Customer Reviews:
Showing reviews 6-10 of 315
 Bad on a molecular level December 6, 2007
Scott Woods (Columbus, Ohio United States)
15 out of 28 found this review helpful
This is her most vapid album to date.
When this record is not picking lint out of its navel with tears in its eyes it is jaw-droppingly boring on an almost molecular level. Half of the songs sound the same - like Bruce Hornsby outtakes vying for pop contention (which surely explains the appearance of John Mayer on the only track that might be worth a second listen, "Lesson Learned") - and the rest of it is comprised of bad songs with too-facile lyrics that might have been something if someone else sang them, someone else produced them, and someone else recorded them.
In the rare instance in which a song of worth may have been generated, Keys does not have the singing or production chops to bring it to artistic fruition. No one I am aware of that doesn't have an Amazon username as their primary review credential considers her to be one of even the top 25 vocalists of her generation (which is about five minutes old as of this typing), and since actual piano-playing figures so little in the end result of 99% of her catalogue, one wonders - okay, I wonder - just why we're even supposed to be talking about her at all.
I especially love how half the songs begin with her playing piano, as if a pre-apology for the song to follow. "No," the intros seem to say, "I really do have musical talent!" It is a tired-sounding record, like a tape of song ideas more than an accomplished album, let alone one by an artist three studio albums deep. I also hope that Prince is on a very stringent suicide watch after what this woman has done to "Purple Rain", which Keys has stolen liberally from to "compose" the abysmal "Like You'll Never See Me Again." I guess this is one of those homages that all the kids today are paying to Old School artists instead of royalties.
It is a bad record that if even her tone-deaf and drooling fans find an inkling of merit in - if there are any that will admit to being such since the release of this agonizing water torture - I would fall dead from surprise.
 A Disappointed Fan November 14, 2007
Dr. Feel (Stone Mountain, GA United States)
14 out of 23 found this review helpful
I anxiously anticipated the release of this CD after hearing "No One" on the radio and seeing her perform the song on a couple of the late night TV shows. I actually liked "No One" the first time I heard it. I like that pulsating beat, and while the lyrics are not all that deep, she really puts her heart and soul into this song. Now, as far as the rest of the album goes, I don't hear anything else that even remotely grabs my attention. I really like Alicia Keys - I think she's a fairly good singer and is very talented in many respects. And I appreciate the fact that she tries to keep R&B alive by incorporating a '70's flava into her sound. Unfortunately, her lyrics lack depth and substance and the song melodies, hooks and arrangements are not catchy nor memorable. This is strictly "old skool" form over substance. After listening to this CD several times in just 2 days, I still can't remember anything I heard except for "No One". Again, I really like Alicia; I just wish she would come up with some better material. Sadly it seems, true R&B music has passed away (or is on serious life support). (Boy I really miss Luther, Gerald, Barry & Phyllis.)
But keep on trying Alica, I still love ya!
 Great musical elements. Mediorce vocals. December 3, 2007
M. Bell (Atlanta, GA)
12 out of 26 found this review helpful
Alicia Keys is best when she is on the keyboards doing her thing. Her lack of vocal depth and upper range will keep her as a mid-range diva for the remainder of her career. I know what I am talking about because I have heard all the best there is on this earth. Living (Jill Scott), dead (Carmen Mcrae) and old (Dionne Warwick/Nancy Wilson)! Musically, the CD shines. The girl with the video friendly looks really is a musician more so than vocalist. She is really straining at times. So badly that I have to advance to the next track. My favorite song is track 10, "I Need You". So retro, so truly dead on soulful. Love it. I only wish this rest of the CD was like track 10. Number 7, "Wreckless Love" is the only other bright spot on this mix mash of music.
Alicia, Alicia : Songbook Hits a Plateau November 13, 2007
Kabir Davis
11 out of 26 found this review helpful
First of all, if you want to know what this album sounds like, there are three albums that I can instantly compare this to:
1. "All I Have" by Amerie
2. "Testimony" by India Arie
3. "The Breakthrough" by Mary J Blige
If you have those albums, you know exactly what to expect here. However, the bad news is that this is no "The Diary of Alicia Keys". Its still solid, and Alicia has only gotten better vocally, but I think its lyrically MUCH weaker than her previous albums (some of the lyrics here are almost juvenile - listen to Track 2 and tell me I'm wrong).
