Adele 21 (XL)
3/5
By: Rachel Bolland
If you were to look some of the pop stars currently topping the charts, it’s easy to see why a lot of parents might not want them as role models for their daughters. Whether it’s Christina Aguilera’s promiscuous performance on X-Factor, Rihanna’s new single ‘S & M’ (choice lyric: “sticks and stones may break my bones but chains and whips excite me”) or indeed Katy Perry shooting whipped cream from her boobies in the ‘California Gurlz’ video, they’re not exactly setting the best example.
Adele, on the other hand, has achieved all her success through her enormous talent, not by parading around in her underwear. Following up from her phenomenally successful debut 19, 21 at first feels like a natural successor. Opener and lead single ‘Rolling In The Deep’ possesses much of catchiness and immediate intrigue that many of the tracks on ‘19’ did. It does, in fact, do what all album openers should do, immediately grabbing the listener’s attention and drawing them in. Indeed, an album made up entirely of ‘Rolling in the Deep’ would be fantastic.
Unfortunately that isn’t what 21 consists of. After that initial promise, there’s something of a slump, with several tracks sticking to the safety of the piano ballad, lacking much of the personality that 19 possessed. ‘Set Fire to the Rain’ is pure Radio 2 fodder, electric piano, stagnant pace, just generally a bit boring. This album takes a much more soulful route in general, many a tale of lost love and broken hearts that wouldn’t sound out of place on a Bridget Jones soundtrack. It seems there are no ‘Hometown Glory’ moments, nothing where the sheer power of the songs stirs something deep within you.
It may be fair to say that the quality of the songs seems to have diminished somewhat since her debut, but this is perhaps an inevitability since she’s writing for a different audience after her unprecedented success. However, this new offering still demonstrates Adele’s completely sensational voice. She’s achieved everything she has based on her talent, not relying on provocative images or performances to sell her music and for that she has to be commended. If you’re looking for a female role model, she’s not a bad shout.
Artists in this article: Adele
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