21
by Adele
  • Record Label: XL
  • Release Date: Feb 22, 2011
User Score
8.3

Universal acclaim- based on 930 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 804 out of 930
  2. Mixed: 43 out of 930
  3. Negative: 83 out of 930
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  1. Spotlights
    Nov 17, 2012
    6
    I'm not actually sure about this one. It's very melancholy. I definitely prefer 19. 21 is good but does feature quite a few fillers. Basically, the really good tracks are REALLY good and the fillers are just meh. The ratio of fillers to hits is about 3:1.
  2. arvintaylor138
    Feb 18, 2014
    5
    Adele is respectfully one of the most treasured artists of all time, but i wasn't too keen is album. Some tracks were soulful while the rest were moody, depressing and if I must say, 'boring' ballads. Not for me...
  3. JoelSN
    Mar 24, 2012
    6
    "21" is the most successful album of the digital era, and we will probably never see any other album acquire this success. It will most likely reach the "Diamond" certification in the US very soon, being the first album since 2004 Usher's "Confessions" to do so. But does the album deserve all the success that it's getting? No one can deny the incredibly talented singer that it's Adele. Not"21" is the most successful album of the digital era, and we will probably never see any other album acquire this success. It will most likely reach the "Diamond" certification in the US very soon, being the first album since 2004 Usher's "Confessions" to do so. But does the album deserve all the success that it's getting? No one can deny the incredibly talented singer that it's Adele. Not many artists in the pop scene can own the stage only with their voices, and Adele is perfectly capable of doing so. If I were to grade Adele herself, she would probably get excellent score, but "21" is not that good. The album shares Adele's feelings after a breakup with her former boyfriend, and I think the record suffers of "extreme depression" being "Rumour Has It" the only song that it's not some kind of ballad. This is not necessarily bad at all, but it becomes a problem when most of the songs in the record are dull and forgettable. In my opinion "21" has 4 or 5 extremely good songs, that would make super successful singles (and in fact they have). But the rest of the record is not that good, unfortunately. I think Adele's success has more to do with how refreshing her sound is compared to what's on mainstream radio all day, her mind blowing performances, her interesting persona and of course, her great singles than with the quality of the album. However, it's a midly solid sophomore effort, and now that she is on top of the world I hope she can outdo herself and deliver an amazing third record. Everybody will look at her and that's a lot of pressure, but she has the talent to make it.

