Adele Is Back With "25"

It's been about four years since we last heard from Adele, when she began her domination of the record industry. "21" came at a time when album sales were at an all time low. Not even albums by Beyoncé or Lady Gaga could sell as well as earlier efforts; To say the record industry was slogging is an understatement. But then Adele came, and her cross generational appeal combined with being absolutely different from the Gagas and the Katy Perrys of the world that were flooding the radios sent "21" to the top of the charts. It is now one of the best selling albums of all time, and to date has sold 30 million copies worldwide. It still is sitting pretty within the Billboard Top 100.

To scan Platinum in an age where 100,000 copies sold in your opening frame is considered great, is an achievement. To scan Diamond is unheard of, and Adele is the only artist in today's group of popular acts to do that. So to say the bar was raised for her follow-up, "25" is to put things lightly. The singer has been very vocal about wanting to avoid disappointing her fans, and so maybe that four year hiatus she took in between albums was necessary.

'Hello,' the lead single and album opener, hasn't left the number one spot since debuting, and has smashed the Vevo record previously held by Taylor Swift's 'Bad Blood' in every way imaginable. The rollout has been meticulous, almost perfect. Until now, that is; "25" has leaked onto the internet in full.

Album leaks are more or less expected these days, and one can't help but feel if they're apart of the rollout in general. Adele is up there with Beyoncé in terms of being a complete boss; This leak won't hinder the album's commercial performance. "25" will be huge, and we all better get used to Adele once again ruling the Billboard charts and the airwaves, because she's truly back.

It's easy to see why 'Hello' was chosen not only as the lead single, but the song that would open the album. In a way, it picks up where 'Someone Like You' left off, but more importantly, it's Adele re-introducing herself after a long absence.

Many will try and compare "25" to "21," but to do so would be disingenuous. Here, Adele's voice rings with a triumphant maturity that was definitely lacking from her last album. She sounds more confident, and more happy here than on any of the songs on "21." There is no 'Someone Like You' here, she is no longer mourning over a lost love. Instead, she is reveling in a newfound satisfaction.



There are elements of her debut album, "19," that keep the songs grounded even if she's belting to the heavens. She walks a fine line to combine the best elements from her two previous efforts, while still finding a way to advance herself forward career wise. And that's really the best thing about "25," because it feels like a true introduction to the Adele we've all come to know, one that rules the charts and has the talent, and savvy, to prove it.

"25" does suffer from some saccharine songwriting, however. "I Miss You" feels like such a swing and a miss, despite featuring some truly brilliant Phil Collins-esque production from Paul Epworth. 'When We Were Young' is being primed as the next single, and the crown jewel of the album. It's great, and everything we'd expect from Adele (for better or worse depending on your affiliation with her). But the true brilliance comes at the album's close. There may not be a 'Someone Like You,' but the trifecta of 'Million Years Ago,' 'All I Ask' and 'Sweetest Devotion' fade the album out on a high note.

This was never going to be an easy album to review, no matter how far you remove yourself from "21." As an artist, it must be ridiculously hard to move on, confidently, from such a career high. But so much of Adele's place in pop has come from "21" being such a monster album. As huge as it's destined to be, it remains to be seen if "25" will reach the dizzying highs of its predecessor. But I'm not sure it needs to, because it feels like a cementation of a new pop titan. Hello indeed.

Grade: B/B+

***Favorite Tracks: 'When We Were Young', 'All I Ask' and 'Sweetest Devotion' ***