21

Boy does Adele have an incredible voice, truly meant for ballads like this. This topped the charts over a decade ago and she sounds even better on her more recent releases

There's not a bad song on this album.

Adele's best album. Not much filler and the album is bookended by her two best songs (Rolling in the Deep and Someone Like You). One of the best 2010s albums you'll find

Amazing talent! Singer/songwriter puts out her second album at the age of 21 and every single one of the songs are solid. Ballad singer or pop Goddess, she can sing anything she wants.

i can't say anything about adele's voice that hasn't already been said. stunning, exquisite, lovely. we know this. but what stuck out was how very well suited she was for these songs. talk about playing to your strengths. every time she holds a note, i shiver. every song allowed her to showcase her voice! these are emotional songs, and you can really hear that emotion thick in her voice every time she opens her mouth. it's no wonder she became a sensation after this album. this album has songs that are similar enough they flow in and out of each other but contain enough different elements to distinguish. the piano accompaniment to adele's voice is crucial and beautiful. "set fire to the rain" allows adele to take her power back. the final line of "rumour has it" contains a twist: "but rumor has it he's the one i'm leaving you for" after the song's beat pounds throughout. the album ends with a heart wrenching yet optimistic ballad, "someone like you." together, all songs create such an atmosphere and controls your every emotion. there isn't a bad song among the bunch. on a final note, i absolutely loved what she did with the cover of "lovesong." it's eerie, like the original, but slower. her vocals pack the punch in her version, instead of the background music. i think i might even prefer her version now!

Adele has had lots of different inspirations for her albums, this one being fueled by her break up at the time. And nothing else that she has done has ever quite touched this album. Adele's previous album is fairly heavy on the sad indie sound. But on this album, Adele is channeling a righteous, upbeat fire surrounded by a simple but effective orchestral sound. What comes across is an incredibly soulful sound on this album. Her vocals are often raw, often sultry, often pained, and always approachable. The lyrics are poetic and palpable, all tugging on the heartstrings. Adele spans a few different genres across this album -- blues, pop, jazz, R&B, and more -- but somehow everything manages to feel very related and cohesive. Overall, this album is just really well done, and is undeniably powerful.

Adele was much better when she hadn't gone full dreary and sad yet. 21 is far more upbeat, and even though it's not short on ballads it still has a lot of life. Someone Like You is painful and longing, Set Fire to the Rain shows its anger, and Lovesong feels darker. And then you have the more fast-paced songs like Rumour Has It & Rolling in the Deep, which are still emotional but also vibrant. As as plus, how impressive is it that more than half of this record is composed of either massive hits or a really well-known cover? Feels like Adele hit her peak pretty early - at least from a casual observer's perspective.

classic album

Putting her entire life at the time on this album is very apparent. Letting it all out on every track and not being sorry about it, going through a very dark time in her life Adele turned that into a beautifully empowering album for anyone who has been hurt in life, saying that’s not the end of the story and that heartbreak is truly just a step in the road. Showing any listener who has gone through similar things that it will get better. An Incredible and devastating album that tells the story of heartbreak, depression and how to heal from that.

I wouldn't really choose to listen to this album normally, but I so appreciate Adele's talent. That woman can do things with her voice that I could only dream of doing hahaha. Her song-writing skills are pretty insane too. Trying to get my head around the fact that she wrote these incredible emotional mature and intelligent songs which are catchy and interesting and exciting before the age of 21!?!? Also it's a stunning cover of Lovesong too... I have so much respect for Adele and this impressive album.

She really is very good. I don't often find myself wanting to listen to Adele but when I do I thoroughly enjoy it.

Not a brilliant record or me, as everyone claims, but a decent one

very good album with very good songs, quite nostalgic. not a 5 star because the album doesn't quite come together as i would have imagined

Mjög flott stöff og gott að hlusta á.

Great songs, great singing

Struck by how mature her voice and perspective is at 21. Spectacular, and deserving of its place as best selling album of the 21st century. In the end, not really my kind of music, but mad respect.

I want to give 5 stars for "Someone Like You" alone, but there are some spots in the middle of the album that wear thin with me. She undoubtedly knows how to open and close strongly though. This is my kind of pop; soulful and heartfelt. She has it all: depth, range, skill, talent, everything. "Someone Like You" is such a standout song, not just on this record, but in all of music for the past 20 some years. It's like a more honest and complex version of Dolly Parton's "I Will Always Love You." It's incredibly emotionally powerful, and one of the few songs that has ever stopped me dead in my tracks upon first hearing it. If you can't relate to it, I feel sorry for you.

I will admit it. I love Adele and I love this album. I don't care if that makes me a basic bitch. The album is not perfect, but there are some truly great songs here. Favorite song: Set Fire to the Rain

Music good for the soul.

Adele has taken the bitter breakup album to a new level since Alan's Morisette's Jagged Little Pill. 21 is a heart wrenching view into a very public breakup. This album was all over with it's monster hits and is deserving of being on such list despite the over saturation Adele has taken with her succeeding 29 and is starting to overstay her welcome, but 21 can stay, it's amazing. 4/5.

Very nostalgic love it

It’s great. It gets lost in the middle tracks but ends nicely. She sings with so much emotion and the audio is well produced. She ends up with an award winning album after a breakup and I get stuck with alimony. 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.

Holy moly wat een hits. 'Rumour has it' vind ik altijd wat minder, 'Dont you remember' is ook niet heel best, maar verder gewoon super sterk, met 'Someone like you' als absoluut hoogtepunt. Ik twijfel heel erg tussen 4 en 5 sterren, denk dat ik voor 4 ga omdat het verder niet helemaal mijn muziek is.

I do enjoy that raspy, sultry soulful voice and some of her songs work really work but others not so much, "He Won't Go" and her cover of "Lovesong" in particular. However the good songs are stellar.

Not as strong an album as 19, but still some really great songs here. She shines when she can really exercise her soulful vocal phrasing (He Won’t Go), and is only pulled down by a couple less inspired compositions. I actually like the cover of Lovesong with the acoustic guitar, organ, and strings. She’s at her best when the focus is on her and everything else is there to support (I Found a Boy).

um, this is really good. The hits "Rolling in the Deep" and "Someone Like You" that I've heard a thousand times feel way different in album context. Some of the production is a little "too much" for me, like the strings on "Set Fire to the Rain" grate on me after a while. "Rumour Has It" and "I'll Be Waiting" were highlights for me.

It's not my sort of thing, but it's a damn fine album.

Great voice, great lyrics, great talent. I can see why people might not like Adele, but I’m a big fan. Glad she hasn’t gone the way of other great, young talents and joined the 27 club.

The Adele album that has my favourite songs of hers - wish we’d see a little more of the Rumour Has It and Rolling in the Deep banging soul side of her more often.

Lush strings Lots of great piano and keys Rumour has it is a banger!

She has a great, soulful, voice with a little southern vibe to it. The songs, while not incredibly original, are well written. This was a nice listen.

This was a hard one to rate. Every song is beautiful and Adele is one of the greatest vocalists ever imo. The album has everything, incredible hits, very well produced, the lyrics and singing are amazing But in the end its just a little bit bland, a lot of the songs though beautiful sound almost the same in a way. Its also not very creative imo and sounds a lot like 19

favorite tracks - he wont go, one and only, turning tables least favorite tracks - rolling in the deep, rumour has it love adele, love this album

Not usually my kind of thing, but Adele's voice is somewhat beguiling and this collection of songs is deeply infused with feelings of hurt and heartbreak. The hits that have had heavy rotation stand out - Rolling in The Deep, Set Fire..., Someone Like You

Adele has in incredible voice, but but not all of the songs are equally phenomenal. Tracks like Rolling in the Deep, Don't You Remember, Someone Like You and Set Fire to the Rain are awesome, but then there are tracks like Rumour Has It and Turning Tables that are just filler. Still this is a phenomenal album, but not as iconic or timeless as it could be. 4/5

Very impressive. I was obviously well aware of the album before, and heard a good few of the songs many times, but had never listened to it in full before. Crazy that she was 21 here.

