Two days ago Alicia Keys released her fourth studio album, “The Element of Freedom” and I’ve been listening to it non-stop since the moment I left Newbury Comics. Known for her soul-driven, piano-laced anthems of love & empowerment, this latest release is a perfectly balanced hybrid of old-school R&B mixed with neo-80’s inspired synths complemented by vocals that focus more on emotion than technical abilities.
What I love about this album is Alicia’s ability to remain true to her soulful foundation yet not regurgitate the same sounds we’ve heard on her previous 3 studio releases; “Fallin” is a killer track that introduced us to Ms. Keys but Alicia probably would not have been as successful as she is today if every new track she released was more like “Fallin: Part 2.” Proven by her longevity in this one-hit-onder industry, she has the keen ability to find her own voice while incorporating other styles and genres that add to the album’s overall universal appeal.
At 28, Alicia hones in more emotion on this album than her previous records. Maybe this comes with maturity and experience, both professionally and personally, but either way it seems she is more concerned with emoting the “feeling” of a song through her dynamic vocal range rather than pumping out something overly-polished. From a sweet, sexy whisper to a powerful mid-range trill, Alicia’s vocals are almost conversational meaning each note’s delivery has a purpose far beyond its aesthetic boundaries. Some critics have blasted Alicia for belting out notes beyond her natural contralto range that force her to strain but I enjoy the raspiness and sometimes off-pitch inflections that make the songs only hers. On tunes like “Love is My Disease” the first few notes are crackling and raspy but its the perfect use of her vocals to portray the context of a song about losing the one you love and getting used to living without them.
Overall, I give this album 2 thumbs up, 5 stars and a giant “booyah.” I’ve been pretty disappointed with the direction popular music has been heading so its refreshing to still have real artists like Alicia Keys releasing music I can’t seem to get enough of. “The Element of Freedom” truly takes you on an emotional ride & will make you want to stand up and shake your proverbal groove thang to songs like “Put it in a Love Song” featuring Beyonce, melt into your chair or want to grab your lover with soulfully sexy ballads like “Unthinkable (I’m Ready) and then lift your spirits with beautiful tracks like “How it Feels To Fly.” Oh, and don’t miss out on the closing track “Empire State of Mind: Part II.” If you liked the original track with Jay-Z this second parter will be right up your alley. It…is…so…good.
Favorite track: “Love is my Disease”
Recommended tracks (although they’re all good): “Wait Til They See My Smile,” “That’s How Strong My Love Is,” “Unthinkable”
-Lori
