The Element of Freedom

I have been reading some of the reviews on this CD and it makes me smile. Some people have too much time on their hands. I would class myself as a person of non-specific music taste, I like a bit of everything. My husband bought this CD for me because I love New York and therefore loved the words to that specific song. However, on listening to the whole album, it is truly amazing. 70's/80's whatever, who cares - the woman has an incredible voice, I love every record. I have since gone one to buy it for my two best friends and my 66 year old mother who all love it. It's my favourite CD for years - particulary the song she sings with Beyonce, I put the roof down on my car, turn it up loud and off I go.

I heard Alicia on the radio a little while ago with "New York State of Mind" and, whereas I have owned her "Songs in A Minor" for a number of years, I never gave credit for her talent. So, another careful listen to the sampler of this album. Excellent, and although a winner of many Grammy awards it is a great pity Alicia Keys is not up there with Adele in terms of accolades. A great register on her voice which is accompanied mainly by a strong piano arrangement. No disappointments here at all. Recommended

Another work of art that AGAIN shows that this beautiful talented singer continues to do HER thing with little care or concern for keeping up with the pop trash that is polluting our airwaves. It shows growth, development and maturity which surpasses all of her peers and again reminds us that Alicia Keys will be around in 20 years when many of her contemporaries have crashed and burned. However, I have deducted a star out of dissappointment that someone as gifted as Miss Keys could sully a work of art by collaborating with the ubiquitous Ms Knowles. "Put it in a love song" is right up there with The Cheeky Girls or J Lo's "I'm still Jenny from the block". This three minutes and 15 seconds of vapid insignificant nonsense is typical of the type of music we all come to expect from Beyonce - "What up A, what up B, text me on your cell phone blah blah blah" - Uggh !!!! Just horrid. Otherwise, the album is a beautiful collection of thought provoking catchy beats and ballads. Turn the lights out, get a glass of wine on these cold dark wintry evenings, sit back and enjoy. Miss Keys, once again - I salute you.

I'm a massive fan of A Keys anyway and so naturally had to buy the album, even though I hadn't heard much off it. I absolutely love this album, it goes from soft ballard, to heavy base, to a lil reggae reggae line and one of the songs even has an old school motown feel to it, so really good/diverse listening. It's really nice to hear an album that actually has songs with some real substance and meaning for a change. I bought it back in June and it is still in my car's CD player, I've copied it to my laptop and even had to rip a copy for my Mom for her car as we were having a bit of a fight over it. If you haven't already brought it....why not!!?? lol

I wanted this cd for EMPIRE STATE OF MIND. And for me that track is about the best thing this talented singer has ever done. It's better than her duet with Jayz, which incidentally started me looking for Alicia on her own . And what a discovery - EMPIRE STATE OF MIND by her ownself! The other tracks are also excellent, so buy it soon!

I was completely happy and satisfied with the product. The product is everything I imagined and I was pleased with the price and packaging. Great tracks on the record with great quality.

I fell in love with 'Doesn't mean anything' and 'Try sleeping with a broken heart', when I first heard them on the radio. After the release of 'Empire state of mind' I was totally convinced that such good songs would lead to an amazing album. So I ordered it immediately ! When I first listened to the album I caught myself skipping the 'album fillers'. They gave me a déjà vu feeling ... Even after listening to the whole album for several times, I still wasn't fully convinced. The hits are incredible, but the fillers made me rate this one only with 3 stars.

loved the cd had bought it in the past and loaned it to a frend and never got it back!!! thats how good it is would reccomend this cd and the delivery was perfect

I've had this disc for a long time, just listened again this morning and was thinking about how this disc gets frequent plays on my system. I have probably over 2k albums in both LP's and CD, certain albums just seem to be go to albums. This is definitely one of mine. I'm glad I decided to write something as I feel the album should have a higher rating than now showing. The reason, is the reason I keep coming back, the tracks are strong and enjoyable, catchy melodies, rhythms and vocals. The trakks on Element of Freedom are superbly arranged, with Alicia in center, some backing vocals directly behind, some in further left or right, instruments in their own space. The piano on tracks is melodic and tuneful. Many tracks are accented with tasteful supporting synth. The production is very good. Alicia Keys vocals have strength and passion. For me Element of Freedom is a sit and listen album, I can put it on and listen all the way through. Element of Freedom is not just some Pop album, it is so much more, it is mostly strong tracks, not just a single or two with filler. I recommend listening to Element of Freedom on CD, LP or lossless stream to hear and benefit from the many musical elements that come together,to form each track. If I had to criticize the track with Biance is the weakest track and seems to trivialize an otherwise excellent album. Although the track is not on par, by a long shot, with the rest of the album, the rest of the album is so strong I can still easily give a 5 star.

Cd arrivé avant la date indiqué. Très bon CD pour de l occasion 👍

Nach den ersten beiden Studio Alben und dem phänomenalem Unplugged Album sind die Erwartungen an Frau Keys gewohnt hoch, zur Recht, das letzte Album hat es bei mir nur als "Deluxe" Version mit Live-Auftritten mit ach und Krach auf 4 Sterne geschafft. Die schlechte Aufnahme Qualität und die wenigen guten Songs waren ein echter Dämpfer. Dieses Album ist anders, weniger Soul mehr Rnb wie viele andere anmerken. Aber auch mehr Entwicklung, fast jeder Song für sich ist manigfaltiger als viele andere Songs von Ihr zuvor. Ich habe auf ein richtiges Soul Album gewartet in dem sie ihr Talent aus dem Unplugged Album ungefesselt in ein Studio Album bannt, das Live Album hat schon um längen mehr Klasse und musikalisches Feingefühl als der meiste Pop-Abfall den man so gewohnt ist. Diese musikalsiche Leidenschaft auf einem Studio Album ist sicher eher die Richtung die Veggi erwartet hat. Leider müssen wir darauf wohl noch etwas warten, das Album ist gut und im Vergleich zum sonstigen aktuellen auf dem Markt 5 Sterne Wert.Auch wenn meine Hoffnungen noch nicht erfüllt worden sind.. Der Aufbau des Albums ist wieder wie gewohnt gut, es wird sofort dir richtige Stimmung fürs Album aufgebaut und dieses mal wird man wieder gewohnt vorsichtig auf den "Kern" des Albums mit mehr Drive vorbereitet um dann wieder mit feinfühligen Balladen auszuklingen. Ich habe die 14-Song Variante als Mp3-Download angetestet weil ich nach dem letzten Album etwas enttäuscht war, hier ist Empire State of Mind (Part II) //(Part I auf der Unplugged Scheibe)// ein sehr gelungenges Outro und Ohrwurm zugleich. Lediglich das Feature mit Beyonce & Love is my Desease sagen mir nicht zu, Das Feature mit Beyonce gehört in der Tat eher auf eines Ihrer Alben, und wäre dort eine echte Verbesserung zu dem eher mäßigen Schnitt ihrer Sonstigen Produktionen. Love is my Desease ist einfach zu Dick aufgetragen und mir persönlich zu melancholisch.

a unique voice and a wonderful cd a must have

Bel disco come del resto tutti i suoi dischi