Adele Releases Highly Anticipated Fourth LP, ’30’ [Listen]

Six years after her third album, 25, Adele has released her highly anticipated fourth LP, 30.

While the pop superstar has been known for her familiar balladry, 30 showcases Adele’s push in a new direction, highlighting her immaculate vocals better than ever before amid a diverse palette of sounds. Produced by Greg Kurstin, Max Martin, Shellback, Tobias Jesso Jr, Inflo, and Ludwig Göransson, the 12-song collection flutters around the international star’s recent divorce, underscoring her thoughts and feelings peppered with voice memos throughout the LP.

“I was certainly nowhere near where I’d hoped to be when I first started it nearly 3 years ago. Quite the opposite actually. I rely on routine and consistency to feel safe, I always have. And yet there I was knowingly – willingly even, throwing myself into a maze of absolute mess and inner turmoil!”

Adele continues, “I’ve learned a lot of blistering home truths about myself along the way. I’ve shed many layers but also wrapped myself in new ones. Discovered genuinely useful and wholesome mentalities to lead with, and I feel like I’ve finally found my feeling again. I’d go as far as to say that I’ve never felt more peaceful in my life. And so, I’m ready to finally put this album out. It was my ride or die throughout the most turbulent period of my life. When I was writing it, it was my friend who came over with a bottle of wine and a takeaway to cheer me up. My wise friend who always gives the best advice. Not to forget the one who’s wild and says, ‘It’s your Saturn return babes fuck it, you only live once.’ The friend who’d stay up all night and just hold my hand while I’d sob relentlessly not knowing why. The get up and go friend who would pick me up and take me somewhere I said I didn’t want to go but just to get me out of the house for some vitamin D. That friend who snuck in and left a magazine with a face mask and some bath salts to make me feel loved while inadvertently reminding me not only what month it actually was but that I should probably exercise some self-care!”

As true Adele fashion, the emotional invoking, romantic despair-themed album touches on life’s sadder devastations in songs like “Woman Like Me” and “To Be Loved,” while songs like “Cry Your Heart Out” and “Oh My God” hold an upbeat, almost whimsical approach to honest lyrical verses surrounding ‘60s soul instrumentation and vocals.

“Easy On Me” – Adele

[Video: Adele]

While her “Easy On Me” single released earlier this year reached nearly 85 million streams in one week and soared to #1 in 25 countries, it’s a safe prediction that Adele’s 30 will serve as a shoe-in album play on this season’s holiday playlist.

Listen to 30 below and on all streaming platforms here. For more information, visit her website.