her songs are def one’s that i have to listen to over and over until they grow on me. that’s what happen with ‘no one’…i wasnt feelin it at first, but the more i listened to it; i began to feel it more and more. so, who knows…maybe that’s the case for these two songs. i def wouldnt buy the album tho.

“IF I HAD NO MORE TIME, NO TIME LEFT TO BE HERE” I LOVE THESE LYRICS. OH MY GOD.

SHIT…………..I’ma buy 2 copies!!!

Lesson Learned is HOT!!! I absolutely cannot wait for her album to drop next Tues!!! It will definitely be in my hand my then!! I am sad I can’t check out the full preview on MTV since I am at work, but I will be checkin that out later on…

No One is still my song though, I havent gone a day without listining to it since you guys first posted it on the site…

I like this song. I agree w/whoever said it has a Prince feel. It reminds me of Purple Rain.

Don’t like the album. Only one good song in my opinion, Like You’ll Never See Me Again which sounds like something I’ve heard before. The whole album sounds like recycled music to me.

I#60, I listened to the entire album at MTV.COM yesterday…..and they claim they have posted the ENTIRE CD…and there are only 12 songs..and only one is uptempo. I love the album…but I hope there are more songs…because 12 is not enough for me. Especially when “Songs in A Minor” had about 20 songs..

But i still love the cd…i’m really feeling it.. It still doesn’t top Songs in A Minor though…

lol @#20…i don’t buy CDs anymore either..I bought Kanye’s CD this year…and I’m buying Alicia’s. Two this year…lol.

I went straight to utorrent last year and “illegally” downloaded crap like Beyonce and shit…but those artists are lucky i even did that.

That reggae version of “No One” is FIRE!!!!!!!!! I really like this song too. I can’t wait for Novemeber 13th to buy this album. Alicia never disappoints.

Looks like I gotta go listen for more on this album from the store.
Judging from the 3 songs posted here so far…I LIKE!

Definite growth. Most people want her to come out with all that radio ish like Rhihanna, Beyonce, and them like it´s the only way for her to survive the game but am glad she has come out Mature and Grown Artistically.

This is definatiley no Radio or MTV ish. Pure Music.
This gyal will have no problem surviing in the industry.

She is A TRUE ARTIST!

I really am interested in the album now….

I’m really disappointed because her voice is gone. Now granted she never had a WHITNEY voice but I still loved how beautiful it was but now it’s just GONE. She needs to stop smoking marijuana because it is KILLING her voice. Look at what crack did to Whitney’s.

Last year when I heard that Clive Davis was shelving Alicia’s project and making her rework everything in favor of Jennifer Hudson I wanted to BEAT HIS AZZ but now I want to beat Alicia’s azz for ruining her voice with that nasty shit AND for writing about the same gotdamned shit she’s been writing about since she came out. You people are so brainwashed talking about she got lyrical content. She is repeating the same lines in every song to me. John Legend plays the piano way better than Alicia and he actually gets into a different groove. I don’t feel like his stuff is repititve but Alicia’s shit IS. Ya’ll bitching about Beyonce but at least she has been able to preserve her beautiful voice. The thing with Beyonce to me is that I still don’t think she’s reached her peak as a singer yet while I feel Alicia has already lost hers.

My post wasn’t meant to praise one artist over another (like I see some of you on here doing) but to merely point out why I am highly disappointed with the direction that Alicia is taking. She has exhibited NO GROWTH in my eyes and for you that say she has please give me detailed examples how. I’m talking about lyrical content. Music arrangements. Come on get it poppin.

I agree that this is one of the best albums to come out this year. It’s so refreshing. No one has a sound like Alicia’s and no one does what she does. I had really high hopes for this album and I am very happy with how it turned out. I’m just REALLY disappointed that “Teenage Love Affair” isn’t on the album. I hope it’s a hidden track or something.

cosign with # 86

I see you Kiki we the only ones I guess because no one else is saying anything. Just like Alicia ain’t saying anything on this new album. I saw the bootleggers yesterday and I told him NO THANKS. What a shame.

