- Audio CD (21 July 2001)
- Number of Discs: 1
- Format: Import
- Label: J
- ASIN: B00005JXS6
- Other Editions: DVD Audio | Vinyl | MP3 Download
- Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars See all reviews (49 customer reviews)
- Amazon Bestsellers Rank: 63,610 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)
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Product Description
Amazon.co.uk Review
In the crowded world of female R&B you need a unique selling point. Songs in A Minor's 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
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
16 of 16 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
The most exciting soul debut since Erykah Badu,
By
This review is from: Songs in a Minor (Audio CD)
The minute Alicia Keys opens her mouth and the first note is sung, you know that this album is going to be repeated again and again, borrowed by your friends and finally broken by a flatmate in an attempt to record it without your noticing. Yes, its that good - Alicia is the love child of Tori Amos and Erykah Badu, and the world is better off for it - the singles Fallin' and Girlfriend are obviously winners, but the slower tracks, such as Troubles and Butterflyz show an impressive maturity for one so young - she has been listening to Aretha, Nina Simone and Joni Mitchell and it shows. Not to say that Alicia isn't original, as Mr. Man (with the gorgeous voice of Jimmy Cozier) and Jane Doe show, this girl has drawn on her life as well as the music of others. Her voice is smooth and pure, and she has an amazing sense of rhythm as well as vocal range to make Whitney jealous. I haven't taken this album out of my hifi, and I bought it two weeks ago - the lyrics are touching and often funny, and the beats want to make you swing your hips and go out to the nearest R'n'B club, or at least sing into your hairbrush. On the whole, I would recommend this album to everyone who has a pulse - there are songs to dance to and songs to cry to, and I don't think music gets much better than that. Trust me, treat yourself for Xmas - your ears will thank me.
38 of 40 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Such Talent, such soul, such depth. - Just amazing.,
By A Customer
This review is from: Songs in a Minor (Audio CD)
I bought this album on the strength of "Fallin" and didn't know what to expect. - The only thing I did realise is that the album wasn't going to be 15 different versions of "Fallin"Which made me a bit sceptical about buying it. - Would I like the other 14 tracks? Like them? I LOVE THEM! I've had the CD about 4 weeks now, and, no word of a lie, it hasn't left my CD player yet! There's a perfect blend of Soul, RnB, and classically-tinged music, which creates a CD that is beautiful, heart-aching, thoughtful, deep and above all passionate. You're firmly left believing that Alicia Keys believes what she's singing. - So much so that it's almost a musical biography from the amazingly talented 20 year old. You HAVE to have this album. - It's incredible.
6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:
3.0 out of 5 stars
girls got talent!,
This review is from: Songs in a Minor (Audio CD)
Well, i've only given Miss Keys 3 stars because some of the back beats get a bit samey after a while. It has 2 be said that you could listen to her voice all day and every song on the album really compliments her gorgeous soulful voice. Head and shoulders above the rest, she plays her own piano which shows her musical ability. Her successes with 'Fallin' and 'A Woman's Worth' will definately be followed up by any one of these great tracks. Warning to those that find R'n'B beats a bit repetetive because their is a danger that this album could bore you. However, chill out and listen to her voice and its a real winner!Enjoy!!
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