Music review: Adele 鈥� 鈥�25鈥�
Stunned silence.
That鈥檚 the best way I can describe my reaction after listening to Adele鈥檚 latest album.
The Londoner makes her long-awaited return with the refined and elegant 鈥�25.鈥�
While her last release was more of a break-up album, 鈥�25鈥� focuses on making the transition into adulthood and dealing with past experiences and relationships in a more mature and understanding manner.
In its basic form, the new material is grown-up music lavishly delivered by an artist clearly coming into her own.
鈥淗ello, it鈥檚 me,鈥� innocently announces Adele as she initiates a musical conversation during her attempt to find closure from a previously failed relationship.
鈥淗ello鈥� debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100, positioning the haunting number to become one of the most memorable songs of 2015. Make sure you take the opportunity to view the video of the classroom instrument version of Adele singing the smash single with Jimmy Fallon and the Roots.
Just like her previous two albums, 鈥�25鈥� represents her age and measures her growth from 2008鈥檚 鈥�19.鈥�
While 鈥淒aydreamer鈥� opened the debut release with a sense of innocence and wonderment, 鈥淲hen We Were Young鈥� displays tender moments of reflection and letting go of the past as Adele recalls how perfect things seemed to be during simpler times as she sings, 鈥淚t was just like a movie/It was just like a song.鈥�
Taking a page out of Nick Lowe鈥檚 songwriting book, the British songstress is being cruel to be kind on 鈥淟ove in the Dark鈥� as she sings, 鈥淭ake your eyes off me so I can leave/I鈥檓 far too ashamed to do it with you watching me.鈥�
Co-written by Bruno Mars, 鈥淎ll I Ask鈥� features twin pianos ushering in Adele鈥檚 velvety vocals asking, 鈥淚f this is my last night with you/Hold me like I鈥檓 more than just a friend/Give me a memory I can use.鈥�
After all the heartbreak, reflection and coming to terms with the past, the album comes to a joyous and reassuring close on 鈥淪weetest Devotion鈥� with Adele confidently announcing, 鈥淎nd there is something about the way you love me/That finally feels like home.鈥�
With the mega success of 鈥�25,鈥� Adele is perfectly poised to deliver several more satisfying chapters detailing her life experiences for many years to come.
Clint Rhodes is the 缅北禁地 music reviewer. He can be reached at crhodes@heraldstandard.com.