* Original Release Date: April 20, 2004
* Label: J Records
* Copyright: (P) 2003 BMG Music, a unit of BMG Music
* Genres: R&B/General, R&B/Contemporary R&B, R&B, R&B/Soul
Showing posts with label R and B. Show all posts
Showing posts with label R and B. Show all posts
Saturday, August 2, 2008
- If I Ain't Got You : by Alicia Keys
* Original Release Date: April 20, 2004
* Label: J Records
* Copyright: (P) 2003 BMG Music, a unit of BMG Music
* Genres: R&B/General, R&B/Contemporary R&B, R&B, R&B/Soul
- As I Am : by Alicia Keys
Grammy winning singer/songwriter, poet, philanthropist and visionary Alicia Keys proceeds to outdo herself with AS I AM, her third and finest album, to date. This 2007 release showcases her range as a musician. Keys is a classically-trained pianist, as well as being a true soul/r&b artist, and the album kicks off on a beautiful note with her original song "As I Am (Intro)," a classical piece. From there, we hear the influences and inspirations that guide this great musician to combine her poetry and eloquence as a lyricist with her flare for hooks and ear-catching instrumental (with a little help from her friends). Some of the best cuts include "Superwoman," (co-written with Linda Perry and Steve Mostyn), an anthem for strong women everywhere and an ear-catching chorus that will get you singing along, the beautiful, reggae-inspired "No One" (co-written with Kerry Brothers, Jr. and George M. Harry), the first single from the album and "Wreckless Love" (co-written with Matthew Kahane and Harold Lilly) which sounds like a throwback to the Motown soul era of the 1960s.
On another note, Alicia Keys' voice has never sounded better. It's deeper and raspier, but, that only adds flavor to her delivery of the more poignant pieces (particularly, "Tell You Something (Nana's Reprise)"). This young woman has been blessed with many talents and we are lucky and privileged that she is sharing them with the world.
On another note, Alicia Keys' voice has never sounded better. It's deeper and raspier, but, that only adds flavor to her delivery of the more poignant pieces (particularly, "Tell You Something (Nana's Reprise)"). This young woman has been blessed with many talents and we are lucky and privileged that she is sharing them with the world.
- Unplugged : by Alicia Keys
Alicia Keys has revived the MTV Unplugged franchise with her show and this album. Ms. Keys doesn't go the traditional unplugged route of stripping the songs down to their acoustic base, but she gives a stellar performance. She doesn't alter the grooves from the studio versions, but she lets the songs breath and flexes her voice muscles without going over the top. "Karma" and "Heartburn" perfectly segue together in a funky mix. "Fallin'" has a haunting violin and the combination of Gladys Knight & The Pips' "If I Were Your Woman" and "If I Ain't Got You" is the best moment on the album. There are several other covers on the album and they are hit and miss. The Rolling Stones' "Wild Horses" is a duet with Maroon 5's Adam Levine that never gels while her take on Brenda Holloway's "Every Little Bit Hurts" is a high note. Ms. Keys burst on the scene in 2001 with much fanfare and she has more than lived up to the hype.
Songs In A Minor - 10th Anniversary Edition (Deluxe Edition) [Enhanced]
Alicia Keys is a 20 year old singer. But unlike the other young singers that populate the musical landscape these days, Ms. Keys, doesn't want to be the next big thing on TRL, she aspires to higher goals. Influenced by the r&b giants of the 70's, she has a silky smooth voice and big range. She also can play a sweet piano. "Fallin'" is a tremendous song that has become a big hit and "Mr. Mann" has a jazzy feel to it. The album took many by surprise by debuting at number one on the Billboard Top 200, but it is a pleasant one. Ms. Keys has a bright future ahead of her and hopefully she can continue to build on Songs In A Minor's potential.
- No One (Curtis Lynch Reggae Remix) : by Alicia Keys
Details
* Original Release Date: November 6, 2007
* Label: J Records
* Copyright: (P) 2007 J Records, a unit of SONY BMG MUSIC ENTERTAINMENT
* Genres: R&B/General, R&B
- The Diary Of Alicia Keys
Alicia Keys arrived on the scene back in 2001 with her No.1, multi-platinum debut album "Songs In A Minor." The Grammy award winning album made Alicia a worldwide superstar and a true force to be reckoned with in the music industry. Her debut album was ever so slightly overhyped which then made the follow-up, "The Diary Of Alicia Keys," ever so slightly over-anticipated upon its fall 2003 release. The album went straight to No.1 in its week of release shifting some 610,000 copies. Alicia has staying power, and this proved it.
