The Odd Couple

Adele, who cites her first major musical influence as the Spice Girls and Rick Rubin, co-founder of Def Jam Records make an unlikely pair.  But the first time I heard “Rolling in the Deep” on the radio, I thought ‘holy shit’ THIS is a song to be reckoned with.  To be honest I didn’t bother much with Adele’s debut album 19.  Not that I didn’t like it, but “Chasing Pavements” didn’t quite do it for me.  It didn’t get me there.  I guess 21 is the lucky number because Adele’s sophomore effort is a no holds bar mix of blues and soul that Rubin (among other producers) was able to paint on her perfectly.  Surprised?  I guess we shouldn’t be.  Adele’s got talent and Rubin…well Rubin’s got diversity.  Producing acts from Public Enemy to Slayer to Tom Petty to The Avett Brothers, he has proved there is not a genre he can’t make magic out of.  So “abra-freaking-cadabra” he has done it again.  This album has a solid blues foundation filled with many genres and time periods (much of which was contributed by Adele’s Nashville-based bus driver during a US tour) and most importantly Adele’s own unique style.  The soulful singer gives nods to greats like Etta James and Wanda Jackson as influences to her saucy style and well with her witty banter and swearing she is following right in Jackson’s footsteps.  Thanks Adele and Rick for giving us something good.  Lord knows radio needs it.

Adele – 21 (XL, Columbia)
Release Date – January 19, 2011
Producers – Rick Rubin, Paul Epworth, Jim Abbiss, Fraser T Smith, Ryan Tedder, Dan Wilson

Tracks to Check out First:

1.  Rolling in the Deep

2.  Rumour Has It

4.  Don’t You Remember

5.  Set Fire to the Rain

7.  Take It All

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