Alicia Keys - The Diary of Alicia Keys
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Free Music Notes for The Diary of Alicia Keys
Free Music Review: My Favourite R&B/Soul Album From A Female Artist!
Hit: 5 Stars
Despite the fact that "The Diary Of Alicia Keys", singer/songwriter/musician Alicia Keys' sophomore effort, has already achieved phenomenal success both commercially and critically, I'm reviewing this album (I've owned my own official copy since 2004) in hopes of converting non-believers into Alicia Keys fans and scoring myself some helpful votes.
This album is most definitely a flawless R&B/Soul record - whereas her debut album "Songs In A Minor" was a ballad-heavy debut that showcased Alicia's soulful, gritty, powerful vocals, her compelling songwriting abilities and her undeniably amazing display of musicianship, "The Diary Of Alicia Keys" continues to capitalise on those same qualities while throwing a few extra surprises into the mix. Produced by super-producer/satisfactory-rapper Timbaland, "Heartburn" finds Alicia Keys sexily professing her infatuation with another man over sweaty bursts of faint percussion and infectious electric guitar loops; slow jams "Slow Down" & "Dragon Days" finds Alicia Keys sounding sexy without being sl*tty, lacing soulful vocals with lusty lyrics, smooth production and sexy guitar riffs for extra intensity; she pulls off a beautiful rendition of "If I Was Your Woman"; and "So Simple", which uses a nifty vocal sample (or it could be singer Lellow, who is easily overshadowed by Alicia Keys' soulful vocals and overpowering presence...hell, maybe Alicia's voice was studio-altered/enhanced), explores the growing complexity of an increasingly troublesome relationship with incredible lyrics over a simple arrangement of piano and faint percussion.
However, it's when she sticks to what she does best that she churns out some of the best songs to grace her catalogue. Alicia Keys' always-spot-on vocals and killer lyrics, which talk about that inescapably overwhelming feeling of being absorbed in addictive love, effortlessly ride over Kanye West's stellar production and old-school grooves -piano keys, violins, etc.- on the flawless lead single "You Don't Know My Name" ; R&B singers Tony! Toni! Tone! lend their soulful vocals on "Diary", a piano-driven R&B/Soul classic ballad about being the person or "diary" someone else can confide in and be truthful with ; album closer "Nobody Not Really", with its laid-back horns and smooth vocals, is a melodic ode to universal loneliness and feelings of neglect from the rest of the world ; and the ballad "Karma", where dramatic violins and obligatory piano work accompany Alicia Keys' story about a man wanting her back after dumping her, speaks for itself.
"If I Ain't Got You" is definitely the best track on the album, and the reason I bought the CD in the first place. Alicia Keys' soulful vocals and expectedly excellent display of her piano skills ALWAYS make room for her powerful lyrics. However, this song has more substance than its "all-the-riches-in-the-world-are-nothing-without-you" theme/cliché might suggest. It tells us how we judge people by their physical features ("Some people think / That the physical things / Define what's within"), how our material obsessions are what makes us happy as opposed to what our actual lovers have to offer from themselves ("Sometimes you need 3 dozen roses / And that's the only way to prove you love them"), how we're all so focused on retaining our youth and outer beauty ("Some people search for a fountain / That promises forever young") and so much more. Hell, the grand statement of how people live for fame, fortune, power or just to play the game reeks of raw truth all by itself, as does the whole track.
If you're into raw, artistically accomplished R&B/Soul that speaks to the heart, soul, mind and life as a whole, you should have no problem enjoying this album. For those of you who despise albums loaded with balladry, you MIGHT be better off avoiding this album. Ultimately though, everyone should get a copy of this album & hear what real R&B/Soul should sound like. 5 stars!
5 Best Tracks:
"If I Ain't Got You"
"You Don't Know My Name"
"Diary (feat. Tony! Toni! Tone!)
"Heartburn"
"Nobody Not Really"
Free Music Review: Melt my heart from inside to outside!
Hit: 5 Stars
She's full of talent,this is one of my favorite RnB album!
Just Buy it if you STILL haven't get it!