Normally not my kind of music, but this album really has some great songs on it. Not necessarily impressively written, but they are enjoyable to listen too and have hooks that stick.

A good album, well put together, but not my cup of tea. Also Adele has an awesomely original way of pronouncing risk.

On hyvä! Hittibiisien ulkopuolellakin on hyvää kamaa, mutta omissa papereissa ei silti nouse parhauden ultimaattiseen kuninkuusluokkaan.

Man, this album comes off the ropes swinging with a couple of absolute haymakers. It quickly calms down into a beautiful ode to unrequited and lost love. Are they all hits? Nah. It honestly starts to wear a bit but Adele's voice is so great and her delivery so passionate that the energy carries right through the sleeper tracks and back into the good stuff. Overall, a really great album. If I could give it 4.5 stars, I would.

An absolute pop classic full of hits. There's nothing wrong with this album. Adele has an absolutely beautiful voice and she used that to the fullest in those songs. Besides the hits that everyone knows and are obviously very good, the rest of the album doesn't disappoint either, providing tons of emotional stimulation and wonderful vocals. Although it is monothematic, giving us a love song and upbeat commercial hits for the radio. Unfortunately, Adele's voice seems to be the only reason for the album's great reception. Too cheesy or too bland songs are being saved by her astonishing singing skills, making this album work after all. But I guess everyone needs a simple love song once in a while. Favourite track: "Set Fire to the Rain", least favourite track: "I'll Be Waiting"

An album full of great songs. Very powerful and is carried by Adele's vocals. I especially liked the songs I hadn't heard before, such as I'll be Waiting and One and Only.

Sko, þetta er mjög góð plata. Það er bara svoleiðis. Tilfinningarúss frá upphafi til enda. Adele hefur lagni við að vera pínu unhinged í söng sínum og túlkun, án þess að virðast vera það. Eitthvað sem ég er að reyna að tileinka mér.

Très bon! J'aime bien son style, et éviremment les 2 tounes connues sont excellentes.

Ahhh a classic great album from my high school years. Like half the songs were massive hits and I loved them at the time and still love them now. only maybe 2 or 3 that didn’t quite jive with me. 8/10

great songs that stick.

Great album with powerful songs through and through

Pretty insane how many hits came from this album. Another thing that's pretty insane: Adele's voice. Favorite track: Rumour Has It

Just a tour de force. It was my kids that got me listening to Adele in the last few years. They are always excited to hear her so by extension, so am I! This album is the best I've heard and it is a stable around us.

I really liked this album. Admittedly, I got sick of it when it was overplayed so much. But I’ve never listened to the whole thing end-to-end and I think it’s a great musical arc. 21 is aptly named, isn’t it? Every generation has its “you broke my heart” sob songs, its “you asshole cheated on me” battlecry songs. What I appreciate about Adele’s groove in that well-worn path is that it doesn’t go out of its way to be rageful or cynical. Instead, it’s mournful and reminiscent and reflective and sassy and hopeful. Also, I’m a sucker for perfect fifths in the baseline.

YUHHHHHHHHHHHH

She’s definitely a talent and I enjoyed listening to this more than I expected to. Might even go 4*

Extrem starkes Album!

Hadn't listened before, really strong album!

I just listened to this

When this came up I groaned. I'm so bored of Adele. However, once you've suffered 'rolling in the deep' again for the gazillionth time, this is actually a decent album. The girls got soul. Still bored of her though

Great album

Enjoyed listening, but lyrics are a bit "teenage heartbreak" to listen to often

Adele's soulful voice was something out of nowhere back in the late 2000s. I feel like I've taken it for granted since she was everywhere in pop & pop culture for the last 10 years. Still doesn't take away how catchy & vocally impressive this album is.

Solid Pop banger throughout. She has a killer voice and the production is solid

Really liked waiting for you and one and only love the guitar in lovesong two seperate acoustics playing in different ears took me a second to realise it was a cover of the cure

I’d heard a bunch of these songs before and never listened to the full album, but I really enjoyed this. Really good bluesy, soulful pop album.

It's not for me, but there's no denying this album is strong. It never quite matches up to the opening two tracks, both of which are magnificent... Had it kept this rich vein of dark 60s soul, it'd be an album i love - as it is it does veer into mawkish balladry at points, but also has a beautiful one in Someone Like You, and Set Fire to the Rain comes close to that opening salvo too. It feels like the balladry has become more her thing, which is a shame, as there is some exciting pop soul which arguably suits her voice (which is magnificent) better that shows another path less trod which would have been more interesting - though probably less well reimbursed too.

Pretty good. Doesn't really hold my attention, but great in the background. The singles I was familiar with and enjoy, but some of the other deep cuts were really good too. "I'll Be Waiting" is a stand out track, love the horns and multiple vocalists hitting the chorus.

Liked this more than I expected. Her voice is so nice, that the rest doesn't seem to matter so much. 3.75/5

Production is great and vocals impeccable. Pop music that was wildly popular when it came out but with some actual soul and passion in it. Highlights: Set Fire To The Rain, I'll Be Waiting, Someone Like You

Really nice! Good mix between slower dramatic stuff and more upbeat, almost jazzy stuff. Lots of focus on the vocals, which are very well sung. Never listened to much Adele, but see the mainstream appeal! Fav song (not considered heavily since I just thought of this at the end of the album): Lovesong

It's Adele. What more can I say?

Quite successful as second albums go… I wouldn’t choose to put it on, but she doesn’t arf belt out a tune

Good but not as good as 19

Si bien no es mi género favorito, es un buen álbum,conozco a Adele por tik tok y sus canciones famosas especialmente de este álbum. Una mezcla perfecta de Intrumentos que acompaña el piano. Excelente, 8/10

Solid lineup of great songs on one album.

Some good very songs

A very powerful album. Not Strange that this one took Adele to international Fame. Strong lyrics on top of well crafted tunes, and the singing…. Wouw

No question that Adele has one of the finest singing voices ever. I'm well familiar with this album and it's her finest moment. Someone Like You is a song for the ages, and Turning Tables kicks ass. Pretty sure she failed science though, 'cuz like.. how would you even set fire to rain.. like cuz it's water 'n' that? Know what I mean??

Nice piano tunes

I avoided this quite religiously when Adele was at the height of her powers. I now accept 21 as part of the musical landscape. With some crackers and a nice display of voice, it's pretty good. Set fire to the rain is a great song. Now, I wonder who would win the hypothetical karaoke battle between Adele and Amy Winehouse if they were only allowed to sing each other's tunes.

That voice - amazing. There's a lot of soul on this album. Rolling in the Deep is a modern classic for sure.

Make you feel my love is the absolute highlight. Most other songs were poayed too much back then

Probably Adele’s best album, but I’m not able to listen to the whole thing straight through again.

Not a fan of pop music at all. I must give credit to this incredi·ble album. The song writting and Adele's voice are on point.

Set Fire to the Rain

I really dig it

Not a bad voice.

