21

21. 21 - Adele (2011)

Pop

“You’re gonna wish you never had met me”, the ominous refrain echoed throughout “Rolling In the Deep”, immediately sets the tone for Adele’s second album 21. The track is a ridiculously powerful opening track. It’s brutal, filled with simmering rage and scorn, and likely more than a little fear-inducing to whoever its sights were set on. The album title alludes to Adele’s age when it was released. To this day, it seems impossible that a record so insanely brilliant from start to finish was basically made by a kid. The wisdom laced within every track is not a wisdom you’d expect from someone so young. When such shocking insight is delivered by one of the greatest voices ever, the effect is something truly special and frequently goosebump-inducing.

21 boasts some of the biggest pop songs of the decade (and maybe of all time), “Rolling in the Deep”, “Set Fire to the Rain” and “Rumour Has It”. “One and Only” is a masterpiece and one of the best examples of Adele’s otherworldly vocal abilities. “Lovesong” is a gorgeous rendition of The Cure’s classic. The album culminates with “Someone Like You”, one of the most heartbreaking songs ever, delivered with earth shattering conviction and sadness. And she was 21 when she wrote it. Unbelievable.

*image; cover art for the album 21 by Adele