Review of Alicia Keys 'Songs in A minor' 2002 album -Including a Remixed & Unplugged Limited Edition Bonus Disc.
I have Alicia Keys first and second albums, I have loved her music from when I first heard it-something that was both cool and contemporary fusing her love for classical and old-school ... Read review
In the crowded world of female R&B you need a unique selling point. Songs in A Minor's ... more
creator Alicia Keys is no different. She plays the piano. She's classically trained. She was a child prodigy. And at 20 years she's incredibly soulful, harking back to the old-skool R&B of Aretha Franklin and even further to that of Nina Simone, with a very strong dose of James Brown thrown in (the fantastic "Fallin'" is a dead ringer for "It's a Man's World"). This retro-ism is further reinforced in her collaboration with 70s soul legend Isaac Hayes on "Rock Wit U". However this reliance on strong historical figures is as much a problem as an asset. In truth this fine talent is being plucked too early. At 20 she's hardly lived enough life to find herself. While she's got a great voice and exquisite musical skills this album lacks the type of individuality that shines so strongly in artists such as Erykah Badu, Jill Scott or India.Aria. This is perhaps why Keys (surely an invented name) has been well hooked up. Jermaine Dupri, Prince and Brian McKnight are all involved in the song writing process. There's a lot of classically trained artists out there, from R Kelly to MJ Cole, but as this shows it's no guarantee of success. There are a few tracks on Songs... that hit the right chord but there's some bum notes too. --Jake Barnes
Postage & Packaging:Free! Availability:Usually dispatched within 24 hours...
In the crowded world of female R&B you need a unique selling point.Songs in A Minor's ... more
creator Alicia Keys is no different. She plays the piano. She's classically trained. She was a child prodigy. And at 20 years of age she's incredibly soulful, harking back to the old-skool R&B of Aretha Franklin and even further to that of Nina Simone, with a very strong dose of James Brown thrown in (the fantastic "Fallin'" is a dead ringer for "It's a Man's World"). This retro-ism is further reinforced in her collaboration with 70s soul legend Isaac Hayes on "Rock Wit U". However this reliance on strong historical figures is as much a problem as an asset. In truth this fine talent is being plucked too early. At 20 she's hardly lived enough life to find herself. While she's got a great voice and exquisite musical skills this album lacks the type of individuality that shines so strongly in artists such as Erykah Badu, Jill Scott or India.Aria. This is perhaps why Keys (surely an invented name) has been well hooked up. Jermaine Dupri, Prince and Brian McKnight are all involved in the songwriting process. There's a lot of classically trained artists out there, from R Kelly to MJ Cole, but as this shows it's no guarantee of quality. There are a few tracks onSongs in A Minorthat hit the right chord but there's some bum notes too. --Jake Barnes
Postage & Packaging:£1.21 Availability:Usually dispatched within 1-2 business days...
Advantages: A great album packed full of memorable tracks. Disadvantages: No lyrics included in booklet! a few forgettable tracks.
...shows Alicia's diversity to cover songs and make them her own. It has a playful flavour-great piano again. Turn this one up loud!
Track 4- (3:30) 'Fallin': Another single from the album and one if not Alicia's biggest and well-known. Produced and arranged by Alicia, this track is spell-bounding with it's soft melody and heartfelt, heartbroken lyrics. Alicia's voice sounds amazing. You can see her love for classical and old-school sounds ... ...write and product her own songs and a conscience that relates to the younger generation. She seems to use her fame for the good too-she is involved this various charity work.
As a purchase this album is value for money, and although some tracks roll into one another and the remix ones sound like they were put together for the sake of it, there is a lot to offer. With her worldwide and award winning single 'Fallin' and other very well-known ... more
Review of Alicia Keys 'Songs in A minor' 2002 album -Including a Remixed & Unplugged Limited Edition Bonus Disc.
I have Alicia Keys first and second albums, I have loved her music from when I first heard it-something that was both cool and contemporary fusing her love for classical and old-school music with fresh sounding RnB. Her young and confident style is also appealing, together with her interest in and work for World charities. Although this album is 7 years old, I still listen to it lots today, sounding as fresh and unique as ever.