And the hell with whoever said they ain’t buy shit in years. What you missed that new Angie Stone that came out less than two weeks ago? Now that album is ALBUM of the year. Kills EVERY Alicia track she’s ever done. See it’s fine to get a little husky voice but you got to know how to use it like Ms. Stone. But ya internet geeks stayed gassed by the image of a girl like Alicia. She is more manufactured than Beyonce and ya got the nerve to say she isn’t? Let’s all be honest with one another for ONCE.

Can’t wait for next Tuesday to pick up Alicia’s album! All her cds are masterpieces. You guys kill me liking garbage, but then when somebody got some real and positive music you want to be negative LOL. Alicia will be winning some Grammys again…

The only garbage here is the recycled borrowed ideas that Alicia chose to put out this time around. How many times can you talk about wanting someone? Did that person not get the message the first 30 songs? And a lot of the music I heard sounded like I’ve heard before but I will give some blame to Linda Perry for that.

** I love this song !!! It’s even on my MYSPCE PAGE !!!

I have a Live version of Teenage Love Affair from the Heineken show in NYC. Its amazing!

Oh btw, Ashley @ #50 and i are 2 different Ashley’s. Sorry i stole ur name… well my name! lmao

For those that want some REAL beautiful music from artists that don’t have a hype machine around please PLEASE go out and buy that new Angie Stone. And while you’re there check out ALICE SMITH, SHARON JONES, ANTHONY DAVID, ANN NESBY, MELBA MOORE, LEDISI…..

Step ya music game up children!

truth (and taste) is relative. what’s of good taste to you, may not be of good taste to me. there’s no need to call the chick’s music garbage. somebody might look at the lists of artists you like and consider them trash juice.

just say u don’t like the chick’s music….and leave it at that.

LMAO @ stop smoking weed. im not saying she doesn’t, but thats some personal ass shyt to be claiming to know. lol

And FYI, its not her VOICE, Its the MIC DISTORTION. Her engineer has said more than once that they experimented with different mic sounds and buffering techniques. No One is very much like that on the album, but if u heard her performance of that song on the Leno show, her voice is 100% clearer and 10 times better than the recorded version.

92.
Harlem Mami
Wednesday, November 7, 2007
The only garbage here is the recycled borrowed ideas that Alicia chose to put out this time around. How many times can you talk about wanting someone? Did that person not get the message the first 30 songs? And a lot of the music I heard sounded like I’ve heard before but I will give some blame to Linda Perry for that.

You gotta be joking! EVERY ARTIST that comes out recycles the same topics. If you wanna hear something different get you a book on tape or something!
That shit is ridiculous…lol What you want her to sing about? She has sang about:
New love
Old love
Women Empowerment
Her mama
Her grandmama
World Peace
Trust
Honesty
Loyalty

What you want her to write a song about Bush or something? I just wanna know where the expectations are. Jill Scott had a beautiful CD but it was all topics that I have heard her sing before, Angie Stones CD is fiyah but some of the same topics, Prince’s Planet Earth - was classic old school Prince - I don’t get grown ass folks wanting somebody to talk about something they don’t wanna hear in the first place. If you wanna blame it on something just say “I don’t like the way she sings, or the production” but hell if you liked Diary, Songs In A Minor - then her subjects are still the same - you know why b/c people still go through the same ole shit everyday!

@ KGB

theres a rumor going around that Go Ahead is subliminally directed towards Bush. lol. not sure but it could be possible lol

Oh and that song about her Nana…… goodness…

I agree with KGB 100%!!!!!!

@Ashley:

I heard that too! And I love that song. One of my favs!

I wanna hear that Teenage Love Affair though.

BET is doing a special Friday night with her so I gotta check that out.

I saw her perform on Leno and her voice sounded almost as manly. Wasn’t that the same performance where she was caught faking playing the piano?

