21 - Adele (2011)

Ideated from: Starting my second year of this blog with some famous second albums

Adele’s first record was good; a mellow set of heartache and blue-eyed soul (and an excellent Bob Dylan cover) Despite that, I’m not sure anyone expected what was on the way next. This record came more or less out of nowhere to become a global smash hit.

I don’t know what Adele’s creative process is like, or how closely she controls what her producers are doing. But while the first record had mostly just one producer, here she collaborates with quite a few big-name helmers. While some producers are known for shaping an artist’s sound, it seems like Adele has done an excellent job of shaping what each of these collaborators brings into something unmistakably hers.

The songs are varied in tone and instrumentation, but all very much done by one single mastermind artist.

Tracks I Liked

Rumor Has It - the biggest and most muscular track here, with a wickedly biting lyric

I’ll Be Waiting - modern beatles-y pop

Lovesong - an elegant, yearning Cure cover that’s always a favorite of mine