Advantages: Originalty
Disadvantages: there is nothing wrong with the album

...After such a fantastic debut album 'Songs in A minor' I was waiting to see if Alicia keys was able to be consistent with her originality. And yes she proved that she could. The diary of Alicia Keys, once again stretches Alicia's originality in songwriting, producing and her vocal ability. She presents to us an updated Motown feel that this century is lacking in the charts.. If you love your slow jams, then by all means you will just love this album. its one of those albums that you can leave in your cd player for months without skipping a track and play it every day until your hi-fi even gets sick of it. My personal favorite song on the album is Diary' feat Toni! Toni! Tone! This is a heart felt track with jazz and blues influences. Other songs to look out for on the album are: 'if i was your woman', 'When You really Love someone... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average helpful

Advantages: Amazing vocal range that sends shivers down your spine!
Disadvantages: Arrangement of songs

...This album is great from start to finish. The songs range from emotional tear jerkers ie Fallin to feel good songs such as Rock Wit You and A Woman's Worth. There are amazing lyrics throughout the album. The combination of the wonderful lyrics, excellent melodies and enchanting vocals of Alicia adds up to make an album that is well worth listening to! The downfall of the album is that the first time you listen to it, you can switch off half way through due to short attention spans and lengthy songs and not get to the end of the album to listen to some of the better songs. This album can take a few listenings for you to appreciate the value of this album. Goodbye and Never Felt This Way contribute to excellent songs and the duet Mr Man with Jimmy Cozier is a great track aswell. The remix of Fallin is just as good as the original although... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average helpful

Advantages: A good follow-up to a first album...
Disadvantages: Some weak songs...

...To be honest, when I knew Alicia's second album was coming out I was dubious. I certainly didnt rush to the shops to buy it. After the success of Songs in A minor, I was concerned that its successor would be a weak follow-up. Overall I was proved wrong. Having heard 'U dont know my name' played endlessly on the radio I loved the track but was worried that the album would be selling on this song alone. However, a few listens proves that although it is a strong song there are others that rival its soulful success. Strongest tracks on this album are those where Alicia concentrates on a more soul type vibe. Whether she uses the more old-skool sound of soul revival, as in 'If i were your woman' or a more updated soul vibe as evidenced in 'Diary' these songs are strong and cohesive. I would say they show off her voice fantastically whilst... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average helpful

Advantages: Amazing
Disadvantages: Its never out of my C.D player

...Alicia Keys – Songs in A minor. Wow was my first impression when I heard Alicia Keys’ debut single- Fallin’. The quality of her voice sent shivers down my spine. It was her debut single (Fallin’) that intrigued me to buy the album, Songs in A minor, but her other released singles, A Woman’s Worth and the recently released Girlfriend are excellent too. Her album includes duets with Jimmy Cozier, Kandi Burruss, Busta Rhymes and Rampage. My personal favourite tracks are Fallin’, Caged Bird, Why Do I Feel So Sad and Butterflyz (which she wrote when she was just 14 years old). Almost every song on the album she has written or co- wrote and plays the piano with magnificent skill. This album you’ll either love or hate. It needs to grow on you initially but if you are a fan of soul and R’n... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average helpful

Advantages: Talented singer who can play her own music
Disadvantages: Some songs do lose their va va voom at times

...Alicia Keys is by far one of the most talented young singers of today whether her music appeals or not. Her impressive finger work on the piano owes a lot of success to some of the well written tracks such as 'Goodbye'; an ode to letting go of a lover. For me the definite highlight of the album is "Fallin'; her debut single that subtely links the string arrangement of James Brown's 'It's a Man's Man's Man's World' as well as giving it that well performed piano edge. Other tracks that deserve a mention are 'Butterflies' which also reflects her musical talent and the energetic 'Jane Doe' which shows that she is worth more than just singing slow soft ballads. There are downsides to the album though where she has taken the idea of 'simple is better' a little too far and some tracks can become monotonous. Then again, with such high... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average helpful