I hope to buy her latest album 'As I am' too. I have been impressed by the artists' talent of playing her own instruments including the piano, and writing and producing her own songs-great! Her sound to this particular album I would describe as very romantic with some great funky tunes and lovely easy-listening love songs. This product features copy control technology and for the younger listeners there are some mild swear words throughout, but I have to say nearly all of her song's are clean.
Alicia Bio: Born 'Alicia Augello Cook' in 1981, she is better known for her stage name. A native New Yorker, she attended Professional Performing Arts School and Columbia University. She released her debut album 'Songs in A Minor' with J Records, selling over 11 million copies worldwide. She earned Five Grammy Awards for this album. The Alicia Keys website is good to get to know even more about the artist and everything else such as concerts, TV appearances and the latest music: www.aliciakeys.com. It's a stylish website with colours to match her knew album theme. Once again some striking shots of Alicia used to show her strong personality and determination to succeed in all she wants to do.
Price & Packaging: I originally received this album as a Birthday gift, I was so pleased to receive the deluxe edition of the album I so wanted-I thought it had so much with 15 tracks on both discs. You can currently purchase this album for £11.69 at amazon.co uk. I think this a great price for a two-disc album and if you are into your RnB you'll think it's worth it!
The CD case comes in a sleeve, I like the photos used, very stylish photos of Alicia, she wears some great funky clothes. Unfortunately the album does not include any song lyrics, which I prefer to read when buying an album. It does include some great arty writing together with a piece about each track in the booklet-together with the usual artist's thanks to the world (ooh and of course God!). The first disc is neatly placed so you just have to flip over to get at the 2nd bonus disc.
Disc 1: 'Songs in A Minor'
Track 1- (1:51 mins) 'Piano & I': Produced by Alicia Keys, this one shows off Alicia's piano skills so well, a great starting track to showcase her love for playing the piano. She fuses her rapping skills with this one. A mean beat fused with dramatic piano sounds and an RnB flavour really gets this started!
Track 2- (3:34) 'Girlfriend': Produced by Alicia Keys, this track was released as a single. A great harmony, great beat. It reminded me of perhaps an old song from the artist 'Pink' but more sophisticated. Alicia's voice sounds punchy in this track singing lyrics including: "I think I'm jealous of your girlfriend, although she's just a girl that is your friend".
Track 3- (3:57) 'How Come You Don't Call Me': this track was originally written by the artist Prince. It's a great track, in fact one of my favourites and shows Alicia's diversity to cover songs and make them her own. It has a playful flavour-great piano again. Turn this one up loud!
Track 4- (3:30) 'Fallin': Another single from the album and one if not Alicia's biggest and well-known. Produced and arranged by Alicia, this track is spell-bounding with it's soft melody and heartfelt, heartbroken lyrics. Alicia's voice sounds amazing. You can see her love for classical and old-school sounds in this one like say Aretha Franklin. Fantastic sounding choir in the chorus-very powerful. Alicia's vocal range on this track is amazing.
Track 5- (4:28) 'Troubles' : A slow track with a cool beat. Alicia's voice sounds slightly different in this track, softer. It's got a nice cool sound to it-easy listening.
Track 6- (5:36) 'Rock Wit U': A track that almost has a 70's vibe to. A good, takes a good couple of minutes to kick in. Not one of my favourites I have to say-good as a background song to have on.
Track 7- (5:03) 'A Woman's Worth': Another single from the album. A nice melody, great lyrics such as: "She will and she can find a man who knows her worth", with a great meaning to it.
Track 8- (3:48) 'Jane Doe': An ok track, funky and fresh beat. Sounds a bit early 90's RnB.
Track 9- (4:20) 'Goodbye': A slow track, again great piano. Produced by Brian McKnight.
Track 10- (5:25) 'The Life ': Another 70's feeling track, nice mellow intro, funky.
Track 11- (4:09) 'Mr. Man': A duet with Jimmy Cozier. A nice melody, almost has a Spanish feel to it-great beat.
Track 12- (2:00) 'Never Felt This Way': An original Brian McKnight song. Slow beat, lovely piano at the beginning-almost haunting sound. Sad lyrics read well by Alicia.
