We are currently 3 and a half weeks out from the release of Adele’s 4th studio album 30. For the next four weeks, I’m going to be listening to all of Adele’s albums and breaking down the history of her discography so far. Culminating with a review of the album 30. This week I am covering the beginning of it all with Adele’s first studio album 19.
*For these reviews I’ll be going over each song and talk about subjects like its length, imagery, music video, and creation process. I will then give it my own ranking out of 1–10 and decide whether or not I’d put it in a playlist or not. All of these rankings are of my own opinion.
“19” was released in January 2008 by XL Recordings and Columbia Records. It features 11 original songs and one cover song, it is classified as being a part ofthe Blue-Eyed Soul genre. It was recorded from May to October of 2007. As of November 2021, the album has sold a total of 6.5 million copies worldwide, with it earning platinum in 12 different countries, (amassing a total of 28 certified platinum awards). While also earning gold in 2 countries. “19” also earned an award for best album at the European Border Breakers Awards. On the charts “19” made the top 100 in a total of 31 different countries. While hitting number 1 in the United Kingdom and Netherlands. The album hit the year-end charts every year from 2008–2017.
1: “Daydreamer”
Length: 3:41
Written By: Adele Adkins
Composed By: Jim Abbiss
Review: The first song on the “19” album delves into the jealousy associated with trying to fight off other people interested in your partner. Adele quotes this song in saying how in relationships where this type of jealousy is prevalent it’s easier to just daydream about it, rather than be in it. I find this a good easy listening song from its soft vocals and usage of an acoustic guitar. I also really like how Adele uses a range of high and low notes for each verse and chorus to make them different from one another.
Rating: 6.5/10.
Playlist Worthy: Maybe
2: “Best For Last”
Length: 4:19
Written By: Adele Adkins
Composed By: Jim Abbiss
Review: The second song delves into the hardships of having a cheating partner. Throughout the different verses of the songs Adele tells the listeners about how whatever she does in the relationship, her partner still wants to cheat. In each chorus, she then assures herself by saying that this relationship is only temporary and replaceable. This song has a very prevalent usage of a bass guitar. This song I find gives me a lot of resemblance to many other songs from that era of music, so while the lyrics are good, the beat is a bit basic.
Rating: 5/10
Playlist Worthy: No
3: “Chasing Pavements”
Length: 3:31
Written By: Adele Adkins, Eg White
Composed By: Eg White
Review: The third song delves into the wide range of emotions felt when pursuing a new relationship. Adele questions whether or not the relationship is worth it by weighing the happy emotions expressed throughout the verses, with the anxious emotions expressed throughout the choruses. This is one of my favourite Adele songs because I can really connect to the mixed feeling of trying to pursue a new relationship, and specifically the anxiety around it. My favourite parts of the song are the choruses and its usage of instruments such as drums and a triangle, to make the sound resemble the chaotic feelings talked about in the song.
Rating: 8.5/10
Playlist Worthy: Yes (un-skip able)
4: “Cold Shoulder”
Length: 3:12
Written By: Adele Adkins, Sacha Skarbek
Composed By: Mark Ronson
Review: The fourth song delves again into the topic of having a cheating partner. Themes used within this song go on about lying, manipulating, and gaslighting that happens when a cheating partner tries to do damage control towards the situation they've been caught on. This song gives me extreme Amy Winehouse vibes with the usage of a wide range of string instruments and the prevalence of Adele’s London accent. I also like the music break between the first chorus and second verse because I was able to pick key instruments used within the beat that was harder to detect over Adele’s vocals (specifically the violin).
Rating: 7/10
Playlist Worthy: Yes
5: “Crazy For You”
Length: 3:28
Written By: Adele Adkins
Composed By: Jim Abbiss
Review: The fifth song on the album is a simple tune where Adele delves into the happy emotions felt when experiencing a new crush or relationship. I find that when I listen to this song I feel a sense of longing for more. The lyrics for this song don’t match the tone of Adele’s voice or the simplicity of the acoustic guitar. For this song, I feel that for me personally, if the beat used more instruments such as a violin or piano, it wouldn't feel like one note to me.
Rating: 4/10
Playlist Worthy: No
6: “Melt My Heart To Stone”
Length: 3:24
Written By: Adele Adkins, Eg White
Composed By: Eg White
Review: The sixth song on the album delves into dealing with a breakup and the hardship and emotions faced by being the one told that the relationship is coming to an end. Adele quotes this song as “being her favourite song on the album” due to the nature in which she wrote the song and the emotions she was able to let out through it. After listening to this song I can feel the emotions Adele put into this song. Although I've never experienced a relationship breakup, the song reminds me of the feeling of cutting off a friendship with someone who you still wanted in your life. I feel the highs and lows of the beat projected Adele’s emotions in her words and voice as well especially with the 20-second-long continuation of the instrumentals after her vocals end..
