21

Adele

2011

3.69

Rating

22071

Votes

27%

36%

25%

Distribution

Pop

Album Summary

21 is the second studio album by English singer-songwriter Adele. It was released on 24 January 2011 in Europe by XL Recordings and on 22 February 2011 in North America by Columbia Records. The album was named after the age of the singer during its production. 21 shares the Motown/soul influences of her 2008 debut album 19, but also draws influence from the American country and Southern blues music that Adele started listening to during the North American leg of her tour An Evening with Adele. Composed in the aftermath of the singer's separation from her then partner, the album explores themes of heartbreak, healing, introspection, and forgiveness. Adele began writing 21 in April 2009, when still involved in the relationship that subsequently inspired the record. Looking to deviate from the brooding sound of her first album, she had intended to compose a more upbeat and contemporary follow-up. However, studio sessions ended prematurely due to a lack of inspiration. She resumed production immediately after the breakdown of her relationship, channelling her heartbreak and depression into her songs. Adele collaborated with various songwriters and producers, including Columbia Records co-president at the time Rick Rubin, Paul Epworth, Ryan Tedder, Jim Abbiss, and Dan Wilson. A sleeper hit, 21 defied the modest commercial expectations of Adele's independent record label XL. It topped record charts in more than 30 countries and became the world's best-selling album of the year for both 2011 and 2012, helping to revitalise the lagging sales of the global music industry. In the United Kingdom, it is the best-selling album of the 21st century, the fourth best-selling album of all time, and the best-selling album by a solo artist of all time, while its 23-week tenure atop the UK Albums Chart is the longest by a female solo artist. In the United States, it is the best performing Billboard 200 album of all time, holding the top position for 24 weeks, longer than any other album since 1985 and the longest by a female solo artist in Billboard 200 history. It was certified Diamond by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA), denoting sales of over 10 million copies in the US. In addition, three of the five singles released in its promotion – "Rolling in the Deep", "Someone like You" and "Set Fire to the Rain" – became international number-one songs, while "Rumour Has It" charted in the top 20 in countries across Europe and North America. With sales of over 31 million copies worldwide, 21 is the best-selling album of the 21st century, and one of the best-selling albums of all time.Praised for its understated production, vintage aesthetic, and Adele's vocal performance, 21 was shortlisted for the 2011 Mercury Prize, and won the 2012 Grammy Award for Album of the Year and the Brit Award for British Album of the Year. It has since been ranked amongst the Rolling Stone's 500 Greatest Albums of All Time, and is included in the book 1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die.

Keywords from Reviews

Rating Over Time

3.62 → 3.69

Reviews

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Aug 23 2022 Author

Well, this certainly is an album containing music. People who are capable of an intense emotional reaction to Adele mystify me. It's like being a connoisseur of porridge.

Apr 22 2022 Author

21. 2+1 = 3. That'll do. Don't want to expand on that or I'll be torn to shreds.

May 23 2022 Author

Incredible voice, produced to 'perfection' but totally bland and made for the masses. It has it's place, which is not on my list.

Feb 17 2022 Author

Listening to this album, I might well have thought, "This must be the greatest hits album of a long established artist!" rather than the second album put out by a 21-year-old singer/songwriter. There are so many songs here that have become rightfully inseparable from the last decade. This is a masterpiece.

May 17 2022 Author

The contrast between her speaking voice and her singing voice is insane. Fun fact: Four of the songs on this album are about ham.