Some great songs, but the slower ones bore me a little

This is the first time I listened to an Adele album. Her voice is incredible. Take that voice, add a pound of emotion and stir and you’re bound to end up with a decent album. Her voice gets it to a 4 but I can’t get to 5 since the instruments aren’t really there. I compare this to Aladdin Sane that I rated 5, Adele and David are both great signers but on the cover song, for example, David let Mike Garson play to his best abilities. Adele keeps her backing group in the background. I have a 4 for her voice but wound’t give her another 4 without her pushing the envelope musically.

My co-judge predicted early in 2011 that "Rolling in the Deep" would be a massive hit after I downloaded it for my spinning class. I poo-pooed her but over the following weeks people's eyes lit up with recognition more and more whenever they heard the first few notes. There are several classic tracks here that we'll be hearing for decades & I'm impressed that a 21-year-old Adele wrote them all. It's rare these days to find a talented artist who writes great songs and also gets played to death on the radio. I wonder if the guy who was muse for these heart-breakers received any royalties. 9 out of 10 for me, the deduction due to a few songs being a bit to soft.

So many big hits on one album. "Rolling In The Deep", "Someone Like You", "Set Fire To The Rain", "Rumour Has It", "Turning Tables".. This is popular music that is popular for good reasons. Adele's voice is really one of a kind. Wish she chose a different Cure song to cover though. Can you imagine a random "The Hanging Garden" cover in the middle of this album? Comedy gold.

Well I was bracing myself for cringe - but I actually ended up enjoying this one - starts strong - kind of sags in the middle and ends well. I definitely got bought over with the quite decent version of Lovesong. Not a perfect record but overall a good album.

Adele has a beautiful voice and there are alot of hits on this album. Definitely recommend 👌

Going into this I thought "ah hell naw." But into Rolling in the Deep, I thought "this can actually be good". I still remember how we had to sing Rolling in the Deep at school and how me and the boys used to absolutely butcher this. Like howling dogs we "sang" this song because we got fucking tired of it. Those were the good times :') I mean it's very ballad heavy. The production is very good. It's beautiful, not my jam, but I hear quality when I hear quality. I might return and reevaluate when this Website gets an edit function. 4/5

"Vocal" albums are at the bottom of my list of popular music interests. The production on the vocals is over the top for my taste but she sounds great. Because she is great. The tracks take old sounds and make them sound modern. I didn't care for the cover song.

This is probably Adele’s best album. Emotionally it charts a journey from anger in the wake of a break up to the sheer sense of loss in the closing track. 21 incorporates a lot of gospel, R&B, and even some country influences to create something that goes beyond the standard powerhouse vocal album.

Great stuff, great voice, chill vibes

Might be Adele's best album. (Although the new one - "30" - is really good too.) This is the one that launched her into the stratosphere and it's easy to see why - the album has four major hits on it and her singing is incredible throughout. It's a great showcase for her voice with some killer pop songwriting too. (Plus a cover of The Cure's "Lovesong"!)

Great voice, good songs, very solid album. Instrumentation is very bare bones which allows Adele's voice to shine, but the songs could be a little more interesting with a bit less of a minimalist approach to the instruments. Also the entire album is pretty emo - still good though.

I've never listened to an Adele album. But I was "Willing to TAKE the reeeeesk." It was good! I'm going to check out the rest of her albums.

Great album but it goes on for a little too long

couple slappers

Catchy album. Quite a few hits on it. Didn't care for the cover of lovesong

This is the Adele the cemented her diva status. Back when she was still hungry and hurt and full of ambition. Beyond Adele's heartbreak and exceptional voice, the secret sauce here is producer Rick Rubin. Apparently only something like 5 of the songs Rubin produced made the album, none of which became hits. But these songs shape the album, and are the ones that remind me of Amy Winehouse and great Motown songs. I find myself longing to hear the Rick Rubin produced versions of the five ubiquitous worldwide hits. They're probably similar to the ones we all know by heart, and only Adele can hear the differences.

Evoking Motown, The Wall of Sound and classic '60s soul, Adele's 21 is a really strong album, more enjoyable and impactful than 25 which has appeared on this list also. The up tempo tracks are terrific power pop and the ballads are evocative and, despite the luscious production, sound stripped back, raw and emotional, allowing Adele's incredible vocals to shine. In fact, there are times when this album is just overwhelmingly sad and mournful - whether that makes it easy to listen to or not will depend on the listener's mood. A surprise hit and an enormously influential one at that, shaping much of the decade's sound.

I was conscious of Adele and her meteoric rise, but never listened to anything I didn't glean from osmosis, like hearing "Rolling In the Deep" in several commercials. Gotta admit, she's good. Great voice control, very emotive. You can almost hear her smirk on "Rumour Has It". Good mix of styles of music (man, that bossa nova cover of "Lovesong" works pretty well), so much so that the one song that's country-esque makes me think she might've had something in that genre if she came up in the 70s. And in America. Favorite tracks: "Lovesong", "Rumour Has It", "Set Fire to the Rain"

Sounds like a superstar in the best tradition of soulful bluesy pop singers. Smooth, bluesy with a slight edge. Excellent songs and great interpretations (Cure and Dylan).

4 with issues it must be noted

Actually surprisingly good. Well rounded album that I enjoyed significantly more than I anticipated.

Probably a 3.5, mostly forgettable but some all-timers. Scratches that melodramatic pop itch

Muy bueno

there's a reason why so many of these songs still get radio play

Powerful voice. Love the cover.

4.25

A CD about Adele's high school sweetheart break-up. Luckily at 21 she has lots of time to find true love. /s In all seriousness, this is a good CD.

I once shagged Adele behind the bins at KFC in Crewe. Talk about a bucket.

Puede que sea su disco más potente, después de haber disfrutado su 19 este me pareció mejor en algunos aspectos pero ya no fue tan sorpresa y revelación. Es un disco que todos deberían escuchar alguna vez. Nota alta. Mejores canciones para mí: "Rolling in the Deep", "Rumour Has It", "Set Fire to the Rain", "Take It All" y "Someone like You".

Just boppin. Good soul-pop that gives me nostalgia for high school and simpler days.

- Very good voice obviously - Bass heavy in the first song - Turning Tables has a lovely piano riff - Soft with powerful vocal sections - He Won’t Go has a nice rhythm - Definitely a lot of breakup songs

A slight disappointment. Back in 2011, I do remember thinking this sophomore effort was a bit of a letdown, similar to how I felt about Leelah James: raw, gifted talent that was smoothed over by professional production, perhaps a bit too much, and in that process something “magical” was lost. Still, she’s just too talented to cast aside, and there are definitely some gems here at a level that will be choice cuts likely for the rest of her career.

sad middle aged women have the right idea! this is good stuff!

Reminds me of me ex

Strong strong strong

I have mad respect for Adele’s voice. I had to give this one a 4 though because compared to her next album it’s just a little short.

8/1

It’s an excellent album - strong throughout and then Someone Like You drops at the end. Miserable song but her voice is immense.

Good album and really enjoyed this

A wonderfully written and sung album. There are numerous SCCs on it.

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.

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

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

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.

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

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

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.

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.

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

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.

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

Really good album.

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.

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!

Orolig sångare!

Har några riktiga klassiker på sig. Hon sjunger ju såklart hur bra som helst. Men det saknas låtar med lite mer drag tycker jag.

