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As I Am | 
| Artist: Alicia Keys
Label: J-Records
List Price: $18.98
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Rating:  308 reviews
Sales Rank: 130
Format: Enhanced
Media: Audio CD
Discs: 1
Shipping Weight (lbs): 0
Dimensions (in): 5.5 x 5 x 0.3
MPN: 711513
UPC: 886971151329
EAN: 0886971151329
ASIN: B000VEYJP2
Release Date: November 13, 2007
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
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| Tracks:
| • | As I Am (Intro) | | • | Go Ahead | | • | Superwoman | | • | No One | | • | Like You'll Never See Me Again | | • | Lesson Learned (featuring John Mayer) | | • | Wreckless Love | | • | The Thing About Love | | • | Teenage Love Affair | | • | I Need You | | • | Where Do We Go From Here | | • | Prelude To A Kiss | | • | Tell You Something (Nana's Reprise) | | • | Sure Looks Good To Me |
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| Editorial Reviews:
Amazon.com
By the time this long-awaited album saw its release date, most fans had probably read at least a couple of interviews with Alicia Keys in which she explained that first single, "No One"--a firestorm of a song clearly born of a sore heart and steeped in serious soul-searching, was about her decision to retreat from the obligations of stardom when she found out a loved one was in need of her care. The anecdote sticks not just because it explained the song so well--you can actually hear the pain, commitment, and determination in her sultry voice--but because it gets at what makes the woman behind the music so appealing. There's only one way R&B artists grow to become legends, and it's by drenching the words they sing with feeling (think Gladys Knight, Roberta Flack). The skeptical listener might have had her doubts before As I Am, but there's no mistaking it now: Alicia Keys is well on her way to sharing a category with them. This record radiates not just old-soul maturity, the kind Alicia fans say makes her modern rarity, but real soul. Vintage-leaning hooks and horns grab hold on "Where Do We Go from Here" and an assortment of other songs, but Keys can also get by just fine without them, as she proves on more pop-flavored numbers like "Lesson Learned," with John Mayer, and "Superwoman." The genres may be smearing, she seems to say, but bring them on: she won't shrink back. Her commitment is not to a single style but to what's stirring her soul. Because of it, she's moving R&B, or something like it, from the hips back to the heart. --Tammy La Gorce
Album Description
Japanese two CD pressing of the 2007 release from the R&B/Pop diva featuring a bonus CD containing four tracks: 'Waiting For Your Love', 'Hurt So Bad', 'Superwoman' (Live) and 'No One' (Curtis Lynch Reggae Remix). As I Am is Alicia's most innovative album to date, a collection of music with no boundaries. Influenced by everything from Hip Hop to Soul to Rock to Classical music, As I Am is every bit a sense of rebellion and empowerment. Features collaborations with some of the biggest hit makers in music (Linda Perry, Jack Splash, Mark Batson, Swizz Beats and Kerry Brothers) and includes the first single 'No One.'
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| Customer Reviews: Read 303 more reviews...
Lush & New? She Is Still The Best Artist Out There. December 21, 2007
Steve Guardala (Long Island, NY.)
48 out of 60 found this review helpful
This was new & different from "Songs In A Minor & The Diary Of Alicia Keys." Which is fine, I just do not think that the album in total is equal to the aboves? From slow to midtempo these songs are hard to classify other than their having a 60's-70's R&B sound. But, this album does seem to be her most personal & intimate. Some complain about her overuse of the Piano? I could not disagree more, it is a very neglected instrument. Alicia also plays it exceptionally well.
"Like You'll Never See Me Again, No One, I Need You, Tell You Something, & The Thing About Love," are my five favorites from this album. The latter has an Al Green early 1970's feel to it with an angry middle which most folks at some time in their lives can relate to. While the former may eventually challenge "Fallin" as her best song to date? It has lucid lyrics & a depth of feeling to it that many modern tunes lack. "I Need You has Alicia pulling you into the song & "Tell You Something" is a thoughtful get you to think tune. While "No One" is a sensual speaks for itself song. I'm not big on top forty hits since so many songs that make it are awful. But in this case, "No One" flew to the top for a reason.
