Alicia Keys

Twelve-time Grammy Award winner Alicia Keys' is back with her latest offering - The Element of Freedom. The album includes current single 'Doesn’t Mean Anything', as well as "Empire State Of Mind (Part II)", a sequel to the Jay-Z hit.

The first thing that strikes when listening to the album if the pure quality of Alicia’s vocals. That coupled with a strong range of tracks makes this a very stylish, competent album. There are a number of 'standout’ tracks, the strongest ones for me being the aforementioned Empire State of Mind, along with the beautifully uplifting, gospel backed 'How It Feels To Fly' and the opening track 'Love is Blind’, which strays into Rihanna territory, but in a very positive way. Driving beats make this a very strong track.

Elsewhere, 'Try Sleeping With A Broken Heart' is a strong slightly 80’s tinged power-ballad number – good vocals here coupled with some great lyrics make this a potential future single.

Beyonce also makes an appearance with 'Put It In A Love Song’, and whilst it is a good track, albeit quite 'Single Ladies’ it fits better on Beyonce’s album than here.

The slow tracks really work well on here as well, with 'Distance and Time’ straying towards Leona and 'That’s How Strong My Love Is’ sounding beautiful with Alicia’s vocals and a piano doing all the work.

Great album, and an ideal last minute Xmas present that will surely last well into 2010.