Reviews (page 8 of 15)
I mean, there are always people like this right? Pop/ballad singers from somewhere that is still nominally governed by the British monarchy that sell 80 billion records and are forgotten after a generation because they made bland generic inoffensive music that provoked zero thought in its listeners whatsoever. Judging by how many Helen Reddy and Anne Murray albums I come across while crate digging, they must have sold Adele-like numbers of records but have been all but forgotten because there’s not really anything to remember them by. Adele is the version of that phenomenon that ruled the earth in the 2010’s but she’s just one in a never ending line of creators of vaguely pleasant schlock. This isn’t art, it’s product. Now, fairly blatantly misogynistic rock snobbery aside, this is excellent product. This didn’t sell 80 billion copies by accident. It’s like a greatest hits album for almost the entire first side and even the songs that weren’t hits are generally catchy and always well sung. If this generation was going to have a Helen Reddy/Anne Murray, it could have done a lot worse.
Its nice
Starts well, gets fairly samey
Va redd for at da skulle bare vær ballada, men gikk overraskande greit
not for me dawg
Didn’t think I was going to like it, but pleasantly surprised!
Pretty good. I listened multiple times and it got better every time. Still a three and I don’t see myself listening to it again
boooofff.. mais rolling in the deep, c<est une grosse toune
Ok
Ça me tape sur les nerfs solide. La musique générique quétaine se tient dans un range de pas très intéressante à pénible pour mourir. Du vocal fry à pus finir. Un album qui essait de nous passer un sapin. Je serais plus indulgent si chaque toune durait 4 minutes de moins. Objectivement, je donnerais un 2 mais y'a tellement de 5 que j'ai envie de faire un peu plus la différence.
She is a decent singer and probably OK as a songwriter too (even though her songs offer nothing that hasn't been heard many times before), but I just can't stand those big and sentimental Adele ballads. I do understand why she is so popular, but this definitely is not my cup of tea...
I remenber this better. Now listening this I van only say that every song is goodish but album is somehow boring.
To my ears, Adele has always had the same problem: most of her songs sound interesting for the first 25 seconds, but after that, I realize I’m not really listening anymore. The same issue comes up with this album as well. Most of the songs go from tight to floppy within that 25 seconds already mentioned.
While the music doesn't blow me away, her voice is pretty damn awesome. Production values are through the roof and song structures are top notch, if somewhat predictable (ie. it's not exploratory progressive music). This is as good as modern pop music gets in my opinion, that said it is not something I listen to very often. For similar cravings I'll rather spin some soul or funky r'n'b, previously I have also listened to Duffy and Amy Winehouse for similar kicks.
Not bad. Better when blues rock than when pop. She has a silky voice.
Stink
Zzzzz
Emotional, Full, Some lovely songs Overall little impact
I played “I’ll Be Waiting” three times in a row; was that even a single? The point is, 21 goes deep. The hits are obvious but there are no bad tracks on the record. And Adele’s voice still hits like a train. Goddamn can she belt! The album’s lost none of its impact fourteen years on.
Some surprisingly slamming songs on this album. Couple of cheeky, but guaranteed hit covers. Voice of a generation. Still doesn't mean I wanna listen on the reg, but really glad I did today.
I'll admit - I kinda groaned when I saw this. But I listened, and enjoyed my time with her. Not a bad experience.
Me, a 40 year old male engineer with a beard, driving home from gym: "Set fi-iiiii-reee, to the raaaaaainnnn".
Phenomenal, true talent out of Adele here. Not my favorite genre or style, but acoustically very impressive
Great album. What more is there to say I'm always sold on powerhouse vocals and strong melodies. It's what she's known best for.
Einerseits positiver bias weil ich es sehr mochte als meine Mutter damals die CD geschenkt bekommen hat, andererseits negativer bias weil ich das Album so gehasst habe weil sie es SO VIEL und SO LAUT gehört hat. Aber das gleicht sich schön aus, insgesamt ein super Album.
Super solid album, not mad at it at all
I wish I liked her music but I find it strange
Still the funniest thing about this record is that XL records put it out... like that is inconceivable now looking back on it - one month before they put out Goblin by tyler, the creator... just bizarre... anways i have nostalgia for these songs i suppose because i heard them all in the dentist's office and in my mom's car but honestly who gives a fuck? the music kind of sucks and album is boring as hell... i just dont care at all
“Rumor Has It” is a great song.
Nothing bad and a few very good songs here.
I knew I didn’t like the singles, and it turns out I don’t like the others either!
amazing vocals
Great
Adele has a great voice, and there are a couple of standout songs on here, but most of the others are middling.
'Rolling in the Deep' is a great, great song. I don't even care she's British doing a bit of Southern put-on in her voice. What I can't withstand is the lounge act treatment of 'Lovesong'. How could you Rick Rubin? This album would be better cutting 'Lovesong' and 'One and Only'. Her voice is great but I'm not sure making your best album at 21yo is great. Some years and experience can enhance great talent.
💘
pretty neutral. i like the album, but not my favorite or least favorite. also very possible i'm swayed by Brett.
A lot to like about this album but short of a 5 cause too many songs are too dreary and about the same subject matter. Stand out song - rumour has it
One of the best albums in this list by far - I was delighted when I opened the app this morning. There's just so much real emotion expressed with such ease - one could not speak a word of English and still cry their eyes out listening to Adele. Simply beautiful
Now this is what you call a modern classic! This is the kind of 2010s pick you see on the list and think "Yeah. That makes sense. Good pick." Why is that? Oh, I don't know. This album's only the best-selling album of the 21st century and the 17th-best-selling album of all time at a reported 31 million sales. Combine that with its legendary singles and Adele's fairly strong legacy and you've got an album that feels like a shoe-in for a list of must-listen albums. But does the quality of 21 back up its inclusion? Yeah! It does! The 21 hype was warranted. This album's pretty great. I wouldn't call it my favorite album of the 2010s. It's pretty hard to top something like TPAB after all. But 21 is still an album that's worth the listen. It's pretty clear to me know why Adele managed to be a huge success at this time. It's powerful yet sophisticated. Adele is not a flashy or over-the-top character. She feels like a person and not a product of the music industry. It helps that the album focuses on relatable themes pertaining to love and heartbreak, making this work well as a breakup album. The sound of 21 also plays a part here. Think back to the music of the late 2000s and early 2010s. "Recession Pop" if you will. Everything was all upbeat and flashy and, well, poppy. 21 was different. It's got soul to it. You listen to a ballad on here like the closer, "Someone Like You" and feel the emotions that a song like this demands. It's some good stuff. And to think that she made this at only 21 years old. Crazy. Of course, the album doesn't work if the songs are bad. Fortunately, they're all good. Of course, you have the big hits like the aforementioned "Someone Like You" and the endlessly iconic "Rolling in the Deep," but the "deep" cuts here are still good too. Shoutouts to the cover of the Cure's "Lovesong." Not as good as the original, but I respect the idea of covering a song like this on an album like this. The production's not the best, but it's mostly good. The lyrics are nice. Maybe a little repetitive but it does make the album feel cohesive. The songs themselves have good variety though. Is it fair to call this album timeless? I think so. It's not quite "peak music" but to say that 21 is a bad album would just be insane. High 4/5.
