If you're like me, you've been waiting for Adele to drop a new album since she rocked your world with "21." Hit after hit, she has proved that her talent is insurmountable and she has proven that she is the songbird of our generation. Her highly anticipated album "25" dropped this past Friday, Nov. 20, and everyone is talking about it.
The album opens with "Hello," her record shattering single that swept the Internet and radio stations alike seemingly overnight. This haunting melody combined with Adele's stellar vocals and heartbreaking lyrics has you hanging on to her every word.
As you begin listening to the songs on this album, you'll realize one thing: Adele's sound is evolving and changing, but still has a miraculous way of sticking to its soulful roots. Like the albums that have preceded "25," simplicity is still the main factor. You won't find any over-the-top pop tracks or dance remixes like most albums that have been surfacing lately. All you have is Adele, an acoustic instrument, and a powerful, chilling voice.
"25" is more than just "another Adele album," it is a physical reminder that the music industry does not need to rely on fast-paced trends to elicit a billboard top 10 hit. Adele proves, time and time again, that in order for an artist to be successful, they just need to be true to their own style and capabilities. Her growth as a musician is evident throughout this album. She experiments even more with her vocal range and is not afraid to catch you off guard.
So now's the point where you're saying, "Well what's this album even about?" And like I've said before, it's growth. Her style has grown tremendously, employing new skills and taking new risks, but this is no coincidence. With songs like "When We Were Young" and "Water Under the Bridge," she references her past loves and taps into a more introspective side of herself that we haven't really seen before. Unlike "19" and "21," this album doesn't punch you in the throat with feelings but rather makes you take a deeper look into yourself and the people that have come into your life thus far. She has this incredible ability to make you miss someone who you haven't even met. And to me, that's what I consider good music.
