Alicia Keys Album Preview

First off, the cover looks like a throwback to the 1970s. Black and white, with striking red letters, and Alica sports feathered hair like 70s icon Farrah Fawcett. It sets the tone. Anyone that's seen her video "No One" understands she's taken her place among the grown and sexy. And the CD feels like a soul album of the 70's.

"As I Am (Intro)" - It's short, as one would expect from an intro. But damn it's good. It' her doing what brought her to the party; playing elegant piano.

"Go Ahead" - Her voice starts warm, sounds like her counterpart India Arie. Near the end of the song, you might recognize that the beat is reminiscent to 70s icon Queen's "We will Rock You."

"Superwoman" - Bluesy and soulful, like something composed by Carole King. Can't say I'm bowled over by the lyrics.

"No One" - I really think this song is almost terrible. The piano work sounds... elementary and amateurish. The beat, basic and ordinary. The 1980's sounding synthesizer comes across dated. And for the life of me, I can't figure out why it sounds like she's screaming on this song, rather than singing. Regardless, most people are either in love with this song, or no doubt how beautiful she is in the video. The video surely did kill the radio star. As harsh as I am on this song, I did warm up to it after the video. Guilty.

"Like You'll Never See Me Again" - This is the song that everybody says sounds like a Prince Song. Accurate description. Also a compliment. If you've seen Alicia in concert, or even watched her perform live on TV, you notice her voice is smoky and sultry. This song sounds exactly like who Alicia has evolved into. This is what she'll sound like when you see her live.

"Lesson Learned" - This is a collaboration between Alicia and John Mayer. Wonderful! Two wunderkind working together. It's not a duet in the truest since of the word. John only provides back up vocals, and some singing on the hook. But his guitar is present throughout the entirety of the track. It's beautiful to hear both of the musicians ramp up toward the crescendo. This deserves a video more than anything.

"Wreckless Love" - Not the Alicia you remember. Here, she laments on the loss of wreckless love. She sings about going back to the type of love one experiences early in a relationship. Before things become old, staid, and safe. Here, "love" is synonymous with "sex". So straight forward, it could be the soundtrack for the HBO hit "Tell Me You Love Me."

"The Thing About Love" - one of my favorites! It breaks away from the expected. This composition shares more in common with Radiohead, Portishead, or U2. The piano takes on a personality, that of a lonely soul. There are rich, yet subtle strings to support the grandiose mood. Also, there is some organ cleverly laced within to add some old time spirit. Alicia shines!"I Need You" - In a word, "funky." This is the one expected to hear repeated over and over from cars passing by. It's complex, and at the same time, smooth. Infections! The hook "I Need You" sounds like a familiar but hard to place 80's R&B hit.

"Prelude to a Kiss" - Intense and powerful at only 2 minutes and 9 seconds long. Prelude for real.

The last two songs - "Tell You Something (Nana's Reprise)" and "Sure Looks Good To Me" - defy simple categorization. They certainly breach the parameters of contemporary R&B. Again, there are vocal arrangements and musical compositions more akin to a rock ballad. It's not the kind of song that would get guaranteed play on black radio, but it could be a breakthrough hit on mainstream pop stations. And don't take that as a jab. She steps outside of the prescribed zone for soul singers, without compromising her integrity. She still packs the soulful punch we expect of her.

I couldn't call this a perfect album, unless I was showing my bias. There is variety and range, though. Some songs you might choose to repeat, others might require the skip. Most of the tracks might not instantly command your attention. But pay attention, because this is a great CD. Well worth your pocket change.