Apr 05 2022 Author

The year is 2011, and everything is going wrong. You get into college and say goodbye to your high school friends, then try to convince yourself that you fit in with a group of equally awkward strangers. You date the first guy who says he loves you, not learning yet that people are fully capable of saying things they don't mean--and of acting the exact opposite. You're slut-shamed by a group of uptight college girls for sex you aren't having. By "you", of course, I mean me. Because 21 was my essential coming of age album. Are there coming of age albums with better songwriting? Yes, definitely. Are there coming of age albums with better vocals? Very, very few. But there's something magical about the alchemy of this album's elements that Adele, in my view, has never been able to quite match before or since 21. Of course, that could be the nostalgia talking. But this was the album that resonated with key points in my life. I'd dedicate "Don't You Remember" to fairweather friends ("When will I see you again?"), "Turning Tables" to my shitty exes ("I won't let you close enough to hurt me"), and "Someone Like You", my fave album track to absolutely no one. Rare is the album that's emotionally resonant and relatable, even on songs about experiences you've never had. But the emotional truth of this album just puts you right there in it. Apologies to Adele for taking so long to get on board the hype train of this album, since I discovered it for myself nearly a year after its release. 21 deserves all the hype it got and more.

Feb 17 2022 Author

Has it been 10 years already?! This is definitely one of my favorite albums of the last 10 years. I love it from beginning to end. Taking some time for a close listen just reminds me how amazing it was to first listen to Adele. It's cool to remember a time when her star burst out and had us all paying attention.

Apr 11 2022 Author

More Adele. She can sing, but I'm not engaged. Whatever the reviewers who describe her voice as enigmatic or magical can hear, I definitely do not. I hear a stage-school show-singer belting uninteresting ballads in a mid-Atlantic yowl. Millions disagree with me, but I'm ok with that.

Feb 14 2023 Author

Starts off upbeat, gets into boring slow jams, picks back up, slows down again, picks up, slows down it all sounds too clean, I'm sure grocery stores and outlet malls are happy this exists

Mar 01 2025 Author

Nothing receives backlash like excellence. Everything about this album is a masterpiece. This is what I'm here for with the generator. Just outstanding. A modern classic. 5 stars all day.

Feb 19 2024 Author

It’s dinner party soul, but produced with restraint and based on some tasteful influences. In a way it is to Motown and Stax what Clapton is to Chicago blues, nicely done, but with the rough edges sanded off. Makes it more palatable, but also slightly blander. The quality of her voice and the songwriting is what sets it apart from the Duffys and Joss Stones of thus world. Not my bag, but not everything is for everyone, and I can appreciate how well done this is.

Apr 11 2022 Author

I don’t want to hear it. This fucking album. So many incredible songs on one album. AND SHE WAS 21. Yes I cried listening to this even after all the times I’ve heard these songs.

Sep 22 2024 Author

First of all, credit where credit is due: an album doesn’t sell over 31 million copies without extreme talent and widespread appeal. What’s often overlooked is that 21 was released on the indie label XL Recordings. While Adele’s debut, and especially "Chasing Pavements," hinted at potential, no one could have predicted the stratospheric success of 21. Today, it’s hard to separate the album from its overwhelming cultural presence. These songs—still omnipresent on playlists, soundtracks, and radio—remain as epic and timeless as they were a decade ago. Despite the numerous high-profile collaborations, Adele retains songwriting credits on most tracks, but crucially, she makes it feel like no one else in the world could ever sing these songs. The opener, "Rolling in the Deep," remains one of the best tracks recorded this century, blending gospel and blues in a way that was both fresh and unexpected from her at the time. The retro-inflected "Rumour Has It" follows a similar path, its rhythm-driven, almost Motown feel makes it immediately memorable. It suffers solely from being in the shadow of such an electrifying opener. The album's main issue is that as it proceeds, the tracks become less memorable. While "Set Fire to the Rain" and the closer "Someone Like You" certainly keep up the emotional intensity and songwriting quality, they shift toward more straightforward pop territory. As Adele dives deeper into heartbreak and lost love, some tracks feel less impactful. The vocal performance is (obviously) flawless, but certain songs play it a bit too safe. Rick Rubin’s involvement had my expectations high, but his contributions, unfortunately, fall short. His work, on the tepid cover of The Cure’s "Lovesong" for example, lacks the spark it could have achieved considering the people in the room. Rubin’s production feels overly reverential and flat here. Did/Do I own this release? No Does it belong on the list? Absolutely, given its massive cultural impact Would it make my personal list? No Will I listen to it again? Whether I want to or not, I’ll hear these songs again soon. 21 is everywhere.