    Highlights: Rolling in the Deep, Set Fire to the Rain, Someone Like You, Turning Tables    … Collapse
  4. ernis_v
    Apr 3, 2012
    5
    Adele intrigues us with something new for the first two songs, but then it all fades away into boring and banal same old-same old melodies about a cliché - he left her, now she's sad. Adele could have just put "Someone Like You" instead of the most part of the album, and the effect would have been be the same
  5. BlacKat1025
    Mar 27, 2012
    4
    With all the praise surrounding this piece, it falls suprisingly flat for me. Even after a few listens, I have trouble distinguishing between songs. All of the tracs deal with the same subjects : Heartbreak, Love, Betrayal. I can appreciate the depth of emotion in this record, however, to describe it in one word...it's boring. That's it.
  6. super-adn23
    Jan 16, 2012
    4
    Mediocre and pretentious work, nothing musically creative, low quality production, the only really good songs on the entire album are Rolling In The Deep and Set Fire To The Rain. Even though Great vocals and beautiful lyrics. Obviously overrated.
  7. evergreenOldboy
    Dec 20, 2011
    6
    With all of the buzz surrounding this I thought I had to check it out. After hearing a few songs I realized that I had already heard them on the radio or something and that I liked them. Then I listened to the rest, and decided that its not bad, but that its not something I am going to listen to on my own time either. But then I stumbled across the metacritic's critic top ten picks forWith all of the buzz surrounding this I thought I had to check it out. After hearing a few songs I realized that I had already heard them on the radio or something and that I liked them. Then I listened to the rest, and decided that its not bad, but that its not something I am going to listen to on my own time either. But then I stumbled across the metacritic's critic top ten picks for music in 2011, and was flabbergasted. I mean this, really? Come on it is not that good, not good enough for that many critics to pick it number 1. Then I found myself wanting to give this album a really low score just cus critics are for some reason picking this over the black keys' new album el camino(my favorite album right now). But I stopped myself, it bugs me when other people do it, so i wont either. However, next time I hear an Adele song on the radio, I think I am just going to change to another station.… Expand
  8. Seasz
    Apr 14, 2012
    4
    Her voice is so beautiful, but most of these songs are really depressing or boring, Rolling in The Deep is, in my opinion, the only catchy and good song from this album.
  9. mdm389
    Jul 13, 2012
    5
    Million dollar voice, totally generic songwriting. It doesn't venture into any waters that haven' been sailed through a thousand times before by soul and R&B singer, and the cliche lyrics and backing instrumentation fail to prop up the songs here. Adele has little to say beyond examining a failed past relationship. She'd be more tolerable if Florence Welch of Florence + The Machine wasn'tMillion dollar voice, totally generic songwriting. It doesn't venture into any waters that haven' been sailed through a thousand times before by soul and R&B singer, and the cliche lyrics and backing instrumentation fail to prop up the songs here. Adele has little to say beyond examining a failed past relationship. She'd be more tolerable if Florence Welch of Florence + The Machine wasn't doing the female British singer act so much better at the same time.… Expand
  10. kalamaris
    Oct 15, 2012
    5
    It gave me mixed feelings while listening to it. Only 4 songs (Rolling In The Deep, Set Fire To The Rain, Someone Like You, Rumour Has It) make this album somehow interesting, the rest of them are so monotonous. I just cannot understand why it is so much overrated. OK, Adele is a good artist with a nice voice but this overexposure of her really makes me wonder why. An average job.
  11. RogerSmith97
    Jun 24, 2011
    5
    I Like This Album Better Than 21, But Adele Has Real Talent... Rolling In The Deep Is A Great, Creative Song... Some Of The Other Songs Are Nice, But Sound Alot Alike.... In My Opinion Adele Should Keep To Fast Pop Like Rolling In The Deep... She Can Still Have Slow Songs, Just More Fast Songs To! Adele You Have Talent...
  12. ManuelContreras
    Apr 8, 2018
    6
    me esperaba mas de este album en realidad, los singles son muy buenos, y ya
  13. JhosepKingsley
    Feb 23, 2018
    5
    From this album we can highlight the great writing skills of Adele which we can see reflected in the use of poetic metaphors, the magnificent production that sounds like a majestic symphony and the vocal performance of Adkins. However, despite the above, it is a flat, boring and uninnovative album that makes it overrated and monotonous.
  14. DanShelley
    Feb 2, 2018
    5
    Despite being a good album, it's way too overrated. There were better albums back in 2011 talking about acceptance and compassion but the Grammy's thought it would be a good idea to give a heartbreak album 6 awards because it went viral.
  15. Juan7
    May 12, 2020
    6
    Con influencias de soul, Adele nos demuestra su lado más vulnerable después de una ruptura.
  16. All_ButTrU4
    Feb 11, 2022
    6
    Stunning essential pop! This record is a breathtaking endeavour with no easy way out. A definitive staple its the moment a talented artist became an artist. To only acknowledged the commercial impact independent of tge critical one would be cool hardy. It's astonishing how subtle what she does here with seemingly little ease. The classics stacked in this record are unimaginable from theStunning essential pop! This record is a breathtaking endeavour with no easy way out. A definitive staple its the moment a talented artist became an artist. To only acknowledged the commercial impact independent of tge critical one would be cool hardy. It's astonishing how subtle what she does here with seemingly little ease. The classics stacked in this record are unimaginable from the precarious "turning table " that takes great steps to confront an inconsistent love or the critique of low effort lovers in "take it all". The influence if Amy Winehouse and Julie Holiday are on her sleeve.

    What makes this an outstanding heartbreak record is how considerate it is even in angrier moments like "rumour has it", it's a fair narration of people wrong for each other dissolving their love . The one of many highlights "set fire to the rain" despite being an unexpected chart topper is also a skilful adress of the blameless lover who'd never be accountable for anything. "Someone Like You " is a wise goodbye to someone who might've hurt you but you'll always love closing a juggernaut off elegantly.    … Expand

Awards & Rankings

4
#4 Most Discussed Album of 2011
4
#4 Most Shared Album of 2011

Critic Reviews

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Metascore
76

Generally favorable reviews - based on 34 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 26 out of 34
  2. Mixed: 8 out of 34
  3. Negative: 0 out of 34
  1. Sputnikmusic
    Jun 14, 2011
    80
    Hearing a voice that grows scratchy and threatens to break and has not been tampered with, has not been slicked over in a studio, a voice that reveals all that can be found within a person and also seems to hold something back, to suggest another truth just behind the veil.
    Read full review
  2. Mojo
    Apr 20, 2011
    60
    The Brit School girl undergoes a successful soul-pop makeover. [Feb. 2011, p. 108]
  3. Consequence
    Apr 11, 2011
    70
    On her sophomore album, 21, Adele channels real emotion and blasts through sincere ballads and angry rockers with few missteps.
    Read full review
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