19

by Adele

Overview

With just a couple of cursory listens to the few tracks that popped up all over the Internet through 2007, comparisons were made between Adele, the much-hyped brassy British songstress, and Amy Winehouse, the...much-hyped brassy British songstress. However, after a solid listen to 19, the first full sampling by the up-and-coming Adele, listeners are forced to throw all comparisons to the wind; Adele is simply too magical to compare her to anyone. Bluesy like it's no one's business yet voluptuously funky in a contemporary way, Adele rocks out 19 with a unique voice and gritty sound that dazzle endlessly. Synthesizing blues, jazz, folk, soul, and even electric pop, Adele mystifies through her mature songwriting skills and jaw-dropping arrangements. As the album opens with "Daydreamer," Adele's illusionary instrument -- over minimal sounds -- engulfs the listener with a gorgeous feeling of awe and wonderment. On "Melt My Heart to Stone" and the bona fide hit "Chasing Pavements," Adele allows herself to soar over the strings and power her way through these incredible songs. The upbeat "Right as Rain" is just wonderful, with clear Ashford & Simpson influences speckled all over it in an upbeat set. Nearly all the tracks seem to have been nurtured to glory over months as labors of love. What's simply awesome on 19 is its capability to capture the listener through mere teasing; Adele doesn't shout for attention, and doesn't rely on anyone but herself to prove she's worth it, in the same vein as Sara Bareilles, another heavily praised artist of 2007. The jazzy "Best for Last" is as retro as the tunes get on the album, yet it still manages to steer away from being boring or old-fashioned. The only awkwardness throughout all of 19 is the overly poppy galactic "Tired," which sounds as though it might have fallen off a Lily Allen track list, something that doesn't suit Adele as a musician. As far as artistic drive goes, it seems as though Adele is hoping to capitalize on the sounds of 2007 by borrowing elements of Feist, Regina Spektor, Norah Jones, and even, yes, Amy Winehouse; yet Adele blends all the artistic pizzazz of all those ladies into her own set of manipulative, glamorous wonder. Plus, as a terrific songwriter at merely 20 years of age, the Brit has so much room to expand her artistic dimensions into a full-fledged artist that it's no wonder most critics see her as the top new talent of 2008. This debut isn't an empty promise of a great career; 19 is a fleshed-out stunning portrayal of a young woman with a talent beyond her years who deserves immense credit for a unique style that never fails. A beyond stellar debut in both quality and originality. ~ Matthew Chisling

Product Details

Release Date:	07/06/2018
Label:	Xl
UPC:	0191404093825
Rank:	18281

Album Credits

Performance Credits

Adele   Primary Artist,Bass,Guitar,Vocals,Celeste,Cowbell,Guitar (Rhythm)
The Raconteurs   Primary Artist
Eg White   Primary Artist
Pete Ray Biggin   Percussion,Drums
Jason Silver   Keyboards
Chris Elliott   Conductor,String Conductor
Neil Cowley   Piano,Wurlitzer,Organ (Hammond)
Stuart Zender   Bass,Guitar (Bass)
Matt Allchin   Guitar
Sam Koppelman   Glockenspiel
London Studio Orchestra   Strings
Jack Penate   Vocals (Background)
Jim Abbiss   Glockenspiel
Michael Tighe   Guitar
Pete Biggins   Drums,Percussion
Tom Driessler   Bass,Tambourine,Guitar (Bass)
Ben Thomas   Guitar
Louis "Kayel" Sharpe   Drums
Life Gospel Choir   Vocals (Background)
The Wired Strings   Strings
Perry Montague-Mason   Strings
Steven Holness   Piano,Keyboards
Seb Roachford   Drums
Donavan Hepburn   Drums
Louis Sharpe   Drums
Wire4d Strings   Strings
Wil Malone   Strings,Conductor,String Conductor
Sebastian "Seb" Rochford   Drums
Adele Adkins   Vocals

Technical Credits

Jack White   Composer
Eg White   Arranger,Composer,Producer,Performer,String Arrangements
John Carey   Photography
Mark Ronson   Producer
Chris Elliott   String Arrangements
Richard Wilkinson   Mixing,Engineer
Brendan Benson   Composer
Helen Atkinson   Assistant,Assistant Engineer
Dan Parry   Assistant,Mixing Assistant
Matt Lawrence   Engineer
Matt Paul   Assistant
Serge Krebs   Assistant,Mixing Assistant,Assistant Engineer
Jim Abbiss   Mixing,Producer,Audio Production
Roy Alfred   Composer
Adele Adkins   Composer
Tom Elmhirst   Mixing
Liam Howe   Programming
Loz Brazil   Mixing
Fergus Peterkin   Assistant,Mixing Assistant
Archibald Alexander MacKenzie   Mixing Assistant,Assistant Engineer
Rosie Danvers   String Arrangements
Hege Saebjornsen   Cover Photo
Steve Price   String Engineer,Engineer
Phil Lee   Design,Photography,Art Direction
Dominic Morley   Engineer
Simon Hayes   Assistant,Mixing Assistant
Joshua Burton   Photography
Alex Mackenzie   Assistant
Dom Morley   Engineer
Truth & Soul Productions   Composer
Ferg Peterkin   Assistant
Wil Malone   Arranger,Composer,String Writing,String Arrangements
Del Serino   Composer
Bob Dylan   Composer