Keys
Alicia Keys · 2021
78 min · 21 tracks · contemporary R&B
Alicia Keys blends soulful melodies with contemporary R&B rhythms, creating an intimate yet expansive sonic landscape.
Top tracks — play these first
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Plentiful Start here — accessible entry with immediate hook
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Best of Me — This track features a poignant exploration of self-acceptance and resilience, encapsulating the album's overarching themes of personal growth.
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Skydive — Combining airy vocals with an uplifting beat, this song represents the album's blend of introspection and celebration, making it a standout moment.
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Is It Insane — Delving into complicated emotions surrounding love and desire, this track showcases Keys' lyrical depth and vocal prowess, embodying the album's emotional core.
Elevation
Our rating, out of 100 — and why.
AI-generated from five scored dimensions. An opinion, not a measurement.
The album showcases solid songwriting and production but lacks cohesive flow due to its length and repetition.
What we noticed
- Tracks like 'Plentiful' and 'Skydive' open with strong rhythmic grooves, while others, such as 'Dead End Road', shift to more introspective themes.
- Several songs repeat key phrases or motifs, creating a sense of continuity across the album despite its varied instrumentation.
- Composition 25% of the score
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6/10
- Craft 20% of the score
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7/10
- Durability 25% of the score
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6/10
- Distinctiveness 18% of the score
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6/10
- Sequencing 12% of the score
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4/10
the writing — melody, harmony, structure, lyrics
production, performance, arrangement
whether it rewards returning to it
whether it sounds like itself
running order, pacing, length
Known within its scene. Reported but not counted — how far a record travelled describes its reception rather than the record, and a newer release has had less time to travel than an older one.
Is this for you?
Good fit if you like
- intimate atmosphere for quiet moments
- wave-like pacing for emotional ebb
- soulful melodies spark nostalgia
- dynamic flow keeps engagement high
- for reflective afternoons
Maybe skip if you
- seeking high-energy party tracks
- prefer instant gratification over depth
Where this album fits
- In the catalog
- Experimental — Showcases her evolution and innovation in sound, differing from earlier works.
- Themes
- self-acceptance journey· intimate love letters· emotional resilience
- Career context
- Released on December 10, 2021, 'Keys' marks Alicia Keys' first studio album in four years since 'Here' in 2016. This album reflects her evolution as an artist, showcasing her ability to experiment with sound while remaining true to her roots in neo-soul and R&B.
- Stylistic neighbors
- John Legend· H.E.R.· Anderson .Paak
Tracklist
Disc 1
- 1 Plentiful Start here 3:08
- 2 Skydive 3:04
- 3 Best of Me 3:59
- 4 Dead End Road 3:32
- 5 Is It Insane 6:21
- 6 Billions 3:19
- 7 Love When You Call My Name 3:37
- 8 Only You 3:15
- 9 Daffodils 4:33
- 10 Old Memories 2:59
- 11 Nat King Cole 3:35
Disc 2
- 1 Only You 3:11
- 2 Skydive 3:03
- 3 Best of Me 3:43
- 4 LALA 4:31
- 5 Nat King Cole 4:05
- 6 Is It Insane 4:27
- 7 Come for Me 3:29
- 8 Old Memories 3:54
- 9 Love When You Call My Name 3:15
- 10 Daffodils 3:04
If this landed
Records by other artists that run on the same instinct.
Back of My Mind
H.E.R.
Explores themes of love and self-discovery with lush R&B soundscapes and emotive vocals.
The Electric Lady
Janelle Monáe
Combines neo-soul with a sense of empowerment, featuring rich melodies and personal storytelling.
Gold-Diggers Sound
Leon Bridges
Merges soul influences with modern R&B, focusing on intimacy and emotional depth in lyrics.
Reference: Wikipedia · MusicBrainz · Wikidata
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