21

Talent, just not what I can listen to for a whole album's worth of songs

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.

Every song is perfect.

Adele at her best!

I knew several of the songs on this album and many of the songs were popular. It is unquestionable that Adele can sing and the songs are memorable. This album is better than some of the albums that have received 3s and while I do not think it is a solid 4, I will round up. I am not sure I would listen to this whole album again though.

I like this album but not in the mood for it today. Plus I've probably heard half these songs about one billion times.

7/10 Best song - Set fire to the rain.

Кк

Not for me 😴

Good songs but not my bag.

Too many ballads… don’t really dig this. A generous 3 due to her universal appeal!

Wel prima album, maar super overplayed

A full-on album with great performances, production and songs.

100% meh. One track on it, "I'll be waiting", appears very much to be trying really hard to be Pauline Evan's 1992 cover version of Bad Company's "I feel like makin' love". Other than that, it's entirely skippable.

I've tried my best to avoid this Brit-School music for mums but it seems this list has forced it on me much like every fucking piece of media that exists tried to as well. It's bland and inoffensive; it's like the aural equivalent of a digestive biscuit. It's the best argument for the need for music snobbery I've heard in a long time. There. Done. Best Tracks: Rolling In The Deep; Rumour Has It; Someone Like You

Rolling in the Deep is a great song and Adele is undoubtedly a talented vocalist, but the rest of the album just falls flat. It's nothing special and a bore to listen to.

Hugely overrated. Belting out pap for people too scared of Aretha Franklin.

Didn’t know before that I already knew half of the album. So many great and famous songs on here. Some have been played too much on the radio, but still it’s good. Favourite songs: - Rumour has it - Don’t you remember - He won’t go

Overrated rubbish. Should not be anywhere near a list of all time great albums.

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

4+

Going in I'd heard half the album already simply from being alive in 2011. Was so pleased to hear the other half and hear that it really held together as well

It's kind of interesting that this top selling album isn't really a great album. It is a collection of big songs that doesn't really have the journey that a good album takes you on. It has some phenomenal songs by an artist who sings powerful songs brilliantly. But there's no contrast and it gets a bit boring and repetitive. HOWEVER... it is bookended by four great songs, and they earn four stars.

21 by Adele (2011) Here’s an album where the artist bares her soul, and I, for one, wish that she had put some clothes on it. In “Rolling in the Deep”, for instance, her indignation not only lacks subtlety, it also puts vengeance, spite, and unwarranted finality into an overfilled shopping cart of disillusionment over a failed relationship. This is not the wholesome expression of anger and self-worth of “I Will Survive” (Gloria Gaynor, Love Tracks, [1978]). This is more like, “I may or may not survive, but you damn sure won’t.” It’s not passive aggression. It’s active aggression to the point of toxic femininity. And in “Rumor Has It”, while the rumor is that “I’m the one you’re leaving her for”, the final dig is “He’s the one I’m leaving you for”. Bitter. Bitter. And it’s not as though she’s unaware. In “Don’t You Remember”, she admits “I know I have a fickle heart and a bitterness”, but she doesn’t care. She’s gonna slam the door on your fingers, turn the lock, and walk away anyhow. In “Turning Tables”, the sentiment is slightly more mature (“Under your thumb, I can’t breathe”) and hopeful (“Next time I’ll be braver”), but it’s still stuck in unredemptive finality. Likewise in “Set Fire to the Rain”, she declaims, “I threw us into the flames . . . Let it burn.” It’s like the Götterdämmerung mentality of the leaders of Germany in March, 1945. In each of these songs, it’s as if she’s unwilling to forgive the other of the smugness, gamesmanship, manipulation, and inconstancy that she reserves to herself. This is not a formula for psychological health. These are not so much songs as they are splenetic ejaculations of self-generated misery. Now there’s no question that her voice excels in power, range, and tone. And the musical settings are suited to the mood and are all well executed. But this album gives expression to a disordered psyche. 2/5

She's got some pipes. Best track: Someone Like You

Adele shook top 40 radio pop to it's core when she got hit after hit from her album 21. While her debut 19 was a strong start, this would be the album that people look back on fondly. Distinctly different from the carefree electro pop of the day, Adele was backed by piano, strings, and acoustic drums while belting her tear-stained breakup songs. I like this era of Adele. Songs like Rolling In The Deep and He Won't Go have a certain punch to them that I enjoy. 21 is notably front loaded with the exception of Someone Like You closing out the album. Otherwise, this album is a welcome change from the type of pop being made in the late 2000s/early 2010s.

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.

Really powerful voice. I had never listened to the whole album before and she has incredible range and intensity.

