Alicia Keys: Diary of Alicia Keys

A new album by world's pop and R&B sensation Alicia Keys has been put out. Many know her from her catchy, highpitched notes to her classic piano playing and then by just watching the tv and seeing her playing or on a talk show. Despite her new album's self centered her new album is actually a slightly more extroverted affair than her debut.

This new openness is most noticable on Heartburn, a juicy little slice of old school blaxploitation wahwah funk co written and produced by Timbaland. But it's also evident in her slinky update of the Gladys Knight hit If I Were Your Woman and the tense orchestrated hiphop of Karma.

Those who prefer Keys' earthy piano balladry and lowimpact hiphop will find plenty of it on If I Ain't Got You, So Simple and the title track. In fact, perhaps there's a little too much of it. After the engaging and upbeat tunes that open the proceedings, this frontloaded disc quickly loses momentum, dissolving into a somewhat samey sounding set of tinkly pianos and silky smooth melody.

Also, espite its selfcentred (and self important) title, The Diary of Alicia Keys is actually a slightly more extroverted affair than her debut. Mostly, we suspect, because there ironically seems to be more of a group dynamic on these 13 numbers.

Although Keys still penned and produced many of these cuts herself, she appears to have relaxed and loosened the reins enough this time to allow for some healthy collaboration.

This new openness is most noticable on Heartburn, a juicy little slice of old school blaxploitation wahwah funk co written and produced by Timbaland. But it's also evident in her slinky update of the Gladys Knight hit If I Were Your Woman and the tense orchestrated hiphop of Karma.

Those who prefer Keys' earthy piano balladry and lowimpact hiphop will find plenty of it on If I Ain't Got You, So Simple and the title track. In fact, perhaps there's a little too much of it. After the engaging and upbeat tunes that open the proceedings, this frontloaded disc quickly loses momentum, dissolving into a somewhat samey sounding set of tinkly pianos and silky smooth melody.

Track Listing

1. Harlem's Nocturne 2. Karma 3. Heartburn 4. Medley: If I Was Your Woman/Walk on By 5. You Don't Know My Name 6. If I Ain't Got You 7. Diary 8. Dragon Days 9. Wake Up 10. So Simple 11. When You Really Love Someone 12. Feeling U, Feeling Me (Interlude) 13. Slow Down 14. Samsonite Man 15. Nobody Not Really (Interlude)