Alicia Keys - The Diary of Alicia Keys
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Free Music Notes for The Diary of Alicia Keys
Free Music Review: This music keeps my heart beating.
Hit: 5 Stars
Without my regular dose of Alicia keys this world becomes a bleaker place. Just trying to pay the bills with a meaningless job and not getting pulled in by the current, with the dehumanizing waves of the masses that reek of mediocrity and unfulfilled dreams, life can be a struggle just to stay afloat. Just blink your eyes and a decade passes, and you are that much closer to your own mortality. And nothing has really changed. So it is exciting when a talent like Keys comes along and shines so bright that she leaves her competition huddled in a quivering mess. I am not going to disparage artists like Norah Jones, Diana Krall, and Erykah Badu, who are puting out quality music and far superior to the pop-vomit-cult of Brittany Spears and friends, but they are not on the same level as Alicia Keys. Keys is in a class of her own, perhaps a modern day Sappho.
Listen to one of her greatest creations to date, the soulful ballad "If I Ain't Got You," and feel the pain of this great Soul as she shares her romantic yearnings; the lyrics are simple, certainly no Shakespearean sonnet, but, like the Greek tragedies of Sophocles, simple and potent. When her fingers start tickling the ivories at the beginning you know you're in for a treat. Watch her videos as well; quite simply they are mini-movie masterpieces. (Who is directing/writing these Alicia?) There are nice little details in them that add to the richness of the presentation and make it more cinematic: notice the lady reading "Think and Grow Rich" in the heartfelt song "You Don't Know My Name," a little side comment on the materialism of this world which contrasts nicely with the main love fantasy of Alicia's character.
Everything with the Keys stamp represents high production values and exudes quality. This album is a sensational follow up to her debut effort and showcases her considerable skills (and considerable beauty). Many of her songs are a paragon of compositional brilliance that compare favourably with the structural integrity and virtuosity of some of Bach's fugues. She's that good! Her music inspires me to take my work to the next level and to create stories of real value.
Keys combines classical elements with R&B and Jazz to create truly original and inspiring works of art, and for this I am extremely grateful. Artistry of this calibre is rare and much of the work of her contemporaries is now obsolete. Who would willingly settle for second-rate or an imitation when the real thing is available? Please, buy the album, see her in concert, and don't rip off the songs online. When great artists come along we have to encourage them in every way possible.
My only wish, Alicia, is for you to keep doing what you're doing. I know you're an intelligent lady but please stay away from those that are disingenuous. You're a musical genius and you're helping to make the lives of a great many people more bearable.
Free Music Review: Sophomore Jinx? No Indeed!!
Hit: 5 Stars
I expected a good followup from Ms. Keys as she is one of the few artists I like who has proven to be more than one dimensional as far as talent. But I have to say I didn't expect an album this GREAT! I consider an album great (which is rare) when I don't have to skip over more than 3 to 5 tracks--I haven't skipped over any song on this album. If I had to list any standout tracks, it would be nearly the whole track listing, but the following songs alone in particular made the purchase of this album more than worth it:"If I Was Your Woman"--yeah, it's a remake but her rendition is just as powerful and heartfelt. It's my favorite upbeat song on the album.
"You Don't Know My Name"--she lays her soul on the line with this one and the piano and "phonecall" skit only adds to the sincerity
"Diary"--this is my favorite ballad on the album. I feel as if I'm being carried away to another level whenever I hear this one. It's so deep and so beautiful.
"If I Ain't Got You"--my second favorite ballad. It's very raw and powerful and I love the message--it's refreshing to hear for a change.
"Nobody not Really"--This one is very beautiful and the saxaphone just enhances how great her voice sounds on this song--she soars with this one.
Other Standouts included: (1) "Slow Down" (love the beat and I can't help but close my eyes and nod to the beat every single time I hear it), (2) "Feeling You, Feeling Me" (this is an interlude, but it has to be great if I'm wishing it were a full song! I love the instrumentals), (3) "Heartburn" (I really admire her for taking a chance with such a different style. It's upbeat with alot of percussion. It took a couple of listens for it to grab me, but now I really like it. Background vocals are good), and (4) "Samsonite Man" (love the catchy chorus and lyrics:"packin' his bags/gotta go, gotta go...)