Amazing Album from start to finish, not my mood but I respect it

You and me baby Baby me and you. You and me together Nothing is better You and me baby Baby me and you You and me together That was an error Lalalalalala... Admittedly, "Rolling In The Deep", the track opening this record, is an all-time masterpiece. And of course, Adele's got techinical chops when it comes to vocals, plus that warm deep voice. But almost everything that follows that hit single misses the point of what interesting music and lyrics should be about. The music is often made of bland, unimaginative, generic pop ballads that get on you nerves as they follow one another. This album lasts 48 minutes but it feels like an hour and a half. As for the lyrics... well, what more can I say than what I wrote at the start of this review? It's often quite embarrassing, to be honest. I've also read in one review in here that this album is not part of the latest editions of *1001 Albums...*, that it was dropped. If that's the case, it's a damn shame it's still here on *this* list. And not because I don't like it, but because I signed for this thing thinking there would only be the albums from the last edition. (I only have the names of every album *once* part of that list, not the last edition, so I can't check if *21* is there or not myself). Tally: I've temporarily lost count about the number of albums I've listened to up to now, but I've taken notes and it's there somewhere. And of course *21* will NOT make my final list. I mean, seriously, gals and guys... *This* can't be an "essential" listen, right? Baby, me and you, You and me baby La la la la laaaaaaaaaa....

I found myself trying to find reasons to mark this down. But it's hard. She writes great songs, her lyrics are really good and her voice is brilliant.

Music to rue your ex to

Adele, inte direkt någon nytt för mig, väldigt mainstream. Bra sångerska men ingen jag brukar återkomma till och självmant och lyssna på.

Tjis is a mixed bag for me. i acknowledge Adele is a great singer, but to me she does not live up to the hype. Dont get me wrong, this is an above average album from one of pop music’s biggest stars. But i dont love the songs. And ghe voiceis to me pure and beautiful, but there are dozens of singers that fit that description. Rolling in the deep is a fun crowd pleaser, but songs like Turning Tables are not exciting. sure they snowcase her voice, but give me Amy Winehouse over this any day if the week. An above average album, but to me not a masterpiece.

Obviously she's incredibly popular for a reason

I love every song!

Perhaps this isn't particularly ambitious - we ain't talking Captain Beefheart here - but there's a lot of quality on display here. It sounds like the instrumentation actually relies on decent performances rather than a cut 'n' shut ProTools job, and the production is sympathetic. But let's not beat around the bush, the main attraction is Adele's remarkable voice. Like, say, a Dusty Springfield, she is able to elevate the material. Some of the choruses here absolutely soar. Amused that the percussion intro to 'I'll Be Waiting' resembles that of Isaac Hayes' 'Good Love 69-9-69'.

Everybody knows the good stuff, so let's just talk about how bad that cover of "Lovesong" is. Why is it even here? You got 11 songs on your record, does it really need a 12th at all, let alone a cover? A cover?? Why??? And if you're gonna do it - which you shouldn't - why on earth would you slow down the tempo of the original to a sleep-inducing crawl? Did you hear that song and think, "You know what... the bones are good and all, but I reckon they didn't know what the fuck they were doing. Let's have a go." And if you have to cover The Cure - which you don't - you couldn't feel compelled to choose one of literally hundreds of other songs that didn't already have a chart dwelling cover by freaking 311??? It's baffling. But yeah, the rest is good.

No longer in the latest editions of the book. Everybody has already heard the good songs on this album, and the rest isn’t worth it imo.

esse eu conheço e gosto rsrsrs se bem que (polêmica?) lembro de gostar mais do 19...?

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.

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

Such a beautiful voice. Such an amazing songwriter. Top-notch album.

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.

Ten years or so ago, it was impossible to watch TV, browse a supermarket, go deep-sea diving or fly to Mars without hearing one of Adele’s new standards from this stunning sophomore effort. One of the biggest albums of the 2010s, glaringly omitted from the book in more recent editions, “21” sees Adele asserting dominance over the charts and our hearts with a seamless set of love songs. Because of its towering reputation, I tried to approach “21” with fresh ears here (even though I hadn’t heard many of the “deep cuts”). I was immediately hit by its power. For me, the very best side of Adele’s music is the vengeful, soulful blues kicking off the album with its two best songs: “Rolling in the Deep” is an absolute powerhouse, such an instant classic that even Aretha Franklin covered it shortly after release. And then we get the sublime “Rumour Has It”. As well as a transfixing performance from Adele, the track employs a spectacular range of sound, with an addictive three note bass groove, swirling looped backing vocals and a heavy emphasis on percussive stomps, handclaps and swampy reverb. It’s my ultimate highlight on the album, sounding like a new junkyard blues standard for the 2010s. It’s worth noting the arrangements here are top-notch and there are some great touches in production. The thudding kick drum driving the momentum of “Rolling in the Deep” into its soaring chorus; the cinematic strings accentuating the elegant “Turning Tables”; the choir cutting through the sparsity of “Take It All”… it all signals to the lfact that “21” takes inspiration from more styles than Adele seems to be given credit for. While there are a lot of the soulful piano ballads she made her name with, there’s also brassy Motown in “I’ll Be Waiting”, shades of R&B in the “He Won’t Go”, and all-out gospel in “One and Only”. Some of these work better than others, but it’s refreshing to hear them all together, and every one of them is listenable. The only fault is an occasional sag in momentum: perhaps one too many ballads in the second half, with “One and Only” not really taking off until its gospel bridge towards the end. The bizarrely Latin-influenced cover of The Cure’s “Lovesong” is possibly the strangest inclusion here: it feels jarring and a little unnecessary to switch to a cover so late in the album given the strength of the original material. The track itself is insubstantial, perhaps better suited to a B-side or deluxe release. This is nitpicking, though: when “Someone Like You” rolls along to have the last word, it renders most of these issues moot and blows every other ballad on the album away. A review of “21” would not be complete without mentioning Adele’s main selling point: her voice. As well as the mind blowing technique possessed by an artist as young as Adele was here, the anguish and emotion within her voice gives it universal appeal. The ubiquity of these songs on release perhaps numbed everyone to this with time, as Adele’s voice became a fixture in pop’s landscape. But listen again to the way she rasps and belts through “Someone Like You”, mastering its build with wonderful control. The way she cracks slightly in the final chorus seals the song as a classic: authentic, genuine, brilliant. While it’s not wall-to-wall perfect, “21” does feel timeless. By mining from various genres and styles (albeit subtly) and using the sheer power of her voice, Adele avoids the contemporary trappings of her day. Time will tell if “21” will still be acclaimed as much in forty years time, but for now it deserves to be mentioned in the same breath as “Blue”, “Blood on the Tracks” and “Jagged Little Pill” in the pantheon of great break-up albums.

