ADELE, 21

                                                                 Adele, 21

                             ★★★★★

Tina Turner may have asked ‘What’s love got to do with it?’ but for British singer/song writer, Adele, love and heartbreak—alongside astounding vocal talent—was inspiration, once again, for her sophomore, follow-up album, 21. The album, which was eagerly awaited by fans and music lovers across the world, was released in the U.S. on February 22. The British vocal sensation introduced her talent with her debut record, 19, which won her two Grammy awards in 2009. Heartbreak may be ugly, but Adele’s voice is far from it—proven in her new album, which amplifies her already lovable and original sound from 19.  With more mature ballads like “Rolling in the Deep,” “Rumour Has It,” “Set Fire to the Rain,” the artist shows off a more mature, blues/jazzy feel.  The upbeat start to the album is a twist to the later ‘should have been’, ‘could have been’ ballads like “Turning Tables,” “Don’t you Remember,” “One and Only,” that leave listeners on the same heartbreak cathartic rollercoaster as Adele.  It is not just her down-to-earth, truly genuine voice that out-sets her from other artists, but the extremely poignant self-written lyrics that go along with it.  Adele ends her second album with a pulsing, yet lingering edge with “Someone Like You.” Whether you are suffering through your own personal heartbreak, or just can’t get enough of the British star’s voice, 21, is an album you’ll want to have…on repeat.

Key Tracks: “Someone Like You,” “Turning Tables,” “Don’t You Remember,” “One and Only”

 Stephanie Cafano

(image from www.adele.tv)