I. Love. This. Album.
I knew this day would come. The day I that I would finally listen to THAT Adele album. I got 5 songs in and had already come to the conclusion that all the hype, all the talk, all the fuss was for good reason. I totally get it now. This is an amazing album. All the early hits are here, but it's the songs in between those that show off just how brilliant and versatile here voice is. Yes it's a 'pop' album so to speak, but it's also a blues album, a soul album, a great album. I have no idea what her later albums are like, but this was totally worth the hype. Solid.
i listened to most of the song on glee. Though it must have been HUGE when it came out
Adele’s best album for sure. Despite being 21 she sounds so mature and perfect
This is the 135th album I’m rating. I think Adele is very similar to SZA in a way that I can't separate her music from listening to her on the radio in my mind. Adding to my Playlist - Rumour has it and I'll be Waiting. Not Adding to my Playlist - Rolling in the Deep, Turning Tables, Don't you Remember, Set Fire to the Rain, He Won't Go, Take it all, One and Only, Lovesong, and Someone Like you. Rolling in the Deep - I've gotten tired of this song after listening to it ever since it released back in 2010. Rumour has it - I've listened to this song a bunch of times before but I haven't gotten tired of it just yet. All in all I liked 2/11 songs. I have listened to Adele far too much. When will people just stop listening to her. Frankly I think her music is very boring.
forgot how many bangers live on this!
10/10 didnt know she has done a the cure cover
Mad boring album, I don’t understand the Adele hype. Lyrically she’s very good. Musically it’s all good. But just boring. Maybe music therapy ruined this one for me
Music for sister-in-laws and coworkers
This is incredible. Powerful, heart wrenching, catchy, yes some cheese, and simple. Perfect songwriting and execution. My first listen to the full record and will return for future listens. My 5-year old also took my headphones at 9:30PM on a Sunday night while doing the dishes to listen to “Rumour Has It” and it was so pure, she was so excited. So, this album gets that memory now. ♥️
What a great voice. Some songs hit real nice and some are sappy sapperstein.
Never listened to this album before. It's good! Who knew. He Won't Go sounds like a track someone wrote for Alicia Keys that Adele ended up with.
there’s a reason it’s been overplayed and didn’t need to revisit but good for you girl
Watering eyes on the subway and it's only 6:13 AM. Exquisite, for 14 years running.
Such a solid album. No filler and still feels pretty timeless. 'Don't You Remember' is the sleeper ballad I dream about belting out to in karaoke. It's still not a 5 for me for some reason, but it's close...
Quite shouty, innit? Fine for what it is I guess.
Screaming at the top of my lungs or nothing
incredible voice. not for me.
I mean she has a great voice, and the album sounds great; but the album just isn't meant for me.
Soulful vocals, and nice music.
Oh fuck. Why didn’t anyone tell me this was so good? Two of the three weakest songs were the big radio hits.
Very impressive for 21. Adele has a grand voice, and sings from the heart with emotion that you can actually feel. Bluesy and soulful, all songs on the album are better than good with several mega hits included. Have this one on CD and it got plenty of play. L = (5.0*s) I adore Adele. Her rich, strong voice fills me up. I could listen to this over and over, and I have. J = (4.4*s) she Set Fire To The Rain with this one!
Is Adele always in a break-up and sad? At 21 she gets pretty deep and at 25, she is still pining. Can't deny the girl can sing though; I just won't be playing much Adele since her albums are downers. She obviously has skills and has resonated with the masses. Rating this one slightly lower than her last appearance on the list due to her top song being on that one...1.74 stars.
Evidently I'm a sucker for Adele as I enjoyed 21 even more than my surprisingly highly-rated 25. Something about her vocals strike a chord with me as I found myself drawn in through pretty much all 48 minutes of this album. She manages to effectively meld emotional lyrics with engaging pop music somehow which is a fine line to walk. I had mild exposure to a couple of the hits over the years but didn't realize how deep 21 is as I found myself recognizing quite a few tracks off this album. I wasn't surprised to see this listed as a #1 chart topper and Grammy winner and agree that it deserves its props. Can't believe I'm saying but it's pretty clear I'm a bigger Adele fan than I expected, far beyond just her title track from Skyfall. 3.81 stars
I don't remember there being a Cure cover on this. This shit had a chokehold on retail radio stations for over a decade. It might as well be the official soundtrack of Target stores. Favorite track: Set Fire to the Rain
This is my mom's favorite album but I strangely didn't enjoy it as much. 9/10
Peak radio friendly music. It’s not terrible
Not as bad as I was expecting. Rolling in the Deep is a great song, but otherwise too many generic power ballads. She can obviously sing, but it's not the sort of thing I'd listen to for pleasure.
At the start of the week I was complaining about how I hadn’t had any female-lead albums. I’ve now had four this week, which I’m very happy about. Adele has such an incredible voice. It really suits the music that she makes. This album has some massive songs on it, and some I hadn’t heard before. I enjoyed most of them! Overall: 4/5
This album is my guilty pleasure. I love it.
it's better than 25 but an adele song has never moved me and the lovesong cover was definitely not needed
Never listened to this, as all the media hype at the time switched me off. But have finally listened to it and although I do not hate it, I don't think I will ever play it again. Overrated.
Perfect break up album. Amazing vocals.
My wife owns this album on CD. It's the pinnacle of 21st-century Pop. You'll never catch me listening to it; I consider it "chick music," but it's full of earworms, and Adele has an incredible voice.
- „Rolling in the Deep“: great song - just not really my type. Probably overplayed on the radio - Overall a little too melancholic - Does not quite suit my lyrical taste - “Don’t you remember”: nice melody - “Set fire to the rain”: amazing some! - “Someone like you”: very beautiful song - In conclusion, I suppose it’s an amazing album. It’s just not my type at all.
Always a fav
Adele certainly has a wonderful voice and it’s pretty impressive how many huge hits were on this album. Unfortunately, I found the songs themselves to be pretty bland. I was between 2 and 3 stars and settled on 2 because naming your albums after how old you were is so fucking stupid
Splendid to return to the chart toppers of the high school years. Had completely forgotten pounding desks shouting RUMOR HAS IT waiting to start religion class. Adele is one of our best singers working. However I wish she had better judgment in picking what's going on around her voice.