I did not care for the Intros. "Prelude To A Kiss," was too short, "Lesson Learned & Sure Looks Good To Me" were pretty good, & the rest of the album was rather good. In closing, I think it is overly harsh to constantly compare her music to what came before as so many of the negative reviews harped on. She is not even thirty, & may have a few more decades to grow as an artist. I would wager that when many of her contemporaries are just a memory, she will still be producing fine music?
Where are the Lyrics? November 13, 2007
A* (New York, N.Y. United States)
30 out of 98 found this review helpful
Alicia Keys tries her best not to be boring. In concerts she does covers that you think would never work for her. And she worships at the altar of Stevie Wonder. But there is a huge difference between the two. Wonder can write. His lyrics have depth. Keys just gives you what's in front of you and that's it. It's all right in front of you.
"As I Am" is a mid-tempo album. "Go Ahead" is one of the louder tracks. Kissing off a lover with Key's voice going into an almost screech is jarring. It matches "No One." The first single just didn't have any power behind it. The pounding beat pushes the song from a love song into a power anthem, for some reason.
The ballads as usual make this album. "Lesson Learned" with John Mayer is a Roberta Flack nod with its hushed guitar and vocal riff by Keys is simple and pretty. And then there is the best track on the album: "The Thing About Love." Her voice just works. It's raw and honest. Her vocals crack, her voice stutters and yields over the piano (if you're expecting grand piano work, Key's isn't even trying to show off her skills on this disc). "The Thing About Love" has what the rest of the album lacks at time: direction. She's giving you every bit of Stevie Wonder she's learned. She roars like a lion and brings it back down to her scratchy whisper to close the song -- brilliance.
The album is solid. But like all her albums, Keys gives you glimmers of what she can do and then somehow manages to give you only half an amazing album. I don't know if that comes down to song editing, but her trapped in two worlds of romance/streetwise is wearing thin due to her inability to meld the two into a cohesive existence.
 I'll take Alicia Keys 'As [She] Is'............ November 18, 2007
D. Pawl (Seattle)
30 out of 45 found this review helpful
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.
"As I Am" isn't as good as her first 2 CDs, but it should still be in your CD collection. December 3, 2007
J. Highsmith (Mitchellville, Maryland United States)
24 out of 53 found this review helpful
I was introduced to Alicia Keys when I heard the track "Rock With You", which was featured on the soundtrack to the remake of the movie "Shaft". The song sounded pretty good and I wouldn't hear anything from Alicia again until I heard "Fallin'". I instantly became a fan of the track and I also liked the remix which featured Busta Rhymes and Rampage from the Flipmode Squad. Her 2nd single ended up being "A Woman's Worth" and Songs in A Minor was released in 2001. Alicia's debut CD could be listented to in its entirety and my favorite tracks ended up being "Girlfriend", "Troubles", "Goodbye",
"Butterflyz", and Alicia's remake to the Prince classic "How Come You Don't Call Me". 2 years later Alicia would release The Diary of Alicia Keys. The first single ended up being "You Don't Know My Name" and the track was co-produced by Kanye West. The track clearly had a nice old school feel to it. My other favorites included "Karma", "Diary", "If I Ain't Got You", "If I Was Your Woman/Walk On By", and "So Simple". Alicia released Unplugged a year later. The CD contained some new tracks and unplugged versions of her most popular tracks. My favorites included "If I Was Your Woman", "Diary", "Unbreakable", which was one of the new tracks, "If I Ain't Got You" and "Wild Horses", which was a duet with Adam Levine of Maroon 5.
I found out earlier in the year that Alicia would be releasing her 3rd CD. (Not including the Unplugged CD of course) The first track that I heard was "No One". The track is unlike any song that Alicia has done before and while I have no problem with artists switching things up and trying something new, I was not a personal fan of the track. Don't get me wrong, the song was decent but it didn't catch my attention like past Alicia Keys' singles have.
