Review 02: Alicia Keys - As I Am

Tracklist:

1. As I Am [Intro]
2. Go Ahead
3. Superwoman
4. No One
5. Like You'll Never See Me Again
6. Lesson Learned [Ft. John Mayer]
7. Wreckless Love
8. The Thing about Love
9. Teenage Love Affair
10. I Need You
11. Where Do We Go From Here
12. Prelude to a Kiss
13. Tell You Some Thing (Nana's Reprise)
14. Sure Looks Good to Me

Review:

The resident songstress is back with a soulful, empowering album. With songs like 'Superwoman' and 'Go Ahead" filled with words that will definitely empower and woman going through a rough spot in life. Her talents shine through with her track arrangement, her penmanship, her compositions and also her husky, tantalizing voice that all of us love. This record could possibly out do her previous records.

Track review:

1. As I Am [Intro]

A soulful composition that shows off her prowess on the keys. Definitely a plus. It's a slow start with a rhythmic ensemble for a closing. It also sets the overall mood for the album.

Rating: 5/5


2. Go Ahead
This has got to be a song that Alicia herself felt. The words she's used in the song fits the reality of most women in relationships. The songs about a woman getting up on her feet after being lied to. The song is further empowered by the beats and tune which fit the words so well. You can feel the rage in her words and the mood in the music.

Rating: 4/5


3. Superwoman
Our songstress really shows her range and tone in this song. This has got to be the most empowering track on the album. The persona in the song is facing the harsh realities of life and she's telling herself "I am Superwoman, Yes I am" . The song's very well penned. You can definitely bet that directors and producers are going to use this in movies soon...if it fits.

Rating: 5/5

4. No One
One of the more emotional tracks on this album. Alicia Keys sings about her "one". Telling him that "No One can get in the way of what I'm feeling". Though it's not one of my favorites due to the fact that she sounds like she's crying and shouting in the track. But the words and tune definitely give the song a full body and great feeling.

Rating: 3.5/5


5. Like You'll Never See Me Again
A soulful, tender track. A woman asking her man to love her like he'll never see her again. One of the slower tracks on the record. This song really has a melancholic tone to it as she's asking her lover what would he do if he never saw her again. This slow rhythmic ballad sets a tender mood.

Rating: 5/5


6. Lesson Learned [Ft. John Mayer]
A collaboration of the two soulful voices in the industry now. The track is one of my personal favorites on this record. The song's strong words and melodic composition are an impressive mix. The songs has a tendency of taking you to a place where you're not afraid to be yourself and tell yourself that you've been burned.....but pick yourself up, it's a lesson learned.

Rating: 5/5


7. Wreckless Love
One of the hotter tracks on the album. Here's a hot track with a soulful vibe unlike all the others in the industry which are more upbeat and sometimes raunchy, Ms. Keys has definitely found a way to send the message out without being trashy about it. Her choice of words and also the soulful, bluesy composition of this track is a match made in heaven.

Rating: 5/5


8. The Thing about Love
A slow, soulful track which explains the meaning of love in the eyes of Ms. Keys. The song's got a really uplifting change of tone towards the end which adds a little spice to the track. The best way to understand this song is to actually get it.

Rating: 5/5


9.Teenage Love Affair
Teens will definitely like this song as it's a tribute to them falling for each other and how they deal with love at their tender age. The words will definitely take you back to a time when you actually did fall for a boy/girl in high school. It's one of the more upbeat tracks on the album. But the beats don't spoil the song, in fact, it makes the song seems younger more hip and happening.

Rating: 4.5/5


10. I Need You
This is an upbeat track. However, it's also one of our songstress' less impressive tracks. The beats in this track drown the mood and the words of the track. Rather than uplifting the song, the beats pull it down. But the words and composition that are caught some where in between the beats lift the song out of the ditch ever so slightly. Towards the end the song beings to pull itself together. In all grace, this is track may impress some people out there. But here it's fumbling.

Rating: 2.5/5


11. Where Do We Go From Here
This is one of the more jazzy/bluesy song that Alicia's voice fits fit all too well. The song's vibe is one of deep sadness. It's a song of moving on after a break up... hence the title. It's a rather rhythmic sad song which make a person feel it.

Rating: 4/5


12. Prelude to a Kiss
This is a slow ballad in which it's all Ms. Keys with her Piano. The ballad is one in which the persona is asking for "an angel to guide" her. In short.....it's simple and sweet.

Rating: 3/5


13. Tell You Some Thing (Nana's Reprise)
This slow ballad is a contemplative one. It's a slow piece with very meaningful words that fits the song so well. It truly is one that is able to sing to the heart of people. She's says, "I Don't Wanna wait" throughout the song, Ms. Keys says she's got something to tell her man. I'm sure this one will be a hit with the fans.

Rating: 4/5


14. Sure Looks Good to Me
This track is one deep in feeling. I'm sure that alot of people that enjoy music will feel this one. The track's slow and emotional. It also has a X factor that I just can't get my finger on. But, that's the thing about the song that pulls me into it. The overall sound of this track is one of a mix of beats and composition that fits the medley of sounds that make this terrific track.

Rating: 5/5


This is definitely a MUST BUY CD for all Alicia Keys fans and for those who hate her.....think again. Her music is wondrous and also it's all meaningful, sober and of course, it's a piece the ears won't bleed at. The soulful songstress has really out done herself in this record with her vocals and her compositions. The album's soulful,meaningful and ever entrancing tunes prove that there's more behind those beautiful looks.


OVERALL RATING: 4/5

Here are your links to get this hot album:

Amazon.com
SONY BMG