Alicia Keys
Albums
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Alicia Keys
album reviews
Songs In A Minor 7 ( 2001, UK pos 6 )
Piano And I / Girlfriend / How Come You Don't Call Me / Fallin' / Troubles / Rock Wit U / A Woman's Worth / Jane Doe / Goodbye / The Life / Mr Man / Never Felt This Way / Butterflyz / Why Do I Feel So Sad / Caged Bird
A few things that these types of album do. You've got yourself a producer or seven, lots of top session guys, a few guest stars. State of the art contemporary r'n'b production and writers, etc, etc. The actual artist themselves almost seem immaterial. Hence a lot of modern r'n'b sounding the same. It's rare that the artist actually IS an artist. Alicia can co-produce, she can write entirely her own material. The best song here was written by Alicia alone and that's warming and promising for her future development. She's a classically trained pianist, by the way - in case you didn't already know. So, the album opens with a piece of her playing classical piano over which soulful backing vocals appear as she speaks over the music. "Flip it" she says, then the hip-hop beats come in. Classical piano, soul vocals and hip-hop. This is very much just a prelude to the album proper but it's pretty damn beautiful and striking. A great way to open your debut album. After which we get 'Girlfriend', merely competent modern r'n'b - that's all. Pretty good, but nothing that we haven't heard done before and done better. Catchy song, though. The most striking and brilliant moment on the album is reserved for that one very special Alicia penned tune, 'Fallin'. You may have heard it, it was a huge hit absolutely everywhere. It works, plain and simple. She isn't the greatest soul singer ever, not at all, but she's not bad. She's got the technique if not quite the voice. So, she sings over herself, layered vocals. Her piano provides the bedrock of the track and the vocals do indeed 'fall'. It's a song that perhaps shouldn't work and if it was, I don't know, some lesser artist, wouldn't have worked. She brings such conviction to the piece however, that yeah, this is great modern soul, no question.
This album is too long, too many pieces of filler, although highlights do remain. 'Troubles' has a great vocal introduction, pure soul - the entire song is pure soul. 'Goodbye' is almost generic, but remains goodly enjoyable. Alicia is a beautiful girl, but doesn't flaunt her sexuality - she obviously wants to be taken seriously. Ultimately, there are too many moments of filler here for this to rank as a great album, but it's a decent start. Oh, another highlight. Producers of modern soul artists, take note! 'Never Felt This Way' is lovely, just Alicia and piano, that's all. Ultimately, that's all she needs.
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| Readers Comments jane doe lilmama05@aol.com As I read the list of songs at the top of your page for "Songs in A Minor," I realized that I know all of the songs and I can sing the tune just by glancing at them. Now you can probably note that I am the biggest fan of Alicia Keys and I'm her biggest fan in the world. But I also realized that at the end of the list of songs for her first album, you are missing the last song, "Loving You is Easy." I also know that it is not easy to do a html page because I also do html pages. So all that I am really saying is you forgot a song and I really appreciate how you analyzed some of the songs from "Songs in A Minor." Ronald ronald_condor82@hotmail.com Hi there! I must admit that you make good reviews. Well, I'm not that kind of music reviewer, What I just do is to catch the good tunes and say if they are god, or awesome. this is the case of Alicia Keys. When I started to listen "Falling" on the radio, I stayed simply stunned to have in my ears such mixture of good lyrics and excellent arrangements. in short words the song really made me "fall". I don't have any of their Albums, but when i put "falling" in my mind, I feel that my spirit gets into an atmosphere of tenderness and the music is just so romantic. That the real sense of music: to make you feel the best things. I have definitely treasured that song in my mind . I don't care which is the general "technical" and "instrumental" opinion from experts. I love it and it will be one of my favorite songs ever. Keep doing your reviews, but try to be a little more hearted. ´cause songs come from the heart, no matter which genre they are, even if they are from hea! vy metal or funk music |
The Diary Of Alicia Keys 8 ( 2003, UK pos 13 )
Harlem's Nocturne / Karma / Heartburn / If I Was Your Woman - Walk On By / You Don't Know My Name / If I Aint Got You / Diary / Dragon Days / Wake Up / So Simple / When You Really Love Someone / Feeling U, Feeling Me / Slow Down / Samsonite Man / Somebody Not Really / Streets Of New York
Ah, ok. OK! She's moved on. She's progressed, which is obviously a great thing to see an artist doing. On the face of it, this album is structured exactly the same as her debut, with the inherent flaws intact. Hence, it's too long. Too many songs are generic thanks to the team of producers and co-writers, although I shouldn't be too harsh. Those guys help Alicia to create one of the finest moments soul music has produced in the past twenty years. No, i'm not overstating anything - the past twenty years, Erykah Badu apart, haven't produced a great deal, actually. At least, not a great deal worth speaking of. Well, once we reach 'You Don't Know My Name', all six minutes of it ( it contains a two minute spoken word section and was a hit single, too! ), an open-minded listener really should have little choice but to bow down and surrender. This is gorgeous, utterly beautiful and stunning. Pure fantasy, deliriously joyful fantasy and true soul music of the highest order. Her voice sounds improved, on this song especially. The backing harmonies are lovely, the structure of the song, even incorporating the spoken word section, natural. Ah, the spoken word section, pure teenage fantasy and romance. It's not cheesy for one section, it really does work. The harmonies, her piano. Her damn sexy voice, she sounds very sexy speaking with that accent of hers. Ah. AH!!!
