Review: Adele’s new album 25

Image: Universal Music Group

In the four years Adele has been away, it is clear she’s done an almighty amount of growing. While her last album featured songs of heartbreak, ‘25’ details how the London lass managed to move on – a “hello from the other side” of her 25.

Now 27 years old, ‘25’ features songs written by Adele during her four year hiatus. While the songstress initially planned on going out “on a high note” after the success of her Grammy award winning record ‘21’, she found her muse in a happy marriage and raising her son. The redheaded vocalist manages to capture a new essence for life and love in true Adele style.

She begins the record with comeback single, ‘Hello,’ a perfect taster of what’s to come. Best known for her stunning vocals and ability to carry across a ballad like no other, ‘25’ is jam packed with what the Londoner does best, along with the occasional pop powerhouse track for good measure. Standout tracks on the album include second single ‘When We Were Young,’ ‘River Lea’ and ‘Remedy’, all songs that manage to carry across who Adele is now at age 27.

Image: Universal Music Group

The beauty of Adele and her ability as both a vocalist and a songwriter is that her music grows with her. While on the surface ‘Hello’ appears similar to her previous singles, when you delve beneath the surface you discover just how different it is to debut ‘Chasing Pavements,’ and indeed her best known track ‘To Make You Feel My Love’. Her debut is a morose ballad about the longing for a lover, and now seven years later, Adele sings of fondly remembering someone she once loved, how happy she is in herself and her life, and that she’s in the best place she could be.

‘25’ has broken an insane number of records in the short time since its release. Adele managed to snatch records from N*Sync, Take That and Taylor Swift with the album – becoming the most widely distributed, pre-ordered and bestselling album of the last decade. These smashed records are a true testament to Adele as an artist and an individual. Her loveable personality transpires into her art, leaving over 30 countries falling deeply enough in love with her to bring ‘25’ to number one globally – the only album to do so through sales alone in the last five years.

It is a record that deserves the critical acclaim that it is receiving. Written with some of the most talented pop writers in the industry, such as One Republic’s Ryan Tedder, and produced by Modest Mouse amongst others, it’s been a long time in the making, something Adele isn’t afraid to poke fun at herself. It’s been worth the wait for many, including to us here at The Liberty.

‘25’ is not available on streaming websites, but can be purchased from all good retailers, iTunes and Amazon. Adele is set to play Dublin’s 3Arena on March 4th and 5th, with tickets available now from Ticketmaster.