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It's been over four years since the world has gotten a proper studio album from smooth piano-playing songstress Alicia Keys and now she's back with As I Am. Though she's churned out tons of soulful ballads, duets, and singles in her time, most critics agree that the divine Ms. Keys has yet to deliver a truly stellar album.
There’s no doubt that she has the talent to do it; her instrumental abilities, sultry voice, and mature lyrics reflect a depth well beyond her years. But where’s the earth-shattering R&B album the music world has been waiting for? It is coming and Alicia has the talent to deliver it but unfortunately it’s not to be found on As I Am.
What’s Ms. Keys been doing since 2003, the year that brought us the phenomenal (and Grammy-winning) Diary of Alicia Keys? Up to that point, she was virtually unstoppable in the music world. Her debut, Songs in A Minor, had already sold millions of copies, critics and fans adored her, her gorgeous looks and style graced dozens of magazine covers (and even jumpstarted a film career).
But what about a brilliant new album? OK, so she did release an Unplugged record and a few one-off singles with Usher and Nas, but c’mon, those don’t really count. Each of her records up to that point kept getting better and better, building anticipation and an increasing fanbase of eager listeners hungry to hear what she had to say next. Then finally on November 13, record buyers got their wish with As I Am. The response was immediate, the album hit number one its first week with over 700,000 units sold. But will it have the staying power and longstanding appreciation of Diary or Songs? Most likely not.
Where does the problem lie with As I Am? It’s got a modern feel, hot guest stars, and pristine production, yet somehow feels empty. The R&B elements are there, but now seem to take a background seat to radio-friendly pop elements. What gives?
First off, hitmaking producer Linda Perry’s now on board, whose talents have helped glide Gwen Stefani, Christina Aguilera, and Pink to chart-topping success. Don’t get me wrong, Perry’s done great work for those ladies, but does she really belong behind the control boards of an R&B album? Her tracks, "The Thing About Love" and "Superwoman" seem to resonate pop-friendly hooks that lose a bit of Alicia’s trademark soul. Then there’s the John Mayer duet, "Lesson Learned." It’s actually not as bad as it could have been, but certainly doesn’t fit well into anything climbing up the R&B charts.
Does As I Am have its high points? Sure, "Wreckless Love" and "Where Do We Go From Here" are great tracks, but just doesn’t sound like classic Alicia Keys. Perhaps she’s branching out and trying out new genres. You can’t fault her for that, but for a voice that was once touted as the savior of R&B this album just doesn’t seem to push the genre into glorious new heights.
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