October 2009


Alicia Keys will be releasing her fourth studio album, "The Element of Freedom," on December 1st on MBK/J Records.

The album's first single, "Doesn't Mean Anything," produced and written by Keys and longtime collaborator Kerry "Krucial" Brothers, is this week's Hot Shot debut on the Hot 100 at No. 61.

To promote the album and single, Keys will give the song its television debut performance on the "Regis and Kelly" show on Monday (Oct. 12th). An accompanying video to "Doesn't Mean Anything," directed by P.R. Brown, will premiere on PerezHilton.com on October 16th and will be available on all other music portals on October 17th.

"The music is really strong, and the drums are really aggressive, but my voice is vulnerable and delicate," Keys said in a statement about the album. Keys says she eliminated "all of the boundaries and all the limitations, so that you can feel your freedom and express your freedom in every way you possibly can and that's what I did with this album."

In addition to Brothers, the album features production from Jeff Brasker (Kanye West, Keri Hilson), among others.

"The Element of Freedom" is the follow up to Keys' 2007 album, "As I Am." Keys is also featured on Alejandro Sanz's latest single, "Paraiso Express" ("Looking For Paradise"), which is this week's Hot Shot debut on the Hot Latin Songs chart at No. 21.




http://www.billboard.com/...1133.story
[Edited 11/10/09 18:19pm]

Alicia and her damn verbose album titles she should've called this "The Element of Boredom".

Aside from Empire State Of Mind, this girl could drive sleeping pills outta the business.

Harlepolis said:

Copycat said:

Riiiiight..."strong" and "agressive" just like the Lord And Taylor department-store music that is 'Doesn't Mean Anything'. Or her last album entirely

And her voice is going to be "vulnerable and delicate?" I'm almost scared to find out what it really sounds like.

We've heard all the talk before, Ms. Keys
...just know that this time, your album will be "thoroughly inspected" before purchase




Ummmmm...whatever in the world that means, it's sounds nice and pretentious. As usual. Why do people give this woman so much credit? 'Cause she can "sound intelligent?" Please.

Alicia Keys needs to sit down somewhere. Especially when it comes to her music. She has YET to actually make a good album (still waiting - with gradually lowering expectations) and has the nerve to get on a soap-box and try to talk about her boring, soulless, obvious music like it's the Second Coming.

Should have just been called Ego, with the special remix five disk edition being called Arrogant.

Can't wait to hear it.

Harlepolis said:

omg i was thinking the same exact things. her albums are so damn predictable now. slow as hell and boring. i wish she would try something new already! i really think people are transfixed on her because she plays the piano. woopdee fucking doo!
[Edited 10/9/09 19:57pm]

She managed to get a sticky?

Alicia to Perform on Live! With Regis and Kelly on Monday
October 9, 2009

Don't miss Alicia talk about her new album, The Element Of Freedom, and perform her new single "Doesn't Mean Anything" on Live! With Regis and Kelly this upcoming Monday, October 12th.

Source: Aliciakeys.com

Freedom isn't an element. An element is a rather clearly distinguishable entity - such as a string arrangement or a snare drum hit - whereas "freedom" especially in the context of music is an attribute that you have to project to the artwork on a more subjective level. Rather, freedom resists this type of classification and demands a more constant, open-ended reflection. To say that freedom is an element goes against its own very own principle to even manifest itself on the level of artworks.

Philosophy major in the house.

I also want to see more of her in a short skirt.

Also boots.

News to the org, if u didnt like her before you arent going to start now. Unlike others i think Alicia is light years better than on her first record, i simply hated that record and that "fallin" track and that damn Prince OVERRATED B-side (yes overrated, give up that song already thats why it was a bside), to me they were always trying to push her as this "ghetto girl" early on, from her look to who they wanted to pair her with. Alicia is an old mind in a young body, as for the praise, well thank PRINCE and STEVIE WONDER who rave about her nonstop when they talk about todays artists and who they respect, they always say Beyonce and Alicia. Its all HYPE people just listen or dont listen, make your own HYPE, alicia doesnt hype herself, though you may think she does, i mean right now i can name ten bands that were called the "best band ever" in the last year and NONE are worthy of that title, but they didnt say it, some moron journalist or blogger (which is another word for bad journalist who cant get hired) wrote that catch phrase qoute. So why waste the fucking energy, if you didnt like her before what makes you think you will be starting with album 5? when you already know the direction? i mean save your energy and go listen to something else.