En av vår generations bästa röster, galen debut men det finns ändå en hel del spår som inte håller samma kvalite som hitsen därav betyget

highkey feel like a divorced mom listening to this. makes me want to drink wine and wear a velvet red shower robe

This isn’t my music but I enjoyed it more than I thought

Just an iconic album with iconic songs i already like, and get to know the new ones i like now 3/5

It goes without saying that Adela's voice is the strongest point of the album. Great tone, filled with power while being delicate at the same time and has a lot of personality. Loved her performances in "Rolling In the Deep", "Rumour Has It", "Set Fire to the Rain" and "Someone Like You", which happen to be the most memorable songs, either for their very catchy and strong melodies or their incredibly emotional singing. I specially loved the cracks in "Set Fire to the Rain" that are very satisfying to hear, and the build ups to the choruses in "Rolling In the Deep" that makes these parts even more impactful and epic. My problem comes with the rest of the songs, which I honestly feel like they fall in the category of ordinary ballads. I think there are some beautiful moments, as the voice and instruments always sound great, but there is still a big difference between the mentioned songs and the rest, which is a 4 vs 7. In addition, I neither get a lot of value out of the lyrics, but that might be just a me problem as I was getting easily distracted trying to read them. In summary, it is a nice album. Regardless of the more typical compositions of the Adult Contemporary genre, the performances are very solid.

Adele is great, bu tI think I'm 'overexposed' to her songs. The hits are huge, but the rest of the album is so-so. Pitchfork: 8.2 Rolling Stone: Top 500 Albums #137 Best Songs Rolling in the Deep Set Fire to the Rain Someone Like You

I'll share something interesting: I was probably one of the first people in the USA to hear this album. I was working for college radio in January 2011, and we were sorting through the usual bin of crap, hoping to find a few winners. This album was there, and our German intern said that it was HUGE in Europe and that we had to add it. "Rolling in the Deep" comes on, and we're all mesmerized. Pounding pianos, soulful, deep vocals, and very lush, analog sounds that immediately remind us of Amy Winehouse at her best, only different. Some of the songs were a bit too cheesy or overblown, but the hits were total bangers. Had no idea that just a few months later, all of these songs would be playing on the radio nonstop! Crazy that Adele wrote this so young and after just going through a serious breakup. This was lightning in a bottle, and she used it to reach greatness. Listening to it again, even though the hits are overplayed, they are still excellent for the kind of music they are, and the filler is still pretty forgettable. It has been removed from the book since, which to me is a bit weird. Adele is still a global phenomenon and made a huge impact on pop music worldwide. But I guess you can't just change the book title to "1,100 Albums to Hear Before You Die" as new music continues to be released into the 21st century?? 3 stars for the hits.

Well, I won't lie, I wasn't happy this came up. From what I'd heard, I thought Adele was pretty okay but found her voice a little annoying, something that I do still stand by. She is, however, a very talented singer, but I do think she sounds like is constantly trying very hard to sound emotional. I understand this is pop soul, but I'd just much rather listen to other soul, I don't really know why. That said, it's not bad or offensive, and there's some really solid bits. That said, I can't help but find the popular songs a little corny and annoying, especially Someone Like You, which feels like the peak example of how some of her lyrics don't actually sound that good.

First and foremost, "Someone Like You" is a phenomenal breakup song - an emotional masterpiece. This along with some of the other tracks on this album are songs that I have only "got" since having a big breakup. The big hits are fantastic and the production is great. Some of the other tracks didn't stick with me but 'One and Only' is a brilliant track that I was previously unaware of. The cover of Lovesong is interesting but not a scratch on the original. Favourites: Rolling In The Deep One and Only Someone Like You

Undeniable voice, just think the songs are samey and haven't aged well.

This is interesting. The album starts with a really strong song, there's a lot of hits on here what are rightly hits. Her voice and attitude deliver. Some of the instrumental stuff is catchy. It all feels a bit detached though. She's singing passionately but it feels like looking at a postcard vs visiting the place. When she's singing the emotional lines I feel her performing vs feeling. Popular for a reason but keeps it subdued vs something more personal. This was made to be successful first and foremost.

Adele has a strong voice and some solid song writing, but sonically the album is a bit flat. She does employ the same vocal belting thing too often. She could use a little more Jake the Snake Roberts energy to draw the listener in. This album ultimately has a few solid songs, but not enough to make it a memorable album as a whole. The audio engineering is the real let down here.

Bien. Algunas canciones pueden explotar más

If I'm being fair it's probably a 4 star album but it just isn't for me..

I can't feel empathy for a sad Tottenham fan.

Liked this more than I expected to from “modern pop album”.

This is Heart FM core, it's older sister core too and we all know, but I mean you have got to hand it to her she really was doing that at 21 and I do respect her for that. It isn't music that is interesting to me, but they are pretty well crafted and catchy songs. Also it is SUCH a time capsule that absolutely transports you to 2011 and that's pretty fun. I'll be damned if I don't catch myself tappin my toes or bopping my shoulder. What can I say, I'm a product of my time!

Why does this album end with someone like you?

Alright listen. It's undeniable that Adele has a brilliant voice and I will not deny that or her natural talent. But the music on this record will forever remind me of retail hell in the 2010s, top-40 radio mush and dramatic overplay of songs that never struck me deeply in the first place ("Rolling In The Deep" will probably annoy me for the rest of my life). "Someone Like You" is an exception. Sometimes mush just hits the soul in the right place.

I knew I would have some level of respect for this as the vocal presence is hard to hate and talent to curate something beyond the mundane has always been apparent.  It's always a good start when a genre, you're not normally at home with gives you a feeling of something bigger.  It's an organic, live studio esk thing which makes it feel genuine and soulful (with actual musicianship and a real band). OK I don't love the heavy balladry but that's more a personal taste.  It does hang heavy on this album, and maybe the predictable heartbreak theme does get a little boring after a while.  Towards the end it doesn't pick up at all and maybe a little criticism has to go towards that it does fade in its closing tracks (Bar very last track). Anyway in summary not bad at all.

It's highly polished, heavily produced pop album. But she really does have a great voice. This genre really isn't my thing, but to be fair I think I'm fairly far away from the target audience. I understand she writes the majority of these songs and that comes through with an authenticity to the lyrics. If all mainstream pop artists had half as much talent as Adele, we would be in a much better place.

Blackjack! Adele definitely hit on her second album. The lady has some pipes and some nice hooks for radio play. Top tracks: "Rumour Has It," "Someone Like You," "Rolling in the Deep"

Awesome

C’est très bien, j’ai sous-côté Adèle en fait Un peu trop long, s’essouffle dans la seconde moitié. Les chansons sont répétitives et juste moins bonnes sur la seconde moitié. Et la Adèle de cette seconde moitié ressemble plus à celle que j’avais en tête, qui est caricaturale et qui force parfois. Ce qui est bizarre car je ne connais pas ces chansons contrairement à celles du début de l’album Les paroles paraissent aussi anachroniques ajd : tu m’as quitté pour une succube mais je t’attendrai sagement J’ai du mal à imaginer qu’on puisse vouloir réécouter cet album en entier, c’est clair que tu reviens que vers les 3-4 meilleurs sons. C’est un bon album malgré tout ne serait-ce que par ses tubes qui sont vraiment top One and initial Et même sur la fin l’album m’agace franchement 6/10

The second half of the album felt like a slow-burn which I did not expect based off the first few tracks.

Was pretty ok, though would've been maybe a bit boring if it weren't for the beautiful singing voice. Had to skip Someone like you for optimal enjoyement.

Yes Adele's voice is incredible, but once you move past that the album just feels very meh. I will say that i felt like many of the filler tracks were stronger than the singles which really impressed me. 3.5

Couple of solid bangers in here! Gotta be her best album? Lotta betrayal in these tracks. That said some of these tracks are carried by the strong voice. Standouts are Rolling in the Deep, Rumour Has It, Set Fire To The Rain, Lovesong and Someone Like You.