"As I Am" starts off with one of Alicia's classic Intros. You sometimes wish that they were actual songs that Alicia could make a full length song of and this clearly is the case with the "As I Am" intro. "Go Head" is decent as you can tell Alicia is frustrated by things that are going on in her relationship and she is clearly venting. However, in the end, the track just ends up being a bland attempt at trying to recreate the magic of "Karma". However, Alicia rebounds nicely with the heartfelt "Superwoman". Linda Perry, who has so many writing credits she could create her own "Book Of Songs", stops by to lend her talent to the track. Women all over the world should be able to appreciate this track. "Like You'll Never See Me Again" is definitely my favorite track on "As I Am", as in my opinion, Alicia even channels old school Prince slow jams of the past on this song. "Like You'll Never See Me Again" allows you to appreciate any relationship that you have, whether it's a friendship, a courtship or a marriage. John Mayer stops by to co-produce and sing the hook on "Lesson Learned". Alicia talks about some hardships that occurred in a past relationship and what she actually learned about everything in the end. Songs like these are the reason why I am an Alicia Keys fan. "Wreckless Love" is a nice feel good jam about Alicia being in a situation where she had a young love. She must have been feeling good reminscing about the boy in question as she says she wants "that off the wall won't stop til I get enough kind of love", which obviously was a semi tribute to Michael Jackson. Alicia does an excellent job on "The Thing About Love". You never would've figured that in less than 4 minutes that Alicia would be able to tell you the ups and downs about being in love. However, she also states that you can't be afraid of love, because you won't be able to appreciate what it actually is if you haven't loved and lost someone in your lifetime. Linda Perry also co-produces the track as well so you can also understand why this is one of the CD's best. "Teenage Love Affair" is another nice track but you can't help but feel that it's just a sequel to "You Don't Know My Name", which isn't necessarily a bad thing. You will be instantly hooked to "I Need You" once you hear the "Na Na Na Na Na Nooooo" at the beginning of the song. You will think that you're the fish and Alicia is reeling you in with her voice and her looks..lol You would never think that Alicia would have to convince anyone that they need to be with her. "Where Do We Go From Here" reminds me of something that I would hear on Amy Winehouse's "Back To Black". The track has an old school feel to it just as Amy did on "Back To Black". Alicia explains a situation where the relationship is going nowhere and it's up to the 2 parties to decide what happens next. You'll end up wishing that "Prelude To A Kiss" was an entire track instead of just being an interlude. It's clearly a nice slow jam. "Tell You Something (Nana's Reprise) is another thoughtful jam from Alicia. You'll be reminded of another thoughtful jam in John Legend's "Coming Home" after you listen to the track a couple of times. "Sure Looks Good To Me" closes things out as Alicia is able to talk about the ups and downs of life in general.
In conclusion, "As I Am" has gotten a bad rap, in my opinion. I am not going to front. I actually feel that "Songs In A Minor" and "The Diary Of Alicia Keys" are better than "As I Am" but that doesn't mean that it's worth 2 or 2 and a half stars either. This CD can be played in its entirety and you will be able to tell what songs are better than others just like any other CD you listen to. Linda Perry gave this CD a different look than CD's in Alicia's past but you can't be mad at Alicia for trying something different. Based on her past track record people should be learning from her and not hatin' on her. If you liked Alicia's first 2 Discs and the Unplugged CD then this will be a welcome addition to your collection.
James' Top 5
1) Like You'll Never See Me Again
2) Lesson Learned w/John Mayer
3) The Thing About Love
4) I Need You
5) Superwoman
Honorable Mention:
Prelude To A Kiss
Where Do We Go From Here
Wreckless Love
Teenage Love Affair
Tell You Something (Nana's Reprise)
 i am so disappointed that i actually took the time to do this. November 18, 2007
C. Jun (Chicago, IL)
16 out of 22 found this review helpful
Terrible. Boring. Cookie cut. Shallow lyrics. This is me being kind. I have been a big fan of Alicia Keys ever since her debut of "Fallin." Impressed by her honest lyrics, husky and strong voice, which though is not clear and perfect has flaws that only add to the emotions to her performance. So, with this opinion of her, I didnt even think twice to purchase her new album. But wow, the lyrics are like a drunk rant, cameos like JOhn Mayer, not taken to its full potential and ballads that seem like they were just added to have more tracks in the album. The singing is less than satisfactory. Her voice sounds lazy, strained and out of practice. Listen to "Songs in A Minor" and you'll see what I mean. To close, I think if you're going to dedicate your life to something as passionate as music, you shouldn't quit or lose effort after just a few years. Alicia Keys, come back.
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