British soul singer Adele releases '21'

The eagerly anticipated sophomore release from British neo-soul and blues singer, Adele, was released on Tues., Feb. 22. Entitled, 21, the new release is considered the 22-year olds' coming of age album. The record features great bluesy and soulful music from this young yet powerful singer. 

Adele broke through around the same time as two other popular female UK soul singers, Amy Winehouse and Duffy. Though Adele is proud to be grouped with these two powerhouse singers, she says that Duffy is more of a "proper lady" and that Winehouse is more hardcore. Adele calls her music contemporary and is happy to be grouped with other commanding and great vocalists.

With only two albums, 19 and 21, Adele has already made a splash in a large pool and filled it with fans from all over. With strong vocals blaring ‘heartbroken soul' music, Adele relates to fans with songs about hometown pride and failed relationships. After her first album, Adele surprised and disappointed fans by cancelling her first tour when she admitted to Nylon magazine that she, "[I] was drinking far too much and that was kind of the basis of my relationship with this boy." She went on to say that she, "couldn't bear to be without him, so I was like, ‘Well, OK, I'll just cancel my stuff then ... I can't believe I did that ... It seems so ungrateful." 

Now sober, Adele is ready to promote 21 with a tour that will eventually make its way to Boston's House of Blues on May 15.

Though released in the UK on Jan. 19, the album's first single, "Rolling in Deep" has been out since Dec. of 2010. The single reached number two on UK charts and has been described as a, "dark bluesy gospel disco tune." The album's second track, "Someone Like You" became the second single. This hit has become so big, especially in the UK, that it has helped this phenomenon to sell 208,000 copies of 21 it's first week on shelves. According to The Official Charts Company, Adele is the first living artist to achieve two top five hits in both the UK Singles Chart and the UK Album Chart simultaneously. The last artist to do this was The Beatles in 1964. 

The critics have promised that Adele's new album will be entertaining and widely recognized for her distinctive and unusual voice that appeals to pop, blues, and jazz lovers alike.