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Need To Know: After working her way through a performing arts school in London and uploading various demos onto the Internet, Adele caught the attention of XL Recordings, who signed her in 2007. Her debut album, 19, was extremely well received by critics and fans alike for her powerhouse vocals and honest, heartbreaking lyrics. The UK native picked up two Grammy’s in 2009 for her efforts, and after touring across North America and Europe, returned home to work on her sophomore album. Two years later, Adele is ready to take the world by storm again with a collection of songs describing the crucial age of 21.

In 100 Words or So: The two years taken to write and record 21 were well spent, as Adele’s strongly-crafted harmonies and explosive choruses are what truly define this album. While 19 touched the heart, 21 is able to rip and mend it in under an hour, taking listeners through a rollercoaster of love, hope, growth, loneliness, self doubt, and acceptance. Her experiences with each of these have forced Adele to take risks in her sound, resulting in more heart, fierceness, soul and honesty on every track. Though her ballads are incredibly hard hitting, it’s her more up-tempo tracks such as Rumor Has It, I’ll Be Waiting, and Rolling in the Deep that prove why Adele will reign in the coming months. If this is how 21 feels, then you will want to listen to this album forever.

Best Tracks: I’ll Be Waiting, Set Fire to the Rain, One and Only, Rumor Has It, Rolling in the Deep

RIYL: Sara Bareilles, Alicia Keys, Amy Winehouse

Rating: 9/10

Buy, Download, Steal, or Don’t Bother: Buy

Sample: Check out Adele’s latest video for Rolling in the Deep below.

Tags: adele, album reviews, reviews

Posted on Tuesday, February 22nd, 2011 at 7:43 pm by Mehek - Correspondent and is filed under Celebrities & Pop Culture, first spins, MuchRadar, Reviews.

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