There's more variety than I expected for a modern pop album and I think Adele is a talented vocalist at least (although she could cut her note-wavering by like 50%). But it's still a modern pop album (read=shit)
my mom loves it
Some decent songs, she can sing. But I find her depressing af
Overall a great, easy listening album that shows why Adele reached the heights she has.
Adele’s vocal ability and talent is extraordinary. For the most part, I enjoy this album. I remember the appraise and critical acclaim when it came out. Rolling in the Deep is an amazing album opener. I really love Rumour Has It and Set Fire to the Rain. They’re upbeat and fun despite being about a relationship breaking down. Someone Like You is iconic in British pop culture. I’ll Be Waiting was good track. I enjoyed Adele’s different approach to Lovesong, a classic from The Cure. However, I didn’t care for the other songs on the album. They felt desperately sad and seemingly endless and slightly repetitive. My personal preference is much more towards songs that are upbeat. I don’t mind a few love songs in one go but this album had too many for my liking. All in all, I can see why this album is here. It’s a classic.
3 all time great songs (over 2 billion listens on each!!). She's just one of the greatest to ever do it.
Adele is one of those artists with amazing singing talent, but for me that is not enough by itself. She has absolutely no personality in her voice and is too bland and unseasoned for me to listen to more than a single here or there.
She sings ennit
Again, she has a voice but the album is weak. Predictable adult contemporary sound. Nothing blows me away though it’s well produced and I can admit it is probably stellar for the genre it’s in, I just don’t have an ear for that type of sound
Adele has such a special voice. It seems like she’s never fully unleashed and yet she outshines nearly every other singer. The lyrics have a sincerity and continuity to them that immediately recognizable.
21 is potentially everything that is wrong with modern music: meaningless, soulless, overplayed pop. But to say it does not hit unbelievably hard is just a lie. That 5 song run from ‘Rolling in the deep’ to ‘Set fire to the rain’ is banger after banger. Lovesong is such a good cover of the original Robert must have been punching the air and ending the album on ‘Someone like you’ is fire.
I thought I would like it more
I am not generally a fan of Adele and find a lot of her music boring. But she absolutely HIT with 21. Obviously people know the hits, but the majority of the songs on this album are amazing. My favourites are He Won’t Go and I’ll Be Waiting.
There are some exceptional songs on here surrounding by quite a lot of MOR dross It’s a shame as Someone Like You, Rolling In The Deep and Set Fire To The Rain are genuinely great Call it a charitable 3
linda voz, músicas iconicas, produção babadeira, mas como a maioria são baladas eu acho meio meh..... mas adele você é uma lenda!!!!
Really good. Great voice, pleasant pop songs.
An album that truly deserves the “modern classic” moniker.
The lady has pipes! She goes for it. I appreciate that. This is an album full of torch songs designed to feature Adel, and the instrumentation is broad brush and not too complex. The songs are mostly good, a few are really engaging. But this is not an album I’m gonna listen to straight through again. It’s a 3.
Absolutely love her singing voice, I mean, who doesn't? My one issue with the album as a whole is it lacks that edge that most soul music does. It was a little shaped to fit a global palette and it certainly worked. Otherwise amazing album. Also she covers The Cure, that alone adds a star.
Adele has such a powerful and amazing voice didn’t think this one would be as good as it was but this was a great album turning tables was a favourite
Shit… lol. Got some classics that i remember my mom playing in the car with the radio on on the rides home from school. Not great but 3 does it justice
21 is an album made for the masses—and it works. Adele’s voice is undeniably powerful, and this album is where it truly shines. In my opinion, 21 is her best work, packed with some of her biggest and most iconic hits. The production is polished to perfection—maybe even too polished at times, teetering on the edge of being overproduced. Still, it serves the songs well and showcases Adele's emotional range. You can really feel what she’s thinking and going through with every track. The heartbreak is raw, the delivery honest. Favorite Song: Of course, the big hits like Rolling in the Deep and Rumour Has It are classics, even if they’ve been played to death. But a personal standout for me was I’ll Be Waiting—it’s musically brilliant and has a great Northern Soul vibe that adds something fresh to the album. Least Favorite: This might be an unpopular opinion, but Someone Like You just doesn’t do it for me—it’s slow, and I find it quite boring. Album Artwork: A classic Adele cover—simple, emotive, and instantly recognizable.
I think this album is far superior to 25. Vocal range seems larger, and more fresh, raw, emotion. Close to 5 stars.
Adele is fine. I knew most of the songs on here because they're catchy and played all the time in the car, so it was nice to sing along to. Nothing life changing in here though.
Fav: He Won't Go Notes: Some really good songs. Cure cover is unnecessary.
A little Adele goes a long way for me. So, for our second Adele offering on this list it's kinda played out for me. Still has a great voice, of course, and an album like this from a 21 year old counts for something. It's definitely well produced, and her voice shines through. I haven't felt the break up vibes in a LONG time, but I imagine this one has been spun through a lot of heartbreak.
This album went triple platinum in my house let me tell you Takes me back to 2011. Me and my friends had this album on anytime we could. Someone Like You was the first song I played on a proper piano. Beautiful piece of music, gives me chills hearing those chords start Chefs kiss, iconic 5 ⭐️
Great singer and some great songs, but not something I want to listen to regularly.
Started and ended with a bang, but sort of lost it's way in the middle. She's a wonderful vocalist, but I think she spent too much time on this album showing that off, and not enough time picking the right songs for her. It was sort of all over the place. I'm still not a huge fan of Adele, but there's definitely some songs on this album that have relisten value.
The “bookends” to this album are incredible. Unfortunately the middle of the album kind of felt a little underwhelming, especially when comparing to her other album after this.
oh jesus, that final song (someone like you will always hurt).... never been much of a fan of adele but, oh, how i enjoyed this album!! its been the first album i knew existed since ive started to rank albums LMAO. besides the 4 songs i already knew, i also liked I'll Be Waiting and One And Only. oh, and Turning Tables and Lovesong, too. at this point, i can practically say all songs were my favourite... sorry, guilty!!
It's got a lot of good ones and I like her but I'm not feeling it 100%
8/10
8/10
Adele really is quietly one of the best artists of the twenty-first century. just extremely solid with some absolutely MASSIVE hits sprinkled in
This album isn’t new to me, it was nice to listen to it again.
Favorite Track: Someone Like You
Much better than her other one of this list, not my genre tho Will I listen to again: 17%
Classic pop record.All songs are great .Listened to this many times when it originally came out
Herkenbare bangers, maar niet om vaker te luisteren
Another one not right up my alley but happy to have heard the whole thing, solid album!
This album literally reminds me of having my teeth cleaned because this is the type of inoffensive music they play at my dentist office. I honestly tried to go into this album with as open of a mind as I possibly could, but admittedly I was fully expecting to dislike it. I was actually pleasantly surprised by the first couple songs, but then utterly bored by the end of the third song and ready to turn it off by Set Fire to the Rain. She’s a great singer, so I won’t give her a 1, but it’s all just safe, generic, boring. Nothing new, nothing exciting, not pushing any boundaries.