Yas Queen

Très belle voix, j'écouterais peux-être pas sa tout les jours, une belle voix sur de l'instru minimaliste, mais je sais reconnaitre son talents

Banger after banger!

Good

Maravilhoso, um dos álbuns preferidos da minha vida. Adele extraordinária.

I love Adele's voice. Of course I do. I'm a human being with a heart that's been broken. Faves: Rumour Has It, Set Fire to the Rain. Lovesong is fun. Someone Like You hits a little close to home sometimes; great song. Less successful: Don't You Remember, He Won't Go, Take it All. Rolling in the Deep is one of those songs -- like I Will Always Love You, Stairway to Heaven, Let It Be, Kiss From a Rose, Unchained Melody -- that has become part of the cultural air we all breathe. A significant accomplishment.

Mierda total.

Discazo "mainstream" que abría casi insuperablemente, dentro de su/s género/s la década de 2010. Me gusta de inicio a fin, con cover de The Cure, y "Set Fire to the Rain" es una de mis baladas pop en inglés favoritas, creo. 10/10

Sometimes when an artist is super popular whether it's a hype job or they genuinely are a talent that everyone should listen to, I tend to avoid it. Too much boy band and too much fabricated "American Idol-like singers out there competing for everyone's attention. After finally listening to the full album of Adele's, 21, I really think she is genuinely a talent worth listening to. Personally, her music doesn't interest me much, but I recognize she deserves the accolades she receives. This isn't something I'd toss on the turntable at random, but if it's on the radio I won't switch stations.

Classic

I didn't like this album too much when it was released. I preferred 19. This one felt like more of the same (as did the others that came after?). Even so, one of my favorite songs of hers is from 21: "I'll Be Waiting". Her "Lovesong" cover is not bad. :)

Adele is such a powerhouse, and 21 cemented her place in music history. Her voice is truly the star of the show, with backing musicians being very much in the background. 4.5/5 stars

Muy buen disco de esta intérprete. Todo un timbre de voz con canciones muy bien elaboradas. Independientemente el estilo que te guste, hay que saber apreciar discos de este tipo

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.

One of my favorite albums of all time.

Really good album.

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.

The hits have aged very well and the album cuts’ consistency were pleasant surprises.

A couple of nice tracks, but on the whole, the subject matter of most of the songs just bores me to tears and I don't like her cockney twang

Not as bad as I was fearing (although that bar was quite low). It started off quite well but then the ballads crept in more frequently and eventually sapped any life out of proceedings. I did actually like her voice on the tracks when she let it sit with the rest of the band to create an overall song and wasn't all about showmanship but it's the ballad tracks where the vocals have to take centre stage that just puts me off completely.

Really powerful stuff. On top of the big hits there’s some other stuff in here I could go back for. The cover of “Love Song” is a nice choice for her.

Really good album. Excellent vocals and song writing

The middle section of the album was ok, there is a country type sounding ballad that was horrid but the intro and outro are some of the strongest pieces in pop music!

"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.

Never been a huge fan of music that fetishizes a person's voice over other elements such as songwriting and music, but this hits all three areas quite consistently. Hard to knock even though something so popular generally means it serves as the lowest common denominator to everyone's tastes. The only thing she could have done was take a few more chances later in the album instead of edging closer to lounge music.

Adele has this million in 1 vocal presence. Its got so much color while sounding so effortless. The song writing is kind of 1 speed though. Its all ballads. The singles (4 of them) are stadium shakers, but this album as a whole doesn't seem to shift out of that mood. I'll Be Waiting is sonically what this album needed more of.