Alicia keys album cover element of freedom

Rather, they are worth taking the time to unravel. Unlike many pop albums, The Element Of Freedom requires repeated listens as many of the solemn tracks have the ability to fade into the background, making it inaccurately chronicled as forgettable. 2, sans rap verses, benefits from less bravado and more tenderness, and plays like an endearing, personal tribute to the singerвЂ™s hometown, New York.

2 (Broken Down), the sequel to Jay-ZвЂ™s, Empire State Of Mind, which also features Keys. Other notable tracks include Put It In A Love Song, an up-tempo club track sung alongside BeyoncГ© that sticks out like a sore, but much needed thumb to break the sometimes-monotonous sombre sound of the record. Instead, The Element Of Freedom creates a kind of melancholy atmosphere by way of some moody, bold ( bold ) drum programming, leading many to draw comparisons to Kanye WestвЂ™s 808вЂ™s & Heartbreak. Having experimented heavily with different drum machines, the more big band, Soul-inclined Keys is less palpable in this record. Keys has described the album as вЂњa new soundвЂќ, вЂњa new emotionвЂќ, and вЂњa mixture between strong and delicateвЂќ, especially apparent in Try Sleeping With A Broken Heart, where enormous beats push through the foreground of her tender vocals. Songs like, Love Is A Disease, How It Feels To Fly, and DoesnвЂ™t Mean Anything, especially fit the aforementioned description. Lyrically, it seems the pangs of longing was very much a muse, and though at times it gets to be a little sappy if not depressing, the tracks, treated with KeysвЂ™ raspy, emotive vocals are beautifully personable and moving. The Element Of Freedom may be the most vulnerable weвЂ™ve seen of Keys yet. In The Element Of Freedom, Alicia Keys teams up with long-time producer partner, Kerry вЂKrucialвЂ™ Brothers, and goes soft on us.

Underneath that вЂgoody-goodyвЂ™ image, she maintains a distinct edge and mystery, and is a rare breed of artist where interest in their art trumps interest in their personal life. Whether it is because said singerвЂ™s talent includes being a classically trained pianist, songwriter, producer, not to mention philanthropist ( Keep A Child Alive), are plausible assumptions.Д«ut Keys is also an attitudinal force. Looks like it was a good one.Amongst the sea of younger pop-R&B вЂdivasвЂ™, Keys always seemed to stand out from the rest, or least, demand a certain kind of respect few would attribute to the likes of Rihanna or say, Jordin Sparks. IвЂ™m trying to remember what I was doing last Friday, meant to go this party. On another level it canвЂ™t be the first time the three of them have been armвЂ™s length apart, Kerry has a producing/business relationship with Alicia too. IвЂ™m sorry, with Swizz right there, it has to be hard for Kerry to take that picture. Apparently, Alicia and Kerry are still buddies enough to cheese for the camera. The terrible part? Kerry Brothers, Alicia KeysвЂ™ rumored ex-boyfriend, was there too. The pictures from the release party answer that clearly. Oh sure, throughout the album there is the sound and feel of a woman smiling in the glow of a new love, but who that love is I felt was up for question.

On a completely non-musical angle I can tell you listening to the album I wasnвЂ™t sure if Alicia Keys and Swizz Beatz were still making their lo-pro relationship happen. Point is: forget the freebies, good music deserves better dollars (especially these days) and Alicia Keys cooked up something phenomenal for these cold winter months. On December 18, Alicia Keys was on hand at M2 Mansion in NYC for a release party for her stellar new album вЂњThe Element of Freedom.вЂќ If you donвЂ™t have it yet, you need to get off your computer and beat a path to Target/Walmart/Best Buy or pop a tab, click up an online shop and fill a shopping cart.

Alicia keys album cover element of freedom