Alicia Keys - The Element of Freedom
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CD Details
Artist: Alicia KeysEdition: Music CD
Audio: English (Unknown); English (Original Language)
Published: 2009-12-11
CD Release Date: 2009-12-15
Music Label: J-Records
Product features:
- KEYS ALICIA THE ELEMENT OF FREEDOM
- Element Of Freedom (Intro)
- Love Is Blind
- Doesn't Mean Anything
- Try Sleeping With A Broken Heart
- Wait Til You See My Smile
- That's How Strong My Love Is
- Unthinkable (I'm Ready)
- Love Is My Disease
- Like The Sea
- Put It In A Love Song (featuring Beyoncé)
- This Bed
- Distance And Time
- How It Feels To Fly
- Empire State Of Mind (Part II)
Music reviews of The Element of Freedom
Music Review: Another Fine Alicia Keys Release - Not My Favorite, But Still Great!
Rating: 4 Stars
On Alicia Key's fourth studio release (fifth album overall), The Element of Freedom, Alicia Keys continues the experimentation into more pop-centric ideas, much like 2007's As I Am. Like the results on that effort, some songs are exceptional and push Keys's artistry even further while others prove more flawed. However, just like on AS I AM or even the 'fluffier' material from The Diary of Alicia Keys or her debut Songs in A Minor, Keys makes even the least interesting track more interesting than it should be, a reflection on her artistry. 'The Element of Freedom', I won't lie, isn't my favorite Keys album, though I don't any will ever supersede the exceptional 'Diary of Alicia Keys', however, it is another worthwhile contribution to R&B/Pop music and to Keys's personal discography that has given musical fans such a gift to listen to.
After the introduction, her shortest to date and sans piano and production work, Keys barrels into one of the most adventurous and best songs on the album, the exceptional "Love Is Blind". "Love is Blind" has a sort of reggae feel, giving it a different sound than anything Keys has released. The production work is great and Keys sounds quite inspired on this track. It matches the greatness of previous starters such as "Go Ahead", even if it may only hint at the greatness of classics "Karma" or "Girlfriend". "Love Is Blind" is an instant favorite for me.
"Doesn't Mean Anything" has suffered from the criticism that it copycat's 2007's ubiquitous "No One" with its piano-centric production and thumping 4/4 drum pattern. True, it doesn't quite garner the classicism exhibited by "No One" and Keys seems slightly reserved towards the end of this track (I would have like to heard her stretch her prodigious pipes slightly further), but it is still well rounded and catchy. Something about it despite being slightly flawed in comparison to earlier debut singles, still makes it endearing to Keys fans. Maybe its the fact that she's slightly under pitch during the chorus that makes the performance feel genuine and raw despite a lack of vocal aerobics here.
"Try Sleeping With A Broken Heart" also shows a different vein of Keys than fans have seen before. She is incredibly subtle on this track, given off this effect of hurting from love, which bodes well in the favor of this second single. Revolutionary? No, but enjoyable and the hard-drums only add fuel to fire! "Wait Til You See My Smile" is a more pop-oriented track, contrasting the first couple of tracks. It isn't my favorite track, but it is quite enjoyable and pleasant. Again, the production work is experimental and always Keys sounds fantastic. The background vocals lay very well here too.
"That's How Strong My Love Is" proves to be a strong track that makes enough concessions to pop music without leaving Keys's soul-laden roots. There is an overt genuineness that is written all over this track, even more evident as the track builds up. Keys sounds quite inspired here. "Unthinkable (I'm Ready)" instantly adds a groove after "That's How Strong My Love Is" lacked drums. Here, Keys begins singing sultrily in her lower register, a nice contrast from previous numbers. A standout, "Un-Thinkable (I'm Ready)" is well produced with sparse piano work, energized vocals from Keys, and top notch songwriting.
"Love is My Disease" reminds one instantly of "No One" as far as Key's overt, raw vocal technique. Again, the track transcends Keys's neo-soul tracks in favor of pop mixed with reggae, but Keys sounds soulful as always, neo- or modern soul. "Like The Sea" is one of my favorites, finding Keys borrowing the piano part from Claude Debussy's famous "Arabesques" (No. 1 believe). Easily one of the most soulful numbers, "LIke The Sea" sounds as if it could have appeared on Alicia Key's 'The Diary of Alicia Keys', hearkening back to her glory days.
The biggest departure is the more hip-hop based "Put It In A Love Song", a duet with Beyoncé, which proves shocking to fans but also is perhaps one of the most triumphant tracks from 'The Element of Freedom'. Both divas are a class act on this fine track, blending with each other well (considering a juxtaposition of R&B styles). The production is excellent and the songwriting cutting edge by all means. Another interesting cut is "This Bed", which hearkens back to 1980s R&B with drums hearkening back to the "boxy" sound that drum programming possessed at the time. It proves as enjoyable as anything else.
"Distance and Time" returns Keys to a ballad format, with understated, though haunting production work. As always, Keys does well with sensitive numbers. The ending is especially great, with the allusions to "No One" obvious. "How It Feels To Fly" also has a soulful-pop feel, no so far removed from something that Leona Lewis might sing from ECHO. Final cut "Empire State of Mind (Part II) Broken Down" is Keys's take on her #1 hit with Jay-Z. It doesn't trump the original, but it a solid, worthwhile affair nonetheless.
Essentially, 'Element of Freedom' is a solid R&B album that transcends soul, pop, and adult contemporary styles. It isn't Keys best, I reiterate, but as always, Keys is consistent and never makes a bad album. I would love to hear her next album return back to some of the more overtly soulful tracks, like those that appeared on 'The Diary of Alicia Keys', my favorite Alicia Keys album and one of my all-time favorite albums. However, Alicia has no reason to hang down her head on this fine affair. 4 stars.
Description of The Element of Freedom
12 time Grammy Award winner Alicia Keys returns with her 4th studio album The Element Of Freedom on December 15. Alicia has sold over 26 million albums worldwide and over 6.7 million digital tracks in the US. Featuring the hits "Doesn't Mean Anything" and "Try Sleeping With A Broken Heart", The Element Of Freedom promises to be one of Alicia Keys biggest releases to date.Pop CDs
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