Jan 30 2022 Author

One of my favorite albums of all time.

Oct 26 2024 Author

Hadn’t realised just how good this would be. Great from start to finish.

Apr 14 2022 Author

I'll be honest, I prematurely turned my nose up when I saw this was today's album but there are some fricken excellent tunes on here. The production is an easy five stars and her voice is near on perfect too. Obviously the subject matter doesn't resonate but that's on me. He Won't Go is a perfect song, all I could think about was watching a conductor lead a studio band through the arrangement, sounds so so tight. No surprises that Rick Rubin had a hand in this.

Sep 10 2024 Author

never sat and thought to myself "hmm you know what i really wanna listen to? some adele" but still man, how could you have anything bad to say? not my cup of tea at all but if i were to hear it randomly i'd enjoy every second, i woulnd't rush to the skip button like i did with too many of the albums i've had that are solely on here for the pretentious folks to enjoy

Jan 30 2024 Author

It's a rare thing to find an album whose title is made up of the two ratings I considered giving it.

Jan 24 2022 Author

"21" is the second album from Adele, and was recorded while she was 21. It was originally going to be an upbeat album until Adele separated from her partner, and the album turned into a heartbreak album. "21" was a sleeper hit at release, becoming the best-selling album of 2011 and 2012, and being certified diamond. Many of the songs on this album were smash hits and are easily recognizable by most people. "21" draws some inspiration from country music, but stays true to Adele's usual style of gospel, soul, and pop music. This record breaking album is amazing and a must-listen for anyone. "21" is still listed on the Billboard's Top 200 Albums for over 500 weeks now. It is the best-selling album of the 2010's and the fastest album to reach diamond certification with 92 weeks. Adele has a beautiful singing voice, and that matched with the perfect melodies, created this award winning masterpiece.

Jun 21 2022 Author

Oh this.

Apr 14 2023 Author

It said 11 tracks but they all sounded the same

Jan 28 2022 Author

The voice is there, the emotions are there, but… I require more than this from my music. This album might please the masses, but musically it is far too bland and basic for yours truly.

Mar 03 2022 Author

What can I say... I'll buy into the hype. Adele has an incredible voice, her songs are catchy, sultry, emotional, fun. The entire album is a solid piece of work, and easy to listen through all the way. In fact, I'm on #3 right now. She has clearly earned diva status with songs that will likely persist for decades.

May 25 2022 Author

Despite being criminally overplayed, this is actually a pretty decent album. Adele's singing talent is remarkable, although a few of her vocal flourishes can get a little grating. The production is also quite good, a minimalist approach was taken here, which I think was the right call, to really focus on her vocals. The instrumental performances are solid, adding emotion in the right places to the songs and the mixing is great. The slight country edge is a nice touch too. A few of these songs are just a bit too cheesy, and I found myself rolling my eyes at some of the lyrics. I'll give it a solid 3, it does deserve to be here but I think it was released about 50 years too late to actually be anything groundbreaking. Fav Tracks: Fire To The Rain, Lovesong

Sep 15 2022 Author

14th September 2022 Listened throughout the day while Ben and Nilisha stayed and worked from home at ours. Dinner at mum and dad’s in the evening. I was always quite dismissive of Adele, but listening back now this album is stunning. It’s big, it’s bold, her delivery is generational.

Jul 20 2022 Author

One of the most attractive voices of all time. I love how the album starts with "Rolling In The Deep". Her voice and guitar are perfect and the kick drum breaking in at full intensity is so badass. She deserves all the accolades. 21 deserves all the praise!

Jun 06 2022 Author

06/04/2022 What can be said that hasn't already? Beautiful voice, aching passion, etc. You feel the heartbreak and hurt as if it was your own.

