Alicia Keys

The Diary Of Alicia Keys

Not Quite a Diary...but Great Nonetheless

Review Score:

(8/10)
We all know Alicia Keys. We all heard "Fallin'" on the radio 93853 times. We all saw her win as many grammys that year. Under such conditions, it would be hard to make a solid sophomore effort. Somehow though, she did it. Keeping her beautiful piano playing and love of old school soul and r&b, Alicia has otherwise grown. There are less piano ballads and more slow-tempo grooves. Her singing ability has improved. Her emotive vocal power is at it's highest on "If I Ain't Got You" and attitude comes pouring through in her lyrics over the thump of "Karma." Her lyrics have become more inventive. She is playful on the funk sounds of "Heartburn" and paints a picture of medieval sexual longing in the wordplay of "Dragon Days." The sound of 60's motown pervades on "Wake Up," 70's funk on "Dragon Days," and a current R&B sound on "So Simple" and "Diary." All meld together perfectly. OK, she probably didn't need to remake a Gladys Knight song (no one will ever outsing or out emote that un-aging diva) especially by throwing "Walk on by" over it, but she holds her own. I say that this album is not quite a diary because it doesn't feel like she's really telling us anything about herself. As long as she keeps making high-quality and inventive music, I think she can stay as elusive as she likes.

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