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Adele '21' - Track By Track Review

The singer-songwriter stuns with her heart-wrenching second album...

 

Adele Laurie Blue Adkins, or simply Adele as she is better known, may have been away for three years - but the singer-songwriter is well and truly back if her new album 21 is anything to go by.

 

21, which has been largely produced by Red Hot Chili Peppers collaborator Rick Rubin and Florence and the Machine producer Paul Epworth, is the follow-up to her chart topping debut LP, 19.

 

19 may have given us hits such as Chasing Pavements, Hometown Glory and her mesmerising cover of the Bob Dylan classic, Make You Feel My Love but this album shows Adele's growth as an artist, gifting us with a whole host of new potential chart toppers.

 

Adele's latest offering seemingly draws on the singer's personal experiences - with her break-up from musician Slinky Sunbeam proving to be a prominent theme and an obvious influence throughout the LP - from the powerful Rolling In The Deep to the beautiful, yet tragic, ballad Someone Like You.

 

2011 may have only just kicked off, but we are already predicating that Adele's 21 will be one of the essential albums of the year.

 

Adele - 21 Track By Track

 

1. Rolling In The Deep

The first single taken from 21, Adele describes this foot-stomping anthem as a "dark bluesy gospel disco tune" and we would have to agree. Co-written by Adele and Epworth, the song allows the talented star to show off her belting voice and proves to be the perfect lead single from her new album, leaving us wanting more.

 

2. Rumour Has It

Produced by One Republic frontman Ryan Tedder this bluesy/soul anthem shows a more sassy side to Adele. With its banging drums, infectious beats and cheeky lyrics, you can’t help but tap your feet to this up-tempo number from Miss. Adkin.

 

3. Turning Tables

Adele has recruited the help of Arctic Monkeys producer Jim Abbiss on this enchanting yet delicate piano ballad - again co-written with Tedder. It truly shows off Adele’s voice as we know it best. It’s breathtaking and one of our faves.

 

4. Don’t You Remember

Co-Written by Dan Wilson and produced by Rubin, this country-feel ballad is in our opinion one of the best tracks on 21. With its mellow verses and heartfelt chorus, any listener that has been through heartbreak can relate with Adele. Ironically, this is one we definitely will remember.

 

5. Set Fire To The Rain

Adele has recruited the help of producer Fraser T. Smith on this track, who is responsible for hits such as Tinchy Stryder’s Number 1. Perhaps the most “pop influenced” song on the album, some may say it’s slightly over produced, but we are still loving Adele’s faultless voice, littered with sentiment.

 

6. He Won’t Go

This clever R&B tune sees Adele teaming up with Epworth on lyrics and allows the singer to express a more soulful feel to her voice. Produced by Rubin, it’s a high-spirited number from Adkins, displaying that she is a whole lot more than a blues singer.

 

7. Take It All

Adele goes all gospel on us with this pleasant yet powerful tune. Accompanied by only a piano and choir, Adkins’ voice displays her rawness over the split she has endured, even sounding husky at times. Produced by Abbiss, this again displays Adele’s amazing vocal range.

 

8. I’ll Be Waiting

Adele has teamed up with Epworth again and picked up the pace for this tune, as she muses about the chance to rekindle her romance with a lost love. It is a welcome upbeat track after with the last few ballads.

 

9. One and Only

Another deep, soulful number from Adele, displaying her true talent for songwriting as she dares her ex-lover to be her “one and only.” Her voice is truly exposed in this Rubin produced track, perhaps giving her most powerful vocal performance so far on 21.

 

10. Lovesong

A cover of The Cure track, Adele has proceeded to make another song her own, just as she did with Bob Dylan’s Make Your Feel My Love. Producer Rubin is said to have rearranged the song for Barbra Streisand, who passed on recording it – leaving it up to Adele to bring it to life, which she does perfectly. A beautiful yet moving version of the track, proves to be another highlight of 21.

 

11. Someone Like You

It maybe a cliché, but Adele has saved the best until last with this heartfelt and enchanting piano ballad. Thought to be the second single from 21, Adele has teamed up with Wilkins again for Someone Like You, which tells the story of coming to terms with a failed relationship. Reminiscent of past hit Hometown Glory, this gut-wrenching song has left us with goosebumps. It’s sad but beautiful and displays Adele at her best – marking the perfect end to what has been in our eyes, a faultless album.

Wouldn't this be better in the '21' topic? And considering the album came out over two months ago...