Rated Adele.

She's younger, more talented and richer than me; the bitch. I jest! Adele is one of the most unique, immensely talented stars to come out of Britain for some time. Her gorgeously soulful vocals floated through the infrastructure of her debut, 19, and now she's back with a new collection inspired by country music, 21. As intriguing as this album sounds I am not lucky enough to have heard it pre-release, but I have got a hold of the lead track 'Rolling in the Deep'.

The song shows of her growing vocal maturity and confidence, with her reaching the higher echelons of contemporary soul. As contemporary as she sounds, her abilities are also classic. Adele's one of those singers that could be from any time period. Shove her in a time machine and she'd slot in smoothly anywhere. "There's a fire starting in my heart..." croons the exemplary Brit at the beginning of this fantastic song. It sounds a bit like 'Black Horse and a Cherry Tree' (K.T Tunstall), with its insistent beat and intoxicating chorus. A crisp, live quality laces the entire production together, making her sound more authentic than ever before. I can't wait to hear what else she has in store for us.

5/5