Adele’s new album ’25’ set to smash records sales after its release this week. After the initial first few days the sales for the US alone have been 2.3 million – a staggering amount considering what other top selling artists are doing. The impact of digital era has obviously had a big impact on the music industry, sales only a fraction of what they were previously. But Adele is breaking the trend in spectacular fashion.
The first single ‘Hello’ has sold 2.5 million thus far and the demand is so high for the new album that experts in the music industry have been amazed at the first week sales leading to various record sale predictions. iTunes accounts for a high percentage of the sales with 900,000 copies of the new album sold in the first week. Adele’s first record ’21’ was only available in hard disc meaning fans could not buy it on iTunes. Adele’s fan base is so big and widespread, that younger fans will be able to download the album – so the sale figures will be much different to the first record.
UK sales have also rocketed selling 300,000 on the first day and making number one in over 103 countries through the world. All the signs suggest one of the highest selling albums ever challenging Micheal Jackson’s ‘Thriller’ and indeed Adele’s first Record ’21’.
Despite these incredible sales reviews for the new album have been mixed, some critics suggesting that the with exception of a few songs the new release is very much similar to the first album – thus lacking creativity and excitement. Each song sounding the same and becoming quite dull when listening to the album in full. Adele’s first record was very much a journey full of twists and turns with highs and lows, expressing her struggles and achievements with life through her early years. The new album is quite the opposite becoming quite predictable in sound and lyrics, with a heavy reliance on Adele’s powerful voice to light up every song. The big sounds and voices does become repetitive, just waiting for a song like ‘Someone Like You’ to arrive – but of course it just never does.
However disappointing the new record is – it is still worth the listen and is good comparing with other releases this year. Adele’s voice is one in a million and is worth buying just for this alone. But ‘good’ is not what we were hoping for. Maybe next time.
If you are buying Adele’s new album ’25’ you can get the album cover leaflet online with all the songs and lyrics – print the cover with LC1280xl ink cartridges for the right specification.