May 30 2022 Author

A modern classic.

Feb 22 2022 Author

Obviously she's incredibly popular for a reason

Apr 18 2025 Author

I think Adele makes music for people who don't like music. People who very rarely by cds but pick this up.

Feb 25 2025 Author

Amazing!

Feb 24 2025 Author

What a gem I love this girl. Her first effort and it's a masterpiece. Beautiful album from start to finish, BRAVAAA!!!! She only gets better as she ages.

Jan 25 2024 Author

Adele is a complete icon. A legend, at that. She signed with XL in 2008, gave us her debut album 19, and then gave this masterpiece in 2011. Long story short, this is an amazing album from an amazing singer. Her hits defined a generation and introduced them to soul. She’s like an Amy Winehouse in her own right. The songwriting is emotional and you might end up screaming to it. People say this album is made for the masses, but I disagree. Remember what I said about Amy Winehouse? Adele carries that torch. Scratch that, actually. She RUNS with it. Legendary album. 5/5 Fav: “Set Fire to The Rain”, “He Won’t Go” Least Fav: None

Sep 16 2022 Author

This had more of an edge too it and I enjoyed it alot more than I expected, I think the surprise of me enjoying may have boosted my score but having said that rolling in the deep is a banger

Jul 30 2022 Author

In her zenith, Adele makes a triumphant album full of power and emotion. Starts out with a ton of energy to dance to before moving to the piano ballad "Turning Tables" and acoustic-driven "Don't You Remember." It's a landmark in the neo-soul movement following the steps of Winehouse and Duffy. Even though there are more songs I like from 19, there's less filler here and I can enjoy the whole thing without wishing to skip a track. The production is so clean unlike other loud pop such as Lady Gaga or Katy Perry who could overwhelm the audience at times. Likewise 21 also contrasts with other R&B pop albums that focus too much on highlighting the singer's voice, by instead balancing Adele's voice with the flamboyant yet controlled instrumentation. To me, it sounds very natural, with almost no electronic devices here. You can probably perform the songs almost perfectly with just a school band (idk I've never been in one). In addition to modern R&B, I hear influences from gospel (not just the choir but also the funky piano), jazz, rock, country, and folk. There's something for everyone, making it a very accessible album. Many of the tracks have enough energy to keep audiences engaged for the full 48 minutes, with very hits well dispersed to keep people looking forward to something. I admit there's several ballads I'm not a fan of, but that's just personal preference and they're still amazing songs with their own moments. Favorites: Rolling in the Deep, Rumour Has It, Set Fire to the Rain, He Won't Go, Someone Like You

Mar 08 2022 Author

Absolute perfection. Adele's 21 was my first real introduction to her and I instantly fell in love. From 'Rolling in the Deep' to 'Someone Like You' 21 doesn't miss a beat. With almost half of the album released as singles, along with topping the music charts in over 30 countries, it's not hard to see how much of an impact this has had within the music world. Adele's soulful voice coupled with her deeply personal trials and tribulations that resonate with so many worldwide, and is touted as one of the best break-up albums ever created. Best: All of it Worst: N/A

Feb 17 2022 Author

I have loved this album for years and I continue to do so!!

Feb 12 2022 Author

Good

Jan 31 2022 Author

I can certainly appreciate Adele's incredible voice and respect her hit songs, which this album has plenty of. I have two favorites: her cover of "Lovesong" by The Clash and the very underrated "He Won't Go". 9/10.

Sep 22 2023 Author

Well written and produced album but other than the hits the songs are rather forgettable. Great voice and easy to listen to.

Apr 04 2022 Author

Plenty of solid hits and thankfully more upbeat than the swathes of depressing wallowing that followed.

