Adele offers 12 reasons to buy sophomore album, 21

Despite her stray from predominantly bluesy tunes, Adele manages to inject her soulfulness into each song, never losing her signature sound and wide range in the mix. The singer’s other fans worldwide must agree, as 21 has already risen to number one on iTunes’ top-selling albums, less than a week after its release date.

The album’s first released single, "Someone Like You," debuted in the United Kingdom at number one on the musical charts and is one of 21’s more classical ballads, complimented by a perfect piano accompaniment and stirring vocal performance by the singer.

Another single off of the album, "Rolling in the Deep," is an upbeat tune that has quickly become a hit around the world, with the song being widely spread and downloaded across the Internet even before 21’s official release. The track is reminiscent of a Motown hit, with a moderate beat and catchy chorus. "Set Fire to the Rain" is a slower track, which displays Adele’s vulnerable and serious side, made evident through the singer’s passionate delivery.

"He Won’t Go" has a nice, old-school R&B sound to it that is likely to leave the listener tapping his or her foot and humming along. My personal favorite is Adele’s haunting cover of The Cure’s ’80s hit, "Love Song," which the songstress slows down and infuses with acoustic guitar and other classical, more natural instrumentals.

Adele’s 21 delivers as expected, and although some of the tunes are stronger than others, listeners will be challenged to find a track on the album that they entirely dislike. The singer provides an eclectic mix of songs that blend together well to give a story of love’s hardships and ultimately overcoming them, with the artist even referring to her own sound as "heartbreaking soul." It is easy to see why fans anticipated another album from the soulful singers, whose sincerity shines through on each song.

As with the progression of age and life that her album titles suggest, Adele has matured as a musician and come into her own as an artist with 21, displaying her passion for and extreme skill in music. The singer has established herself globally as a versatile, strong presence in the music industry, one who will continue to deliver her refreshing talent to her anxiously awaiting fans.

Tara Moreland be reached at  This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.