It worth every bucks, no doubt baby just buy it!
Harlem's Nocturne - Just an Intro but sounds nice! 3.5/5
Karma - This Beat is Hot, sounds like Dr. Dre stuff, I guess it's good to rap, but anyway, Alicia Keys is so fine in this Opening track, The Chorus is straong, THis song is kinda Symphonic! Not the best song but good nuff! 4.5/5
Heartburn - Hmm... This song is quite differ with other songs in this album, 70' beats, with some funky guitar loop....
I feel this song background music is kinda thin, not good enough, anyway, good try for some new style! But I don't like it. And the first verse sound as same as Pharrell verse in Jay-Z "I Just Wanna Love you". 3/5
If I was Your Woman/Walk on By - The first time I heard this song, I was thinking "Keys Sample Biggie's beat and sounds quite nice" anyway, this song is produce by Easy Mo Bee [Big's Producer in Ready to Die]
Quite ncie song! But Kinda Short! 4.5/5
You Don't Know My Name - Okay baby, The first thing I gotta tell you is, this song is Fxxkin' classic! You'll love it when the first time you heard it and it seems not so easy to played out! Produce by Kanye West.
This song is so Perfect!
I have long long time haven't heard a love song touching like this one,
This song have The mood of Love, Have a STRONG Love feeling,
And it's so Touching, it Melt my heart!
Keys' Lyrics is SO real and so Touching!!!
I think Keys put many Soul in this song,
I can feel her Sul in this song!
It's one of the seldom song that can nearly Melting my heart.
I'm sure if you play this song for you girl in your home,
she must hug you tight and dance with you,
I'm sure, because I did this before, hahaha!
I sure compare this song to Bread "If", Andy Gibb "Don't throw it all away" and Minnie Riperton "Lovin' you".
One of the best song I heard in this few years! 5/5
If I ain't Got You - The most incredible part of this album is here! Because I think the last song "You don't know my name" is some very rare heart-melting ballad!
I think it ain't easy to make another one, but Keys did it!
If I ain't Got You is as Great as You Don't Know...
Sometime I think This one is even better!
It's touching, it got soul!
Plus the intro piano solo is SO DAMN NICE!
Nuff Say, I beg for more! 5/5
Diary - Very Nice one! Classic Mid-tempo RnB beats, with some Nice Piano, very relax song! 4.5/5
Dragon Days - One of my less favorite song in this album. 3/5
Wake Up - This one is fine, above the average! 4/5
So Simple - An Okay song, not my favorite, sometime I'll skip this one! 3.5/5
When You Really Love Someone - I really love those piano in this song! The chorus is nice! Very Nice song that I listen to it a lot! 4.5/5
Feeling u, Feeling me - a 2 mins Interlude! Sounds really great! Those Piano Sound very mellow, I think it must be better if it's a normal song!
I won't skip this one! 4.5/5
Slow Down - Not the best one but it's aight! 3.5/5
Samsonite Man - Another okay song! 4/5
Nobody not really - Whao~ The Intro of this song is so Fantastic!
This song sounds like from Heaven!
It's sounds like a sweet dream!
I feel this song got some fashion Jazz Feeling,
just an Amazing track to finish this album,
the only complain is it's too short! 5/5
It's a Touching, Full of the mood of Love,
ALICIA KEYS IS OPEN THE DOOR OF MY HEART
AND MELT IT FROM INSIDE TO OUTSIDE!
Just simply an incredible album!
If love is all you need, get this album!
If you love RnB, This is a Must Have!
If you like some mellow/beautiful Music, You should get this!
Free Music Review: Great Sophomore Album
Hit: 5 Stars
Alicia Keys has really cemented herself in the world of RnB megastars among the likes of Aretha Franklin, Prince, Ray Charles and Stevie Wonder.
Her piano playing magic along with her soulful crooning have made her a favourite with all ages.
One of the reasons why so many people are attracted to her music is that she isn't flaunting her body and is more respectable than many other female RnB artists at the moment.
Like she demonstrated on her debut she has an undeniable talent and to me this effort far surpasses her previous.