lastdecember said:

If she has talent, then it is not "all hype". The people who are saying these things are not ur "average Joe". They are masters at their crafts and considered legends in the industry. I think their words do stand for something.

shorttrini said:

Well thats what im saying, people can say she is boring this and that, but if you can honestly say she has no talent, on a forum where the likes of Vanity are praised, then i think you seriously need some help, but thats my opinion. Alicia has talent and so do many others, some more some less, and we can argue all day who deserves the spotlight and never come to an agreement. But as for getting props from Prince,Stevie and others, how is that NOT supposed to influence your way of thinking? Alicia is getting respect from the top of the gamers, the all timers, and she just happens to get the spotlight too, well that is a good thing, at least there's talent there whether u like it or not, and she isnt shitting on the past, like others who just sample it for gain.

Why is it that a lot of "artists" put more work into an album title than they do into the album itself?

ScarletScandal said:

Easily influenced audience thats why.

Any "Swizz Beats" on there????
Hmmmmm?????

As long as she's not screeching like a hen on this album, it could be a a good one. That last one was horrendous. I didn't even listen to it but one time. Good thing I didn't buy it. Just awful. Her tone on "Empire State of Mind" is her usual tone that she should always sing in. That was the tone she used for her first two albums. Dont' know why on the third one she wanted to screech and holler like a sheep getting choked. It's not becoming of her. When her style was tomboyish (when she first came out) she could sing the hell out of anybody, but soon as she put on a dress and some heels (style a little before the last album) she started all this screeching and hollering. Ass backwards.

missfee said:

this whole post

Copycat said:

Yeah, Alicia. You're so profound. And stuff.

I love it when artists spout tripe like this - as if it actually means something.

MendesCity said:

I think its the other way around, the first album was shit, it was so calculated and the whole ghetto girl image was so MADE UP. The change that everyone is talking about is very simple, NOT re-doing vocals and layering them, that simple peeps, if you layer them and do one line a day then rest and then do a hook and then go on vacation and then come back and do the chorus your voice will be sound the same all the way through, and then when you are live REALITY sets in. To me, i want a vocalist that doesnt sound like they taped the shit together over a year and its so slick its like an oil spill in alaska, if i want that i'll listen to beyonce or mc 24/7, or some rb cat out now.

Richard Simmons should have a new album out soon. Guess that means there'll be a sticky for his new opus too.

^
I empathize with you. I too have been forced to click on threads I felt were undeserving of a "sticky" .

lastdecember said:

Her WHOLE career is made-up, look at who her boss is? History repeating itself much?

I won't talk about the image because its pointless, but as far as her music goes, there's absloutly NOTHING sincere about this woman's voice or music. I liked the song she did with Mos Def in the video(You Don't Know My Name) but everytime I hear her voice straining, the pressure somehow makes me think to myself that "She must've been singing in the john".

I hate the fact that she(along with her people) hype her albums before it get release with ALOT of verbose, self-praising bullshit and make a big deal about her piano playing ONLY to fog how exactly similar the album is to the rest of "R&B flavor of the month" album

If she made an album full of songs like "Empire State" and the James Bond song, people will drop the "Alicia=Boring" talk.

I've always considered Alicia Keys to be highly overated. She is a very nice looking girl But musically she is no more talented that Idia Arie or Tweet both of whom I belive are superior vocalist when compared to Keys.

Alicia Keys looks has taken her further than her music would have.Just like I feel Halle Berry (whom I do like) her looks have taken her further than just her acting. We all know a lot of other black actresses who are better.

Chrisette Michelle is the TRUTH!!!!!

daingermouz2020 said:

India Arie's in a different league completely.

ernestsewell said:

No really though I hope she doesnt abandon her pop audience. The buying public.

woogiebear said:

yeah she is....but will she ever get the kind of exposure that Alicia has???

at this thread. And people say I'm cold-blooded. Y'all are some rough mfers.

missfee said:

And in the same token, Alicia will never get the "fanfare", that in my opinion, a less talented artist named Beyonce gets.