I actually didn't intend to comment on almost all the songs, but as you can see that was impossible. There's something about every song on this album that I like, really like, or absolutely love! I can't emphasize how much I love this album. It's refreshing, powerful, and most of all sincere from beginning to end. I liked and admired Alicia Keys before this album but now I absolutely love her style and respect her. She has longevity and this sophomore effort shows it--I look forward to her future projects. Usually it's the first album of a particular artist that's usually considered a classic, but in this case, she's created another masterpiece. I already want her to be nominated for some AMA's and some more Grammy's even though she isn't eligible for the upcoming awards (I'm assuming). BRAVO, Ms. Keys!! ENCORE!! ENCORE!!
Free Music Review: Alicia is better than ever!
Hit: 5 Stars
Upon the little change in her style (musically), many fans quoted, "Alicia finally leaves her piano behind." From punky pop music to soulful r&b, many fans were happy for Alicia but some thought that the change of style might ruin her career, but guess what? It didn't! Even though Alicia add in some r&b beats in her new music, she didn't leave her piano behind, but twist the music together by adding r&b beats and a bit of more soothing r&b voice and her original piano notes makes this album the best of her, yet. All I have to say is I love her musical style and adapt to change up to date, but didn't leave all her past behind, because that's just a turnoff in music if people do those kind of transferation, like Mariah Carey did in the past, but Alicia just adds in more stuff in her music, and at the same time, keeps her old ones. Here's the rating for each song.
1. Harlem's Nocturne- 5/5: It's an introduction to the album, but I was kinda disappointed because she won't makes this a song, because it would totally rock, with all those music and stuff.
2. Karma- 5/5: As a violinst, I think that this song really rocks because Alicia adds in a lot of classical instrument, but in this song, the violin+piano sounds so modern.
3. Heartburn- 4/5: Great song, this song has some similarity to her past songs from "Songs in A minor" album.
4. If I Was Your Woman- 4/5: From the old song from some other dude, but Alicia sings it like her own!
5. You Don't Know My Name- 5/5: It is a slow song from her but yet one of the best songs in this cd.
6. If I Ain't Got You- 5/5: My favorite song of all time, well, ever since this album was release of course...The lyrics is so true.
7. Diary- 4/5: One of the singles, but I didn't like it that much, but yet, the beats are cool.
8. Dragon Days- 4.5/5: I like this song because of the definition of the song.
9. Wake Up- 3/5: This song is more of a r&b song than others.
10. So Simple- 4/5: It's a really fun song to listen to.
11. When You Really Love Someone- 5/5: I don't know if she is going to make this song a single, but it should, it has something similar to "If I Ain't Got You" but not as good, but still good at the same time.
12. Feeling U, Feeling Me- 4/5: A intrelude that is not as good as "Harlem's Nocturne" but cool r&b beats
13. Slow Down -4.5/5: Just slow down...another r&b song
14. Samsonite Man- 4.5/5: I like the title of this song, and after listening to it, I know what it means and I think that is pretty thoughtful.
15. Nobody Not Really- 4.5/5: A closing short song, like a interlude, it is pretty good.
Gotta get this, I mean, afterall, Alicia got 5 grammys, so you know that she has it in her!
Free Music Review: The missing track
Hit: 5 Stars
This is an excellent album - opening with Harlem's Nocturne - showing how arpegios really can flow in classical music - it winds into a complete tornado of music immitating a rain storm in the city streets.
Next we go into Karma which isn't one of my favorites as it lacks her profund talent in her classical music talents dusted with her Neo - Soul style - still she continues to stretch classical music with the violins supporting this song - very nice touch indeed.
Heartburn heavily resembles Hot lunch from the Fame album - listen to the two - their like musical cousins at the same time she shares the same melody of "Give it to me" the hot papa rap song as performed by Jay Z.
