United Kingdom born singer/songwriter Adele releases her long-awaited second album and continues on her journey of bringing   soul and R&B to a new generation in a truly meaningful way.

At 21 years old, Adele channels blues, jazz, and soul into her work.  Somewhere between Janis Joplin and Patti LaBelle, Adele delivers a powerful, heartbreaking performance compared to someone twice her age.

Adele’s new Album, 21, sets a new standard for all singers who are used to having auto-tune and an engineer to fix the problems needed to sell records. As soon as you press play, Adele shows us that her age has no bearing on the power that comes from her voice.

“Rolling in the Deep” was the first single released off of 21.  The song begins with a simple guitar strum and vocals that impart a sense of urgency.  Then slowly, as the song builds, a kick drum enters the foray that can be felt deep in your chest. Then things really explode.  Backing vocals and guitar come in and we truly see what Adele brings to the table.  A song of loss and the struggle to find the strength needed to move forward; you can feel the emotion that pulses through your speakers.

Adele is also adept at breaking a song down into its basic parts and still creating something that allows us to feel exactly what she felt when she wrote it.  “Turning Tables” is a perfect example of this.  Adele lets us know what it takes to let go of something you truly love using only piano, strings and of course, her passionate vocals.

Along with “Rolling in the Deep”, “Someone Like You” has already reached number one in the UK and with good reason.

“Someone Like You” is a back and forth conversation that Adele has with her self.  It’s the narrative of the give and take which comes with the realization that a significant other has come and gone and moved onto something new.  How does one truly move on without having the regrets that come from letting something so great go?  She never tells us where her heart lies, because she can’t.  When a person has a profound effect on your life, part of him or her will be with you forever and that’s what Adele is trying to say.

21 is Adele’s second album with Columbia records and can be found in stores as well as in iTunes.

All of the songs mentioned in this article can be heard on KWTS 91.1, as well as on the KWTS website.