Taste is indeed relative and that’s why I find it funny that the same people that chide others for supporting people like Keysia or Beyonce by proclaiming that Alicia is the savior. She is indeed the same manufactured pop R&B as the other chicks. It’s OK to diss the other women but not Alicia, right? That’s always been the rule. Never mind I know a dozen of women across 110th st. that can blow her out of the water. Please stop repeating the mantra that Alicia is somehow an ingenious songwriter. So like I said, I am PISSED that she hasn’t grown as a singer/songwriter/musician like she deceived me into believing that she could when she first came out. I expect more from a NY-bred girl like Alicia.

And it’s a known FACT that Alicia smokes weed. Everybody in NY knows it. And if you’ve seen her at a party like I have then you would have smelled it as well.

I’ve said my peace so I hope it marinates in SOME one’s mind. I’m done now.

LMAO @ delusional alicia fans,thinking she’s real and non mainstream. Alicia keys is just as packaged and marketed as rihanna. anyways this CD is boring, same ol’ concept,she used for previous albums.plus her singing has gotten terrible with all that straining,attempting to sound like a powerhouse belter,which she’s NOT.it’s a snoozefest,skip it.

I want this album. I will have it in my hands on next Tuesday.

I LIKE HER

BUT NOT THAT MUCH TO GET HER ALBUM ..

HOPE SHE DOES WELL !!!!!!!!!!!!

@harlem mami

totally agree with you. alicia is still recyling the same ol’ ideas ,concepts and beats.she need take a new direction,get a new sound. plus her singing has gotten really strianed and nasally,especially duirng her live performance.some of y’all may diss beyonce and all,but at least she delivers vocally,and will still sing alicia keys under the table.

@ Harlem Mami

faking the piano… dahell r u talking about? either ur mistaken or just making shyt up at this point

I will be supporting A.Keys love her music she always deliver hits.

still lovin “No One”!

Faking the piano…. u CANNOT be serious. I can see people criticizing her voice or whatever, but non piano players tryna say she can’t play is just asinine. Go to anyone of her live shows and watch her break out into Beethoven, Sergei or Chopin.

Faking the piano….. i tell ya… people will say anything to downplay another persons talent just to boost someone elses

im loving
“Like You’ll Never See Me Again” such a beautiful song. I listen to this song everyday, hope the video is as good as the song. and the other song “lessons learn”. Get it Alicia,
Im loving your new songs and the album is probably terrific.

@ 108…I totally agree… I see some Alicia hate up in here…A damn shame for somebody to have like 60 post on 1 topic downgrading an artist…

What do people expect from this girl? I don’t get how anyone can say they don’t like this material. It just isn’t sinking in! I feel like if you like anyone else then what is wrong with Alicia? People really need to listen to the music don’t come on a review topic leaving comments when you probably haven’t even listened to more than 2 of the songs. I don’t understand how anyone can say alicia has lost her voice. When you listen to her sing live, when you hear songs like Superwoman, songs like tell you something, like you’ll never see me. I can respect you saying I don’t like Alicia because she has black hair more than anything else I have read. I guess this is what happens when we don’t take the time to LISTEN to the material. Alicia talks about so many different things. Songs like Troubles, and The Life from her first album helps me when I am depressed. Like You’ll Never See Me makes me think of all the people I love and the way I treat them. No One makes me think of no one getting in the way of me working hard at my career right now. I don’t have a boyfriend so why would it make me think of one. If you aren’t deep enough to interpret the music for yourself don’t blame it on the artist. What should she talk about that would make you so happy? Maybe she should sing about going to the club, or the dress she is wearing, the color of her lipstick, or maybe if she did a song all about the brand of purse she carries people would be happy. Of course every artist is packaged at least a little, but Alicia’s packaging just seems a little more genuine a little more real to me. Either way I’m done I think the supporters outweigh the people judging the work blindly. How dare anyone bring JHud into the discussion I’m looking forward to the JHud project but we haven’t heard a thing yet and it has been just about a year. Alicia was not told to rework her material she put her music on hold to care for her grandmother who seems to be the inspiration behind, Tell You Something-nanas reprise. Is that deep enough topic for everyone. If you are planning to bootleg or illegally download the CD or any other CD I truly feel like your opinion does not matter. If I didn’t like something I wouldn’t even waste my time or $5 on it. 11/13 I can’t wait to support the music.