If I was your Woman - is the best remake of Gladys Knights power song - she didn't over make it and respected it for the fine piece that it is.
You Don't know my name - again is not one of my favorites but it works here - again Alicia shows her true talent in ballad type songs lightly dusted by her piano no how and powerful lungs.
If I Aint' Got you - is one of the most powerful songs I've heard - she really proved her maturity level here in age and in her piano playing skills - if you listen to the live or unplugged version - you see how she improvised a lot of the keystrokes in key changing - the song unfolds to the very end - thank you for giving it a solid ending instead of fading out like Most Artist may do (urrrrrrrghhhhh)
Diary is a beautiful song and like a Diary is well kept secret musically speaking - if you are a musician - get the sheet music and you'll know exactly what I'm talking about.
I'll skip down to Feeling you - Feeling me - this song really images Remy Shands work - see B. Another Neo - Soul artist that know his stuff - Listen to "The Mind's Eye" (album Title: The Way I Feel) towards the end and you'll understnad what I mean - Feeling you Feeling me should have been at least a full range song and not to tease us as an Interlude - still the same that's what makes us coming back for more. Added comment is Remy Shand and Alicia should really team up on an album - at least one hit.......can I get an 'Amen' if you agree with me.
Nobody Not Really - perfect way to end the Album BUT GUESS WHAT - IT'S NOT THE END OF THE ALBUM THERE IS A BONUS TRACK CALLED: LOVING U - yes, a bonus track - a great modificaion of Natural Woman - she jack slaps this song and brings great tribute to Neo-Soul - and invests real music - real talent - real musicians back into the music industry - no manufactured music through out this entire album - if you're sick of Rap like me - support Alicia and her workings......
Free Music Review: Wow!!! What a pleasant surprise.
Hit: 5 Stars
I must admit, I no longer buy cd's anymore but download it legally from iTunes, where I have the power to choose the songs I like in an album, and I loved every track in this fantastic album. When I first heard of Alicia Keys, I didn't understand what the big hype was about. I thought her first album wasn't very good. I thought she had the talent but the debut album was borderline pop. Perhaps Quincy Jones had too much of an influence; the album seemed too simplistic, made ready for the MTV audience. Whatever the case, her lyrics have matured somewhat but her style of delivery has changed immensely. This is the best R&B/hip-hop album I've heard since Lauryn Hill's Miseducation of Lauryn Hill. The 1st track, "harlem's nocturne" hooks you in as she prepares you with the events that's about to unfold, delivering a pulsating piano rhythm as Alicia welcomes you into her diary. There's not a track wasted in this wonderful album. From the playful talking on her cell phone of "You don't know my name" to the piano playing in the background that sounds like water cascading through stream, I was transported back to the sounds of the sixties and seventies of Gladys Knight, Marvin Gaye and Curtis Mayfield, but with a modern hip-hop style. I really liked the addition of a violin to the track, "karma", which gave it more layers to the traditionally strong bass and drum rhythm. Kudos to "Heartburn" with the addition of horns. Although many songs have strong energy derived from the drum and base rhythm, there are several ballads such as "If I ain't got you" and "When you really love someone" that are delivered with elegant piano playing with playful and soulful singing by Alicia. Soul is something that you feel and not something that's just produced for the sound and I feel her emotion on these beautiful tracks. It's rare these days in the midst of MTV-lead pop and rap domination on subjects of the bling bling and the art of being cool, that an album can produce much emotion from a listening experience, but this album delivers that, and more, especially on the ballads. Even on the track, "So simple" - a favorite when I workout - the piano works as a smooth over-layer on the pulsating drum and bass line. If you long for the R&B/Soul style of the late 60's and early 70's; the greatest period in its' genre, fusing with the style of modern hip-hop, adding a touch of jazz and classical instruments: this is the album for you! An extremely polished album that deserves every accolade that comes along the way, I love listening to this album with my iPod in tow.