Track 13- (4:08) 'Butterflyz': written by Alicia Keys, a nice track soft sounds very romantic feel to it. Nice guitar sounds in this track.
Track 14- (4:25) 'Why Do I feel So Bad': A great drum beat to this one. Another easy listening sound. Alicia's voice is nice on this track great vocal range.
Track 15- (3:02) 'Caged Bird ': Written by Alicia Keys. A soft track really pulls you into the lyrics.
Track 16- (3:48) 'Lovin' U': A hidden track, a very old-school sounding track-very motown with it's upbeat sound and added background singers.
Disc 2: 'Remixed and Unplugged'
Track 1- (3:27 mins) 'Girlfirend': A remixed version of the same track on Disc 1. This one is the KrucialKeys Sista Girl Mix. This one is just a funky version of the other one, a stronger beat with extra raps from Alicia and others.
Track 2- (3:59 mins) 'Gangsta Lovin': This one was a single of the album and is a great collaboration with the artist Eve. Both ladies on the track work perfectly together, with Eve's rapping and Alicia's singing. Very catchy tune.
Track 3- (3:56 mins) 'Fallin': A remix featuring Busta Rhymes & Rampage. A very different sound to the original track-you wouldn't recognise it. It's cool sounding though, nice version, very fresh.
Track 4- (3:20 mins) 'A Woman's Worth': Again a very different version of the original track, I'm not too ken on the mix of this one it sounds a bit strange.-and perhaps done for the sake of doing a remix.
Track 5- (3:54 mins) 'Butterflyz': A Roger's Release Mix, this remix is more dance orientated. A good club track with a nice beat. Almost has a Madonna 'Ray Of Light' album arrangement to it.
Track 6- (4:25 mins) 'Troubles': A J-Jay & Chris Lum Bootleg Mix. I like this remix it's a funky dance track which reminds me of some early 90's dance vibes.
Track 7- (4.23 mins) 'How Come You Don't Call Me: A Neptunes Remix- I love this track! It's such a good mix of the track on Disc 1, and you can imagine a good mix with The Neptunes. Very funky beat and get's you on your feet!
Track 8- (4:30 mins) 'Fallin': Ali Soundtrack version. Another remix of the best-selling single, a more stylised and even slower version of the track.
Track 9- (2:22 mins) 'Ain't Misbehavin': A live version of this track from a concert. Great Piano.
Track 10- (2:49 mins) 'Goodbye': Another live version of this track, it's great to hear Alicia sing live and the crowd's reaction.
Track 11- (1:45 mins) 'Never Felt This Way': A live version of this track.
Track 12- (0:52 mins) 'Butterflyz': A live version of this track.
Track 13- (2:03 mins) 'Caged Bird': A live version of this track.
Track 14- (1:45 mins) 'I Got A Little Something For You': A live track, very old-school sounding and funky with the piano. A Blues sounding track-very nice.
Track 15- (6:24 mins) 'Someday We'll All Be Free': A live track, very long though.
Overall: I would recommend this product to anyone who has a love for RnB, and an appreciation for the old-school sound of Motown influences, together with a fuse of classical. Alicia really does I believe embody what an artist these day's should encompass-a talent used to write and product her own songs and a conscience that relates to the younger generation. She seems to use her fame for the good too-she is involved this various charity work.
As a purchase this album is value for money, and although some tracks roll into one another and the remix ones sound like they were put together for the sake of it, there is a lot to offer. With her worldwide and award winning single 'Fallin' and other very well-known and unique tracks you can't really go wrong. I really like the way the album is put together, there are quite a few easy-listening tracks and some romantic love songs too. The Remixes on Disc 2 offer a more upbeat and funky tone to her song's which I like. I do prefer the funky fused and classical tracks on each disc, I feel this is what Alicia does best. All her lyrics are so heartfelt too, sometimes daring and dramatic. I like the actual packaging of the album, with it's fresh photos, arty writing and stylish sleeve-the Cd's are also easy to get to. In Conclusion this is an album I listen to again and again and I can't wait to see what Alicia Keys can offer us next.
