I don’t really understand why no good albums are released in December or January or most of February, but the dry spell was finally broken and it was broken with what might be in the long race for next year’s Grammys. I wouldn’t be surprised if Adele’s “21″ wins for album of the year plus garners awards for record and song of the year as well. This album is great. Every song.

Her voice is piercing, but not piercing like a bad audition at American Idol. Piercing like a heartache. The emotion in her big, grainy voice was captured so perfectly by Rick Rubin, who has recently become the master of simple, vocal recordings (he did all of the Johnny Cash stuff from a few years back as well). There are some faster tracks (Rolling In The Deep) that have a great pop appeal and plenty of slow ones that simply let her shine (Turning Tables) and even songs that are somewhere in between (Set Fire To The Rain). Why can’t we have more albums out by artists like this? I bet there are, they just don’t get any attention.

How did Adele break through? She wasn’t on a game show. She isn’t your typically “hot” girl, she’s got a few extra pounds, though she’s a beautiful girl. What did she do to get the attention and can she please share her secret with the other amazing artists out there?

If you buy one album this quarter, make it Adele’s 21

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