Adele has a strong voice but it doesn't feel like she really means it - which gives the whole thing an inauthentic feel. Not very impressed overall.

I mean, this was better than I expected. I think Adele and I think of "If you don't love me at my worst you don't deserve me at my best" Facebook posts, and 30-something's who like to talk about how they don't need Drama (capitalisation intended) in their lives. And I guess on the second point they are right because they provide all the drama we'll ever need. But while it's often had to separate the fanbase from the artist, I at least try to do that. And this... could have been worse. It's overly polished pop, the grit is often manufactured (refer to the fake sounding mic breakup in Rumour Has It), and especially the run from He Won't Go through to I'll Be Waiting is a quite paint by numbers. But... There's some decent hooks, and while I don't think she has a generational voice she certainly has some talent. I guess I can go three stars. My three stars means "I wouldn't put this on by choice but I won't be upset if someone else does" and in this case really the person putting it on is more likely to be the problem than the album itself.

The hits were massive, but overall this album was just okay. Like vanilla icecream, easy to like but not particularly exciting.

Chevere

Es loco sentir como he ido creciendo con estar artista y viéndola evolucionar tanto. Me gusta este álbum porque me trae muchos recuerdos de secundaria sus canciones.

This is such a nostalgic album. It was like going back in time and reliving my childhood. So many great songs that shaped the 2010’s but also many weak ones that feel like filler. Overall though it’s such a stable project I have to rate it a 7/10. My faves are One And Only and Someone Like You.

красиво и просто вокал выдающийся попса, но тем не менее годно все об одном конечно не фанат такого, но девчонкам нравится 3

Adele’s got a great voice. All the songs are just made for her if you ask me. Can’t deny the hits on here as well. Literally an album full. And to be able to do an album, disappear and come back and have the same effect is unreal if they ask me. Legendary status, not many people can pull that off. I’m not a massive Adele fan all the same, I like more 80s women sort of vibe. I just find it all very samey per song. I respect it all the same, it’s been huge for music.

Fantastic voice. Some real sonic bangers mixed with some pablum. Can't help but feel a little like the black artists this is borrowing from still did it better.

Good but did not finish

Only two songs i liked

Solid voice. Bit depressing though 3.5 Stars.

Haha I remember Adele. Probably the first artist I remember completely taking over the radio. I enjoy the fact that we are finally leaving the realm of rock music as well, as I already listen to a lot of that already. Again will give best and worst tracks. Best - Turning Tables 6.5/10 - reminds me of a Bond theme. I know that's generic, but I don't mind cinematic-sounding piano tracks with strings. Piano riff reminds me a lot of Trouble by Coldplay, which is also a song I quite like Was thinking of putting the lovesong cover as best track, but figured it would be cheating to put a Cure cover instead of an original song. Would be against the spirit of doing this. But it actually does the song justice; doesn't bastardise the original sentiment of the song (looking at you, cigarettes after sex), and still fits really well on the album. Good genre change. Works really well. Pleasantly surprised when it came on. Also the chorus of 'He won't go' is quite catchy to me. Just stuck in my head for some reason. Least favourite - Take it all 5/10 - just the least interesting song to me. Not actually bad by any means, just a slightly boring piano ballad. This actually surprised me. The more I listen, the less I hate it tbh. Hate is a strong word, but this isn't really in my wheelhouse. No bad songs on here again. And if anything the songs I already knew weren't as good as I remembered them, but somehow not obnoxious either. Adele has a lot of personality in her voice, which adds a much needed dynamism to the slower songs. The more upbeat ones are catchy, and I don't ever find it grating or inauthentic, which is my main issue with most pop music. Don't think I will return to it, but hopefully this gives me some perspective that I can use to branch out into other kinds of this music. We are still yet to have a miss. Long may it continue Final score: 6.5/10

Amazing voice. There are some huge songs on here. It’s not really my jam though.

Music is fine, can't stand the voice

i love how she belts it and these songs are lovely but i dont know that is sonically varies much from her previous work to stand out much more than a "3" for me.

Just an ok album.

Адель! Її всі знають) Не думаю, що мене вразить це так само як більшість)

mejor de lo que esperaba

앨범은 전체적으로 괜찮았고, 꽤 현대적인 느낌이 나는 노래들이었다. Overall, the album was solid, featuring songs with a fairly modern feel.

