For fans of:
Florence and the Machine, Amy Winehouse, Norah Jones
Singles to download:
‘Someone Like You,’ ‘One & Only,’ ‘Set fire to the Rain’

After winning Best New Artist at the Grammys and touring the world, Adele has returned to grace the radio waves and prove that mainstream music can be quality, too. The singer stretches her voice to new lengths, and she explores her defiant side with “Set Fire to Rain” and “One & Only,” two tracks where her voice becomes almost hoarse yet no less appealing. This display of raw emotion is normal for Adele. Some of the songs would be mediocre with anyone else singing them, but sometimes forgettable lyrics are worth enduring just to hear the vocal acrobatics she performs.

However, on the best track, “Someone Like You,” Adele’s lyrics are instant classics—so much so that it sounds like a cover at first listen. It is catchy without being grating; it’s a track that makes you want to sing along. And the only thing better than “Someone Like You” is a live performance of the song. Adele’s voice conveys melancholy, regret and hope all at once. This is not a diva crying out for attention because of some manufactured tragedy. This is a singer-songwriter with a voice for the ages working through her pain and sorrow. And it’s a privilege for us to join her in that journey.