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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
285 of 304 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!
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4.6 out of 5 stars
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
5.0 out of 5 stars
Baz
What can you say about this, an all time classic. It is permanently in my car collection a superb artist.
Published 2 days ago by Wistwood
5.0 out of 5 stars
Adele 21
Fabulous, looking forward to the next album!!!!!! Every song really is great. I cant get enough of her work
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Published 2 days ago by Mrs. Margaret M. Smith
5.0 out of 5 stars
Adele 21 - Excellent
This is the first time I have bought an Adele album and I must admit that this is a brilliant album which I highly recommend.
Published 5 days ago by Cornishman
4.0 out of 5 stars
Great voice
fabulous voice but buying albums like this makes you realise why we are moving to just downloading tracks rather than whole albums these days
Published 7 days ago by timk
5.0 out of 5 stars
Lyrical
Great songs which dont need to be written on the sleeve of cd because singing is so clear. Bought as used item, few marks on case but cleaned up well.
Published 7 days ago by Elsie
5.0 out of 5 stars
Bought as a gift
I bought this CD for my daughter, but have to agree with her assessment of this young lady. The girl can sure sing
Published 7 days ago by GhostUponTheStage
5.0 out of 5 stars
Great singer and songs...
wanted this CD for ages and glad I have purchased it now. What a voice and talent.
Speedy delivery, yet again!!!
Dave
Speedy delivery, yet again!!!
Dave
Published 7 days ago by D. A. Springall
5.0 out of 5 stars
Amazing songwriter and singer
Adele has the most amazing voice and the songs are beautifully composed. I especially like "we almost had it all"
Published 10 days ago by Margaret
5.0 out of 5 stars
Sperb album by a superb singer
Sperb album by a superb singer. Am thoroughly enjoyin listening to this superb soulful album by a great British singer.
Published 12 days ago by Mr. William Mitchell
5.0 out of 5 stars
Brilliant
every track on this CD is brilliant, , just brilliant I love every track and play this cd over and over again,
Published 14 days ago by D. Park
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