Personnel: Adele (10-string bass).
British singer-songwriter Adele received a lot of attention for singles that appeared in 2007, and for her fresh yet seductively familiar blend of soul, blues, jazz, folk, and pop. 19, the artist's full-length debut, makes good on the hype by providing 12 lush tracks that showcase Adele's achingly beautiful voice and her skill at turning a phrase, not to mention startlingly honest songs and smart, carefully balanced arrangements. Fans of Feist, Norah Jones, and Amy Winehouse should sit up and listen; they'll all find familiar qualities to appreciate in Adele, and some new ones as well.