> Switch to Advanced Search

New & Current Releases
Archives: A-Z Index
Advanced Search

Upcoming Release Calendar
All-Time High (And Low) Scores
Best Of 2008
Best Of 2007
Best Of 2006
Best Of 2005
Best Of 2004
Best Of 2003
Best Of 2002
Best Of 2001
Best Of 2000
How Metascores Are Calculated
Discuss Music In Our Forums

sort by name

sort by score

60 31Knots
74 Absentee
71 AC/DC
70 The Academy Is...
72 Ryan Adams
79 Alias
67 The Aliens
66 All That Remains
46 Brett Anderson
75 Theresa Andersson
66 Annuals
79 Antony And The Johnsons
76 Apollo Sunshine
78 Apse
58 David Archuleta
76 Aterciopelados
72 Attic Lights
47 The Automatic
75 Joan Baez
79 Belle & Sebastian
66 Beyonce
80 Blitzen Trapper
69 Bloc Party
83 Bound Stems
73 Brightblack Morning Light
64 The Broken West
65 The Bronx
74 Ane Brun
50 Buckcherry
77 Lindsey Buckingham
92 Buena Vista Social Club
56 Caesars
78 Calexico
70 Glen Campbell
73 Isobel Campbell & Mark Lanegan
64 Castanets
63 Cats In Paris
66 Chairlift
63 Tracy Chapman
73 The Chemical Brothers
60 Kenny Chesney
82 The Clash
66 Cold War Kids
67 David Cook
70 Nikka Costa
60 Crooked Fingers
78 Rodney Crowell
76 Crystal Stilts
70 The Cure
46 Dandy Warhols
59 Kimya Dawson
72 Dead Confederate
72 The Dears
74 Death Vessel
81 Deerhoof
81 Deerhunter
78 Delta Spirit
79 Damien Dempsey
70 Brett Dennen
78 Department Of Eagles
73 Angela Desveaux
68 Devin The Dude
73 Dido
79 Ani DiFranco
58 DJ Khaled
82 DJ/rupture
66 The Donkeys
54 Dr. Dooom
66 Dragonette
77 DragonForce
78 The Duhks
79 Dungen
86 Bob Dylan
82 Eagles Of Death Metal
81 Mathias Eick
78 El Guincho
57 Electric Six
73 Brian Eno + David Byrne
64 Everlast
67 The Fiery Furnaces
62 Ben Folds
69 Free Blood
74 Friendly Fires
84 Fucked Up
71 Fujiya & Miyagi
65 The Game
77 Gang Gang Dance
78 Morgan Geist
74 Giant Sand
79 Girl Talk
69 Girls Aloud
82 Glasvegas
75 Gojira
61 Golden Animals
83 Grails
61 Growing
67 Gym Class Heroes
75 GZA
72 Juliana Hatfield
76 Hauschka
65 Her Space Holiday
75 High Places
49 Hinder
71 Jolie Holland
79 David Holmes
81 Horse Feathers
64 Howling Hex
58 Jennifer Hudson
71 Human Highway
78 Hush Arbors
67 Ice Cube
70 I'm From Barcelona
68 Jack's Mannequin
69 Jaguar Love
73 James
59 Japanese Motors
64 Jem
80 The Jesus And Mary Chain
81 Johann Johannsson
67 Grace Jones
74 Damien Jurado
69 Kaiser Chiefs
64 Keane
76 Toby Keith
83 B.B. King
63 Kings Of Leon
79 The Knux
78 Koushik
74 Lady GaGa
72 Ladyhawke
75 Lambchop
72 Ray LaMontagne
74 Land Of Talk
68 John Legend
75 Jenny Lewis
76 Lykke Li
82 Lindstrom
72 Little Joy
60 The Little Ones
57 LL Cool J
75 Love Is All
81 Patty Loveless
79 Luomo
73 Madlib
65 Margot & The Nuclear So And So's
68 Mercury Rev
78 Metallica
70 Metronomy
57 Ingrid Michaelson
76 Mogwai
77 Juana Molina
67 Monkey
75 Moondoggies
63 Motorhead
79 Mount Eerie
46 Mudvayne
66 Mugison
73 Murs
84 The Music Tapes
61 Nelly
51 New Kids On The Block
77 The New Year
79 Ne-Yo
53 Nickelback
57 Nightmares On Wax
60 The Nightwatchman
62 Noah And The Whale
66 Oasis
76 Jennifer O'Connor
68 O'Death
70 Of Montreal
79 Okkervil River
77 Old Crow Medicine Show
54 The Organ
65 Joan Osborne
77 Brad Paisley
84 Pale Young Gentlemen
78 Amanda Palmer
65 Parenthetical Girls
89 Aaron Parks
76 Parts & Labor
74 Passion Pit
73 Lee "Scratch" Perry
67 Peter Bjorn And John
64 The Peth
51 Kellie Pickler
69 Pink
73 Benoît Pioulard
70 Pivot
54 Plain White T's
89 Plush
40 Daniel Powter
77 The Pretenders
51 Pussycat Dolls
84 Q-Tip
42 Queen + Paul Rodgers
75 Ra Ra Riot
71 Rafter
74 Raglani
57 Razorlight
69 Lou Reed
74 Religious Knives
62 Rex The Dog
65 Rise Against
76 Roots Manuva
74 The Rosebuds
66 Darius Rucker
83 Arthur Russell
80 Raphael Saadiq
60 Sam Champion
67 School of Seven Bells
75 The Sea And Cake
60 Seal
69 Seasick Steve
65 Secret Machines
81 Pete Seeger
71 Serena-Maneesh
68 The Shaky Hands
72 Blake Shelton
39 Shwayze
58 Jessica Simpson
68 Slipknot
88 The Smiths
72 Todd Snider
68 Snow Patrol
72 Solange
62 Spinto Band
68 Squarepusher
53 Staind
65 Starfucker
72 Stereolab
82 Marnie Stern
64 The Stills
62 The Streets
73 The Subways
70 Matthew Sweet
81 Taylor Swift
75 T.I.
66 Talkdemonic
64 James Taylor
66 Ten Kens
72 Robin Thicke
67 Thievery Corporation
79 Tindersticks
88 Shugo Tokumaru
75 Emiliana Torrini
72 T-Pain
65 Travis
70 Tricky
68 Trivium
88 TV On The Radio
77 The Uglysuit
92 Underoath
56 UNKLE
74 Chad VanGaalen
71 The Verve
84 Vessels
76 Vivian Girls
79 Volcano!
67 Loudon Wainwright III
84 Butch Walker
79 The Walkmen
82 The Week That Was
73 White Denim
77 Wild Beasts
78 Wilderness
71 Hank Williams III
72 Lucinda Williams
67 Michelle Williams
70 Brian Wilson
73 Lee Ann Womack
63 XX Teens
72 Rachael Yamagata
60 Yo Majesty
72 Young Jeezy

