alicia keys

alicia keys

Alicia's new album has been out for a while now and fans have been able to get to know it well, and offer their opinions.

There is no doubt Alicia Keys is a superstar, and when an artist reaches that level the expectations are high. After all, she has now been voted the top R&B artist of the last decade. Did this, her fourth album live up to those expectations?

The consensus is that she is maturing as an artist and emotionally, and that Alicia Keys new album reflects that. While some fans found the album hard to appreciate at first, it has grown on them tremendously. Professional music critics have also been positive, though on its release the album did not reach number one in the USA on the Billboard chart, as her previous albums had. However, the album has now gone platinum. Ironically, in many other countries outside America the new album reached higher positions than her previous CDs had reached.

It is notable that the ordinary music fans, when they comment on the album, make ratings, or give reviews, tend to rate Alicia Keys new CD even higher than the critics do. This is very apparent on sites like Metacritic, where both professional writers and music fans can both give their opinions.

In the songs on the Element of Freedom, she reaches new, but different heights to her previous work, with strong melodies, thought-provoking lyrics and a soulful and restrained delivery of the ballads. The new album stands comparison with her best work, such as the renowned 'Songs in A Minor' and 'The Diary...', many fans are saying, and the whole CD is strong from start to finish, with many great songs.

One of Alicia's strengths has always been her expert keyboard playing, and on this new album it is to the fore again. Another element in the new album was the 1980's pop feel, which is a new direction for Alicia, who had been listening to many 80's artists during the recording of the album, particularly Prince. Alicia has always used emotion and feeling in her songs and her delivery, and on the Element of Freedom she has said that the theme was finding freedom from depression.

alicia keys

alicia keys

alicia keys

alicia keys

alicia keys

alicia keys

alicia keys

alicia keys

alicia keys

alicia keys

alicia keys

alicia keys

alicia keys

alicia keys