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Music Man: Adele, 21 Album Review

This article is written by a student writer from the Her Campus at DePauw chapter.

If you don’t know who Adele is get ready because her highly anticipated sophomore effort proves she is music’s newest diva and ready to leave her mark in music history. This singer songwriter’s break into the United States wasn’t the easiest journey, but Adele soon gained recognition for her widely successful tracks “Hometown Glory” and “Chasing Pavements.” She later went on to receive several Grammy nominations and took home two of the distinguished awards. On January 24th Adele released her sophomore effort, 21, in limited countries and it instantly climbed to the top of the charts, claiming the number one spot in nine countries. On February 22nd, the critically acclaimed album finally became available in the U.S. 21 is nothing short of a stunning sophomore smash.

The album is an impressive soulful journey that will catch any willing listener’s ear. 21 truly lives up to all the positive praise. It’s a wonderful display of emotional maturity, unexpected for such a young artist. Every track is an astonishing display of Adele’s range and control as a vocalist. The instrumentals add depth and an eerie sense of comfort as Adele sings about love, heartbreak, and every other emotion in between. Adele doesn’t hold anything back and every song is truly a genuine experience.

The first single off the album “Rolling in the Deep” is a fiery track about a love that could have been. Described by Adele as a, “dark bluesy gospel disco tune.” Tension in the song builds with nostalgic lyrics, “the scars of your love remind me of us/ they keep me thinking that we almost had it all,” leading into a heart pounding chorus. The song made its way to the top of numerous charts internationally. Sadly, the single only peaked at number 41 on the US Billboard Hot 100, but did manage to rank better on the adult contemporary charts. Check out the music video below. The video is effortless and lets Adele’s beauty and gorgeous voice do all the work.

The album is full of musical triumphs with every track earning its spot on the album. Buzz tracks on the album include, “Turning Tables,” the third tack on the album and is a sparkling piano ballad about the hardships of rocky relationships. The fourth track, “Don’t You Remember,” is a soulful acoustic track about a love once had. “Set Fire to the Rain,” is the album’s fifth track and my personal favorite from the sophomore effort. The track is beautifully written and has hints of pop infused in the chilling ballad. The album’s eighth track, “I’ll be Waiting,” is an upbeat song about rekindling a lost love. The final track on the album, “Someone Like You,” is a painful piano powered ballad that yearns to understand a failed love. It’s also set to be the second single off the album – a perfect choice.

The album is truly a masterpiece and is going to be one of the top contenders for album of the year. Adele very well may become one of the most iconic singers of this generation with her unforgettable voice and lyricism. It’s unbelievable at the young age of 22 she can write such hard-hitting and emotionally driven songs. It’s a music library must that won’t leave you unsatisfied.

Check out Adele on myspace: http://www.myspace.com/adelelondon

BUY 21 on iTunes TODAY!

Thoughts on Adele? Sound off in the comments below!

Photo Credit: http://idolator.com/5694122/adele-idolator-interview-21 

Leanne Schaub is a senior at DePauw University, class of 2011, where she is majoring in Communication with a minor in Psychology. She is originally from the beautiful town of Leland, located in northern Michigan. Leanne is the President of the Gamma chapter of Alpha Phi and is a Speaking and Listening Center Consultant. On those rare occasions when she is not busy with academics or extracurricular activities, she loves dancing, catching up with family and friends, watching classic movies, being creative, cooking, and organizing.