She is more mature and aware of herself.
On "Songs In A minor" she was too dismissive at times yet on this album she confirms what she wants to say and gets her message across without side-tracking.
Album opener "Harlem's Nocturne" is exactly like the intro to her other album yet the piano is better and she seems to have matured alot. Her voice is way more solid and fluent.
"Karma" is a standout on the album with her strong belting during the choruses and the lyrics really seem to come across. The production on this song is superb.
"Heartburn" is an amazingly funky song where Alicia finally breaks out of her ballad persona, this girl doen't just sit behind a piano all day. Man, she has a gusto voice.
The next track is a song that is a classic and you will instantly know it. "If I Was Your Woman/Walk On By" strikes a chord with me as it has funk yet that subtleness that confides within Alicia. "You Don't Know My Name" is the Kanye West produced track that is just so daring. Not many could get away with a phone conversation during the middle of a song but Alicia gets away with it. Naturally.
"If I Ain't Got You" is the best song on the album and grabbed a GRAMMY nomination for Best Song. It is reminiscent of her biggest hit "Fallin'" and wins me over again. "Diary (ft. Tony! Toni! Tone!)" is a very personal track where Keys really connects with the listener. Her vocals are excellently superb.
"Dragon Days" is a great lyrical piece of work that uses superb metaphors and imagery. The beats steal the show this time as they add to the story trying to be portrayed. "Wake Up" is another song where Ms. Keys gets in the mood for loving. This track is the perfect example of Alicia's talent.
"So Simple" has a great chorus, beats and vocals. But probably the factor that contributes most to this song being so good is the voice of Lellow in the background, it's just so damn cute.
"When You Really Love Someone" is just another "Woman's Worth" yet it is more daring and has better vocals and instrumentation. On this track she tells you what it's like --when you really love someone--.
The interlude "Feeling U, Feeling Me" has a nice calm beat and
a superb piano section and hushed vocals from Alicia. Short and sweet. "Slow Down" has a nice chorus which pulls the song through from a relatively dull verse. The piano reigns supreme and the chorus beat is just tremendous.
"Samsonite Man" is another of my album favourites and leaves me wonder what a samsonite man does or did to her. I love the whole song on a whole and the vibraphone works well with the slightly creepy piano. "Nobody Not Really" sounds like a day-time soap theme song. It has this strangely magestic flow to it, with the horn section and the soft, dreamy vocals. Overall very good.
Alicia Keys is the saviour for the sex-driven female RnB scene at the moment. She is so well respected and her music is truthful and speaks to you from the heart and is really good.
Free Music Review: Gem for sure!
Hit: 5 Stars
Wow! This is a tad better than "Songs In", very different! I loved this album!Harlem's Nocturne- A haunting song, yet very beautiful. I love the small introduction to this song, it's very beautiful the way the piano goes! I did like "Piano & I" Just a bit better, but this is still a masterpeice. 5/5
Karma- One of my favorites! This has an extremely R&Bish song. It talks about a relationship that doesn't need to be reformed. A cool song with perfect lyrics. At first it sounded like something a rebel rapper would do, with the instrumentals, but I really got used to it. 5/5
Heartburn- This is an interesting choice for Alicia Keys. It's very hard rockish. Not my favorite, but very unique just the same. Alicia certainly knew what she was doing! This is kind of immature though- I usually skip it. 4/5
If I Was Your Woman- This is one of my favorite songs on the album. The words relate to how I feel at this exact moment. I love everything about it, except that it's kind of short. 5/5
You Don't Know My Name- One of my favorites. Everything about this song is great except for the talking in the middle. To me, it just makes the song *yawn* boring. She totally killed it by doing that. Instead of making it a normal 4:30 song, it's now expanded to a whopping 6 minutes! Good, but tacky all the same. 5/5
If I Ain't Got You- My favorite on the album. It's a beautiful love song that talks about how riches don't compare to true love. Absolutely breathtaking with vocals taken to the very very top. 5/5