Stars indicate the most critically-acclaimed albums.

19
by Adele


6.7

based on 19 reviews
Read critic reviews
How did we calculate this?

based on 37 votes
Read user comments
Rate this album

Official Artist Site

The English singer was named the Brit Awards' Critics' Choice even before her debut album was released.

LABEL:	XL
RELEASE DATE:	10 June 2008
DISCS:	1 disc
GENRE(S):	Rock, Pop

NOTES: Original UK release 28 Jan 2008.

All critic scores are converted to a 100-point scale. If a critic does not indicate a score, we assign a score based on the general impression given by the text of the review. Learn more...

100

Observer Music Monthly

Forget her peers or even ex-Eurythmics - think Dusty or Aretha, albeit of SW2, instead. 19 has been on constant repeat for several weeks now and will be, I suspect, for the rest of the year to come.

PopMatters

19 indeed boasts several distinct sounds by which Adele is given to do her thing. These are utilized quite harmoniously to fit her powerhouse vocal delivery, a stirring combination of her diverse influences ranging from the Cure’s Robert Smith to Philly soul queen Jill Scott to legendary rhythm ‘n’ folk chanteuse Karen Dalton.

All Music Guide

A beyond stellar debut in both quality and originality.

NOW Magazine

She’s often at her best alone with an acoustic guitar instead of ornamented with retro R&B references. It’s easy to want to dislike something that the UK press, Perez Hilton and Kanye West are telling you to like, but Adele shows some real talent.