Since that infamous debut album, Alicia Keys has brought in a unique and shockingly mature dose of talent to the music industry. Amongst her entrance was the arrival of Nelly Furtado and Norah Jones, two equally talented super powers who enjoyed record sales beyond their wildest dreams and a following like no other. Such success, however, can cloud the illusions of those experiencing it, no matter how deserved it is. Alicia Keys could have easily fallen into the trap of an artist who took herself too seriously (the dramatic title of the album suggests this) but, thankfully, there is no need to worry; The Diary Of Alicia Keys is another masterpiece...
On this sophomore effort, Alicia has avoided the frequent trap of crumbling under pressure on how to follow up a stunning debut. She has matured her style slightly with a superb collection of lush and dreamy soul-tinged, R'n'B influenced tracks that highlight and complement her remarkable vocals. Everything about the album is incredibly mature and real. Even the song titles are beautiful, staring off with the intro "Harlem's Nocturne." This piano opening soon breaks out with a soulful beat in a similar vein to the intro on the album's predecessor. This swiftly moves into "Karma," a superbly beat-driven song that uses Alicia's vocals to the optimum. "Heartburn" has a fantastic drum beat and strumming guitars with a sizzling beat and brilliant production. It's a new style for Alicia, and it works well. Some may dislike it, but you gotta give the girl props for being creative. "If I Was Your Woman/Walk On By" is a superb cover version which has been altered to suit Alicia's vocal range and musical style. This is swiftly followed by "You Don't Know My Name," the album's lead single. Obviously Alicia couldn't compete with her debut single "Fallin'" on her comeback single, so what does she do? She releases a six-minute, future-classic love ballad masterpiece with spine-tingling piano trickles and a full-on telephone section, remeniscent of Stevie Wonder's "I Just Called To Say I Love You!"
"If I Ain't Got You" displays Alicia's superb vocals perhaps better than on any other track. Alicia really sells the song and this is the second single. Meanwhile, the gorgeously-melodic "Diary (Featuring Tony! Toni! Tone!)" is a definite album highlight. The gentle piano creeps in here and drops to offer superb lyrics; "Just think of me as the pages in your diary." "Dragon Days" is one of the album's highlights. Alicia sings of the dragon days when the fire was hot, like a desert needing water, baby! Her soulful voice totally complements the song's mature mood. "Wake Up" is yet another highlight with Alicia displaying her vocals once more in an up-tempo track about relationship troubles. Done a million times before, but still sounds fresh by Alicia. "So Simple" is one of my favourite songs on the album, but a lot of people can't stand it because of the little squeaky voice in the background of Lellow chanting, "It could be so simple!" The song has a rather isolated mood to it, but this only serves as the genius behind it.
"When You Really Love Someone" is an up-tempo song with a moody and confused intro that highlights the realism of a relationship and what each partner must do to love one another. "Cause a man just ain't a man if he ain't man enough," cries Alicia, sounding similar to how she did on "A Woman's Worth." "Feeling U, Feeling Me (Interlude)" is a superb section that breaks the album up slightly. The beat just relaxes the hell out of you whilst also managing to make you feel so sexy with its seductive mood as Alicia whispers her (short) lines. "Slow Down" is not one of the best tracks on the album and Alicia could've been forgiven for leaving it off the album. Luckily things pick up with the sparkling "Samsonite Man." What a beautiful song title! And Alicia's not wrong as she sings "Packing his bags, gotta go, gotta go, packing his bags, gotta go," to a shimmering beat that raises the mood. "Nobody Not Really" is a DAMN fine song that is just way too short. It only just makes the third minute but should've been at least one longer. The song opens in a flurry of excitement with its piano as a saxophone breaks it down whilst Alicia sighs in the background. The way her vocals are drawn out through the verses is just really superb and is a perfect closer to a brilliant sophomore effort.
