Say Hello To Adele's Next Smash

Give Adele a sweeping environment with which to work and she'll do your heart proud. Circle November 20th on your calendars because that's the day her new "25" album streets. Took her some time to add the finishing touches but, what a delectable confection she's brought to us. Drama comes naturally to her. What's more she has dished it out through various filters. "Skyfall" was one of the better James Bond soundtrack selections. "Rolling In The Deep" infused gospel to the drama. "Someone Like You" gave Adele room to put therapy on record. "Hello" gets about as spacious as that walk in closet you've always wanted but were turned off on due to the sticker shock. Let's get things straight from the jump. The royalties for her efforts better be top dollar because she is one of the few females worthy of her asking price. Cavernous also suits as a description of her work here. On video her hair blows around, her expressions are exquisitely in the now. You know how athletes get in the zone when they reach peak performance? Adele can bring that dimension to her game as well. The gist stems from Adele trying to reach out and touch a long ago paramour. The healing process has been turtle crawl slow for her which, apparently can't be said for him. He's moved on with his life with nary a backwards glance. She's called a thousand times but to no avail. She also utters hello from various conceivable angles (from the outside, from the other side). Adele strikes within me that kind of dog looking forward to a bone excitement that Pat Benatar did in the '80s whenever Billboard trumpeted one of her new releases. I tell you this is an event, not some mere cash grab. Her pipes are in superb fettle. The video whips up a bit of a backstory, namely our angst filled heroine having words with the gent who has her in knots. It's not long before the pathos meter goes off the charts. The beat descends into Adele's vat of torment. Very much an orchestral affair. Here the arrangement are as uncluttered as possible, unlike "Set Fire To The Rain" which had this hard driving quality that didn't leave survivors. Bonus points for not producing a "Someone Like You" clone. In fact all of her successes plumb dramatic soul using very different strategies. Point of fact...Adele hasn't gone on soulful expeditions with any copycat material. Other artists could take lessons. You'll be proud to say hello to Adele's glorious return. She's nothing short of the cornerstone the music world's based on.