Album Review: Alicia Keys - ALICIA
It’s hard to believe that Alicia Keys has been on the music scene for nearly two decades now. It just seems like it was only yesterday she released songs like ‘If I Ain’t Got You’, ‘No One’, ‘Girl On Fire’. We also can’t forget her timeless collaborations such as ‘Empire State of Mind’ with JAY-Z and ’My Boo’ alongside Usher. It’s fair to say that Keys has been a force within Hip-Hop and R&B music all the way through the 2000s, and she continues to make her mark with her seventh album ALICIA. Keys proudly admitted in a recent Apple Music interview that this is the first album where she feels that she is most fully being herself. Keys stays true to this sentiment throughout 15 tracks as she takes listeners through a personal journey of reflection, vulnerability, and empowerment.
Keys opens the album full force with ‘Truth Without Love’. Although it sounds as if this song could be a freestyle, the lyrics are perfectly penned. An arrangement of piano and strings accompanies her as she questions her life, love, and the intentions of others. These are subjects that she continues to discuss and question through the rest of the album. Keys wastes no time switching up the sound and turns up the tempo for ‘Time Machine’. She sings about the importance of chasing your dreams before it might become too late to pursue them. The album delves more into pop with ‘Authors of Forever’. We are enlightened as Keys shines a light on the human experience and how unique it is. The opening line of the chorus sums up the essence of the track perfectly: “We are born on our own, and we die on our own, and we’re here to make meaning of what happens in between.” In an interesting transition of sound, elements of reggae are borrowed from in ‘Wasted Energy’, a collaboration featuring Tanzanian recording artist, Diamond Platnumz. It explores the familiar feelings of anger, confusion, and sadness after a difficult end to a relationship. ‘Underdog’ is up next and comes in with acoustic guitars and a pop beat. Keys delivers an important message with this song, and gives credit to those who are working their hardest but might not be receiving the recognition they deserve.
Sampha collaborates with Keys on ‘3 Hour Drive’ as they deal with the conflicting emotions that are experienced after a break-up. This song also sees her delve back into her R&B roots that she is so well-known for. ‘Me x 7’, featuring Tierra Whack, mirrors a similar theme and sound. It speaks about embracing the importance of loving yourself after caring about another for far too long. Keys continues down the path of R&B and duets with Miguel on the passionate ballad ‘Show Me Love’. Keys definitely does not hold back with collaborations on this album as the next song, ‘So Done’, features the highly praised Khalid. As calm as the song sounds, the lyrics are impactful as the duo sing about living life on their terms after feeling held back for so long. Hints of folk and country music come through on ‘Gramercy Park’, which definitely makes for an interesting change in genre. Throughout the song, Keys addresses losing a sense of self after as a result of being in love.
‘Love Looks Better’ shows an anthemic collaboration between Keys and well-known music producer, Ryan Tedder. The songstress wastes no time slowing things back down again with a soulful piano ballad, ‘You Save Me’, which features up and coming artist, Snoh Aalegra. Although they sound similar, hearing their voices on a song together really proves that there is no shortage of female talent within R&B music right now. It seems that for the next song Keys was in awe of her collaborator, Jill Scott, and named the track after her. Jazzy but still maintaining a soulful R&B sound, the passion oozes from this song. On ‘Perfect Way To Die’, it’s refreshing to see Keys use her artistry to give attention to prominent social and racial issues that continue to plague the world today. It is another perfect piano ballad, but with so much heart and emotion behind it. The album comes to an emotional but heart-warming end with ‘Good Job’, where the songstress expresses her gratitude to those persevering through this uncertain time in the world.
If you appreciate variety in genre, ALICIA is definitely worth a listen. While the lyrical content throughout the album was heartfelt and impactful, there were times when the melodies did not mirror this and felt slightly forced. In saying that, Keys is coming up on 20 years on her career and it’s only normal for an artist of her calibre to be exploring sounds beyond the genre that she is associated with, which has always been predominantly R&B. Even though melodically there were some lack lustre moments, the themes addressed throughout the album are certainly a light in these tricky times. To see her give recognition to those navigating hardship is a comforting act of kindness and only proves that music is a powerful force that continues to connect people as uncertain as things may be right now.
Reviewed by: Shelley Earwaker