::: Alicia Keys - As I Am :::

Well, her long anticipated album has finally dropped and I must say it was well worth the wait! She came back bigger, badder and more soulful than before and it reflects in every song on the album. Titled, “As I Am” Alicia appears to be more sophisticated and mature as she has taken the braids out, took the scarf off and finally showed off those curves (don’t act like you haven’t seen her video “No One”). Now what would an Alicia Keys album be without her amazing piano skills being showcased from the first song? Her “As I Am” intro reminds you exactly why you liked her in the first place. “Superwoman” is one of the women empowerment songs that still keep the smooth old school sound Alicia is so well known for. “No one”, the first song off the album is a hip-hop, neo-soul love song that lets the world know how happy love can make you and how strong of a bond she has with this mystery man she’s rumored to be with. I’m in love with song five “Like You’ll Never See Me Again” is about cherishing every moment you have with your loved one. To not take anything for granted and to make every moment count as if it was the last time you had a chance to be together. The video just came out and is on her page on MySpace. It’s a deep video that features Common and as we all know, Alicia is in his most recent video “I Want You” (read between the lines shall we?). “Lesson Learned” is about as mellow as you get and has good old John Mayer (for those anti-alternative music listeners, he’s a tall white dude that plays a mean guitar and sings like a black dude) singing back up. It’s maybe the most unlikely but very well matched pair you may hear. His smooth vocals add a subtle hint of sweetness that almost makes the song sound like a lullaby, it’s calming for the soul. If you didn’t have enough of listening to hit after hit after hit, go to song nine, “Teenage Love” because it totally encompass everyone’s first love or crush that they experienced in high school. It might even make you reminisce about the dude you swore in 9th grade to forget about! This is a total buy! If you liked Alicia before, you’ll love her now. Review by: ~ MacKinzey