ChocolateChip 31.01.2009 (31.01.2009)
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Review of Songs In A Minor (& Ltd. Edition Remixed/Unplugged Disc) - Alicia Keys
Product Information for "Songs In A Minor (& Ltd. Edition Remixed/Unplugged Disc) - Alicia Keys" »
Product details
Title
Songs In A Minor (& Ltd. Edition Remixed/Unplugged Disc)
Performer
Alicia Keys
Genre
R&B
Sub Genre
Contemporary R&B
Release Date
28/10/2002
Recomended Retail Price
16.99 GBP
Original Release Year
2001
Label / Distributor
J / Sony Music/Arvato Services
Pieces in Set
2
Studio / Live
Studio
Stereo
Stereo
Format
Performer
EAN
743219696229
Catalogue Number
74321969622
Additional notes
Album Notes
Personnel: Alicia Keys (vocals, various instruments, piano, keyboards); Jimmy Cozier (vocals): Gerald "G" Flowers, Arty White (guitar); Miri (violin); Isaac Hayes (Fender Rhodes piano); Brian Cox (keyboards); Richie Good (upright bass); Tim Shider, Vic Flowers, Rufus Jackson (electric bass); Norman Hedman (percussion); Kerry "Krucial" Brothers, Anthony Nance (programming); Cindy Mizelle, Tammy Saunders, Andricka Hall, Paul L. Green, Kandi B (background vocals). Producers: Jermaine Dupri, Brian McKnight, Alicia Keys, Kerry "Krucial" Brothers. Engineers include: Gerry Brown, Brian Frye, Kerry "Krucial" Brothers. Alicia Keys won the 2002 Grammy Award for Best New Artist. SONGS IN A MINOR won the 2002 Grammy Award for Best R&B Album. "Fallin'" won the 2002 Grammy Awards for Best Female R&B Vocal Performance and for Best R&B Song. Picture Roberta Flack with hip-hop trimmings or D'Angelo coming at the world from a female perspective and you get an idea of the immense talent welling up from musical prodigy Alicia Keys. Blessed with a soulful voice, mature-beyond-her-years songwriting, and a classically trained command of piano, it's no wonder music mogul Clive Davis brought the 20-year old performer over from Arista as one of the flagship artists for his new label J Records. Keys displays impressive range on this primarily self-penned debut that finds her taking part in arranging and/or production on every cut, once again redeeming Davis's instincts. Besides the well-earned buzz for the gripping love-and-loathe single "Fallin'," Keys earns high marks for fusing rap beats and vintage Aretha on a confidently delivered cover of Prince's "How Come You Don't Call Me." Elsewhere, the native New Yorker's flow finds her traversing the same ground as early-'70s Stevie Wonder on the thought-provoking "The Life," while "Goodbye" proves to be the quintessential Quiet Storm kiss-off. Keys wraps up SONGS with a sanctified mix of stride piano, lush strings, and gospel-flavored back-up singers on "Lovin' U."
Album Reviews
Rolling Stone (1/03/02, p.118) - Ranked #2 in Rolling Stone's "Top 10 2001". Mojo (1/02, p.71) - Ranked #27 in Mojo's "Best [40] Albums of 2001". Q (1/03, p.56) - Included in Q Magazine's "100 Greatest Albums Ever" Rolling Stone (7/19/01, p.53) - 3 stars out of 5 - "...Keys shows a maturity beyond her years...suggesting down-home R&B contemporaries like Jill Scott as well as yesteryear's soul sophisticates..." Q (9/01, p.110) - 4 stars out of 5 - "...A prime candidate to head up the nu-soul revolution...with a voice that challenges Mary J. Blige's....Key's R&B trips to a fundamentally more old-skool set of values....Her sincerity is another plus..." Entertainment Weekly (6/29-7/6/01, p.144) - "...A debut full of promise..." - Rating: B Uncut (11/01, p.112) - 4 stars out of 5 - "...Frequently stunning....Keys soars like a young Aretha Franklin..." CMJ (4/30/01, p.21) - "...The singer showcases her classical piano training atop slow and somber percussion...her deep soulful voice and heartfelt delivery carry the songs..."
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