iTunes Plus: Adele - 21 [REQUEST]

21 is the second studio album by English recording artist Adele. Released on 24 January 2011[1] in most of Europe, and on 22 February 2011 in North America, it was named after the age of the singer during its production. The album shares the folk and Motown soul influences of her 2008 debut album 19, but was further inspired by the American country and Southern blues music to which she had been exposed during her 2008–2009 North American tour An Evening with Adele. Composed in the aftermath of the singer's separation from her partner, the album explores themes of anger, revenge, heartbreak, self-examination, and forgiveness.

iTunes Plus: Adele - Skyfall

News: Adele On Vogue

Flares of 2011: Album of The Year

I know I'm a little late to post this but better late than never. 2011 had given us great albums to listen to for the whole year. That made compiling a top 10 a little harder. But here it is the top 10 albums of 2011 based on your votes, critics, sales and my personal favorites.


10. Kelly Clarkson - Stronger
9. Britney Spears - Femme Fatale
8. Avril Lavigne - Goodbye Lullaby
7. Selena Gomez & The Scene - When The Sun Goes Down
6. Bon Iver - Bon Iver
5. Demi Lovato - Unbroken
4. Kanye West & Jay Z - Watch The Throne
3. Beyonce - 4
2. Adele - 21
1. Lady Gaga - Born This Way

Flares of 2011: Song of The Year

Pop Flares's Best of 2011 by Popflares on Mixcloud

Flares of 2011: Female of The Year

  5. Britney Spears

Releasing Femme Fatale in March, Britney start the year with a bang as the album managed to peak the chart and selling 276,000 copies in the first week. It shows how she still managed to still stay on top even though having a decade career. 

4. Rihanna

Many would say that That That Talk was such a rush-release after only a year from her comeback album, Loud. But how could you hold off an album like this that consists of hits such as We Found Love that managed to stay on top of the Billboard Hot 100 for 8 consecutive weeks, the longest for the year and also the longest in the whole Rihanna career. Nothing can stop this chick!!

3. Katy Perry

Katy is the only one in this chart that did not release an album this year. This is because her Grammy-nominated album that was release last year still manage to release no. 1 hits for her with a total of five making her the first female to do so from a single album. The question is can the third album beat the 'sensationalness' of Teenage Dream or would it backfires.

2. Lady Gaga

First, the first single, Born This Way became the fastest-selling single in iTunes history. Then, the album sold 1 million copies in the first week. The power of the Little Monsters couldn't be stop. Releasing a total of five singles in this year alone with five videos accompanied it, finishing her last tour and going around the world to promote her Born This Way culture, she had one of her busiest year yet. But she's not done yet, as the official Born This Way tour haven't even started yet!!!!

1. Adele

Other than her vocal cords injuries, Adele had her biggest year yet. Only releasing three singles this year and two of them already a No. 1 hit while her third single, Set Fire To The Rain is quickly climbing the chart, she managed to be called not only Female of the Year but also Artist of The Year. And her six Grammy nominations for her second studio album, 21 clearly shows how deserving she is. She is currently taking a break before releasing her third album. I'm sure everybody would be anticipating for that album.

Video Premiere: Adele - Someone Like You

Flares: Adele - 21

With a top-notch production team behind the album, including Rick Rubin and Paul Epworth, every track is a highlight. Current single, Rolling in the Deep, is a modern soul stomper about an errant ex; the literally banging Rumour Has It channels the avenging rock‘n’roll soul of Wanda Jackson; there’s a fine, mellow, acoustic bossa nova-y take on The Cure’s Lovesong. Don’t You Remember is a classically styled ballad, which feels like the sort of tune you’ve known all your life – many are certain to bawl along to it the next time their hearts are broken; and the blues-bruised I’ll Be Waiting could’ve come from any Willie Mitchell-produced southern soul session. Final track Someone Like You, just voice and piano, is an actual thing of beauty, placing the listener in one of those moments where you feel you’re in the presence of a future standard. You can imagine it being both honked through by talent show contestants and transcended by veterans alike.

21 is simply stunning. After only a handful of plays, it feels like you’ve always known it. It is a progressive, grown-up second collection, it ought to ensure Adele is around for 23, 25, 27 and beyond.

Based on Critics - 44/50

Based on Public - 50/50

Based on Album Planning - 38/50

Based on Pop Flares - 39/50

Overall: 

[I Don't Mind Being Thanks]

News: Adele - 21

Here's a quick review of the album that's going to be release on January 24.

01. Rolling in the Deep - Obviously everyone's heard this. You know what it sounds like. Phenomenal. Powerful. Soulful. Massive.

02. Rumor Has It - Ryan Tedder track, big drums. Very bluesy. A lot of attitude. Upbeat.

03. Turning Tables - Another Ryan Tedder song. Piano ballad. Very understated. Quite bittersweet. Has a lovely melody in the chorus, most likely due to Tedder.

04. Don't You Remember - Country vibe. Very soulful in a gospel way. Nice southern feel. Quite sad too.

05. Set Fire to the Rain - 2nd single. Fantastic production. Extremely catchy. More immediate than 'RITD.' A lot of piano. Builds and builds until the orchestra kicks in. Upbeat.

06. He Won't Go - Quite lush. Has an autumn feel. Nice percussion/piano/guitar. Paul Epworth song.

07. Take It All - Really powerful ballad. A lot of soul. Another gospel-ish type song. All about love. Really moving piano piece.

08. I'll Be Waiting - Another upbeat track with a lot of powerful brass. Again, a lot of attitude. Very bluesy. Last Epworth song.

09. One And Only - Really epic moment here. Longest song on the album. Very beautiful and subtle at first. Sweeping piano, a lot of really raw emotion here. Lovely ballad.

10. Lovesong - A nice rendition of the Cure classic. The arrangement is genius. Simple guitar. Makes it a really beautiful ballad. Adele makes it her own.

11. Someone Like You - Again, you've already heard this. Perfect in every way. The album version is just like the live Jools version. Just piano and Adele. Instant classic. Amazingly emotional ballad.

[I Don't Mind Being Thanks]

Track Listing: Adele - 21

Tracklisting

1. Rolling in the Deep

2. Rumour Has It

3. Turning Tables

4. Don’t You Remember

5. Set the Fire to Rain

6. He Won’t Go

7. Take It All

8. I’ll Be Waiting

9. One and Only

10. Lovesong

11. Someone Like You

Release Date: January 24

[I Don't Mind Being Thanks]