell-produced southern soul session. Final track Someone Like You, just voice and piano, is an actual thing of beauty, placing the listener in one of those moments where you feel you’re in the presence of a future standard. You can imagine it being both honked through by talent show contestants and transcended by veterans alike.
21 is simply stunning. After only a handful of plays, it feels like you’ve always known it. It will see Adele become an even greater award magnet come the end of the year, leaving her contemporaries for dust. Genuinely brilliant.
--Ian Wade
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
286 of 305 people found the following review helpful
By Don Panik
TOP 500 REVIEWER
Format:Audio CD
'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.
172 of 194 people found the following review helpful
By shaunie
Format:Audio CD
Not suprisingly for someone in my forties, 19 passed me by completely but I was brought to the edge of the sofa by Adele when she performed 'Someone Like You' on Jools Holland. I have subsequently played this song a thousand times and am still not tired of it. Dumbfounded how someone so young could write such an insightful and beautiful song and then deliver it with such power against that achingly simple piano. Less is more. And then listening to chirpy Miss Adkins herself discussing giving up smoking and walking her dog on Radio Two at the weekend. She is amazing and so is this album. Of course her voice is amazing but those songs? And alongside this faultless production and US influence, something very special has been created. If you don't like this, whatever your musical taste (I'm no soul boy) your heart has died. She is going to be a Megastar.
103 of 124 people found the following review helpful
By Mr. R. G. Prizeman
TOP 1000 REVIEWER
Format:Audio CD|Amazon Verified Purchase
First of all Adele 21,as a piece of Music is a great, Turning tables, Set fire to the rain are just brilliant, and the Cure cover Lovesong also fantastic. So why the three stars. Well first of all Adele 21 is a five star album, however the compression on this CD is unbearable,it has at times is so harsh it has distorted the music.This appears to be because the transfer being so loud you loose the quality of the recording. I was so disappointed with the sound I bought the vinyl version hopping it would be better, it is not leaps and bounds but it is of a higher quality than the CD. I can only believe the CD has been mastered from an MP3 file, hence the loss of quality. I appear not be the only one who felt this i looked on line and it appears to be many people upset by this transfer. I personally do not understand why this is being done, why can't the record companies just let the quality of the recording come through. If you want to know what I mean put the CD in a reasonably good system and turn it up, you will not be able to go to loud before the sound begins to distort and clip,if this is the future we are going backwards, there are many recording 50 years older than this that sound 100% better. This is a shame that one of the best albums this decade has been mastered so badly I do hope XL recording take note and solve this problem. Those thinking of buying the vinyl version don't bother it sounds the same as the CD. This review is based on the very poor quality of the CD so please make sure you understand it not for the album musically. Shoot the mixer!
49 of 60 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD
Very few singers have a voice that can transform every song they sing into something special but Adele is certainly in that category. Her range on 21 is incredible through conveying every emotive word with feeling and soul to pitching a tempo akin to some of the all time Motown greats. The Brits performance and this album sum Adele up perfectly - the voice is the performance.
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
By JKM
Format:MP3 Download|Amazon Verified Purchase
Adele's second albumn is an improvement on her first "19". For me it has a better balance with more changes of pace and it also contains the high impact songs that "19" didn't really have.
"Rolling In The Deep", the opener on "21" is one such high impact song with a rythmic beat and strong vocal. For the next release Adele should do more songs like this.
The ballads do ultimately outweigh songs like "Rolling In The Deep" and "Rumour Has It", but when the are as good as "Someone Like You" then that is not a big issue, but the don't all quite reach this peak.
Seven tracks make my "1921" play list, "Rolling In The Deep", "Rumour Has It", "Set Fire To the Rain", "He Won't Go", "I'll Be Waiting", "One And Only" and "Someone Like You".
A solid album then but I would still like a bit more rhythmn.
"Rolling In The Deep", the opener on "21" is one such high impact song with a rythmic beat and strong vocal. For the next release Adele should do more songs like this.
The ballads do ultimately outweigh songs like "Rolling In The Deep" and "Rumour Has It", but when the are as good as "Someone Like You" then that is not a big issue, but the don't all quite reach this peak.
Seven tracks make my "1921" play list, "Rolling In The Deep", "Rumour Has It", "Set Fire To the Rain", "He Won't Go", "I'll Be Waiting", "One And Only" and "Someone Like You".
A solid album then but I would still like a bit more rhythmn.
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
By S. Hunt
Format:Audio CD|Amazon Verified Purchase
This is a must have album if you like Adele.
A far better album, for me, than 19, I really do recommend this.
Buy it!
A far better album, for me, than 19, I really do recommend this.
Buy it!
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
By peter upton
Format:Audio CD|Amazon Verified Purchase
You don't need to be told that Adele's voice is amazing, from heartrending subtlety to strident, from melancholic to passion and with the songs to match. Hard to believe she is only 25 as the voice seems wise beyond years and the songs reflect a strong sense of knowing. The music appeals to all ages and genres and part of her success is her ability to engage audiences so easily.
Enjoy
Enjoy
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4.6 out of 5 stars
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
5.0 out of 5 stars
wonderful
a lovely cd, play it quite often when driving the car. can not go wrong with this item the best she has recorded
Published 20 hours ago by william m
5.0 out of 5 stars
Love it
I downloaded this album onto my phone as I have loved it since its release. I have the cd already. Adele is so brilliant, who would not like listening to her music.
Published 1 day ago by Annie
5.0 out of 5 stars
Great
First cd I have of adele and I really love it glad I bought it may buy another one of her cd,s.
Published 1 day ago by isabella cox
5.0 out of 5 stars
Adele 21 CD album
Brilliant album what a fantastic voice and you could listen to it over and over again and never tire of the album
Published 2 days ago by Jayne
4.0 out of 5 stars
Adele 21
A brilliant singer and song writer...... a very talented lady and worthy of all her recognition. For me she continues to produce great songs sung beautifully.......Recommended
Published 5 days ago by Mr. M. D. Redmond
5.0 out of 5 stars
She is great
Nothing to add to Adele. She is a lovely singer. A very easy going album to listen
to. She is a talent,
to. She is a talent,
Published 15 days ago by shopalot
5.0 out of 5 stars
Husband loves it!
I bought it for my husband for his birthday as he likes Adele and he is very pleased with it.
Published 15 days ago by Mrs. Margaret Boon
5.0 out of 5 stars
Excellent - as expected
So glad I bought this one. I love everything Adele has done, and the CD is just out of this world. Everything you like about her, and then some...
Published 20 days ago by Jules1979
5.0 out of 5 stars
Perfect
Bought as a gift, but know how great this album is.
Everyone should own a copy of it.
Great tunes.
Everyone should own a copy of it.
Great tunes.
Published 21 days ago by Aduki
5.0 out of 5 stars
21
This is a vibrant melodic album that always puts me in a good mood. This young lady shows what real talent can do.
Published 21 days ago by Jeremy Fisher
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