Since that infamous debut album, Alicia Keys has brought in a unique and shockingly mature dose of talent to the music industry. Amongst her entrance was the arrival of Nelly Furtado and Norah Jones, two equally talented super powers who enjoyed record sales beyond their wildest dreams and a following like no other. Such success, however, can cloud the illusions of those experiencing it, no matter how deserved it is. Alicia Keys could have easily fallen into the trap of an artist who took herself too seriously (the dramatic title of the album suggests this) but, thankfully, there is no need to worry; The Diary Of Alicia Keys is another masterpiece...
On this sophomore effort, Alicia has avoided the frequent trap of crumbling under pressure on how to follow up a stunning debut. She has matured her style slightly with a superb collection of lush and dreamy soul-tinged, R'n'B influenced tracks that highlight and complement her remarkable vocals. Everything about the album is incredibly mature and real. Even the song titles are beautiful, staring off with the intro "Harlem's Nocturne." This piano opening soon breaks out with a soulful beat in a similar vein to the intro on the album's predecessor. This swiftly moves into "Karma," a superbly beat-driven song that uses Alicia's vocals to the optimum. "Heartburn" has a fantastic drum beat and strumming guitars with a sizzling beat and brilliant production. It's a new style for Alicia, and it works well. Some may dislike it, but you gotta give the girl props for being creative. "If I Was Your Woman/Walk On By" is a superb cover version which has been altered to suit Alicia's vocal range and musical style. This is swiftly followed by "You Don't Know My Name," the album's lead single. Obviously Alicia couldn't compete with her debut single "Fallin'" on her comeback single, so what does she do? She releases a six-minute, future-classic love ballad masterpiece with spine-tingling piano trickles and a full-on telephone section, remeniscent of Stevie Wonder's "I Just Called To Say I Love You!"
"If I Ain't Got You" displays Alicia's superb vocals perhaps better than on any other track. Alicia really sells the song and this is the second single. Meanwhile, the gorgeously-melodic "Diary (Featuring Tony! Toni! Tone!)" is a definite album highlight. The gentle piano creeps in here and drops to offer superb lyrics; "Just think of me as the pages in your diary." "Dragon Days" is one of the album's highlights. Alicia sings of the dragon days when the fire was hot, like a desert needing water, baby! Her soulful voice totally complements the song's mature mood. "Wake Up" is yet another highlight with Alicia displaying her vocals once more in an up-tempo track about relationship troubles. Done a million times before, but still sounds fresh by Alicia. "So Simple" is one of my favourite songs on the album, but a lot of people can't stand it because of the little squeaky voice in the background of Lellow chanting, "It could be so simple!" The song has a rather isolated mood to it, but this only serves as the genius behind it.
"When You Really Love Someone" is an up-tempo song with a moody and confused intro that highlights the realism of a relationship and what each partner must do to love one another. "Cause a man just ain't a man if he ain't man enough," cries Alicia, sounding similar to how she did on "A Woman's Worth." "Feeling U, Feeling Me (Interlude)" is a superb section that breaks the album up slightly. The beat just relaxes the hell out of you whilst also managing to make you feel so sexy with its seductive mood as Alicia whispers her (short) lines. "Slow Down" is not one of the best tracks on the album and Alicia could've been forgiven for leaving it off the album. Luckily things pick up with the sparkling "Samsonite Man." What a beautiful song title! And Alicia's not wrong as she sings "Packing his bags, gotta go, gotta go, packing his bags, gotta go," to a shimmering beat that raises the mood. "Nobody Not Really" is a DAMN fine song that is just way too short. It only just makes the third minute but should've been at least one longer. The song opens in a flurry of excitement with its piano as a saxophone breaks it down whilst Alicia sighs in the background. The way her vocals are drawn out through the verses is just really superb and is a perfect closer to a brilliant sophomore effort.
Tuesday, July 29, 2008
- Things You Make Me Do : by Ashanti
Details
* Original Release Date: June 3, 2008
* Release Date: June 3, 2008
* Label: I.G. Records, Inc./Universal Records
* Copyright: (C) 2008 Universal Records, a Division of UMG Recordings, Inc.
* Song Length: 4:29 minutes
* Genres: R&B/General, R&B
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