REVIEW: ALICIA KEYS - KEYS

4/5

Songs In The Keys Of Life.

Speak it to the highest power. Alicia Keys is the truth, like T.I. said, "Beanie's first LP". Or like the Sigel sample after the classic piano featuring Pusha T 'Plentiful' to push start this album to a tee, as 'KEYS' opens doors. The sequel to 'Alicia' is here, unlocked...and it's as original as it gets. Through the keyhole like Lloyd Grossman, this decadent double disc of 'Originals' and 'Unlocked' tracks is the eighth wonder from a woman who remixes her own damn songs. Take that Diddy! From the beginnings of 'Songs In A Minor' that's celebrated more anniversaries than grown folks. To the last first name status like Kobe album. Alicia has done it all. From the pages of 'The Diary Of Alicia Keys' that took her superstar status and history book confirmed it as legendary. To all the other legacy making albums and even last years amazing autobiography, 'More Myself: A Journey'. One that saw swear jar stories with Prince and finally had the reveal of someone who understands how much I was moved by Tom Hanks' operatic aria explanation to Denzel in 'Philadelphia' of Maria Callas' compellingly heartbreaking 'La Mamma Morta'. Complete with chapter beginnings from the who's who of the industry with spoken word audiobook accompaniment. From Bono to Jay-Z. Oprah to of course Swizz. And the albums to drop the needle next to this bookshelf addition to the songsheets for the classically trained pianist? The 'As I Am' perfect portrait of a 'Superwoman' (yes she is) that 'No One' can touch in black and white. 'The Element Of Freedom' that heard it for New York, even if it's hard to sleep with a broken heart and things on your mind in the Empire State of made dreams that never does (but, best believe she was ready). A 'Girl On Fire' like Minaj or Marylin. Ignited and still 'Here' like the no make-up, even more perfect portrait in black and white of an album as fresh as a 'Blended Family', or the Winter steam out of the grids of the Manhattan streets she turns into Broadway as electric as Times Square. No one is more concrete jungle than her. From the braids to the crowning Queen earrings she can rock just like Mary J or Beyoncé. After a four year break to make her family the most important thing, Alicia came back last year in a time where we all had to stay home, working harder than ever. From finding out about Kobe Bryant, his daughter GiGi and everyone on that fateful flight's tragic passing and then performing a tribute at the Grammy's with Boyz II Men at STAPLES, a place that will always be that (no Crypto) and Kobe's house. To taking the stage to the streets and all the names of those slain to show the world that Black Lives Matter. Alicia arguably had her biggest and most important year and this is the Grammy winner that went diamond more times than wedding rings. Now, still in matrimony with her muse, 'KEYS' unclocks another album to put under your tree this Christmas. With the gladest tiding for you Pips tonight. 

New York, New York like Sinatra, Hells Kitchen like Ramsay's own is home, cooking up two sides to this story like a Masterchef (second reference, Grossman?). All at the same time her 'Quantum Of Solace' Bond theme partner Jack White going platinum blonde on blonde is mixing his own material anew like there was no time, forget another way to die. She has a license to kill, Beastie Boys ill. 'It's On Again' for this high scoring talent like Andrew Garfield and Tobey Maguire potentially (practically) joining Tom Holland for a truly amazing Spider-Man in this falls 'No Way Home'. The 'Originals' serves at the "classic side" of this modern icon who Hall of Fame really is a GOAT like a King James basketball version. Whilst the coin flips to 'Unlocked' and a "whole other sonic experience." All for 90 minutes of two halves of 26 tracks that kick it like a movie for the 'Smokin Aces' star who has made her big city and bright lights American dream like something straight out of Hollywood. But flipping the script you can hear and feel it perfectly on the crowning royal blue beginnings of 'Plentiful' with Pusha that showcases the showtime of this albums abundance. It's winning time like the Lakers on HBO as the former Clipse rapper shoots from the hip. "The devil's always preying on the weaker souls/All that we can know, it was all good just a week ago/Prada carry-ons, off to Mikonos/Celebrating life on white sands, but only we can toast/Still got it cheaper though, scales like a Libra, yo/Playing on these keys like Alicia, that's her secret though/Only on the need to know, nah, you don't need to know/Had to tell the truth on this beat like Beanie Sigel though, Push." This kind of track reminds me of the hidden bonus times in 'A Minor' that Keys was rampaging around with Bus-a-Bus and the Flipmode Squad rhymes. Or taking it back to the 'Streets Of NY' with Rakim and Nas' state of mind and rhyme. Setting it off perfect like the two stunning singles in lead for soul, gospel and R&B's leading lady Alicia, like Aretha, blending genres like family. The new 'If I Ain't Got You' in 'Best Of Me' ("You get the side of me/I would hold back and not reveal/You feed the mystery/You are my red and my blue pill/It makes me come alive/Don't be a lie, it feels so real/You get the best of me.") that in this music matrix like a Keanu Neo and Carrie Trinity resurrection reunion this month plays great on both sides of this white dress matrimony. No matter which hand you choose. Laurence Fishburne or Yahya Abdul-Mateen II. Time to fly! Or the Swae Lee hand lent 'Lala' that 'Unlocked' like the Khalid and Lucky Days assisted amazing 'Come For Me' does anything but stay mellow, as said once by Common who had Keys in his 'I Want You' video. Someone who is also unbelievably in the couple of calendars of his storied, classic career with his part in the 'Beautiful Revolution'. Televise this! 