Copied Amy Whinehouse’s homework but left out the hardcore drugs and addiction parts. Leans more into pop but man do the piano and singing songs all sound the same. Its no wonder the songs with more than one instrument are the popular ones that are big hits. Not my type of music but I can appreciate it and it’s not shit. 6/10
Kunne vært bra, men ble masete. For overprodusert?
Genre bending, hit after hit. Lots of heartbreak juxtaposed with exceptional vocal heroics.
I'm kinda pro adele
The hits are great and she has an incredible voice but if I’m being honest I don’t need to come back for the in betweeners
Turning tables and the lovesong cover are *chefs kiss*
Fantastic hits. Only ding that there’s a few boring songs on here
One of those albums where I'm rating it off of aggregate enjoyment and appreciation over time, rather than how much I enjoy listening to it in this particular moment. Packed with hits, but those have been played to death. I'm trying not to let that affect my score. It's the best selling album of the 21st century for a reason.
I expected more of this but was underwhelmed. Other than her voice being very nice, the songs themselves are lyrically vapid, instrumentally barren, and pandering to a simple-minded pop audience. She wrote few of these tracks on her own, and predominantly got help from people in bands like One Republik that are known for making soulless muzak. Rounding up because she is vocally talented, but this was not successful as an album experience. 1.5/5 -> 2/5
I can't even really hate on this album because it's honestly great. It's so much better than 25 which, while well produced, bored me with pop ballads. This one, however, has the sauce. Rollin in the Deep is an epic song and then following it up with Rumour Has It and shortly after Set Fire to the Rain? This could easily be a best of list and instead it's just a really great album. I actually found myself loving some of the other songs that were new to me, like I'll Be Waiting and One and Only. My wife will be glad that I liked this one.
Pretty terrific album. Surprising probably nobody.
Overplayed for a reason, I'll be waiting is a tune
Meh
Adore this. Crazy how many hits there is on this one album. Turning Tables, Don’t You Remember, He Won’t Go are faves.
Too whiney…
Vegas residency says it all...if it were a colour, it would be well worn beige...next!
it’s a generally good album but nothing about adele’s music has ever been really interesting to me
If Britney is the princess and Madonna is the queen, then Adele is the Goddess of pop.
There's this kind of percussion that I used to hear in adverts all the time. I can't put into words why, but I absolutely detest it, and that's all over this album. I don't know if it has a name (I doubt it) but it completely distracted me A lot of this has just permeated pop culture round such a degree that I think "oh yeah, it's that song" when I hear it after hearing them on countless programmes, films and adverts. Rolling in the Deep used to be absolutely everywhere in the UK, so I'm already tired of that one before even starting the album Didn't expect the banjo or accordion though, that was nice I didn't find much of this very emotionally impactful but maybe I'm just a cold-hearted bastard. I can't argue that Adele has an incredible voice, I just wish she used it for more interesting songs. She must be doing something right, though. This has sold so many copies, and it's just not for me Highlights: He Won't Go, I'll Be Waiting
I put off listening to this one for awhile. Because it's Adele, and it's 21, and it dominated everything when it was released. But finally I decided now would be a good time to listen to it, and honestly, I've probably only heard three songs off of it. Going in, I expected to hate this. Through Rolling in the Deep, all I could think about was how overplayed this sounded. Then Rumor Has It kicks in and frankly, that's a great song. But as we go along through this album, it becomes apparent what this album lacks - any sort of rough edge. It's overproduced to a degree of Spinal Tap. It's too clean. Too perfect. It begs for any sort of feeling, soul, or rough edge. A Janis voice crack. A guitar just a little late or early. Something that says that we're feeling this with you. It becomes very present on Lovesong. A Cure cover that should be emotional and haunting. It's just....technical. And boring. It's not a bad album. Definitely doesn't deserve a crazy low rating. But I gave Beth Orton a 3 and I'd rather listen to that. On the other hand, I gave Hole a 2 and this is better than Celebrity Skin. It's a low three. An asterisked three. At least it's not the Eagles.
iconic album, never listened to it in its entirety, just every song separately adele is the go to singer for when you’re feeling sad the album starts perfect, then goes a bit downhill to then finish off great
Heard so many of these songs - she's iconic, no doubt, but not my style
Probably Adele’s best album. Lots of hits.
nostalgic
A few good bangers but felt a lot of repetition in non-single tracks. Couldn’t binge listen.
One of the great voices in music
87/100.
She sings well
Rolling in the deeeeep, putting me to sleeeeep
Came out of the box with a banger and then kinda evened out for me. Still very solid.
Adele is a queen and this is her reigning album. There were some misses for me, so not a perfect album. But I just love me some Adele.
The pipes on this woman...
Excellent album! 4 big hits: Rolling In The Deep Rumour Has It Set Fire to the Rain Someone Like You. I also like: He Won't Go Take it All I'll Be Waiting Lovesong
Really to minds on this one. Obviously, a number of great songs. Recording sounds amazing. But, something about it just doesn’t click. Was actually the first time listening to the album as a whole. Two star is probably me and maybe not fair.
LORD. NOSTALGIA MIGHT PLAY A FACTOR BUT DID I CRY. ROLLING IN THE DEEP HAS BEEN OVERPLAYED THO. 4
Iconic. A bit too Adele but also so many hits.
I liked this more than I thought I would, but not enough for me to actually be impressed by it.
not my typical genre at all, but there were some bangersss 3,5/5 🌬️
Buen debut de una gran voz que no me llena.
You know, I’ve always liked Adele. I think the machine of radio-first-trickle-down taste curated music broadcasted through the head units of 2010 Holden Captivas via B105 and 106.9 did a lot of damage to my cognitive development during the “let’s do it tonight babeeey” recession-pop years, but Adele was not one such villain in that. What’s not to like? Adele’s a phenomenal singer, a songwriter who would have done well at any point from the 70s to the year of release of this album. The UK lost its figurehead female voice with Amy, and Adele did a job better than anyone else could have to fill those shoes. Admittedly, she did so better in prior (especially) and subsequent albums. The big 3 hits that arose out of them all stand up today, and we’ll all look back at them reasonably fondly in decades to come. Besides that, the Lovesong cover feels like medium quality filler. I listen to newer artists like Celeste and hear Adele’s warm timbre come through, and I appreciate it. I honestly believe her songwriting to come from a sincere place, albeit with the help of some industry heavyweights here and there (somehow Rick Rubin is here??). I mean for crying out loud, the breakup was happening mid-production. Anyway, I appreciate this album for what it is, though it’s my second-least favourite from her. It’s been long enough to somewhat detach it from ceiling-speaker repertoire irritation. Favourite: He Won’t Go Least favourite: Lovesong (this is the correct choice) 7/10
Look, I understand how talented Adele is. She genuinely has a once in a generation voice and I won't ever deny it. But it's just not for me. I fucking hate singer-songwriter music that's just a singer and a piano. Pianos suck. The lazy songwriting on Don't You Remember was pretty fucking lazy and bland. Outside of that, every song - apart from the hits that we were forced to listen to near-daily on the radio for 3 years straight - was fairly bland and the album is obviously themed around heartbreak. It definitely gets jading after a while. This review may sound critical, but I genuinely didn't hate this as much as I should have. It did get lazy, and a bit boring at times; but it definitely didn't feel like 48 minutes, it felt shorter. I could tolerate this and I didn't even mind listening to it in the background. I can't give this lower than a 3, despite the fact I will never come back to this album again in my life. Adele is just too talented and her voice is too fantastic to deserve anything less, despite that everything in my core is supposed to hate this. Plus, at least it's something different. Not getting a 90's British rock album is always a blessing.
