Album Release From:
Alicia Keys - The Element of Freedom
I thought love would be my cure," Alicia Keys sings on her fourth album. "But now it's my disease." Let's hope there's no cure for it. On "The Element of Freedom," Keys delivers a musically understated but richly passionate set of soul paeans to being in love, out of love, lovelorn and pining for her man to return. As usual, her vocals are spot-on throughout, especially when they're layered into evocative choral pieces. The percussion-free "That's How Strong My Love Is" is a change-of-pace standout, as is the gospel-flavored "How It Feels to Fly." An early-'80s Prince flair is heard on "This Bed," while "Like the Sea" drowns in its own metaphors. But fans who enjoyed her collaboration with Jay-Z on the song "Empire State of Mind" will find the reworked "Empire State of Mind (Part II)" refreshing. The guest features-Beyoncé joining in for the girl-power anthem "Put It in a Love Song" and Drake on "Un-Thinkable (I'm Ready)"-are well-deployed. But they hardly eclipse Keys' performances in her pursuit of "Freedom."-Gary Graff

Release Date     Singles / Genre
11/2 Timbaland
Shock Value 2
Hip Hop
Blackground/Mosley Music/Interscope
11/10 Wale
Attention: Deficit
Hip Hop
Allido/Interscope
11/10 Melanie Fiona
The Bridge
R&B
SRC/Universal
11/17 Rakim
The Seventh Seal
Hip Hop
Ra/G&E Trust/SMC Recordings/MB Recordings
11/24 Rihanna
Rated R
R&B/Pop
Universal/Def Jam
11/24 50 Cent
Before I Self Destruct
Hip Hop
Shady/Aftermath/Interscope
11/24 Birdman
Pricele$$
Hip Hop
Universal/Cash Money
11/24 Jay Sean
All Or Nothing
Hip Hop
Cash Money/Universal Republic
 
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