I am an Alicia fan and I’m definitely coping the album next week. Everyone has their own opinions about her as an artist as well as about her music, however those opinions will not stop me from supporting her.

Just a thought….

When will we ever have a discussion about a female R&B artist without bringing BEYONCE in it?

DAMN!!!

This is so Hot! It has Prince Vibe all over it and I ain’t mad at her for it! She is the only female out her with real raw talent….And enough sense to take us back to real soulful sounding music. There is no comparing Bey’ style or album to A keys. You can’t event think about comparing them.

wow i think i’m inlove with like you’ll never see me again!

“If you heart doesn’t feel me, then your dead!” -Alicia Keys to MTV

Faking the piano…lol

You pushing too hard. Just say “I don’t like her music and won’t be buying the album” But as for smoking weed - damn she is cooler than I thought she gets 4 stars from me…lol

I WILL BE GETTING THE ALBUM ON NOVEMBER 13TH!!! I LOVE ALICIA, SHE IS THE ONLY FEMALE ARTIST THAT WILL STAND THE TEST OF TIME….REAL RECOGNIZE REAL!!

Alicia You Doing Yo Damn Thing Mama. You Finally Got A Crowd Of Haters Lol Thats Wen You Know You Making Big Moves Lmao Hillarious. People Even Trying To Pursuade Others Into Being A Hater Like Them Lol Wow. Beyonce Can Outsing Alicia Anyday? Lol Yea Right. Its Sad How People Have So Much Hatred Man. If You Dont Like It Ok Freedom Of Speech Lol But You Are Barely 1% Of People That Dont Lol. In The Words Of T.i Hate If You Want To But Ya Wasting Yo Time. I Will Be Purchasing As I Am Next Week. God Bless You Alicia And Good Luck.

i’m sorry but alicia keys is not that great…..she never has been and never will be in my book…a pretty face with only one song that one me over…”Diary” only cause my boy Saadiq helped her out….she can’t sing and I’m not feelin her vibe….

Must Beyonce be mentioned in every post on here? Damn.

A keys is the shit. Period. Hater’s get a life or choke on something. Her first 2 albums are fire and so is this one! She can do no wrong. I hope this record doesn’t flop though. LOL.

Like You’ll never see me again is the best song OMG i love it.

correction to my post *won*..also if you guys want to hear some creative, soulful, talented music look up:

Eric Roberson
Darien Brockington
Dwele
Glen Lewis
Cee-lo
Lina
India Arie
Angie Stone
Erykah Badu
Jill Scott
Teedra Moses
Jazzyfatnastees
Raphael Saadiq
Steve Spacek
Little Brother (for all of yall that like hip-hop)
Tribe Called Quest

….the list goes on and on……

whats funny is that most Alicia fans, myself included, actually like all the artists people are posting saying they’re better than her. just because we’re Alicia fans doesn’t mean we think she’s the end all be all

Listened to the album completely through. The album is just o.k. she proves to me she can sing about as good ri ri, ciara and brittany spears. I thought over time her voice would improve but she sounds more hoarse than ever. Excellent song writing.

Lol Harlem Mami Left How Many Comments Saying The Same Thing Just To Hate On Akeys Lmao How Wonderful. Only About 5 People Agree With You Out Of 110 Post. Give Up Lol

I hear ya, HARLEM MAMI. I hear ya! I haven’t yet listened to the whole CD sample — I have to prepare myself because I have found her voice soooo unpleasant on her first two singles and I don’t know if I want to continue to torture myself. I can love an okay voice on a great song (like “Unwritten”) but the songs haven’t been able to make up for the voice.