It's hard to have too strong of an opinion on Adele which confuses me as to why some of the reviews here are so polarizing. It's very competently made albeit pretty sterile pop with a few smatterings of soulful slowness. Very easy to listen to just not really much to consider a favourite
Music to make fat women feel empowered when their jobless boyfriend cheats on them.
The Norman's are going nuts for this one i bet. Dare I look at the global reviews? The three best songs on the album are the last three tracks and one of them is a cover. Crazy what decent songwriters can do cause Adele's cover of Lovesong is great. Never listened to the hits of this album voluntarily and aside from Someone like you i still won't. Atleast it wasn't boring like the vast majority of albums of this calibre. Those last three songs really were great though. 5/10
The writing credits here has fewer names than the staffing history for the construction crew of Sagrada Familia. Maybe it's the fact that I have mainly listened to Adele involuntarily but I just can't help but shake the feeling that this is the musical equivalent of consuming Mortadella. I was hoping that I had reached the age where I would look back on music like this with fondness and nostalgia. Either I'm not old enough or the deep cuts on here are ass. Adele has a wonderful voice and a lot of talented people worked on this, but at the end of the day it is soulless music-by-committee. The Lovesong cover was novel but I won't lie and tell you that I wasn't very happy when this album was over. Highlights: Rolling in the Deep
I know I’m confirming to the stereotype of believing that the best pop music came out whenever I, the listener, was in college, but dammit if it ain’t true. The B sides would be lead singles on lesser albums, Adele takes the listener through an emotional roller coaster of longing and heartbreak and ends on such a poignant note of bittersweet progress, that sometimes growth isn’t how you’d like it to be.
Пост-нат кларити творит чудеса. Арктик Манкиз звучат как Радиохэд, странный член не вызывает сомнений, и Адель больше не звучит как Стас Михайлов. Но всё - лишь иллюзия (благодаря которой, предположительно, мой отец вообще смог создать потомство, ибо если не путь Господен, то иного объяснения этому чуду нет; за что я благодарен им всем, конечно). Это ревью звучит чуть больше как питчфорк, чем мне бы хотелось, поэтому вот настоящий музыкальный факт про Адель: по моему субъективному мнению, этот альбом сильно лучше 25; он гораздо менее шаблонный - и потому гораздо более настоящий что ли? Я определенно стараюсь написать как можно лучше, пока женщина принимает душ. Сравнить вот это полотенце с предыдущими "итс окээээй". Вот еще один факт: реально лучшая песня на альбоме - это Lovesong, ха-ха. Спасибо за счастливое детство, Роберт Смит. Лучшая песня - Rolling in the Deep.
Still kinda iconic
4.5/5. Powerful voice, this album took the world by storm when it first dropped.
Let’s face it - she’s mega talented. 4 stars (but only because it’s not one of my all time faves / my typical genre)
3.2 Some bangers, some big ballards, some a bit boring. Not as full an album as her earlier releases
I had no idea I was gonna enjoy this as much as I did. No skip album, front to back.
Great album, the singles are the best songs but the whole cd was worth the listen.
So good, forgot how good this album was! Rach and I used to jam this boi
Three or four songs on this album have been sooooo over-played that I'm still bored with them now 14 years after their release. So I focussed on the tracks that did not make radio. "Lovesong" is a nice cover.
not really my vibe but kinda bangs
She certainly can belt. This lady is really intense in general. Look, I don't know exactly what happened to her, and I know losing love can be very sad, but the longer I listen I get the creeping feeling that the intensity level is perhaps landing in the "overkill" territory. So while this release is brimming with talent, it all feels a bit unsettling. This works best when the arrangements fall more into the Dusty Springfield areas of inspriation. No kitchen sink-approach, just a little minimalist soul upholding the craft of the songwriting and some legit vocal range. We get little bits of that here, "I'll Be Waiting" comes to mind as a good example.
Solid key tracks.
Absolutely fantastic. If pop was consistently this good I'd actually listen to the radio from time to time.
She can def sing! Song great songs and some I'm sick of having heard on the radio too much when they came out. Respect though, she knows Bron.
Not really something I'd listen to on my own. Not quite my vibe. That being said Adele has amazing talent and a beautiful voice. She is a great artist, just not my go to as far as what I like.
Inte bara en röst. Ett fantastiskt knippe låtar. Femma.
21 was a great album much to my surprise. I think this project made me have a greater appreciation for Adele in my 20s than i did when i was a pre-teen during Adele's prime and listening to both this and 25 really helped with that. While i don't think that this album is as good as 25, i still think it is still a great listen with beautiful music, great songwriting and vocals which i now like far more than i did during my pre-teen years. This album did have a good diversion with I'll Be Waiting and had a cover of The Cure's Lovesong which it always shocks me when pop albums have cover songs but this cover was still very good. I liked this album quite a lot more than i thought i would have. Best Song: Rolling in the Deep Worst Song: Don't You Remember
Decent album - fabulous voice 3/5
A great listen when i first got it. Maybe overdid it then. It holds up today. Especially 'Rolling in the deep' and 'Someone like you'. Great songwriting mixed with a great voice. 3 is a rating for me, but it probably deserves another star at least in a general rating.
While "I'll Be Waiting" seems like it might be out of place, it was quite welcome, the only track that didn't seem to be hammering me over the head with pangs of overwrought emotion. I was really looking forward to the Rick Rubin-produced tracks, but damn those are some LOUD drums.
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!
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
Aunque me gusta más su siguiente álbum, es imposible darle menos de 5 estrellas a un disco que trae Rolling in the deep, Set fire to the rain, One and only, Someone like you y Rumor has it. Un milagro que venga tanto tema glorioso en un mismo disco. Y además pues a Adela se le ama, así que tenga sus 5 estrellas.
