Today: Adele's Brit-with-grit approach to 21 puts some soul back into the charts.
Who: British singer Adele has had a year to remember: she received six 2011 Grammy nominations; sophomore album 21 is the UK's best-selling album of the 21st century and the best-selling album in the United States this year; and Rolling Stone magazine named both her album and the single Rolling In The Deep the "best of 2011".
About the album: Capped by that aforementioned single, 21 converts the collapse of an 18-month relationship into a global hit, helped by the nous of Rick Rubin, whose lush (yes, occasionally overblown) production would have prompted knowing smiles from many Motown veterans.
Upbeat grooves rub against tear-jerker ballads and a clutch of mid-tempo numbers, all of which benefit from wall-of-sound backing vocals, slick guitar lines, keyboard stabs and beats that range from four-on-the-floor stomp to delicate percussion.
Highlight: Rolling In The Deep.
For those who like: Aretha Franklin, Sandy Shaw.