Adele has an amazing voice, but I don’t love all of her songs

162. 21 - Adele (2011) 8.3.26 Variety: 4 Adequacy: 5 Listenability: 3 Uniqueness: 2 Emotionality: 2 = 3.2 rounded down to a 3 "Regrets and mistakes, they're memories made" I have somehow managed to avoid engaging with barely any of Adele's music over the past... 18 years apparently? I can name exactly one song - "Rolling in the Deep" which I only know because I've heard it mentioned on a lot of comedy podcasts for some reason. It does sound like some vaguely hilarious and cringey bit of slang which I will have to look up later if it's not explained in the song itself. And there is one song ( I just had to sample the big singles to be sure) that I have indeed heard part of before, but I'm not sure how. I have not watched MTV in going on 30 years, I don't listen to terrestrial radio, I skip all commercials, and I don't watch the sort of tv shows or movies that I imagine would use her work ( surely there is a sad montage on Gray's Anatomy - which I also managed to avoid - that is scored to an Adele song?), and my significant other does not listen to that sort of thing, so the only thing that makes sense is I must have heard it while shopping. Who knows. We'll get to it when we get to it. I've always just assumed Adele to be a Norah Jones clone ( another artist whose work I mostly was able to avoid, though maybe not as successfully) and have, possibly unfairly, relegated her to the sort of super mainstream, but milquetoast sort of artist who gets heavy play in coffeshops or over department store radio stations. Maybe I'm completely off base. Beyonce, Lady Gaga, and Taylor Swift are more of these MASSIVE artists that I've managed to mostly avoid and write off as well, so maybe if I end up liking Adele ( or at the very least respecting her music) then I might have to rethink my stance on these others. They are popular for a reason, no doubt. THE TRACKS "Rolling in the Deep" - I still don't think I've heard this one, but given when it came out, and how successful it apparently was, I now have to wonder if this had an influence on the much maligned ( deservedly in my opinion) "stomp-clap" music that seemed to be everywhere in the 2010s. A quick bit of researchers shows me that Mumford and Sons, the Lumineers, and the Magnetic Zeroes all homed in on this sound a few years before this came out. It's at least definitely playing around in the same general region as the stuff by those bands though, and I absolutely do not like it. It's a grating and cringeworthy sound to me, and seems like an easy formula to manufacture some sort of epic and meaningful sound around a musical idea that lacks any true melodies or competent lyrics. The lyrics here seem of a much higher quality though and Adele's voice is damned fine - big, bold, and bluesy ( has she done an album of standards yet?). And there is a decent vocal melody in there underneath all the bravado. This seems designed in a lab to play over the credits of a tv show where a character decides to go full on scorched earth. I can picture someone walking away from some flames in slow motion. Easy to see why it hit big, but something I would have skipped very quickly. "Rumour Has It" - More stomp clap vibes, but this time the song is a bit more realized, with the vocals settled down into a still very bluesy delivery. The piano on here was nice, and the background vocals were silky smooth. When teh music drops out and the slower piano bridge comes in is where this one shines and becomes an interesting song finally, and it reminded me of the other Adele song I definitely have heard - the theme song she did for the James Bond movie Skyfall, which I remember liking enough. "Turning Tables" - This is much more of what I was expecting to hear. Primarily piano-driven, soulful balladry. This has a lot in common with some of the stuff we heard previously on the Coldplay album that came up. Tasteful, hook-laden, adult contemporary fare. Adele's voice continues to impress, and I can definitely hear the influence of this type of song in other things I've heard in the last decade, with it's ultra serious, almost po-faced delivery and an aura of "this is THE most important thing!" vibes. There's almost a gospel level dedication in her voice that works for the song, but leaves me slightly annoyed. "Don't You Remember" - The best thing on here so far. This one also gives me some pop country vibes, but slightly less so. Am I hearing a banjo and a steel guitar in there though? The unexpected chord changes in this are VERY effective. This is the sort of high quality, mainstream pop balladry that I can get behind. And her voice is a bit more subdued and warm here. If you had told me this was Adele covering Faith Hill or someone similar I would have believed it. "Set Fire to the Rain" - More echoes of Coldplay with a downbeat little breakup song with a super dumb title. This wants to be anthemic I think, and has plenty of catchy bits in the verse, but then becomes cliche and boring in the chorus. More sad tv drama montage fodder. "He Won't Go" - A little bit of a changeup here with some more R&B heavy influences, and some funkier instrumentation. This makes me wonder if Adele grew up as a big Mary J. Blige or Lauren Hill fan maybe? This was not awful by any means, and a much easier listen than when she's in her big epic mode. "Take It All" - More lost love, this time with some Aretha influences I think, with the gospely backing choir vocals, and her soaring soulful delivery. There's also maybe a tiny bit of Elton John in some of the phrasing. This was a much needed win. "I'll Be Waiting" - This much more optimistic and joyful sounding number has nice soulful feel, with some of the best instrumentation I've heard yet. The little horn touches and the almost honky tonk piano works really well, and gives this an almost Memphis soul feel. "One and Only" - A midtempo bit of piano soul that's just a little bit too clean and shiny. There's a version of this song that is looser and has more of a live in the studio feel to it, with maybe the gospel organ way higher in the mix that would work much better for me. In the hands of an Alicia Keys or Jill Scott I bet this would hit a LOT harder. That said, it's heads above any of the stuff that doesn't quite work for me. "Lovesong" - This is a big swing. One of the best songs by one of my favorite bands. I have to admit this was a somewhat successful take on the thing, with as different an arrangement as you could ask for. The too perfect latter day Sting album- percussion was not my favorite, but it somehow works and feels similar to a take that someone like Sade would have had. Not amazing, but the bones of the song are good, and Adele's vocals carry it. Maybe too much of a lite jazz coffee shop vibe. Working in this more subdued mode I'm betting she would have killed a version of, say, teh similarly named "Love Song" off of Elton John's Tumbleweed Connection instead of this. "Someone like You" - This is the one song I know I've heard elsewhere. And if not this version, possibly a cover? Overall it's very pretty, and very easy to see why it must have been huge. Going out on a limb and guess it's probably a very popular karaoke pick amongst some of the bolder participants in that pastime. I do see this was co-written by Dan Wilson of Semi-Sonic "Closing Time" fame, and no doubt probably bought him a very nice vacation house or two. A little bit sad and a little bit inspirational, it's a very solid closer. HIGHLIGHTS - "Don't You Remember" - "Take It All" - "I'll Be Waiting" - "One and Only" - "Someone like You" MIDLIGHTS - "Turning Tables" - "He Won't Go" - "Lovesong" LOWLIGHTS - "Rolling in the Deep" - "Rumour Has It" - "Set Fire to the Rain" FINAL THOUGHTS This was a lot more varied than I expected, and even the tracks I didn't care for were well produced, and well performed nuggets that have an certain undeniable mainstream appeal. It's just not mostly one that works for me. Where she really shined was in the quieter tracks that leaned more into blues, R&B, country and soul. The stomp-clap of the first two tracks had me very worried. Having now heard this I am intrigued to see if she recorded any more country-ish numbers. And I won't be as worried about her remaining album from the list whenever it comes around. PLAYLIST ALTERATIONS - Highlights only please FURTHER LISTENING - Come Away with Me by Norah Jones - The Diary of Alicia Keys by Alicia Keys - Who Is Jill Scott?: Words and Sounds Vol. 1 by Jill Scott - The London Sessions by Mary J. Blige

What a voice, fairplay to her, she’s incredibly good. The hits are undeniable on this album, the spaces in between them are a bit unremarkable. But overall and album that transports me back to having a roast dinner at my mum’s. 3.8/5.0 Best Song: Someone like You

Welcome to the Lonely Housewife Club. This is the soundtrack of your life. Please proceed into crying silently into your glass of Chablis. But fair play to Adele. It's definitely not for me but she built her on success by writing and singing songs close to her heart instead of being manufactured by producers and a army of songwriters (each one responsible for adding a line). She seems to be doing things on her own terms. I might not like it but I can respect that.

Good, but album 19 is better.

The singles on this album are so ubiquitous that I didn’t think anything clever could be said about them, but I actually think it’s really smart sequencing to put someone like you as the last song on the album

I don't mind some Adele. Certain songs are pretty good to my ears, others are just fine.

It has some absolutely iconic songs. A total pop banger.

3-5, tranqui, nada mas que decir

3.5 not usually my jam, but well produced and amazing talent cannot be denied.

Never really got into Adele, dont get me wrong she has an amazing voice, good lyrics and I think she largely meets the hype. But its just a boiled chicken and vegies. Its always nice when the mainstream hypes up a clearly talented musician but the whole thing feels very safe and clinical.

Good album

3.5

Adele's voice is incredible, and the songs are beautiful, sad and poignant. But the whole album is all very much in a similar tone. It gets repetitive after a few songs.

It's a banging album. Doesn't sit in a genre I particularly like but you can tell it has been written and produced by incredible talents and Adele is undoubtedly a great singer.

Okay so I really simply do not care about this kind of music, it’s so painfully dull to me. But!! I do adore the Jamie XX remix of rolling in the deep so I thought I’d get on with the regular version… I was wrong. I do applaud her songwriting though and can recognise she’s very talented. And against all my instincts I found myself still incredibly moved by Someone Like You. Despite all the popularity she has had, I seem to still not be bored of that one. It’s still a really cracking song. Or maybe I’m just due my period, who knows. Anyway, although it’s not my thing, I think it is well placed to be a must listen. And I know I’m likely in the minority with my opinions here.

Probably won't listen again, but I can't deny she's got a great voice. Last song was by far the best.

Taking 0.5 off cause of the lovesong cover

good for adele

Great singing huge hits overall good album but there wasnt anything that struck me. So good album but i dont feel like its 4/5 good. Maybe i just didnt have adele mood.

Mit ihrem zweiten Studioalbum festigte die britische Sängerin Adele Adkins ihren Ruf als eine der prägendsten Soul-Pop-Stimmen ihrer Generation. Aufgenommen wurde „21" an einer ganzen Reihe von Studios – darunter The Church Studios und Eastcote Studios in London sowie die Shangri La Studios in Malibu –, veröffentlicht wurde es über XL Recordings in Europa und Columbia Records in Nordamerika. Entstanden im Schatten einer gescheiterten Beziehung, verarbeitet das Album Trennungsschmerz mit einer Direktheit, die selten aufgesetzt wirkt. Produzenten wie Paul Epworth, Rick Rubin und Ryan Tedder verliehen den Songs unterschiedliche klangliche Facetten, ohne dass das Album an Kohärenz verliert. „Rolling in the Deep" eröffnet mit trotziger Energie, während „Someone Like You" als reduzierte Klavierballade das emotionale Zentrum bildet. Auch „Set Fire to the Rain" und „Rumour Has It" zeigen, wie geschickt Adeles Stimme zwischen Zerbrechlichkeit und Wucht changiert, ohne dass die Produktion je in den Vordergrund drängt. Was „21" von vielen Pop-Alben seiner Zeit abhebt, ist die Ehrlichkeit, mit der Verlust und Selbstbehauptung nebeneinanderstehen. Die Songs wirken persönlich, ohne sich in Selbstmitleid zu verlieren, und genau das macht ihre Wirkung bis heute aus. Ein Album, das Herzschmerz zu zeitloser Popmusik verdichtet.

