James Arden checks out the garage rockers latest album.
The Christian rock band from Brighton bring religion to the masses.
Recipe for modern R'n'B album: liberal helpings of guest rappers and an overdose of sexual euphemisms.
About seconds into the album my worries were quickly dispelled and I relaxed as I listened to Alicia Key’s best album thus far. I make this claim early on in the review because this album is hands down Keys' most ambitious and intelligent effort since Songs in A Minor and Diary of Alicia Keys.
A number of the songs do use the piano as a bass for the hip-hop style beats that dominate the song, however, Keys’ powerful voice brings an Aretha Franklin-style blues to song, keeping it her own. To go on about the range and beauty of Keys’ voice seems redundant, for if you have heard anything by her, you know the quality of her vocals. This album is no different as songs like Superwomen and The Thing about Love are excellent testaments to her talents.
She is a musician, and in some ways a composer, before she is a performer.
The tracks that continue to shine through and highlight the album are ones where Keys strips down the song to that of only a few parts. Lesson Learned, which also features guitarist John Mayer, and Teenage Love Affair resemble the earlier days of Keys with only the piano, a guitar and a steady drumming.
The reason that Alicia Keys’ quality in music has continued to rise since first appearing in the music scene is because she has the ability to evolve with her music. Her ability as an artist has taken on a new, more mature shape, but in no way has changed from the original styles that made her what she is today. She is a musician, and in some ways a composer, before she is a performer. Her musical talent has given her the ability to propel herself far above that of other R&B artist and help her gain many new fans.
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