'You Don't Know My Name' is so good, the rest of the album almost doesn't matter. This one shining jewel is almost enough on its own, but there are other more than fine songs. 'Dragon Days' is very funky, 'Karma' and 'Heartburn' striking and very funky indeed. 'If I Was Your Woman' incorporates sections of the bacharach/david tune, 'Walk On By'. Yeah, THAT 'Walk On By'. It's been incorporated so seamlessly into another old soul tune. This is doing things a little differently. You don't have to reinvent the wheel, just show a little creative imagination. Alicia Keys does just that, besides getting better and better as a performer.
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| Readers Comments jane doe lilmama05@aol.com I really enjoyed reading the page. You've done better than most of the pages I've ran into so far. I love Alicia Keys, from her beauty and definitely down to her music. I also love you because you have given me an insight on how to do my first and second album. As you probably noted now, I want to be successful in music just like her. Thank You. Jessica liljessi1428@Yahoo.com You all have no idea what to say. Most of you just want ot hate on Alicia Keys because she has a wonderful talent from God and ya'll don't have it. There is nothing wrong with any of her C.D.'s. they are all so very emotional and every single word she says comes right out of her heart and soul. She is a very intelligent person and understands alot of things that some people don't. She is always willing to give a helping hand to others who need it. Alicia Keys is the most brightest singer in the whole entire world! If every one in this world were as nice, kind, smart, caring, sharing, as Alicia Keys then this world would be the best. No one would starve any more or anything! So in conclusion, ya'll just need to stop hatin, and start congratulatin. She is the best, and none of you will ever pull her down with your words. But you can make a difference and be very inspirational! |
As I Am 7½ ( 2007, UK pos 14 )
As I Am / Go Ahead / Superwoman / No One / Like You'll Never See Me Again / Lesson Learned / Wreckless Love / The Thing About Love / Teenage Love Affair / I Need You / Where Do We Go from Here / Prelude to a Kiss / Tell You Something (Nana's Reprise) / Sure Looks Good to Me
Do you remember Four Non Blondes? Hopefully for your sake, you don't. How on earth did Linda Perry become a songwriter for hire? Yes, Linda Perry co-writes three of the songs here whereas I personally wouldn't have let her anywhere near an Alicia Keys album. As for Alicia, she enjoys a growing reputation. Sadly, you know you've 'made it' when American Idol/X-Factor contestants start singing your songs. For this third LP, Alicia uses fuller band arrangements than before yet still firmly falls into the R&B/New-Soul arena. Her lyrics come across like an afterthought, yet the simplicity in these lyrics do lend towards a timeless quality. Her trademark piano sound is far more in the background here, yet she still manages to do all sorts things, including arranging, playing Harpsichord, Moog, Fender Rhodes, Synthesizer Bass, Wurlitzer and string programming. Not too bad. So, which songs does the odious Linda Peters contribute to? Well, the first of them up is 'Superwoman'. Soft, tinkling ivories open the tune, Alica is in very fine voice when the vocals come in. This is a genuinely soulful tune, it's hard to see what Linda might have contributed, apart from perhaps the lyrics? 'The Thing About Love' is a Keys/Perry co-write. It's initially a slow ballad that eventually rises to rockier climes with Alicia belting out the vocal. It appears to be a song designed for a live setting, in which it would no doubt work well. On record, the drama appears slightly forced. It's a very similiar kind of tune actually to the album closer, the other Perry co-write. Same kind of structure and same end of song tornado, this time with a full band including distressing, clattering drums.
In terms of highlights, 'Where Do We Go From Here' is a well constructed modern sounding track that bridges the gap between Alicia's usual nostalgic soul and modern r&b. A wurlitzer is a strange addition to the song, yet it works. Mentioning 'Tracks Of My Tears' in the lyrics is a bit of a tease though. We're not quite at that level. 'No One' was the lead single, not an obvious choice of single as it takes a few listens to get into your soul. When it does though, you wonder how you lived without it. Again, taking simple lyrical concepts, Alicia weaves a spell with her beautiful voice, piano parts and a thumping beat. Another pick of the pops and potential single has to be the funky 'Wreckless Love', another fine vocal, a modern slice of actually creative and excellent modern R&B. Well done, Alica. For my money though, I slightly prefer 'The Diary Of Alicia Keys', although to be honest, there's not a lot in it. She should be one for the long haul.
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this page last updated 27/11/07
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