Mega hit album, I was surprised that I still enjoy the singles after how much I've heard them. The deeper cuts here are kind of meh though. There is no denying her vocal talent though you do still need the songs to back that up. Did not know she did a Cure cover, not anywhere near as good as the original though.
Rolling in the Deep - 3/5 Rumor Has It - 3/5 Turning Tables - 4/5 Don't You Remember - 4/5 Set Fire to the Rain - 4/5 He Won't Go - 3/5 Take It All - 4/5 I'll Be Waiting - 3/5 One And Only - 4/5 Lovesong - 3/5 Someone Like You - 3/5 Average score: 3.5/5 (rounding down) i'm a little underwhelmed by the album overall, likely due to the fact that i've heard nearly half of these tracks so many tracks due to its constant play on mainstream radio. she's a talented vocalist tho, and the album was produced well
Great voice with a lot of really great songs. Going to put this on the 5 side of a 4.5. Wasn’t sure which way I was going to slice this one but it is really good.
Some good stuff. But not really for me.
solid
Somewhat generic and slick pop music. Not my cup of tea generally. But there's no denying that Adele has a fantastic voice which at least elevates it above most typical Top 40 schlock. The song Rumor Has It always brings a smile to my face because it brings up memories of my oldest son (when he was a toddler) singing the chorus as "Oma Has It," which is what he calls his German grandmother. 3/5 Album 46/1001
[7/10]
this was actually quite good even though i didnt expect much from it.
I do think that the hits are some of the best ones, as I feel like why they are so good is that they stood out from other pop songs at the time. Quite a lot of these are quite boring ballad-type songs though, which are great and showcase her voice really well but they just don't feel very creative or really that interesting. Obviously her singing is incredible I'd say arguably one of the best pop singers ever. Backings are great in some places and ok in others. Favourite songs: rolling in the deep, rumour has it, don't you remember, set fire to the rain, lovesong, and also some others. Overall around 6/10
It's pretty good, I like it, but I'm not sure what it says that my favorite song on the album is a cover.
Magic.
A pop record, suppose it’s notable. Adele can sing for sure but it’s maybe too middle aged mom for me. Some classics overshadowed by overplayed. Lovesong was a cool cover of the cure.
An album that jumps back and forth between great tracks and tracks that do nothing for me. Rolling in the Deep. Stone cold classic. Rumor Has It? Annoying chorus. Set Fire to the Rain, fantastic. Take It All? Not a huge fan of the gospel. He Won't Go is a great R&B track though, that one surprised me. Generally, her slower ballad stuff bores me, and when she gets the shrill highs, it takes me out. Fine record with some great classic, but the deep cuts generally let it down for me.
This is a good album. I had heard some of the singles before but had never listened all the way through. I give it a 3.25/5.
I’m not even a huge Adele fan but this is such an accomplished album and also giving extra stars for the amount of American centric reviews without any idea of British cultural/musical influence.
Not my jam. Great voice tho.
A lot of her songs sound the same but man her voice is way too good to not enjoy listening.
Great album
I dont like the music, but her voice is nice
went into this hating adele, still definitely hate adele
Powerful and sad.
Great writing and musical composition for this album. Powerful voice, she deserves the flowers she's received.
Obviously a great album, one of the best of 2010’s. I don’t listen to much Adele but this is probably my favorite album of hers. Take it all and turning tables were too songs that got overlooked by rolling in the deep and others.
Modern classic of pop/neo-soul. Don't know if I have ever listened to the whole album. Every song is good. Not my go to genre, though.
Parę fajnych kawałków, do tego cover the Cure :)
Singles are classics - easily 5* and beyond Lots of the album tracks have faded a little bit to time moving on - production a little staid, still the voice is always incredible, some of these would be 3* though (perhaps lower) Overall a strong 4* - which still feels harsh given the heights it reaches
5/10
Rolling in the Deep 4 Rumour Has It 3.7 Turning Tables 3.5 Don't You Remember 3.7 Set Fire to the Rain 4.1 He Won't Go 3.7 Take It All 3.6 I'll Be Waiting 3.8 One and Only 3.7 Lovesong 3.4 Someone like You 3.4 Score: 3.690909091
Its not Amy Winhouse but I like these British Soul voices like Dusty Spingfield. I did not listened too much beacuse of the WE though.
What a voice, what an album, so many hits !!! but this album lacks a bit of energy, which would probably hurts the poetry of this album, to qualify for 5 stars. I already have listened many time this album with great pleasure... but I rediscovered that it also contains a few tracks that I had forgotten because they are not at the level of the album. It would be a small album, okay, but we are talking about a great album here. So I'll stick to 4 stars. Adèle, if you're reading this (the head I have writing this...), call me to improve on your next album and thus get the 5th star!!
« Rolling in the Deep” was a massive hype when it came out, so I gave the rest of the album a shot, but I think it often drowns in too much drama for me. I get tired of those big-voiced singers pretty quickly, can’t help it. You can feel the vocal talent, but the songs sometimes feel a bit too polished. It clearly speaks to a wide audience—girls especially—it’s inclusive, smooth, and radio-friendly enough to please pretty much everyone, myself included… up to a point.
It’s a nice album in general, but way too cheesy. I get it’s her vibe but still
Boring 4/10
ich bin kein.hater
Nostalgie + actually gut. Best: Rolling in the deep, Lovesong (w the cure)
Honestly I’m not a huge Adele fan but this is a great album and she’s an amazing singer
absolutamente nada demais inclusive achei chato
normal. mas me trás memórias de arrumar a casa com minha irmã em 2011, aí é divertidim
Better than expected but still not really my music. Her voice on the other hand is hauntingly beautiful.
6/10 4 good pop singles sat amongst some fairly bland tracks. Lyrically, a relentless breakup album, which gets tiresome after a while
I think Adele makes music for people who don't like music. People who very rarely by cds but pick this up.
Incredible voice, a great diva album start to finish
Classic
masterpiece ! work of art ! 5/5
Jó lemez lenne, fun lehet olvasni közben
This album is one of my favorites. Adele is one of the best of our time and I can't believe this album is already 14 years old. 1. Rolling in the Deep - instantly 5 stars. This is the song that launched Adele's career. This is definitely an album I can listen to beginning to end without missing a song. Every song is about a boy, which gets a little competitive, but Adele's voice and music composition make up for whatever the underlying message of the song is.
I wasn’t sure if I had heard this whole album or if I had only heard the radio singles. I have a friend who is a big Adele fan and would always play her in his car during road trips. So I have heard this whole album before but I never really sat down and listened to the album in full. Definitely a solid album. Stand outs for me were He Won’t Go and Lovesong
Classique fin de secondaire/début cégep vibe. Ben ben nostalgique. J'ai jamais écouté l'album au complet
Like most people, I know about half these songs from constant radio play back when I was in high school ("Someone Like You" was always my favorite). Unfortunately, the non-singles don't really add anything new for me. Still, it's always nice to revisit a few great songs I haven't thought all that much about in years.
