Because we are dedicated to honest customer opinions 19 (Adele) (Audio CD), we have also included Amazon's customer reviews for this item (of which 6 are displayed below). Amazon customers have given 19 (Adele) an average rating of 3.5/5.
Top Amazon Review
It?s right there; on the cover, the spine, or illuminating from your iPod screen. But it?s hard to corroborate it in your mind. London singer-songwriter Adele?s debut album is titled 19, referencing her age, and there are hints it?s true--its themes are almost exclusively concerned with young love?s highs and (mostly) lows and there?s a clipped estuary English tide-mark to her voice, allying her with the fresh-faced modern female songwriting guard; Lily Allen, Kate Nash, et al. But the sheer weight of her maturity--vocally, emotionally and in overall poise?really reduces that all to circumstantial evidence. Adele is carrying something much bigger here, you can?t help but be consumed by it on "Daydreamer" with it?s jazzy tip-toeing guitar and elastic vocal range and "Hometown Glory" with its deep, lonely piano serving as a bed for the raw emotional undressing that takes place above it. Draw a line between timeless, powerful singers like Ella Fitzgerald and the modern standard of Amy Winehouse; Adele balances and pirouettes confidently along that tightrope. Winehouse particularly informs the likes of "Cold Shoulder" and double-bass heavy "Best for Last", and that?s not an alignment that?s ever going to be easy to realise credibly. Needless to say, she does, with ease. On future classic "Chasing Pavements" she also gives a nonsensical phrase a handful of heart in lieu of meaning and when you can pull that off convincingly you know you?re in possession of something special. Who dares to dream what bigger numbers could bring.
Customer Review 1
A promise of better things to come. This is the debut album from Adele Laurie Blue Adkins who was, I assume, 19 years old when she completed it as she was born in May 1988 and the album came out in 2007. Credit must be given, then, to a young lady who not only sings well - most of the time - but who actually wrote most of the 12 songs here. My favourite one however was composed by Bob Dylan ('Make you feel my love') which stands out from all the others in terms of its lyrics and poetic balance.
It's an album that needs to be played several times to appreciate it. First time round I was rather disappointed; I bought it on the back of only hearing 'Chasing Pavements', which I think was also released as a single, but on first play I gained the impression that this was the only song I liked. Fortunately after a few more plays I changed my view on that, in fact I now prefer several other songs to the one she is best known for. One example is the more up-beat 'Right as Rain' which is pretty good.
Adele wrote seven of the songs on her own (or at least she is the only credited writer for seven), and of the remaining five she played a key role on four of them. The only 'cover' therefore is the aforementioned song by Bob Dylan but it does come over as the most musical song, the best produced and the most complete. In other words, the mastery of Dylan shines through and demonstrates that while Adele has talent and promise, she has someway to go before she's the finished article.
On occasions she seems (to me) to sing in a way that is removed from her natural accent; I noticed this on the opening track 'Daydreamer' in which she has a few Lily Allen-esque moments that I felt don't really suit her overall style. It's the sort of thing that she herself will probably cringe about when she hears it in years to come, but let's be fair, she's a teenage singer-songwriter and she should be admired for what she's achieved at such a young age. She shows signs of class, and I'm sure she'll improve with age and experience.
Now that I have played the album several times, I like it more than I did on first audition, but it still doesn't blow me away. Quite good, and by no means a classic, but showing positive signs for her future.
Customer Review 2
All Comparisons are False. Having now heard her album, to compare her to Lily Allen is a travesty. Adele is far better, her smooth voice and song writing skill for starters...
And whilst we're on the subject of comparisons, there's only one similarity to Amy Winehouse - and that is I love both of their albums, when my expectations were low.
Daydreamer: A chilled, melodic start to her debut album, but on first listen you kinda want to skip it to speed up your new listening experience. This is definitely one of those tracks you have to listen to a few times. Vocally she is very good.