Advantages: Nice singing
Disadvantages: none

...Alicia Keys' new album is back! and it offers the most amazing tracks ever. Firstly just to say that in most of these tracks, she demonstartes her piano skills and they truly captivate anyone who understands music, her singing is great and she has already won lots of awards such as grammy awards for this album. One of my most favourite If I Aint Got You and You Dont Know My Name because these songs are sung with alot of feeling and emotion and they are arranged in a tuneful and musical way. Overall, I would truly recommend this Album to anyone as it does include 15 songs which are all personal and individual in their own way. This copy has sold over millions worldwide and is very popular so it is worth the money.... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average helpful

Advantages: Some of the tracks are quite good
Disadvantages: Lots of mediocrity, a few very bad tracks

...Building on the success of her previous album, "Songs in A-Minor", with a more mature idea of song building and a greater dedication to producing fantastic soul was how I heard "The Diary of Alicia Keys" being reviewed. Truth be told, it is a fairly patchy album. The worst parts of the album would be the starting point, as there are only really two. "Streets of New York" featuring Nas and Rakim is a brief, slightly bland hip-hop track that is saved only by it's protagonists voice. Unfortunately, the soul-artist-doing-hip-hop thing is played better by people like Angie Stone who did a fantastic rap bonus track on her latest album (which was romping good fun). In comparison, Keys seems to fall kinda short here. The other downfall is "So Simple" for it's abysmal chipmunk-through-a-vocoder sound that has been created when some sound... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average helpful

Advantages: Amazing, soulful singing
Disadvantages: Can get a bit repetative

...Songs in A Minor was Alicia Key's debut album, released in 2001 when she was just 20 years old. She won 5 grammy awards that year, including best new artist, best song for Fallin' and best R&B album. It went on to sell about 18 million copies worldwide. The first track, Piano & I, is more of an introduction than a real song. It's based around the Moonlight Sonata, and it has some nice piano and soulful backing, but not much else. Girlfriend kicks off the album proper, and the next few tracks are more urban than the rest of the album. It's driven by the beat more than the piano, and has decent vocals, but nothing too stretching. How Come You Don't Call Me was written by Prince, and Alicia shows off her vocal range to brilliant effect here. It features another strong urban beat, and a phone ringing in the background, which... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average helpful

Advantages: Lovely lyrics, soulful voice, piano playing
Disadvantages: It ends

...Born 25th January, 1981 in Manhattan, Alicia Keys is just 21 years old and yet she has the world at her feet with her amazing piano playing and her sultry, soulful voice. Alicia began writing her debut album aged 14. By 16 she had graduated high school due to her outstanding grades, and went to Columbia University. Alicia sung in a choir at school and was encouraged by her mother not to ever give up playing the piano. She is an accomplished singer and a classically trained pianist. In 1998, aged just 17, Alicia joined Arista before moving to J Records late in 1999. Her debut album, “Songs in A Minor” was released in June 2001 in USA and a month later in UK. APPEARANCE OF THE CD Front cover: A lovely picture of Alicia against a dark background. She confidently stands with her hands upon her hips wearing a dark green hat, black... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average helpful

Advantages: Beautiful arrangements, some brilliant new songs
Disadvantages: Could of been more new material, but the CD does not feel empty without them,

...Having been lucky enough to go and see Miss Keys live twice, I can honestly say, as beautiful as her voice sounds when its been recorded in a studio, its only when you hear her live that you fully understand how talented she is. This album lets you get closer to the experience of her live performances. Although it has only has a few new tracks, hearing a live recording of her old favourites brings something new to the songs. Some of the arangements have been changed, the backing singers are sensational, and i would say some of these versions are better than the orginals. I definitely wasn't left feeling short changed by the limited number of new songs, although the ones that are on there are excellent, particularly Wild Horses, which is a sensational duet with the amazingly talented lead singer of Maroon 5.Definitely one to listen out... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average helpful