Mojo

She has the voacl talent of a young Alison Moyet, and thankfully this debut lives up to expectations. [Mar 2008, p.112]

Q Magazine

Adele's songs possess an ageless classification. [Mar 2008, p.105]

Entertainment Weekly

Adele's songs aren't as sharp as Duffy's. Still her singing throughout is a thing to behold. [13 June 2008, p.70]

Dot Music

As is to be expected given Adele's tender years, thematically things are a bit monochrome.... All this, however, is forgiven with a listen to the highlights, such as the sweet acoustic guitar-led 'Daydreamer.'

musicOMH.com

It may not be particuarly original or challenging, but there's enough positive signs here to bode extremely well for the future. The sound of 2008? And beyond, we'd imagine.

Drowned In Sound

The co-writes--not as many as you might’ve expected--generally boom from the speakers. The self-penned efforts are bare-boned, erratically excellent but frustratingly blighted by Adele’s penchant for going beyond her capabilities as a vocalist.

Slant Magazine

Critics have favorably compared Adele to Amy Winehouse, but most of 19 plays like the quieter moments on Kate Nash's "Made of Bricks;" the production is largely simple and organic, wisely showcasing Adele's voice, which is appropriately soulful and imperfect.

Rolling Stone

Her debut, which topped the British charts earlier this year, lacks the bad-girl brio of those grads [Amy Winehouse and Kate Nash], but it shows off a vocal instrument that smokes the competition.

Urb

Sure, she may not have as many debauchery-tainted demons to exercise as the Winehouses or the Holidays but that doesn't make 19 boring. [Jul/Aug 2008, p.88]

Spin

She represents a highly commercial compromise between Amy Winehouse's genuine soul danger and James Blunt's sclocky pop safety. [July 2008, p.92]

Under The Radar

Despite Adele's striking vocals--the girl can sing--19 isn't mining any new territory. [Summer 2008]

New Musical Express

Adele is not yet ready to produce an album of sufficient depth to match her voice.

The Guardian

There is scant emotional heft behind Adele's prodigiously rich voice, little bite to her songwriting.

Uncut

Veering between faux-soul and Hoxton hipness, Adele simply hasn't found her own voice yet.

Sputnikmusic

It can't even stack up to Gabriella Cilmi. Estelle? Leona Lewis? Yikes. Avoid.

The average user rating for this album is 6.7 (out of 10) based on 37 User Votes
Note: User votes are NOT included in the Metascore calculation.

JOHn A. gave it an8:
Adele shines on this exquisite debut. She has an amazingly gifted voice, which soars throughout the well produced and written songs. Catchy songs like Best for Last, Chasing Pavements, and Melt MY Heart to Stone show that this 19 year old has a mature side. Doesn't matter what critics say. this album is incredible. This album is most suitable for people who have just broken up with someone or feel free now that they are no longer with someone. Every song on this album is good, although there are three that could be considered "fillers". Overall, an 8 out of 10. Mostly for Adele's voice and 4 outstanding songs. Buy the album, if you life Duffy, Winehouse and Norah Jones, you will not be let down.

sara gave it a10:
She has a wonderful soulful phrasing.

John S. gave it a10:
Of all female vocalists, none is as great as this one.

Carl D. gave it a10:
Adele's songs may not be as catchy as Duffy's or as professionally written as Leona's, but the lyrics are from the heart and the voice behind it all will put Miss Lewis to shame.

Darris T. gave it a7:
If you liked laid back songs that can relax you, this is a great album for you. Many of the songs have great lyrics that are deep and a welcome from you average Hot 100 artist. To Make You Feel My Love Tired First Love Chasing Pavenments Cold Shoulder Hometown Glory Great songs.

Harry W. gave it a5:
Coffee table music I'm afraid. If you like Norah Jones (and I do, kind of) you should enjoy this but it's not going to make you rip up your life and start over. Adele has a nice enough voice but lacking in the colour that willcome with age. Whether she will still be in the public eye when she gains that is dubious (Dido anyone?)

Josh R. gave it a10:
Amazing!! Adele has an amazing voice for the age of 19! expect more great things from her in the future!!

19 by Adele

19
by Adele