By: Zenab Saeed ~Staff Writer~

British singer Adele released her highly anticipated third studio album after taking a threeyear break from the music industry following the birth of her son. “25,” released on Nov. 20, features 11 tracks, each of which were written by the 10-time Grammy Award-winning artist.

The album, though just as emotional and nostalgic as Adele’s previous work, offers a more upbeat and powerful sound. Overall, it showcases her impressive vocal range and capabilities as a performer. “25,” named in reference to the now 27-year-old singer’s age when she wrote the album, follows Adele’s 2011 album “21,” which featured highacclaimed and popular singles like “Someone Like You” and “Rolling in the Deep.” Prior to the release of “21,” Adele’s album “19” also received tremendous critical acclaim and launched her career as an internationally recognized singer.

Adele began her hiatus from the music industry after receiving numerous awards including the Academy Award for Best Original Song, Golden Globe for Best Original Song and a Grammy Award following her 2012 release of the single “Skyfall” for the James Bond film of the same name.

Released through XL Records, the album sold more than one million copies in its first week and continues to top charts and dominate the airwaves with its lead single “Hello.” This track received great acclaim and international success after its Oct. 23 release.

Overall, the album is reminiscent of Adele’s earlier work, but its songs and their lyrics offer a new perspective as a self-proclaimed “make-up album.” Adele once again relies on her impressive and recognizable vocals but sings with a more defiant perspective. Though each individual track has its unique sound, they all flow together to create a cohesive work and demonstrate Adele’s consistency as an artist.

Along with the lead single of the album, “Hello,” the song “Send My Love (To Your New Lover)” deserves recognition, as it presents a more pop-inspired feel. The singer worked alongside songwriters Max Martin and Shellback to add the track’s upbeat tempo to her album.

“25” is a well-paced album and demonstrates the artist’s versatility as a singer by shifting between fast-paced songs like “Send My Love (To Your New Lover)” and “Water Under the Bridge” to more deliberately-paced tracks like “Hello” and “When We Were Young,” all of which fully capture Adele’s signature sound.

Adele recently announced plans for a tour starting on Feb. 29 with dates across Britain and the rest of Europe to promote her latest album.