Как я понял это попса так что тут навряд ли будет оценка выше 5 Первая песня (Rolling In The Deep) как же она меня заебала, обычная попсовая песня (3/10) Вторая песня тоже самое (2/10) Третья песня ещё хуже (1/10) короче мне стало скучно и я выключил этот альбом, простите
Truly magnificent .
I know how much this album is iconic already. Don't need to listen to it. Plus not a huge Adele fan
Adele is undoubtedly good, but probably more of a singles lass than an album genius.
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.
I know some of these songs from the radio. Or the first two anyway--the first track is pretty decent, and Rumour Has it is excellent. From there it gets pretty whiney for the next two songs. But some rhythm and soul comes back in Set the Fire and He Won't Go, the in I'll Be Waiting. Take it All, unsurprisingly, more crying. I guess the surprise here was that the album wasn't all crying, and not as depressing as I assumed an Adele album would be. Someone Like You was the track one of my exes sent me a few months after dumping me. 3/5, higher than I thought I'd be rating an Adele album for sure. It's mostly just not my thing.
slow danced to the sound of Adele's and my girlfriend's voices on this Friday afternoon.
Man, it's been a long time. This was the zeitgeist when I was a teenager and I did listen to '21' in full fairly frequently, but it's been at least ten years. I was curious to see how it holds up. No one was making pop music that sounded like what Adele was making, and she still stands apart from her peers. That voice is still earthshaking after all this time. God damn can she sing. Some of the songs have lost their punch after almost 15 years of radio play. "Rolling in the Deep" and "Set Fire to the Rain" were on constantly back in 2011/2012. Consequently I'm drawn more to the album cuts, like "Don't You Remember", "I'll Be Waiting", and "One and Only". A legacy breakup album, but it's polished to the point of losing character. The production style means this isn't dated, but it doesn't grab me either. I was glad to revisit, but also kind of wanted to listen to '30' instead. She has room to get messy on that one. "Rumour Has It" still bangs.
Adele's voice is unique, mesmerizing, and talented. This album was a centerpiece of 2011 and 2012 for almost everyone in the Western hemisphere, myself included. But that was 14 years ago, and Adele is not standing the test of time for me. The instrumentals that surrounds her voice are SO basic and rote. Her layers of vocals on tracks like Rolling in the Deep are the most interesting "instrument". Everyone talks about her Gospel, Soul, Motown influences... but all of these genres contained so much more expression, nuance, detail in composition and arrangement, and rawness of emotion than what she's displaying on 21. The repetitive claps on Rumor Has It chorus drive me bonkers. The constant eighth-note hammering seems to be the main mechanism for emphasis on this album, which is boring as fuck. In the first track it was the piano, second track it's this clapping. Set Fire to the Rain has a 4-on-the-floor bass and snare throughout the entire song, literally doesn't vary at all between verse and chorus. Frankly every song has the most generic copy paste percussion on the planet. Piano is arpeggiated standard 4 chords over and over again. I wish this album had been arranged and produced like a soul or motown album and not like a pop album. He Won't Go is ironically a song I've never heard on the radio but has a way more interesting percussion arrangement than anything I've heard so far on the album (and still very bland compared to soul/motown percussion). Still boring, because the producer won't let Adele vamp or let go of ABABCB. Waiting for You is one of my faves. Percussion is moderately interesting, piano moderately interesting, ooh there are some horns, gospel-ish chorus, a couple vocal rasps slip through the iron grip of production. A hint of how incredibly raw Adele could sound with a different producer. It's great until the absolutely brain dead section C (basically every song has a brain dead section C tbh). Does Adele feel anything at all when she sings? Three stars for her voice alone. The composition is shit. I would have preferred her to do more improvisational vocal acapella stuff.
I feared with Adele I wouldn't enjoy this, I tend to avoid her music as it gets overplayed on radio. In fairness it's a good album, production is ok, her singing is great, and the big hits are excellent songs. Lacks something I can't quite put my finger on, some of the other songs are fine, overall an easy listen
What a throwback!! Half of the album slaps, the other half is just alright.
Great Album with so many bangers - 11/11 no skips Added to Likes Songs Playlist: Rolling in the Deep Rumour Has it Turning Tables Don't You Remember Set Fire to the Rain He Won't Go Take It All I'll Be Waiting One And Only Lovesong Someone Like You
She's got a great voice. Not really my flavor of Kool aid though
This is an album I wish I could erase my memory of and hear for the first time again. 21 is one of the last albums I recall being truly inescapable. Songs like Rumor Has It, Set Fire To The Rain, and Rolling In The Deep were burnned into out collective subconscious and these days I have no interest in hearing them again. The tracks in this album I hadn't heard before didn't jump out to me either.
Adele is always amazing.
Rolling in the Deep // Turning Tables // Set Fire to the Rain // Someone Like You 3.5/5
Not my genre!
Rolling in the deep. Не мое
Just fantastic album front to back. Songwriting, performances, etc.
2nd album of Adele’s that has come onto my list, her voice is incredible and frankly an underrated artist. This album was what really got her charting in the day. Rolling in the deep, rumour has it and set fire to the rain are just great. 8/10.
Adele has a great voice, but I find these songs to be somewhat derivative. Not really for me.
I'm very torn on this rating, because I want to give it a 2.5, because 2 feels too low for an album that does contain a couple songs that I do see the talent and vision in and can understand why people like them. However, the album is so one-note and gets much too repetitive and a slog that it doesn't feel like a 3, as I don't feel someone that treads so much on just piano and sad vocals really should rise to 1001 albums. I think I have to settle on a 3, even though I feel it like pulls the album higher than it deserves in an average score.
Great pop record. Great vocals from Adele.
What a voice! Maybe I'm mishearing, but the production feels a little rough on this album. Not awful, but I would've assumed such a lauded pop record would be crisper.
absolutely phenomenal album
Adele’s a really good singer but her music is just fine
Piano, sad girl, strong vocals, milfy at 21. What's more to want? Also damn this album is straight uo half top 10 hits.
Almost hard to believe this is not a best-off album. The Cure cover lovesong is marvellous
Classique depuis 2011
The singing frog.
