Currently Listening to: 25 by Adele

This album is a breakup guide to all the teenagers out there. I say this because from the sound of it, Adele has been dumped. A LOT. As a side effect, she’s learned to craft some ridiculously classy songs in response to breakups. Really, you could do far worse than to emulate Adele when your heart has been trampled on.

And there are so many different types of breakup on the album. There is the regretful, I’m-so-sorry song of “Hello” that everyone and their pet cat has heard on the radio. It’s hauntingly beautiful. Although it’s clearly about her inability to reach her ex, I always think of those who have travelled so far down the wrong path that I can no longer reach them.

Then you get to go into a song like “Send My Love (To Your New Lover)” which is so relatable that I roll my eyes every time I listen to it. It’s like when that ex that you never really liked that much anyways texts you a picture of him and his new girl, and you’re like, “Oh I’m so happy for you!” and then they try to tell you that it’s okay to be jealous and all you can think is, “whhhaaaat? but I never really liked you.”

Or you can tune into “Water Under the Bridge” which I personally appreciate. It’s that whole “you may be trying to walk away but you’ll totally regret it because I’m AMAZING” kinda song. And really, I think it’s less breakup and more, “you know where going to be together anyway so stop screwing around.”

Or, you can go for “Love in the Dark” which is her awkward way of trying to tell a guy she’s not that into him. Like, please don’t cry or make me feel bad for not loving you. Heads up Adele, this guy will text you pictures of his new girlfriend and tell you not to be jealous. You just know it’s coming!

My personal favorites from the album are “River Lea” and “A Million Years Ago”. “River Lea” has this incredible drumbeat. It speaks of those flaws that we feel are so fatal within ourselves and how difficult it is to accept love from someone else when you can’t accept it from yourself. “A Million Years Ago” gives me all the personal feelings. I have *felt* this song and lived through this song. It encompasses all the failures and lack of achievement and how that can suck the life out of you.

Overall, I love this album. My fiancé thinks all her songs sound the same which is a legitimate complaint–but the voice, the raw emotion, and the lyrical power behind her songs makes this a keeper for me. I truly believe every single song would be a radio hit if ever they were released–and that is hard to find in the music world!