Black Voices

Issue date: 11/16/07 Section: Entertainment

Alicia Keys "As I Am" album cover.

Alicia Keys released her newest album, "As I Am" on Tuesday Nov.13.

When I heard the first single "No One," I dismissed it as another one of those Alicia Keys singles that would undoubtedly be stuck in everyone's head for the next few months, but nothing new.

I expected to hear the same themes of "Unbreakable love", and "I'm so lost without you."

I anticipated it so much, that I yearned for Alicia to step outside of those oh-so-lovely yet oh-so-familiar chord progressions and re-introduce herself so that we could fall in love with her original sound just like in the good old days of "Fallin".

I wanted her to take a chance, detour from the old school R&B that she's mastered so well, and prove that her brilliance knows no boundaries.

For her third studio album Ms. Keys, as I know refer to her, did just that.

Ms. Keys shows herself in a new light as she explores different rhythms in her music. Songs like "Wreckless Love" and "Sure Looks Good to Me" have hints of blues and rock-and-roll, even the popular single, "No One" has a surprising reggae undertone that really works.

With the exception of almost unnoticeable backup vocals and guitar strumming by the amazing John Mayer, this album is purely her own with no big guest appearances by rappers or duets with equally talented singers.

Overall, the album has a positive tone, giving listeners nostalgia for that mature, sexy, romantic, exciting and innocent love.

I like it because of the songs' beautiful lyrics and Ms. Key's impressive vocals and amazing musicianship.

She by no means hides behind the piano on this one, she's strictly focused on the mic-and it shows. With such great talent on all the tracks, Ms. Keys' doesn't have to fish for a radio hit, her vocal apparatus and lyrical genius will keep her at the top of the charts.

The second single, "Like You'll Never See Me Again", was inspired by Prince and the video features Common.

Ms. Keys experiments with new music styles on this album and it really works! If you haven't gotten it by now you're sleeping on a lyrical masterpiece so step up your game.

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