This is one of the very few cases in history where sales figures and musical quality will meet in somewhat perfect symmetry. If the sales projections and predictions are right, this will be the biggest-selling record in some time. Yes, it is a heavily hyped release and, yes, no doubt everyone is his-her mother will be blasting this through the holiday season and beyond.

With “25,” Adele has delivered on a promise to drop the album she is most capable of making. It seems like this is the kind of record that will evolve upon repetition. This is not a record that will rapidly wear out its welcome. If the ballads all blend together at first, give it a couple listens and, with time, they will let their greatness be known. In all, this album is deeply nuanced and demands complete focus. “Million Years Ago,” for instance, has a timeless jazzy energy not commonly heard on the Billboard Top 200 these days. This album also has some incredibly dense, musically sophisticated passages. The pounding, ominous climb of “I Miss You” serves as a reminder that while this is released by Columbia, it is also a joint-venture with XL, because it shows artsy hallmarks of the Richard Russell-helmed label’s signature sound. While it plays to a pop audience, there are also moments with some striking bits of edge. This is the best and most consistent album of Adele’s career. Everyone here is working at the top of their game. Regardless, this is a classic album packed with potential singles and no duds. Ryan Tedder, whose presence often leads to formulaic (yet successful) mediocrity, also does some nice work with his contributions to “Remedy.” It shouldn’t come as a surprise, though, that Adele has the most success working with Kurstin and Epworth. Most amazingly, though, Max Martin and Shellback co-wrote the fascinatingly interesting “Send My Love (To Your New Lover).” Maybe it is due to Adele’s contributions to the track, but it may be among their most appealing songs to date. Her longtime collaborator and producer, Paul Epworth, is present on a few tracks, Bruno Mars co-wrote “All I Ask,” while Danger Mouse contributes to “River Lea.” She co-wrote every song on this record with a rotating cast of industry titans. Adele seems to have a similar universal appeal. She is, after all, the closest successor we have to Whitney Houston, who could definitely sell a crowd-pleasing ballad while keeping things from getting too cheesy. That being said, it is Adele’s flawless execution that makes these winners.

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