May 05 2025 Author

Chicken soup. Grey's Anatomy. Mormonism. Adele All incredibly bland, all inexplicably popular What's up with that voice and comparisons with Dusty Springfield? Get your ears checked please. As the dreadful Cure cover demonstrates, Adele is a Pop/American Idol-level karaoke talent, and Susan Boyle was more interesting Kids love it, of course

Apr 13 2025 Author

Once you’ve heard one Adele song you’ve heard all her back catalogue and anything she’ll produce in the future. The uniformity would be something Ford would be proud of.

Dec 22 2024 Author

It's disgestible radio soul/pop/piano-stuff, I think she's at her best when the songs have the energy to make her voice actually feel huge (Rolling in the Deep is a modern pop classic for a reason) but the more slow, ballady stuff is not something that was interesting or even anything I picked up on as notable, it's just there (the most I reacted to was the Lovesong cover but that's it) I don't hate this but I don't care for it really, even the good songs

Dec 03 2024 Author

adele is a great singer, unfortunately that doesnt always translate to being someone who makes great music.

Jul 12 2022 Author

This is possibly the most machine-tooled bid for pop stardom since Like A Virgin. Don't play the big singles and it still sounds unstoppable. Not actually an album I feel a great deal of affection for, perhaps the only album I can actually like of hers is 19, but respect.

Mar 28 2022 Author

Anyone who knows me is aware of my irrational hatred of Adele. There's just something about her voice that irritates me. The music itself is bland, okay at best. Singing aside, the way her voice sounds just bothers me. It does not sound pleasant. Listening to this album wasn't too much of a challenge, as I'd heard almost half of these songs before. The others were just as boring. I hope this is the first and last time I have to hear an entire album by Adele.

Dec 17 2025 Author

It's difficult to overstate the massive splash this album had on the musical world. Adele is a talent often imitated but never duplicated. People who say that she's overrated are kidding themselves and absolutely try to sing along in their cars before quitting mid-note in shame.

Dec 03 2025 Author

Honestly unbelievable. I think it probably doesn't get the full credit it's due because there are so many songs that became solo hits and were subsequently everywhere. Deeply emotional.

Nov 29 2025 Author

Really seems like it should go in the pop shit that I despise and has no place on my playlist category, but for whatever reason I fucking love this!

Nov 25 2025 Author

I love this album. I haven’t listened to it in years, maybe because my taste in music changed or because I listened to it too many times when I was younger. But after years, I found I still loved it. It’s an album I won’t ever be able to separate from the memory of listening to it when I was young. There was one holiday when this was the only album we could agree on as a family and so it played constantly. Now when I listen to it I can instantly picture the most beautiful coastal drive. To actually talk about the music, I think her voice is gorgeous and the songs are so full of emotion. A real struggle to pick a favourite and least favourite as I enjoyed every song. For some reason I think I will continue to not reach for this album - maybe I simply don’t want to erase the image of that one holiday by listening to it somewhere mundane. Fav song: Take It All (but this changes from moment to moment) Least fav: Lovesong

Sep 20 2025 Author

I forgot about the CHOKEHOLD this album had on me in 2011. I honestly added every song to my Liked Songs as they came up. I may need therapy.

Sep 18 2025 Author

This has been the most surprising album so far. When I saw today’s pick, I was disappointed. I thought yesterday’s album was boring, and I was dreading slogging through another. I knew of Adele and had heard a couple of her songs on the radio and in pop culture. I didn’t think I liked her, but I’ve been trying to approach each album with an open mind. The first song, Rolling in the Deep, came on. I already knew it from the radio, but it had never been a favorite. I assumed it would be the highlight of the album. The next song, Rumour Has It, seemed to confirm my suspicion that it was all downhill from there. I was very wrong. I started multitasking and mentally filed this as a “background music” album, until Turning Tables came on. A couple of minutes into it, I realized I was actually enjoying it. As the album went on, I liked each song more than the last. By the end, I had added several to my library. I decided to go back and listen again from the start. This time, even the songs I didn’t care for initially grew on me. By the end, I had added every single track to my library. Apparently, I like Adele, or at least this album. Added to Library: • All of them

