On January 24, Adele will release 21 in the UK, the highly anticipated follow-up to her Grammy Award winning debut, 19.
There`s been an overflow of overwhelmingly positive critical praise surrounding this book from various media outlets over the preceding few weeks, so I`m going to admonish you now: Believe the hype. It really is that good.
21 was produced and co-written by a varied range of talented musicians, including 19 producers Jim Abbiss and UK hit-maker Eg White, as good as Rick Rubin (co-president of Columbia Records) and Paul Epworth, the British producer responsible for-amongst many achievements-Florence The Machine`s flawless 2009 debut, Lungs.
But despite the riches of talented producers sitting behind the soundboard in the studio, it`s inconceivable to refuse the true talent at the helm of this project: Adele.
Like a new day reincarnation of Dusty Springfield, the new UK songstress is a reversion to the legendary voices of yesteryear. Her voice`s soulful quality, technique, depth and sheer power is nothing short of awe-inspiring.
But beyond being an adept vocalist, it`s Adele`s ability to emote that carries her a cut above most of today`s singers: When she`s angry, she burns. When she hurts, she bleeds. And we, as the listeners, feel it with every song. To believe she was only 21 days old at the sentence of authorship and recording this album? Well, it`s almost frightening.
"Sure, she`s got it all / But baby, is that truly what you want?" Adele taunts on the wicked, sauntering Ryan Tedder-produced "Rumour Has It"-one of the many bluesy, country-tinged offerings on the new record-a good first introduced to her by the tour bus driver during her American tour last year, which resultedin a wealth of new influences including "Wanda Jackson, Garth Brooks, early Johnny Cash, early Dolly Parton, the Carter Family_especially June Carter."
Yet while the album is occasionally colored with flashes of bright, playful melodies as displayed on "Rumour Has It," the majority of the show is involved in sadness and rage, as evidenced in the gigantic lead single, "Rolling In The Deep." "The scars of your love, they give me breathless / I can`t help feeling we could have had it all," Adele achingly belts out during the song`s pounding chorus.
If "Rolling In The Trench" is 21`s raging storm, it`s the album`s closing moment that finds the gloomy clouds slowly rolling away.
"Someone Like You," is-as pop producer RedOne recently described Lady Gaga`s upcoming single, "Born This Way"-almost too wanted to sing about. "Never mind, I`ll find someone like you /I wish nothing but the better for you too," Adele sadly assures herself above a simple, devastating piano melody. The song burns with a raw ache that we can both hear and feel. They just don`t write them like this anymore! Simply put: This call is everything.
However, it`s "Set Fire to the Rain"-apart from the two aforementioned numbers-that may easily be the album`s crowning achievement.
Produced and co-penned by Fraser T Smith (Taio Cruz`s "Break Your Heart"; James Morrison`s "Broken Strings"), "Set Fire To The Rain" is a pure and perfect triumph for the young chanteuse; an aching power ballad that packs enough of a plug to cause jaws to spend to the floor.
"I set flame to the rain, watched it pour as I moved your face," she cries out during the song`s dramatic, chill-inducing chorus as pianos and string crash and burn beneath the surface. The song plays like an instant classic and, with any luck, may get a pop standard for days to do when released as the album`s second single.
Additional highlights include the white flag-waving surrender of "Make It All," ("So is it ended? Is this really it? / You`re giving up so easily, I thinking you loved me more than this") and the twangy "Don`t You Remember," a simple, heartbreaking moment of lamentation that finds Adele desperately searching for some mark of living from her old flame: "When was the final time you thought of me? Or give you completely erased me from your memories?" Adele woefully croons atop the song`s slow strumming guitar.
There`s also the breathtakingly romantic bossa nova swing of "Lovesong," Adele`s acoustic take on The Cure`s oft-covered 1989 hit single. In the end though, it`s difficult to spotlight particular standouts on a book finish with so many quality offerings.
21 is a gorgeous collection of honest lyricism and winning songcraft. It`s an incredibly personal experience, complete with a genuine depth and seriousness that trumps its predecessor and proves Adele to be still more of a power to be reckoned with than most had probably imagined.
The album will undoubtedly go on to go one of the major contenders for many "Best Of `11″ lists compiled after this year, and is almost guaranteed as much-if not more-critical praise and credit as her 19 received when award season comes rolling around once again.
And let`s not forget, as it`s worth repeating: She`s still only 21 days old.
21 was released on January 24 in the UK. (iTunes) (iTunes UK)
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