Ey echt gut?? Krasse Stimme

Adele is very talented and the hits are good enough that I almost want to give this a 4.

Rating: 6/10 Adult contemporary pop is not my choice of pop, I typically find it pretty boring and uninteresting and Adele, even in her strongest material, is no exception. Just feels a little bland as a full album even as it’s beautifully sung and well produced. Outside of the hits, there wasn’t much for me to latch onto. My favorite of them was He Won’t Go. I’m not really a Rumour Has It enjoyer. As far as the album’s absolute best: Someone Like You is not as exciting as Rolling in the Deep (the big band building up is still pretty cool and her vocal shops when she hits the chorus are on full display) and Set Fire to the Rain but it’s a really nice soft and emotive song to end the record. Points for these admittedly good mega hits that I’m happy to listen to on their own.

Quintessential department store music, but sometimes its fun to sing along too. She can certainly sing.

Adele's 21 is undeniably a well-crafted album with impressive vocals and polished production, but it didn't leave much of an impression on me. While the songs are emotional and technically strong, they tended to blend into the background rather than demand my attention. I often found the album playing without really noticing it, and by the end, few tracks stuck with me. I can understand why 21 became such a massive commercial and critical success—it captures heartbreak with sincerity, and Adele's voice is consistently powerful. However, the overall sound felt a bit too safe and uniform for my taste. The slower, soulful style remained so consistent that the album lacked the variety or surprises I was hoping for. It's an easy listen, and I wouldn't call it bad by any means, but it wasn't especially memorable. If you're looking for emotionally charged ballads and exceptional vocal performances, it's easy to see the appeal. For me, though, 21 was simply okay: pleasant enough, but ultimately an album that faded into the background instead of leaving a lasting impact.

Sempre lo stesso tema di lei che si è lasciata con l'ex

Not my cup of tea

- I mean it's an album with pop songs for sure - We could've had it alllllllll

Well ok then: I thought I was going to be bored to death by this record based on what Adele I’d heard before, but this record at least has drums and a lot of energy. And she has a really good voice. I’m not going to go back to this anytime soon (ok, ever), but at this point I’m going to have to admit that I’m not a total Adele-hater anymore.

its ok

I like Adele but I also don’t? It’s hard to explain.

It’s Adele! an Unmatched voice. It was pleasant to hear throughout. I love the bookends and “Set Fire To The Rain”, but the rest of the songs I could give or take

Going to assume someone break the heart of this lady with the big voice.

Some great soulful songs here.

First time I've voluntarily listened to Adele and.... well the world didn't exactly collapse. I have to concede that this woman is a master of upbeat self pity, although a decent relationship counsellor could have ruined her career. A tear and chardonnay-soaked 3*

i’ve heard this before i only liked 2 songs

Her voice is undeniably amazing. Not exactly my style, but its still good.

Mid,too mid for me

hittikimaran ulkopuolella aika tasapaksu kokonaisuus, mutta ei kieltämistä etteikö Adele olisi ihan sikaupea ja ääni ihan toismaallinen

Certainly neither bad music nor a bad voice. Easy listen during work.

Didn't mind it, have heard this one before when Beth has played it

I don't know, it's not terrible.

"Rolling in the Deep" is a sweet fucking song intrinsically, but what makes it an all-time classic and gives this whole album its oomph is Adele's vocal art – those little voice tricks, the absolutely limber oscillation between buttery straight notes and vibrato and melisma, the split-second lip of falsetto at the start of phrases. Also the backup singers, also the percussion. Just very immaculate.

I've heard these songs over and over again. I liked this one better than 25, the music was more interesting and I think her voice was more on the money in this album. Favorite Track: Lovesong

High 3. Distinct sound, some classics, but I'm not likely to go out of my way to listen very often

very polished, well-crafted songs

Probably the most contemporary album on my list so far. This album was freakin' everywhere when it came out so it's tough to approach it fresh.

Adele is clearly a skilled musician. She can sing and the artistry and vision of an album like this are crystal clear. We all got completely saturated in it upon release by the record industry. It was everywhere, inescapable. Because she wrote songs that my mom and high school kids could listen to. Doesn’t make it bad, but it was less emotionally moving tot me than it was intended to be. Just still pretty white and dinner cluby.

I think saying that adele has a beautiful voice is a bit of a given. i d say over all i liked the album, of course the famous ones but surprisingly also "i'll be waiting". I didnt really expect her to do these types of tracks and i've been listening to it a lot. I think what made listening to the album a lot of fun was finding out it's kinda hannigram core :)) It was a lot of fun to imagine scenarios, animatics, who s speaking how it relates to the plot. In that sense it was a lot of fun, but i don really remember the rest of the tracks. Over all good!

Girl’s got some pipes! The singles are still epic too. Gets a little one-one in between, still a worthy listen.

It's hard to evaluate something like this. I don't like it, but that's more due to overexposure. I am sick to death of Adele, but she's a good musician. I've listened to some very unpleasant music recently however, and I feel generous.

6/10

No doubt Adele has a great voice and is a great singer. As powerful as the emotion and passion in her voice, the music component falls flat - its boring, uninteresting, and formulaic. An Amy Winehouse song came on after this album concluded as it struck me how much more interesting the jazzy, bluesy, funky style of music makes her so much more interesting. The Adele stuff has also been so much a part of meme culture that it starts to feel like a joke - that 'no one like youuuuuu' song as an example. I can imagine goosebumps first time hearing but now it evokes images of some bad SNL skit. This album is worthy of being on this list - it just isn't something I would reach for. The modern equivalent of Barry Manilow or Neil Diamond - it's nice but too adult contemporary for this old man. 3/5

Very good voice!

Ja het is absurd hoeveel hits hier op staan, maar de muziek van Adele doet zo weinig met me

HELL YEAH. I should relisten to more Iron maiden

One of those albums that’s not really up my street but I can completely understand why it was massive. Adele has an incredible voice and this is a solid set of songs. Also, fair play for making Lovesong by the Cure sound like a Bond theme.

Great voice.

3.5

I could have predicted this review before listening. Vocals, incredible. Production, good. Songwriting, solid enough. But as with all Adele albums I can't help but feel a huge lack of soul or edge, anything of interest that will make it stand out from the rest. I guess it's catered to the masses and that's fine, but it's just bland & tiresome by the end of the album. The most 6/10 album possible.

Overall, va bene. Muy depre para mi gusto, sin embargo es hiper icónico.

As thrilling as mayonnaise.

Get over it.

"set fire to the rain" is a masterpiece but unfortunately I have to judge the album in his entirety.

Ja

Oké Adèle is een goede zangeres, misschien wel de beste op t moment. Het ding is dat het voor mij te pop en te mainstream is om hier echt van te kunnen genieten.

A couple of great tunes but the power ballard fillers wore a bit thin.

Hot take, but not my fave.