Rating: 8/10
Playlist Worthy: Yes
7: “First Love”
Length: 3:10
Written By: Adele Adkins
Composed By: Jim Abbiss
Review: The seventh song delves into the process of letting go and moving on from a first love. Themes of forgiveness, and longing for more, are represented throughout this song. From the first listen, I felt a resemblance to a lot of Melanie Martinez’s early work. From the simple melodies resembling those of nursery rhymes, I get the feeling of comfort and reassurance towards feeling the themes of forgiveness and longing.
Rating: 7/10
Playlist Worthy: Yes (would only listen depending on my mood)
8: “Right As Reign”
Length: 3:17
Written By: Adele Adkins, Leon Michels, Jeff Silverman, Nick Movshon, Clay Holley
Composed By: Jim Abbiss
Review: The eighth song delves into the heartbreak that Adele felt after breaking up with a past lover. Parts of the song talk about how Adele would use harmful coping mechanisms “such as drinking” to ease the pain that she believed couldn't be healed after the end of a relationship. I also get a lot of Amy Winehouse videos from this song as well. The instrumentals to this song are extremely catchy and I find myself “boping” to the beat while listening to it. Although the lyrics of this song show the sadness of harmful coping mechanisms, it gives a sense of happiness and the ability to move on from the past.
Rating: 8.5/10
Playlist Worthy: Yes (un-skip able)
9: “Make You Feel My Love” COVER
Length: 3:32
Written By: Bob Dylan
Composed By: Jim Abbiss
Review: The ninth song is one where Adele chose to cover Bob Dylan’s song after her manager told her to listen to his music to get a better understanding of how she could express her emotions after her breakup. She chose this song specifically because her manager believed that it would tie the album together. The instrumentals of this cover give me vibes of both Bob Dylan’s work, but also Elton John’s as well. I feel that this song is nice and easy to listen to, especially with the strong usage of a piano and violin.
Rating: 6.5/10
Playlist Worthy: Maybe
10: “My Same”
Length: 3:16
Written By: Adele Adkins
Composed By: Jim Abbiss
Review: The tenth song goes on about the issues faced by having an opposites-attract relationship. Adele drew inspiration for this song from her friendship with songwriter Laura Dockrill. The two friends had a massive falling out during “19”’s conception, which was then not resolved until after the release of Adele’s second album “21”. I have mixed feelings about this song. I believe that this is mostly due to the lyrics being different from Adele’s usual style (which makes sense cause this was one of her first songs). I don’t find it to be a bad song, I’d just say it’s off-putting compared to all the other songs on the album.
Rating: 5/10
Playlist Worthy: No
11: “Tired”
Length: 4:19
Written By: Adele Adkins, Eg White
Composed By: Eg White
Review: The eleventh song delves into the tiredness that is sometimes felt while trying to pursue a relationship when the other person has more interest in someone outside the relationship. This song also shows themes of jealousy and longing for more. For this song, I like how Adele experimented with the instrumentals to make the song feel more playful. While the lyrics of this song feature a sad reality experienced in pursuing a relationship, the instruments use a sort of upbeatness to remind the listener of the happiness associated with the pursuit of a new relationship. While listening to this song I felt myself “bopping along just like when I listed to “Right As Reign”.
Rating: 7.5/10
Playlist Worthy: Yes
12: “Hometown Glory”
Length: 4:31
Written By: Adele Adkins
Composed By: Jim Abbiss
Review: The twelfth and finale song on the album delves into Adele’s love for her hometown of West Norwood, South London. This was the first song Adele wrote after arguing with her Mother over not wanting to move away for university. I feel that this song would resonate with a lot of people (both ones who love and hate their hometown). While I was listening to this song I felt myself getting a bit sad, which was heightened throughout parts of the song where Adele’s emotions were more prevalent such as throughout the chorus.
Rating: 7.5/10
Playlist Worthy: Yes
My Conclusions:
In conclusion, I believe that this was a good debut album for Adele. A lot of her songs would feel relatable to most listeners, and I feel that the emotion she used with her voice was very well complimented by most of the instrumentals from Abbiss and White. As we all know now this album was only the beginning of a successful career from one of the UK’s best singers and songwriters.
Overall Score: 6.75/10
References:
Authors Notes:
Thanks for reading my first music review! Over the next four weeks, I’ll be covering and reviewing all of Adele’s albums culminating after the release of “30”. All material and links used in the article were taken from the web with the intent to be used for educational purposes. All links and photos are not my own.