Best For Last: Sounds quite bluesy, simple yet effective guitar backing throughout the beginning. Then the song gets going, catchy, warming and just simply easy to listen to. Love it.
Chasing Pavements: The song everyone will have heard already; perfectly placed on the album, vocally excellent and the main reason I noticed her in the first place.
Cold Shoulder: I read on another review the similarities between the intro for this with Massive Attack's Unfinished Sympathy. It's true; the sound is there, for about 10 seconds... The song itself is more upbeat than the 3 previous tracks, and in the middle of it there is a section that reminds me strangely, of Kula Shaker. ("time and time again I play the role of fool")
Crazy For You: Not my favourite song on the album. I do most of my listening in the car and I have been known to skip this one on more than one occasion.
Melt My Heart To Stone: When this song begins is the point in the album where she reminds me of James Morrison. I can't explain why, but it's no bad thing, I am a fan of his work also. Love this song.
First Love: This is a good song, but I for me, it drags a little. Not my favourite, I think I like this less than Crazy For You.
Right As Rain: If she was ever going to be compared to Winehouse, it would be because of this track. Fabulously catchy, I love to sing along to this in the car. I love the lyrics too, definitely one of the best.
Make You Feel My Love: Simple, yet beautiful. It is just the right duration; if it lasted much longer it could get boring.
My Same: If Adele was to ever be compared to Gabriella Cilmi, it would probably be for about 3 seconds into this song. But Adele goes on to prove her refreshing style one more time in another upbeat track with catchy sections, while retaining a smooth blues sound.
Tired: Arguably one of the best, If not THE best song on this album. Her enunciation can remind you of Lily if you are trying to compare. Love this song.
I'm impressed, and very surprised. I haven't yet got bored of this album and 10/12 are all brilliant songs. A strong debut, and to top it off, she's a nice person, she isn't (yet) a media monster and I hope it stays that way. I hope to see her around for years to come.
Customer Review 3
Tremendous!. Wow, well I thought superb, she is only nineteen - big future here.......Vocals on "Hometown" really moved me. A superb debut.
Customer Review 4
Not too bad but nothing to get excited about.. While I have to say this is quite an entertaining album especially the strangely upbeat "Chasing pavements" and the rather quirky "Tired" This album is really one of a long line of "Next big thing" "Ella Fitzgerald" etc etc......
First off she sounds nothing like Ella Fitzgerald and is about as distant from the great soul singers as you can get. While Amy Winehouse for example may be able to carry it off (To an extent) the whole "modern soul" Adel really just doesn't cut it. Now I am not saying that is a particularly bad thing rather just be aware of what you are buying. If you are expecting a modern day Dusty Springfield then you are going to be seriously disappointed.
So what will you get? A number of tracks (I already mentioned 2 a third would be "Right as rain") That are extremely enjoyable tracks. On the song "Tired" I actually found her very British vocal sound to be more appealing than her attempts at soul diva singing that really do come off badly. If you think of Duffy, Amy Winehouse etc then you have an idea of what you are getting and you certainly wont be disappointed. If however you fall for the record companies plug of her being some kind of next great thing of soul then I am afraid you really will be unhappy with this one.
File under "Great to listen to on your ipod on the way to work"
Customer Review 5
Not Enough. Adele has a lovely voice and she has great potential as a singer, but one good song on an album is not really satisfactory from a purchaser's point of view. 'Chasing Pavements" is what captured me. The rest of the songs on this album are tedious, I'm sorry to say. Like too many other young artistes struggling to make a name, she has been tempted to pack out an album with too much dross. I think there must have been some bad advice given out along the way somewhere. Young talent needs careful nurturing. Too fast, too soon is not a good strategy for planning a serious career in either the singer or songwriting business. Primarily, a strong measure of self-criticism is needed on the part of the artiste if he or she is to build a good reputation. However, as I have said, Adele has a lovely voice, could be quite special one day with the right songs.