Diary- This song is boring. The vocals are good, and the words are good, but it's sort of monotone. This one doesn't do anything for me. 3/5
Dragon Days- I really like this one! It talks about her bad days, and how the "fire's hot!" A cool song, with interesting lyrics. This song uses metaphors. It's very unique. 5/5
Wake Up- I really like this song. From the lyrics to the tune, everything is original. It's a very interesting song. 5/5
So Simple- One of my favorites.! I don't find the computerized voice all annoying, and it's not a boring song! This is a good song for Alicia's voice, and the tune is just right. 5/5
When You Really Love Someone- I agree with every reviewer- This is the new Fallin/Woman's Worth, with the lyrics of "A Woman's Worth" and tune of "Fallin'" Beautiful! Very pure and stright to the point. 5/5
Feeling U, Feeling Me- I like the guitar chords, but the rest is kinda pointless. It was written by Alicia, but there really are no words, except for a two line part towards the end. OK. 3.5/5
Slow Down- I know it's called "Slow Down" but it is way too slow! It does have variety, though, and I do like it. Not the highlight of the album, though. 4/5
Samsonite Man- Really, I don't find this song all that great. It's just another song. I don't know- It may appeal to others, but it doesn't to me. 3.5/5
Nobody Not Really- A terrific interlude, one to definitely think about, with a jazzy tune and words that make you realize about how creul a place this world can be. 5/5
That's it! Now go out and buy it!
Free Music Review: OH MY GOSH!!!!!!
Hit: 5 Stars
Ok. This album is just perfect. There is absolutely no other way to describe it. It is perfect. In every way. Alicia Keys is one of the the BEST artists ever born, and I hope she lives to be 100 so I can listen to her sing until I die. That is how good this album is.
Track 1- "Harlem's Nocturne" is a beautiful piano solo with some other little special effects. I am not a huge fan of this type of music, but I really like this track.
Track 2- "Karma" is SLAMMIN'! Just great. A nice, up-tempo song about what goes around comes around. A. Keys delivers once again.
Track 3- "Heartburn" is like Karma, only delivers a totally opposite message. I like this track. It is good. Not smashing like some of the others, but a nice relaxation track.
Track 4- "If I Was Your Woman/Walk on By" teaches Gladys Knight a thing or two about soul. This is probably the 2nd best track on the CD.
Track 5- "You Don't Know My Name" is AWESOME! It is somewhat more up-tempo than the previous and next song, but still extremely soulful and erotic in a strange way. AWESOME SONG!
Track 6- "If I Ain't Got You" is the best song ever written. And my personal favorite song of all time if youre interested. It is beautiful, soulful, relaxing, basically the quintissential A. Keys.
Track 7- "Diary" is not one of my personal favorites, but a pretty good song never-the-less. Tony Toni Toné does a very good job with A. Keys.
Track 8- "Dragon Days" is a very good track. It has very interesting lyrics and is soulful, as most of A. Keys' stuff is. A very good track to listen to when you need to relax.
Track 9- "Wake Up" is again, not my personal favorite and not very memorable at that. I only listen to it rarely, so I cannot really tell you what its like. Sorry : (.
Track 10- "So Simple" is a COOL song! It is so interestingly mixed. This is a very neat song to listen to. EXTREMELY COOL!
Track 11- "When You Really Love Someone" is basically a track to show off her voice. It doesn't have great lyrics, but it shows off her smokiness and soul. Good for relaxation.
Track 12- " Feeling u, feeling me" is just o.k. It isn't that interesting or good, it's just kinda there. I don't know why she called it an interlude. Or why she even put it on her album for that matter.
Track 13- "Slow Down" is a good song. It is solid and durable, not powerful like some of her stuff, but good nonetheless.
Track 14- "Samsonite Man" I only listened to twice. I just never really took the time to study it like I have some of her other tracks. Its a good song, but not noticeable.
Track 15- "Nobody not really" is one of my personal favorites. Like on Songs in A Minor, she put, as track 15, a song that is NOT about love, but about her and how she feels. It has such cool lyrics, much like "Caged Bird" on SAM, and it just such a neat finish to such a great album.