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... Read review

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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... Read review

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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

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Advantages: A Chance to hear Classical music work so well with Hip Hop and Jazz
Disadvantages: None what so ever.

...The diary of Alicia Keys is a brilliant album which combines a wide variety of sounds in a unique way. Alicia Keys uses her raw talent effortlessly to create a vibrant hip hop and soulful classic sound which combined, creates the type of music you do not want leaving your CD player. Track 1 Harlem’s Nocturne: In this track Alicia Keys has explored the use of semi-quavers in a free and expressive tempo. Such characteristics are usually found in classical pieces. Towards the end of the song the tempo changes to moderate and steady, therefore creating a perfect example of how well classical and hip hop sounds work. By showing this on the very first song she is keeping her audience intrigued and wanting more. Track 2 Karma: is second on the album. This is a moderately slow song which creates a moody atmosphere. The lyrics also... Read review

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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

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Advantages: Range of sounds, fantastic lyrics and vocal talents.
Disadvantages: N/A

...Since her multi-platinum debut album in 2001, Alicia Keys has just gone from strength to strength, and this album shows just how she has! Selling 742,000 copies in the first week, it was the fastest selling album in the USA since Norah Jones' - Feels Like Home in 2004. Her third album to date and by far her most eagerly anticipated, this album shows of the singer/songwriters wide range of talents and vocal skills. I am a great fan of Alicia Keys and owning both of her previous albums, I can realize how hard it must have been to top what she has previously released! "As I Am" is an album full of soul and comes right from the heart of arguably one of the best R&B/Jazz singers out there today. The album combines soulful ballads with a range of funky R&B tracks and some exquisite piano pieces with really do grab the listeners attention... Read review

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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

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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

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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

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Advantages: Refreshing classical piano, promising vocal talent
Disadvantages: None that can't be put up with - although there are few out of place tracks towards the beginning

...'s the same with a lot of musical genres these days, house music, rock and RnB are all moving away from producing a great melody with thought provoking lyrics, they tend to place more emphasis on the overall feel of the music and the music video. Just when I thought all was lost and I was going to give up on last year's music, I met my mate from Barnsley last weekend. We ended up getting totally pissed and I nursed a hangover for most of the weekend after that, but a hangover wasn't the only thing I came home with. We'd been talking about music a lot as we inevitably do and I was saying how much I liked Alicia Keys single releases. A few minutes later he was delving into his bag and producing an MD with Songs In A Minor on it - I was chuffed and on the Saturday night when everyone else had gone out, I settled down in front of the stereo hoping... Read review

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