I have enjoyed some of Alicia’s music in the past but nothing she has released this time around has been brilliant or ground-breaking. I really expected more after her long hiatus, but then again, many great artists make amazing songs in a few hours or a few days, so I’ve always known that time doesn’t really mean anything.

I don’t think Alicia can hold a candle to artists such as Jill Scott, India Arie, Erykah Badu or Angie Stone — vocally and musically her work pales in comparison. There really is nothing deep about her music. However, she is positive, she seems to have a nice demeanor, and she benefits from the marketing genius of Clive Davis. Clive has people believing that this woman is a virtuoso on the piano when really her skills are very basic and much of her music (in the past) has relied heavily on samples.

I don’t know about the fake piano playing claim, but I do know that one very well known artist openly ridiculed the hype machine that presented her as a musical genius and laughed at her piano skills. I don’t know the truth…

From the posts, I think I’ll start listening with “Lessons Learned.” That one seems to be getting a pretty good response.

@ #119 (Nikki) — You told me something I didn’t know: that the song “Diary” was produced by Saadiq. That song is the only Alicia Keys song that I could listen to endlessly. The music, lyrics, vocal performance, and production are all top notch on that joint — 10 times better than what I’ve heard so far on this project. Makes sense that Saadiq had a hand in it. I wonder if she worked with him on this album. If she did, maybe that would be a song I would like.

damb thats my girl akeus she didi it again. she is always consistant with her work and on the top of her game. and she dont seem fake and fonny like these other rand b chicks out here and she dont follow all the other bull thyt and she’s not all made up and lookin like a dam doll. she’s staying true to her self true to her fans and true to her background. you go girl i love every thing you do you get much love from me xoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxo

Damn!!!! call me old, but I just got a purple rain like feeling from that song…i like it

I can truly say that I like the new direction Ms. Keys has chosen to go into…but i feel like the album is incomplete…in my opinion….her last album was a classic and I was expecting her to top it…but I can say that she has made some beautiful music with this new album…

im lovin everything i’ve heard from ms.keys…No One is just beautiful and Like You’ll Never See Me Again is beautiful too….im excited about the album

I love A. Keys. She’s been my girl since Songs in A Minor. I’m so hyped for her new album. She’s a breath of fresh air and I’m loving it. Do yo thang girl!!!

Like you’ll never see me again sounds like a Prince song. It’s good. Love Prince and love A. Keys. I think this album is going to do big things. Her song Lesson Learned with John Mayer is good too. Go Alicia. She is doing her thANG!!!!!

Heard the album Monday actually, don’t really know to make of it yet.But I do like a couple joints though.

I don’t understand how a topic could be about Alicia Keys, and somebody mentions a comparison to Beyonce…..

I just don’t understand that..
What does Beyonce have to do with Alicia Keys ?

It’s Apples Vs. Orange..It’s not the same……

I hope her album is much better than her single “No One”. I am truly a fan that is disappointed with that track. I like the her PRINCE song…. but at the same time that is not versatile to me… It is jocking someone’s style. I really think her work on this album is jacking others style. She does not have a strong voice, so I depend on her to have more versatility then she is currently showing…. Just my opinion!

I totally agree with post #90 by Harlem… I asked Brian last week to post some of Angie Stones’ songs. Her album is off the hook!!!!