This album is steeped in nostalgia for me, and offers some of my go to karaoke songs. I think my newly discovered favorite from the album was "I'll Be Waiting." While the use of soul inspired musical elements made this album shine so brightly, it does leave quite a bitter taste in my mouth that a white British woman made such a name for herself off of musical techniques that originated from Black American culture (very unsurprising given how frequently this occurs in music.) I will admit she does do it incredibly well though. There is only so much belting one can take though, and after the third listen I found myself tiring of the same vocal styles over and over. The production dimmed the band behind her distinct voice -- this clearly lets Adele's effortless range of notes stand out among the music. This album is better enjoyed over headphones from my own experiences. I think one thing that I appreciate from this album is the narrative element. The themes of the songs are cohesive, and the ordering of them on the album creates a satisfying emotional journey for the listener. 1. Rolling In The Deep: a classic karaoke song, probably the song that introduced me to Adele 2. Rumor Has It: another go to karaoke song, love the bass line and supporting vocals 3. Turning Tables: it seems like almost every single song on this album got radio play, and they all deserved it in their own way 4. Don't You Remember: just a bit too sappy for my liking, it's giving memorial video backing track 5. Set Fire To The Rain: hits just as hard as it did when I was a child, helps to prevent the middle of the album from getting muddled 6. He Won't Go: also didn't love this one at first and had to give it a re-listen after seeing how many people disagree with me. My opinion doesn't feel super changed after re listening as a solo song. Something about the piano build into each chorus and the staccato dictation in the music just lands weird for me. 7. Take It All: by this point in the album I had started to get a bit bored of the belting... thank god I had to wait it out (OKAY so I gave this a re listen on its own, and I think the songwriting in this one hits very close to home) 8. I'll Be Waiting: my favorite of them, really scratches the Amy Winehouse way in an unique sound 9. One And Only: the last like minute and a half of this track is an incredible build 10. Lovesong: I wanted to like this one so badly, but it's just a bit too boring especially given how much I love The Cure's version, quite disappointing especially given how good the second half of this album is 11. Someone Like You: being eight years old, staring out the window as my parents drive, and dramatically following a raindrop with your finger, need I say more? Would absolutely play on my own time in its entirety
Just endless dramatic warbling. She should be called A-yell.
A lot of great songs on this one. Just not my style to listen to it in full length
Fine
Looking at this album, I'm reminded of Alanis Morissette's Jagged Little Pill. There were a million singles off the album and all of them were hits that you could not escape. Rolling in the Deep is a great song. Rumour Has It is another great song. Turning Tables wasn't as big a hit as the other singles off this album, but it's terrific too. Don't You Remember is the first album track. She just kills everything she does. Set Fire to the Rain was huge and it's one of my least favorite Adele songs. He Won't Go is one of the best songs on the album. One and Only is another amazing song that was not released as a single. Joss Stone listens to Adele and wonders what could have been. I've forgotten how good some of these songs that weren't released as single were. Lovesong is not as successful a cover as Make You Feel My Love from 19. Someone Like You is another great song. Adele can convey hurt without sounding weak better than anyone. The whole album is a great reflection on two people moving in different directions, the hurt, the anger, the coping, the coming to terms with what happened. Someone Like You is a perfect encapsulation of the whole album.
This is in my top 50 albums of all time. It’s not just the voice, it’s the arrangements, the songs, the lyrics and the production. All fantastic. And then there’s that voice. Iconic. A no-skip optimistic celebration of the melancholy moments in life. The perfect Sunday evening album.
Rolling in the deep is a classic. Rumour Has It is actually really enjoyable. Turning Tables is a good song but not my cup of tea. Same thing with Don't You Remember. Set Fure To The Rain is a classic. He Won't Go is really good. Take It All is good. I'll be waiting is decent. One And Only isn't for me. I like Lovesong. Someone like you is a classic, but it isn't for me.
songs from this album bring back distinct memories of sitting in the Barnes & Noble in the Christiana Mall and killing time for hours on end while we waited for my dad to get off work. It was around 7th or 8th grade that this was on repeat over the intercom speakers in the store. It has a nostalgia for me that is only highlighted by Adele's skill.
Classic sound, great (if breathy) voice, but overall boring. Some decent songs, some really bad ones and a couple of huge ones.
Adele doesn't need auto tune, auto tune needs Adele
it's just so peak 😭😭😭😭🔥🔥🔥🗣️🗣️🗣️🗣️ May God strike down thee who dare not rate this a five. I remember, Adele.... I remember....
Familier with this one. Didn't have the time to re-listen to it yesterday, but it is by no means a bad album. Quite good actually! Should probably find some time to re-listen.
Some great songs on this album. Personal favourite is Rollin In The Deep 4/5
Spectacular voice, soulful renditions of heartfelt love songs. Put aside all of the tired, white male POVs in this review section and recognize this for what it really is, a generational talent with spectacular song writing. Aside from the massively impactful singles assembled on this album, even the toppings are tasty. Turning Tables and Someone like you are peak Adele; brilliant, tragic, enveloping. They suck you in and make you feel comfortable.
Too cheesy for me. Great voice, though.
so overplayed but it is ultimately pretty good
One of my favorite albums; a classic
ok. i'll listen to it- but for christ's sake, why is ithis shit in the book? why do you make me suffer? OK- i've skimmed it- and that's all I can take. Positives: she has an amazing voice and great phrasing. some of the songs, especially the closer are very well structured pop songs. Finally- all real instrumentation- no synths or overproduction. BUT- the songs are all hallmark-movie level love songs filled with non-specific lyrics that could apply to anyone at anytime- which is I guess how it gets billions of streams. She sings them with gusto, but they all seem hollow.... and man, well structured or not- if I can't buy your heart is in it- you just annoy the hell out of me. which this record does. it was calculated for mass appeal down the second. hundreds of millions of people seem to love this record. everyone has terrible taste.
Classic
3.5
Starts strong and finishes strong, with a bit of filler in the middle
Excellent
Some absolute banging singles but the slower ballads didn't grab me. Very impressive vocalist but the songwriting is pretty generic.
3.5/5. Surprisingly good, better than what I remeber. Unfortunately it's been overplayed so that takes away some of the charm for me.
She's a phenomenal singer and this album shows that off quite well. But the actual backing tracks and instrumentation were a little bland to me. I can see why a lot of people like this album but I don't think I'll be coming back to it. Rolling in the Deep and Someone Like You are both great though.
pretty much peak
Strong voice plus the smash-hits "Rolling in the Deep", "Set Fire to the Rain" and "Someone Like You" plus the "The Cure"-cover "Lovesong" sum up to a pretty solid and catchy pop-album. But still not exactly my jam. 3,5
Great album
Not my thing
she is missing something here where songs are nice but when it comes to her vocal performance, there is more to be desired.
kind of a singles album for me i feel. first three tracks are solid, and then after it feels spotty. of the singles i'm not a fan of Set Fire to the Rain really. the rest range from boring to ok but for the most part they often remind me of other songs i'd maybe rather listen to, and the lovesong cover doesn't do much for me. i don't think i'm necessarily disappointed, i don't usually go to adele for the albums, and her singing still does really well on the fuller tracks. side note i always liked the trailing wobbly high note at the end of the bar in the chorus of Rumour Has It