RATING: 8/10
Ever since billboards and projections went up across the globe with the number '30' on them, it seems like the world has been waiting with bated breath for Adele's first post-divorce album.
After the release of 25, Adele swore she would never release another album which was titled after the age she was when she wrote it. However, with recent events in her personal life, it seems that Adele hasn't finished growing and self-reflecting which led to a fourth installment of the age-related titles.
It feels like this is said after every Adele album release, but truly, this has to be not only her most personal but also the most versatile album to date.
Unsurprisingly, the message of the album is all about understanding why she felt the need to leave her marriage and how that impacted her view of herself, her role as a mother, and of love generally. My Little Love is a song clearly directed towards her 5-year-old son, which features voice notes of her talking to him about how much she loves and likes him. The voice notes were an unexpected but important addition throughout the album, as it allows an even closer look into the mindset of the woman that created this album. With lyrics like "I'm so far gone and you're the only one who can save mе", My Little Love is a song that shows vulnerability in a way we've not really seen from Adele before; is with respect to motherhood. The singer-songwriter has of course put her heart on loudspeaker when it comes to her relationships, but with a new and different type of love in her life now, it's interesting to see how this fits in with the rest of her emotional broadcasts throughout 30.
With Adele, you have a certain expectation of how most of her music is going to sound before you even press play on a new release. Easy On Me fit perfectly into this category, an emotional ballad that showcases one of the best vocalists of a generation. However, this isn't how every song on 30 goes, which is a pleasant surprise. 'Oh My God' is an example of a song that takes a slightly different direction, with a catchy beat throughout and heavier upbeat production that makes it stand out massively from the rest of the tracks. Of course, Adele's vocals still sound phenomenal as they always will, but it's nice to see a bit of experimentation with the composition and energy of the song.
I Drink Wine feels like the standout song of the album and could have worked as the perfect album closer. Adele takes a look at her perception of herself and her own actions and admits that, much like the rest of us, she gets caught up significantly in her own expectations of herself. With a chorus that confesses "So I hope I learn to get over myself / Stop tryin' to be somebody else" it seems like the songstress is still working on overcoming her flaws, and it's nice to see this kind of song from the perspective of someone still going through it rather than looking back.
Adele recently said that her album is for an older audience; for the mums of the people that everyone else is making music for. This is what makes her so successful. She's not trying to go viral, she's trying to be honest, and make good music for an audience that can easily be left behind. People often say that it feels like Adele doesn't have a fan base; she does, but it is her peers rather than the younger people shouting about their faves on TikTok or Twitter. Because of this, Adele's longevity is almost guaranteed, and if she continues to get better with every album as she has done, she'll no doubt last a lot longer than those who are trying to catch the eyes and ears of the pre-teens.