Sep 16 2025 Author

I've enjoyed Adele's music rather passively over the years. Having this album generate was a pleasant surprise. Although I know 2/3 of it through radio play, I've never listened to the album in its entirety and, woah... She is a highly successful artist who is still young and surprisingly has few albums over her nearly 20 year career. Yet, for me, it's hard not to call this her Magnum Opus. Nearly 15 years on, this does feel like a classic. Unbelievably composed and written. Crisp beautiful instrumentals and backing vocals. It's an album you can imagine putting together in the studio and having "that feeling". Admittedly, I feel the subject matter- classic nonetheless- is played out. However, Adele does love blues and broken hearted better than many and among the best. It doesn't feel corny or drab. It doesn't feel whiny- it feels yearning and beautiful. "Someone Like You" beams at you like a distant memory unearthed by a relic in a shoebox or junk drawer- altogether nostalgically pleasant and hauntingly painful. Adele puts together a "heartbreak" album that isn't somber, but rather tells a love story that doesn't end in joy. And isn't that how love is sometimes?

Sep 11 2025 Author

My memory of this album is a 5/6 year old me waiting outside my mums work with my dad and my brother. She’d always be held back so through time knew all these songs off by heart. And it’s good front loaded except for someone like you but due to memories I have to rate it a 5 theres an edge of bias in music reviewing, even when someone tries to be objective this is one of my nostalgia blind spots

Aug 28 2025 Author

5/5. Absolute bangers.

Aug 28 2025 Author

I mean nothing has to be said.

Aug 28 2025 Author

My bias is shining through here with this rating but I think this is five stars regardless. Adele hits her stride with this album, having four of the biggest songs of the decade (right as the decade starts), some fantastic b-sides, and an incredible cover of Lovesong. It’s my favorite album of hers so I’ve listened to it more times than I can count but I’m never gonna be upset to have a reason to come back to it. P.S. The dude that let Adele slip away is an absolute dumbass but I’m thankful his mistake led to this album. P.S.S. Two fives for Adele should at least tie her with Kanye as my favorite artist on the list so far, definitely a good thing.

Aug 28 2025 Author

I wish we had this a little further apart from 25. I also wish I wasn't traveling so I could go into more detail on my review. The short of it is that 25 was a 4.5/5 and 21 is a 5/5.

Aug 27 2025 Author

Great album! Adele is amazing! 21 brings back a lot of good memories. One of which is my daughter and her friend making a video to Rumour Has It. They substituted "rumour" with our dog's name "Boomer". It was super cute and had shots of Boomer through out the video. Anyway, back to the music... Adele's voice is amazing! This was definitely her breakout album with hits scattered throughout!

Aug 21 2025 Author

Plays like a greatest hits album. The vocal power is obvious, but the song selection is what takes this over the top

Mar 05 2025 Author

This album soundtracked my teenage years so I could never be objective about it

Mar 04 2025 Author

Adele is amazing. Incredibly competent album, and perfect from start to finish. So many hits, but 'Don't you Remember' was a nice sleeper hit and my fave here.

Feb 18 2025 Author

What a voice.

Feb 10 2025 Author

01) Rolling in the Deep - 10,0 02) Rumour Has It - 10,0 03) Turning Tables - 10,0 04) Don't You Remember - 8,5 05) Set Fire to the Rain - 10,0 06) He Won't Go - 8,0 07) Take It All - 8,5 08) I'll Be Waiting - 8,5 09) One and Only - 8,0 10) Lovesong - 9,0 11) Someone like You - 10,0 TOTAL: 9,14 (91/100) Current ranking: 33/454

Jan 14 2025 Author

Not even ashamed. This was a banger when it dropped, and it's a banger today.

Jan 11 2025 Author

Didn't think I was going to like this but surprised myself. Really liked her voice and the emotions evoked within the lyrics. Vocally reminded me of Duffy at times. Glad I listened because I see Adele in a new light

Jan 10 2025 Author

Pure class

Jan 09 2025 Author

What a voice, what a singer, an all-time classic in our times.