My personal favorite is her duet with John Mayer - "Lesson Learned" - this is by far the standout track on the album - the harmony, the groove, everything just WORKS. To a lesser extent, she is successful with "Superwoman" and "Reckless Love", but what disappointed me was that the subject matter was exactly the same as her last album. Sure, at 26, no ones expecting her to be a veteran on global affairs or even affairs of the heart, but at one point you wonder if there isn't something else she can sing about.
The Marvin Gaye/Roberta Flack influences are in full swing on this album, and there are a couple of interesting 'Prince' moments as well. The slinky groove of "Like I'll never see you again" is irresistible, and I see a couple more songs from this CD ("Teenage love Affair" for example) that could be future radio hits.
However, and this is coming from a long time Keys follower - the album lacks a certain *something* that elevates it to "classic" status. Perhaps I should spend more time with it, but then again, "The Diary of Alicia Keys" grabbed me from the first moment I heard it. This one probably needs some investing.
I still think Alicia's best album remains "Unplugged". Of course, it would be hard to top that one, but at 26, she remains our most prolific female performer in the funk-jazz genre. We have to give her that. But as a 'return to form', I would probably wait for next CD. I also think she should work on her single choices, because the lead single "No One" from this CD, just did not work for me.
To sum things up, this is a three star CD at best. Just remember those three CDs I talked about earlier, and you'll know what to expect. An above-average R&B Record, but it does have its' moments.
 Alicia's back November 17, 2007
The Fancy One (Westchester County, NY)
11 out of 17 found this review helpful
I have followed Alicia's career since she burst on the scene in 2001 and for the most part, I have enjoyed her work. So when AS I AM, her third studio album, finally came out I got it without hesitation. I have to admit that when I first heard "No One", I wasn't all that impressed with it and I'm hoping it will grow on me. However, there are other cuts on the CD that make up for what's lacking on that tune.
Listening to this, you can tell that she took some chances and stepped slightly out of the box from her usual style by injecting a little pop and rock into these songs. Personally, I like that - it shows her versatility, that she isn't afraid to limit herself to only R&B. (There are other types of music out there, people - not just R&B and hip-hop.) Some of it works for her and some of it doesn't, but I have to give her credit for being brave enough to do something a little bit different from what has worked for her in the past - it shows that she is evolving as an artist.
As always, she makes the attempt to recapture that authentic old school R&B vibe, when there was passion and meaning in the music, and we hear some of her musical influences prominently (Prince, Stevie Wonder, Smokey Robinson and the '60s Motown sound). Alicia is one of the few in the industry today who successfully mixes the sound of days gone by with new school flava. That is more than I can say for the majority of these contemporary R&B "artists" out here right now. Unlike those previously mentioned musical legends, though, some of Alicia's lyrics on this CD tend to be simplistic and don't seem to have much depth or hold any real significance. She is tremendously talented and capable of so much more than what is presented here.
While most of the tunes range from so-so to good (I really liked the upbeat classical-to-hip-hop intro "As I Am", "Go Ahead" and "Reckless Love"), the ballads pretty much dominate this CD. Songs definitely worth a listen are the breathiness of "Like You'll Never See Me Again" (I really LOVE this ~ it reminds me SO much of the ending of Prince's "Purple Rain" - this is a song you just know will be a hit), a tight collaboration with pop/blues guitarist John Mayer on "Lesson Learned" (these two should definitely pair up again), "The Thing About Love" (this sounds similar to Christina Aguilera's "Beautiful"), "Tell You Something" and the rock-tinged "Sure Looks Good To Me". Everything else you might have to play a few times before you can decide whether you like them or not.
Although there is less of a hip-hop influence on this project overall, fans of Alicia's work should find this satisfying. However, AS I AM still left me with a feeling that the R&B diva is not quite there just yet - that her greatest work is yet to come. It's not as good as her first two albums, but it is definitely worth your attention.
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