FIRST LET ME SAY: I LOOOOOVVVEEEE MS. KEYS HER & MONICA (save the comments) JUST REALLY GIVE ME WHAT I WANT. AND I’M GLAD SOMEONE IS STICKIN TO THE TRUE R&B ROOTS AND NOT WHORING THEIRSELVES FOR A MEDICORE TUNE. MS. KEYS REALLY DOES IT FOR ME AND I AM LITERALLY HOLDING A COUNTDOWN TIL THE DAY THE ALBUM DROPS. IT’S LIKE JILL SCOTT YOU CAN PRETTY MUCH EXPECT GOOD LYRICS AND SOUL FROM THESE LADIES. SOME PEOPLE AREN’T INTO THAT BUT U HAVE TO ADMIT ALICIA IS HOT. SHE’S ACTUALLY ONE FEMALE THAT HAS CLOTHES ON, WITH A VOICE, A HS DIPLOMA (and some college education may I add), AND TALENT (I can’t stress that word enough).

AND LIKE I SAID IN A PREVIOUS POST: ALICIA COULD BREATH ON AN ENTIRE ALBUM AND I WOULD NOT ONLY COP IT BUT BLAST IT LIKE IT WAS THE HOTTEST SH*T I EVER HEARD!!!! YES I KNOW IM A STAN

Everybody is kind of grabbing on to the 80s sound and its starting to rub me off a little bit.The first person I heard to really bring back this sound was Teedra Moses “For A Lifetime.” and then it just started back with JT and then everybody was just jumping on it.I’m pretty sure Prince is flattered and thinking “how unoriginal”

And everybody talks about the same things in their songs because we go through it everyday.

*YAWN*

UGH, HER SINGING HAS GOTTEN WORSE, NOT EVEN THE AUTO-TUNING SOFTWARE COULD SAVE HER VOICE. A MEDICORE ALBUM AT BEST .
CAN’T COMPARE THIS CRAP TO JILL SCOTT AND ANGIE STONE’S LATEST ALBUMS.NEXT!

I have the whole CD minus two tracks, one of which is Teenage Love Affair…..

but I’m not really feeling it at all except for “Lesson Learned.”

It’s very pop to me….and sorry I like is soulful.

Really, really really and still do hate the single. One of her worst songs ever to me. But I can’t knock her trying to do something different….

I like Alicia as a person…but this is the first time I’ve gotta say she is overrated. If one more chick could sing and play maybe we’d have something to compare her to….but sorry this is just not it for me.

On lesson learned, is that john mayer singing with her? they sound good together

The album is no meant to be soul…it’s a mix of different genres. Prince listened to 3 of the songs and stated he loved them…I so love this album it’s different and the lyrics are so strong also her voice is what’s up

I LIKE THAT COVER OF HER NEW CD. LIKE I WAS SAYING B4 IT LOOKS LIKE A PAINTING OR AN EXPENCIVE DRAWING OF HER . I LIKE IT. GOOD CHOICE 4 THE COVER

Naw, i don’t like this other song “Lesson Learned” she is offkey.

@CLEARMINDED who ridiculed her?

Alicia singles always get me but I end up disliking her cd.

Love both songs and “No One” is my jam. I dont really care if her voice sounds strained. I am not a vocal coach and I dont need a voice to sound perfect to appreciate it. If you dont like Alicias new material then state your opinion and move the hell on. Why do some people have to question or devalue the opinion of others? All the critics on this post kill me. Half of you barely got through your music appreciation class in grade school but stay trying to convince ppl on a damn blog what real musical talent is. What-the-hell-eva.

@145 (AKA New Yorker) — Rick James. He was crazy, but he was a talented mofo and incredible musician.

I love Alicia Keys, but “No One” sounded like a big strain for her- she struggled singing that song- turn off for me. The other song sounds like it’s Prince inspired, but it seems like she’s trying to sound like Prince. I swear, real music died back in the 80’s. Since then, music has been sampled to death. There’s no such thing as original songs and music anymore. Everything is either “borrowed, fused, sampled, stolen, copped, re-hashed, mixed, remixed, just totally adulterated. Now the music industry has ran out of music to sample, so they’ve went back to the 1930’s and 1940’s music for a “new sound” for our time- hence our Chrisette’s and other like artists. Time just repeats itself.

@139 bitch shut the fuck up. Get a life.