It’s the year of Adele (From The Northern Echo)

It’s the year of Adele

2:58pm Thursday 29th December 2011 in Features & Interviews

2011 may have gone by in a blur, but it has been another unforgettable year. Shereen Low looks back at the top ten albums.

Adele: 21

NOT even Adele Adkins could have predicted what a runaway success her second album would be. The follow-up to the Tottenham-born singer’s debut, 19, topped the charts in 18 countries, including the US, and has broken records to become officially the biggest-selling album of the 21st century, having shifted 3.4 million copies in the UK since its release in January, according to the Official Charts Company, and more than five million in the US, reported Billboard. An astounding achievement for someone who is 23.

Amy Winehouse: Back To Black

WINEHOUSE’S second album, initially released in 2006, got a welcome posthumous boost following the singer’s tragic and untimely death at the age of 27 in July. The fivetime Grammy-winning record - which was produced by Mark Ronson and Salaam Remi - shot to number one on the iTunes charts in nearly every country and hit the top spot in the UK albums charts in the weeks following her death. It has now achieved sales of eight times platinum in the UK and seven times platinum in Europe.

PJ Harvey: Let England Shake

POLLY Jean Harvey’s politically-charged record, which was released in February, stole the spotlight at the Barclaycard Mercury Prize awards. She took home the coveted prize ten years after winning the statue for her fifth album, Stories From The City, Stories From The Sea. The 42-year-old Dorset-born songstress, who recorded this, her tenth album, in a local church within five weeks, won great acclaim from critics, but only reached number eight in the UK album charts. The two songs released as singles – The Words That Maketh Murder and The Glorious Land – also failed to put a stamp on the singles charts.

Michael Buble: Christmas

CHRISTMAS definitely came early for Buble and his fans, as the Canadian crooner’s first full-length festive album has remained a staple in the albums charts since its release in October. Featuring duets with Shania Twain, the Puppini Sisters and Latina singer Thalia, Christmas sees the newlywed 36-year-old give jazzy renditions of Yuletide favourites such as Mariah Carey’s All I Want For Christmas Is You and Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas, as well as his own original track, Cold December Night. It’s on track to become the world’s second biggest-selling album of the year, behind Adele’s 21.

Rebecca Ferguson: Heaven

THOSE who claim that X Factor doesn’t find good talent has not heard Ferguson’s soulful debut. After years of trying to be a singer, few could have predicted that the TV show finalist – who came second to 2010 champion Matt Cardle – would have made an album that sticks to her beliefs. The 25-yearold mother of two, who trained as a legal secretary, co-wrote the entire record with Eg White. Already on route to achieving a platinum certificate for sales, despite being released for less than a month, Heaven – which surpassed pre-sales of debut albums from X Factor’s Cher Lloyd, Matt Cardle and One Direction – has got the thumbs up from tough judge Simon Cowell and Ferguson’s mentor Cheryl Cole. If the track records of former runners- ups such as JLS are anything to go by, here’s hoping we hear a lot more from Ferguson.

Wretch 32: Black And White

GRIME star Wretch 32 appeared from nowhere at the beginning of 2011 with his debut single Traktor, and has since taken the year by storm. Hailing from the same area of London as Adele and Jessie J, the 26-year-old, whose real name is Jermaine Scott, has had three top ten singles with Traktor, Unorthodox and Don’t Go (with Josh Kumra). His debut album, which was released in August and features collaborations with men of the moment Ed Sheeran, Example and Chipmunk, has had backing from some unlikely fans, including Adele, Liam Gallagher, Nicki Minaj and Rio Ferdinand.

Jay-Z and Kanye West: Watch The Throne

AN eagerly-anticipated pairing between two of the world’s biggest rappers could have been a tremendous fail – think of the egos – but Watch The Throne surpassed many expectations. In their first full-length collaboration, Jay-Z (also known as Shawn Carter) and Kanye showed their skills in working together without much conflict as they confronted issues about race, fame and fortune. Now touring North America, Watch The Throne promises more future work from this rapping power couple.

Bruno Mars: Doo-Wops & Hooligans

SINCE its release in January, Bruno Mars’ debut album has rarely left the charts. If the 26-year-old singer-songwriter, who co-wrote all the tracks with writing collaborators Philip Lawrence and Ari Levine, wanted to put his stamp on the pop scene, he definitely did so with radio-friendly songs such as Just The Way You Are, Grenade and The Lazy Songs. The Hawaiian star must be celebrating since his album has now become the second record to surpass the million sales mark following Adele’s 21.

Coldplay: Mylo Xyloto

CHRIS Martin, Guy Berryman, Jonny Buckland and Will Champion must be punching the air as their fifth studio album, which debuted at number one in the UK, US and Australia upon its release in October, overshadows its predecessor Viva La Vida. Opening with Eighties- era drumbeats reminiscent of Bruce Springsteen, the epic feel of concept album Mylo Xyloto continued with Paradise and its hip-hop backing, Every Teardrop Is A Waterfall, Up In Flames and Princess In China featuring Rihanna. Having reached platinum status in six countries, Mylo Xyloto shows a band at the top of their game.

Bon Iver: Bon Iver

IVER’S self-titled record, which was released in June, is the indie pick of 2011. The US indie folk band, led by frontman Justin Vernon, have won great acclaim for the follow-up to their 2007 debut, For Emma, Forever Ago, because of its new musical direction – described as a mixture of sounds and genres, including a combination of folk, jazz, ambient, electronica and MOR (middle of the road music). This quiet record, featuring a collaboration with James Blake, ended up making quite a bit of noise after winning four Grammy nominations and numerous fans.