It's hard to listen to these records honestly, because they were so popular, it's hard to remind yourself to listen past the familiarity. Adele has an amazing voice, and I don't think I realized how Motown inspired some of the production is. Also, "Rumor Has It" gives me PTSD from its ubiquitous radio play

⭐⭐⭐+ Det finns ett antal riktigt bra spår på det här albumet. Adeles röst är grym och hon har även lite skönt grit i den. Albumet är bra men det käns ickså väldigt polerat och är väldigt snällt. Kan ev lyssna på det igen men det kommer inte vara ett förstaval. Bäst är Rolling in the deep, Rumour has it, Set fire to the rain, Someone like you

I like the arrangements on this record, its not bombastic, there's some subtly here. Probably necessary, given Adele's powerful voice. Overall, the songs are generic and plain, nothing really special here.

Undeniably a truly outstanding voice and this album hits like a freight train with the opening tracks ‘rolling in the deep’ & ‘rumour has it’ unfortunately though the album then veers off down a pity party of hatred towards men (or man) who knows! A couple of decent songs along the way no doubt - ‘set fire to the rain’ one of them but the feelings had already turned cold. The Cure cover ‘lovesong’ felt horribly flat for Adele before she ended on the high of a massive vocal in ‘someone like you’ I have also Unfortunately seen Adele live which is always in the back of my mind.. and not for the right reasons, she sounded terrible and really put me off her so that may have had a slight influence on the scoring. I’m going to go best song- ‘Rolling in the deep’ Worst song- ‘Lovesong’ Overall 6/10

What a quintessential early 2010s album. It’s like her own “Back to Black”. A lot of the hit singles here are very sentimental ballads (Someone Like You, Set Fire to the Rain) I find overproduced in casual listening but enough to get someone to karaoke to (3.5).

Wanted to give it a 4 or a perfect but it honestly got kinda repetitive. Obviously goated voice though

Incredible voice and I was excited to listen to it. I'm not sure if I would listen to it again but I enjoyed it.

Great! Adele’s voice is incredible. Totally not my style of music that I would listen to everyday but I liked it either way. I see myself coming back to this album on a day I feel like a mystical woman in a fairytale. (Is that weird?😭😭) 3.5/5

My opinion on 21 more or less mirrors the critical consensus. The vocals? Great! The songwriting? Not very adventurous! In a mathematical improbability, 21 is greater than 25 because there are a few songs that really stand out from the pack. "Rolling in the Deep" is the main one, with its soaring chorus. "Set Fire to the Rain" is another, even if it has a bit too much of that 2010s adult alternative sound to it. "Rumor Has It" leans into that sound as well and suffers from it; it's almost got that Lumineers / Black Keys stomp. Some of the rest leans into a more classic soul vibe, with "Lovesong" sounding straight out of the 60s or 70s. There are some heartfelt lyrics here and almost every track has some impressive vocal moment, but there's just not enough variety to keep it from dragging. For me, "Take It All" is where the album starts to become a chore.

I’ve heard this album too many times. It isn’t bad though.

I like Adele

Not my kind of music but I can value this album and understand why it is on this list.

Generational talent. I think the songs got over played which harms the overall draw of the album presently.

great music to buy groceries to. 6/10 FAVOURITE SONGS: HE WON'T GO, SET FIRE TO THE RAIN, LOVESONG LEAST FAVOURITE SONGS: RUMOUR HAS IT

Schon klar, warum die Hits Hits sind. Aber auch der Rest ist jetzt nicht unterirdisch. Kann man schon hören.

Honestly, outside of the three big hits (which are incredible bangers and were EVERYWHERE in 2011), this is pretty disappoint generic pop with a tendency for pathos. This is not surprising from a 21 yo though. The three big hits are 5/5, the rest is 2 (oh I also like He won’t go, it’s a bit different than the rest with the groovy rhythm) and the cure cover is really bad, like a bland cover they would play in a restaurant. I’ll settle on 3.

I didn’t enjoy 25, so I admittedly had low expectations for 22. But I was caught a bit off guard with the soulful pop album. Of course, Adele’s vocals shine - a certain master of her class comparable to some of the best women to ever belt out a tune. But the album is also very widely accessible, without being completely generic. Not breaking any songwriting boundaries, but it’s got a classic timeless sound with bouncy pop songs, soul and r&b throwbacks, piano ballads. It’s still not something I’ll reach for, but I wouldn’t avoid it and enjoy a few songs which is above my expectations

It had its place, and at 21 she had made it. Good for you Adele, have a great life.

It's nice to get another contemporary album, especially one as well known as this. Contemporary Indie pop is probably my favorite type of music because it does not restrict itself to any particular style or genre, often fuses genres, and has the full extent of modern music technology at its disposal. I certainly appreciated the variety of styles from Adele. She has a great voice and it pairs well with the gospel Feel she displays on a few tracks. Most notably is rolling in the deep; simple, but effective. This album is an example of pop music that my generation grew up listening to, so I already knew half the songs from hearing them on the radio as a kid. It's not surprising that my favorite songs were the ones that I had never heard; "I'll be waiting" and "he won't go" we're my favorites, in that order. The lyrical content was not particularly interesting, as is often in the case with these type of chart topping massive pop stars. I can think of several other female vocalist who have an amazing voice, but extremely uninteresting lyrics. I think Adele possesses a little bit more artistry than some of those others. Although, piano ballads were pretty Lame(?), except for "take it all" which had some nice soulful harmonic direction and some gospel choir vocals if I recall correctly. I don't think this album. was good enough to give it a four.

The success of this album speaks for itself. You don't get billions of plays without being outstandingly talented and having the best production, and also appealing to the lowest common denominator of listeners. I think the album is excellent at what it set out to do. I also don't think I would ever choose to put it on. It's really impressive that she could produce this depth of performance and songwriting at 21, but I guess people say the best pop music is made by youngsters. Some of her pronunciations are annoying. She pronounces risk like "reesk". . . .it sounds very affected. I don't know if she inspired a generation of white girls to sing that way or if she was just following the trend, but I'm not a fan.

Not my cuppa, but dang was this album a masterclass of creating singles.

Meh

3.5

a good one

A couple of belters, but as an album...? 3,5?

3.5/5

I remember when this album first came out I was 18. All I really remember was how overplayed it was. I enjoy a few of the songs primarily one and only and someone like you, but the rest honestly just drives me a bit batty with how overplayed it's been.

I felt like I had already known a bunch of these songs since so many I heard a ton when I was younger Actually 3.5 Favorite: he wont go

We didn’t need more than one Adele album on this list. She has a great set of pipes but these songs were everywhere when they released and never really went away so I’m kind of bored of them. Still, I recognise the talent.

Set fiyah to the rain

Enjoyed this more than I expected to. And the Cure cover was fun. Wish there was a 3.5 function.

Esta bueno, es una gran voz. De toas formas, no es mi estilo, los colores blanco y negro dan un indicio del disco con temas profundos y con melodías drama-románticas.

Having not been nearly 21 years old when this album came out, I couldn’t grasp just how impressive Adele’s vocal capabilities were (and still are). Now, having been a dumbass 21 year old, I get the hype. It’s a voice that sounds like it’s lived a whole lifetime. The instrumentation on here is pretty bland in retrospect, but I’ve gotta remember that at least in the states in 2011 everything was going electronic, so anything resembling an ensemble of “real” instrumentation was defiant by radio standards. “One and Only” was the only standout for me of the not-mega-famous songs to come out of this project. But “Someone Like You” is still worth its weight in gold. Distills all the greatness out of her voice, a simple and effective arrangement that provides a proper backdrop. We all got it right on this song. Strong 3/5 not a revolution in sound, but it doesn’t have to be, Adele’s voice does the lifting just fine

Muy buenos temas pero algunos flaquean