By Micheal Hicks
Alicia Keys is a talented, eleven-time Grammy award winning superstar who, by the way, writes most of her own music. Her new album “As I Am” is a soulful and soothing masterpiece of classic soul and uptown R&B merged with the powerful words and vocals that only Alicia Keys can deliver. Though some of the songs are a little less inspiring than others, Keys continues to provide an interesting combination of skillful instrumentation and a powerful voice carried on the strings of soulful melodies.
There are a number of songs on the album that are more than favorable, a couple of which you may have seen in music videos on BET or MTV such as “No One” and “Like You’ll Never See Me Again.”
The rest of the lineup is just as amazing. One song, “Wreckless Love,” provides your ears with an old school, uptown, Harlem Renaissance-like class, while Keys seduces you with her thick, rich vocals. Track 10, entitled “I Need You,” is also a formidable work of art. But my all time favorite track is “Where Do We Go From Here,” a beautiful composition that questions loveloss and happiness. Many of her songs on the album have a unique, personal feel and each one of those songs is nearly the same par as the aforementioned.
My only gripe is that the album was a little anti-climatic. Some of the first songs were interesting while the last few fell a little short of an expected finale. Likewise, her voice at times can sound slightly raspy; a type of mature, seductive tone with a hint of sophistication. I strongly believe that this, along with her work on the piano, gives her a unique and distinguished tone, while others I have spoken to are not as forgiving. Not to take anything away from this talented award-winning musician. She, of course is a fierce professional with a long road ahead of her, and four out of five stars makes this musical compilation just shy of amazing.
With that said, if any of you are thinking about purchasing Ms. Keys’ synthesis of unique, head-bopping, classy R&B hits with the subjects of love and life in the new year, I highly recommend that you stop by your local music store.