'Alicia' has wrote songs about neo-soul queen Jill Scott though. Called Jill Scott. FEATURING f###### Jill Scott. How's that for layered in this world of multi-verses for her last chapter? But here the truly unforgettable 'Nat King Cole' is like Lenny Kravitz's-who had his own magnificent memoir ('Let Love Rule' taking us back to leading us to his first LP) out last year too-'Johnny Cash'. A delightful dedication as worthy of the weight of the biggest name it's devoted to like the love letter to the dearest it helps write in the same light and regard. This is the best as Keys reads, "So if you wanna leave alone/You gotta put on your finest/If you wanna sing your song/You gotta put the time into timeless/If you wanna take it all, let the chandeliers fall (Fall)/While you standing tall like the Taj Mahal/Be unforgettable/Like Nat King Cole/Like Nat King Cole." If only Nat or Natalie were here in duet. But best believe, they can hear this soul all the way in the heavens it was sent from. Like Prince passing his gently weeping guitar to George. The Carter, Lil' Wayne unlocking even more. His version is unforgettable too. 'Daffodils' on the light of either palettes shade is as beautiful as Van Gogh canvassing in one, single, pure gesture. Whilst the neo Raphael Saadiq 'Skydive' hits all new heights leaving us lost for words like the sickness of high altitude. "Sometimes it's pouring rain/Houselights are out/And I need you to follow my direction/Yeah, follow me, I'm falling out/Like in movie, hold my hand," she sings. We told you as cinematic as they come. Until the hip-hop Hollywood remix. There's no 'Dead End Road' here as she keeps flying with 'Billions' of gold bullion in her budget like Paul Giamatti and Damian Lewis. 'Is It Insane'? You're damn right! And that signature jazz track as smokey like a Robinson miracle and smouldering as fellow most famous like Madison New Yorker piano woman, Norah (Miss Jones...as if like Alicia you needed a surname), who has her own 'Dream Of Christmas' out now, is such a throwback even Billie Holiday could feel it between the smoke of a packed house of white tableclothed house seats under lamplight. With the lightest, tender touch of the feather drum. This might just be the best of her album and career. As seductive as they come like making fire with Maxwell in New Orleans, turning the mic up. It gets even sexier on 'Love When You Call My Name'. Singing "Even if I go for miles and hours/There's only one thing that I need, only one word you say/Love when you call my name," on another pair of Saadiq's for this triple like Tony, Toni, Tone as 'Only You' comes into dedication play like Ashanti. This one is perfect for the 'Old Memories' like that nostalgic track too, as 'KEYS' is signature Alicia all the way to the title closer. 'Paper Flowers' with country star of the moment Brandi Carlisle also strings and comes together as perfectly as Origami. Whilst Austrailan 'Chandelier' swinging singer Sia brings hidden depths of writing with Keys on 'Like Water', that mono-no-aware flows like a stream through the seasons that brings the old thing back that heart and soul we could only wish returns to sender. "And if the drought hits tonight/Do not fear because you and I/We are like water, like water/Made to survive", Keys sings over Sia. And in our collective one last year, Alicia came out swinging and singing. Not just surviving, but thriving. Like Bruce Lee, she be water. Helping the game grow from the garden of all her works in beautiful bloom on the eve of a new year, as the ball drops in the Big Apple's Times Square, Adam. One of the generations greatest just gave us one of her best albums for the record. The keys to the world of music are back in Alicia's piano playing hands. And she's not closing the lid. TIM DAVID HARVEY. 

Playlist Picks: 'Plentiful (Originals) Feat. Pusha T,' 'Nat King Cole (Originals)', 'Is It Insane (Unlocked)'.