It has to be said. To be one of the most recognized pop artists of the century, having the best-selling album of that same period of time and being revered by tons of fans all over the world has to have some weight on an artist. Those are also reasons that may explain why it took Adele 6 years to follow up 25 which, while not as successful as 21 it was still massively well-received. This lengthy wait time to release 30 is understandable nonetheless. The simple assumption is that Adele dedicated time to be with her son, especially considering that the album centers and is anchored by her recent divorce from the child’s father. That is exactly the case of the inspiration, and the raw emotion conveyed by the album is evident from the start.

The first single ‘Easy On Me’ while leaning heavily in her usual strengths, is quite a change of pace. It almost felt as if we missed her voice all these years but the song is a tight and great ballad, a successor of ‘Hello’ with pristine instrumentation and her voice sounding a little rawer, which only benefits the song. It is also a first showcase of the 30‘s themes with Adele speaking about how she didn’t manage to find answers throughout her life and how has that been taken to the spotlight due to her recent divorce and how things like love and abandonment are in such emotional strain not quite clear.

30 packs some tracks where Adele goes somewhat away from her comfort zone. Funky R&B basslines, a number that sounds like an electro-pop song demo, and here and there you found extended codas that focus solely on instrumentation. Take ‘My Little Love’, a great highlight, where Adele, very solemnly, tries to make it easy for her son to understand how she feels. The addition of what seems dramatized tape recordings of her talking to her son, and a monologue where her voice breaks at the back-end of the song make it all the more moving, while a hushed bass and gentle strings finish off the song. Right after that comes one of the more rhythmic numbers. ‘Cry Your Heart Out’, which, as in the previous tracks, brings new things to the table. Adele’s performance is interesting, and even more so are the vocal harmonies that sound more processed than usual.

After the electro-pop leaning ‘Oh My God’ and the more mainstream sounding guitar work of ‘Can I Get It’ comes a weak interlude and the not-so-accomplished folky balladry of ‘Woman Like Me’. However, the last portion of 30 is quite strong. ‘Hold On’ is a track of growing nature. Starting as a piano ballad where Adele puts her struggle to maintain herself focused amidst confusion and emotional pain. But the song is hopeful, reaching a gospel-like climax with a full band and a chorus that repeats: ‘Just hold on!’ as Adele, clearly speaking to herself, desperately claims: “Just be patient, just be patient”. Coming after that is ‘To Be Loved’, a track where Adele actually rips the album in two. It is also a solid piano ballad with Adele describing her efforts to actually maintain a relationship while it only seemed it was falling apart. But its climax is only reached when Adele decides to almost break her voice while crying: “Let it be known, that I tried!’. It is a claim that’s not only cathartic it’s one of her best performances ever. This was inevitably propelled by her deep sorrow.

It strikes quite heavily that the mix on 30 puts Adele front and center. Quite ironic to say taking into account that in her whole discography it has always taken the spotlight. But it seems that there’s a reason for her to actually be not only at the front of every track, but very notably so. This time, Adele is putting herself out as never before. Throughout the course of the album, she is singing about how she feels about what she lives. It was more common to listen to her singing to someone else, to put another as the core of her songs, putting her heart out in the process of course, however, the songs on 30 sound more powerful because they feel like a deep reflection that looks inward more than anything else. That, combined with her most piercing and poignant performances ever, makes 30 her best record to date and probably the most arresting pop album of the year. Easy on us, Adele.