Jan 08 2025 Author

A favorite! Love her voice

Jan 06 2025 Author

I’d never listened to this album, but had heard the hits. Very good. She’s very talented.

Sep 02 2022 Author

Remember Duffy? The Welsh singer who popped up the mid 2000s? She has those songs Warwick Avenue and Mercy which got pretty big radio play and I’m pretty sure she was a musical guest at one point on SNL. I had stock in her as I was sure she was going to blow up. She seemed an obvious choice to do a Bond theme too. Well she got market-corrected by Adele a couple years later and had this massive album and put out what many now consider the best Bond theme song. This album is undeniable. Nearly every song became a radio staple, it plays like a greatest hits record.

Nov 18 2025 Author

I got this album when it came out! Still really, really good - her voice feels so lived-in and full of hurt. It's insane that she was just 21. Love Rolling In The Deep, Rumor Has It, and Someone Like You.

Sep 18 2025 Author

Not typically my thing but I love the power behind that woman's voice. Powerful and emotional. But girl, you need to wash that man out your hair, he isn't worth it.

Sep 02 2025 Author

Years ago, working a retail job, there were a few bright spots in the wretched muzak. Turned out it was Adele, several songs from this album. It rates an automatic 4 just for helping me get through those days. Years later, my daughter likes Adele. I think this album is going to age well.

Aug 28 2025 Author

this is a really heavy hitter of an album. rollin in the deep, rumour has it, set fire to the rain, and someone like you all on the same 48 minute album. more than a third of this album became singles that took the world by storm, and established Adele as a true Tour de Force of music. that said, i do think that the other songs, though still hyper impressive, don't come as close to the magic the main four have from this album. im not sure i would find myself coming back to 21 as much as I would 25, which ive been listening to a whole bunch since diving in. not to compare albums by an artist, but i do think that the non-singles leave a little more to be desired. still a great album, but i could honestly leave this at a 3.5 and be happy. though, i am going to bump it up to 4, because damn does this girl have pipes!

Aug 23 2025 Author

Pop album by a pop singer that had a bunch of pop hits on it. 😁

Mar 04 2025 Author

7/10

Sep 22 2023 Author

Not necessarily my thing, but filled to the brim with bangers.

Dec 04 2025 Author

Not sure anyone has mentioned it before, but she’s a pretty good singer.

Nov 11 2025 Author

For being one of the most streamed albums of all time I have to say Adele's 21 is still an extremely impressive Pop Soul release that stands the test of time even for it being an early 2010s release. White moms were truly eating good with this album's release. I forgot just how powerful Adele's vocals are when she isn't being played on the radio over and over and over again for 3 years straight. She really was a powerhouse even at such a young age and had quite the killer pen game to back it up. I remember so many of these songs from my childhood and having my mother religiously play this album in her own time and whenever she turned on the radio. To say this defined the 2010s for some time would be an understatement as it was truly inescapable for years until 25 released, and then that project couldn't be escaped either. It is a staple of the time it was released and still passes off pretty well into the modern day. Glad this is better than I remember it being because god damn did Adele hit it out of the park on this album.

Sep 23 2025 Author

It’s a bit vanilla, but sometimes that’s the desired flavor.

Sep 20 2025 Author

Adele has a great voice. But she's a victim of being overplayed. I tried to listen to this album objectively, but it's hard when these songs have been played to death on every radio station, advert, TV show and as background music while you shop for groceries. Trying to get past all of that and treat these songs as if it's the first time I've heard them, the album starts off very well with "Rolling in the deep" and "Rumour has it". They both have a great Memphis blues feel to them. But, outside of that bluesy/souly sound, good chunks of the rest of the album feel very overproduced and unmemorable, opting to showcase Adele's voice over songwriting. "Someone Like You" finishes the album off on a very, very strong note. A simple song, with a simple melody and straight-forward lyrics, but it feels very genuine and real. And her voice is absolutely incredible in this song, working with the lyrics to lift the emotion of the song.

Sep 20 2025 Author

Definitely her best album, so many unbelievably massive songs in this album that showcases her incredible voice. This list needs more attention to the pop albums that defined eras like this one, as real niche albums that the curators of the list like are slightly too prevalent. Great album, doesn’t grab me.

Jun 29 2025 Author

I imagine this is what Connie Francis sounded like to people in the 50s.

Sep 24 2023 Author

i don't love the sound but adele is a killer singer and there are some certified classics. and a cure cover? one and only was my favorite song

Nov 15 2025 Author

If I could rate the outfits on the cover it would be a 5

Oct 07 2025 Author

Beige

Aug 28 2025 Author

TE AMO ADELEE pero no es mi música

May 05 2025 Author

I found this album hard to finish as I’d stop it for some reason - a meal, a cry for the kid’s playlist, a work call, boredom - and when I’d return I could never remember what song I was on, all indistinguishable in their inert vibe, so I’d conscientiously go back a title I knew I’d heard at least part of, usually “Set Fire to the Rain” because while the conceit’s stupid at least it’s memorable. “He Won’t Go” mocks me. Commonplace sentiments expressed in mundane language, sung with elan, dressed in the clothes of the long dead, talent without imagination: it’s daytime soap opera, “she was only 21…” A revelation came with the numbing litany of romantic dejection, the memory of a friend who used to mutter “don’t look at me! Don’t look at me!” back when we were going out. I knew it was comedy, but I never thought how until Adele’s genuine abjection reminded me of my friend’s comic and I suddenly realised that she was imitating Dennis Hopper in “Blue Velvet”, and retrospectively our relationship has rotated by a few risky degrees - o happy memory!

Apr 22 2025 Author

went into this hating adele, still definitely hate adele

Jan 27 2024 Author

Well I had somehow avoided ever listening to this album, or indeed any of the songs from it. I mean I'd probably heard them being played in supermarkets, but they didn't register with me at all. It's warbly, bland pop music for the masses. Vapid songs about relationships that seems to be targeted at young women. It's nicely put together and the production makes it all very pleasing as background music, but Adele's voice honestly makes me feel nauseous the more I hear it. She has this nasty habit of singing around a note, which sounds affected and fake. There's nothing of any interest whatsoever, just someone singing songs that sound like they could have been written 40-50 years earlier and could have been recorded by just about any one of many interchangeable female pop singers. For me, this was a horrible experience, like being forced to watch soap operas or reality television. It might sound a bit snobby, but just as I would never sit down to waste away the evening watching television, I would never choose to listen to this music for the lowest common denominator. Easy 1 star, music that I could have happily continued to avoid for the rest of my life. The only good bit was when I realised I had accidentally picked an extended version of the album and could stop listening to it earlier than I thought.

Apr 26 2022 Author

I really don't like Adele. I find this so incredibly mundane, uninspired and utterly uninteresting. Truthfully, did not listen, but know enough songs from their chronic overplaying that I know my opinion.

Dec 20 2025 Author

I played this album on a loop for 12 hours once after breaking up with my long-time partner. This was the first time in 10 years I’ve heard this album. It still holds up. Adele is just one of those vocalists that can tell your whole life story in a single note.

Dec 19 2025 Author

What a classic!! I’d never listened to it in its entirety all at once…sang along and cried :) great album

Dec 18 2025 Author

Wasn't sure what to expect going into this album but it thoroughly impressed me. A true heartbreak album, He Won't Go maybe being a standout of the songs I hadn't already heard

Dec 16 2025 Author

Very nice surprise !

Dec 16 2025 Author

Great album. Her vocals are amazing and every song is a banger. Love this album.

Dec 10 2025 Author

Well starting off with a banger

Dec 09 2025 Author

Banger after banger after banger. Album that is out of this world.