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Songs In A Minor

EMAILPRINTby Alicia Keys

Alicia Keys reviews
78
8.2 User Score:

Generally favorable reviews

Based on 10 critic reviews
How did we calculate this?

Based on 13 votes
Read user comments
Rate this album >

Album Info

Label: J-Records

Release Date: 05 June 2001

Discs: 1 disc

Genre(s): R&B

Summary

This is the smash-hit debut album from 20-year-old singer-songwriter (and classically-trained pianist) Alicia Keys.

What The Critics Said

All critic scores are converted to a 100-point scale. If a critic does not indicate a score, we assign a score based on the general impression given by the text of the review. Learn more...

100

E! Online

Fusing R&B, pop, jazz, blues, throwback soul--hell, you name it--Keys delivers grandstand ballads (like the single "Fallin' "), midtempo music, diary-worthy lyrics and feminist funk as if they were all as uncomplicated as scales.

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90

New Musical Express

A record of glorious parts that are just too weighty, too emotionally complex and rich to hang together well as a whole.

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80

All Music Guide

Like Erykah Badu and other retro-soul artists that have followed her, Alicia Keys is trying to redefine modern R&B by injecting it with jazz and blues. In Songs in A Minor, Keys accomplishes her goal with poise and skill.

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80

Dot Music

A gorgeous and ambitious melding of classic soul structures and values to hyper-modern production technique.

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80

PopMatters

A distinct and oft-times brilliant debut from an artist who clearly has a fine sense of her creative talents and has struggled to make sure they are represented in the best way

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80

Q Magazine

Her aching sincerity’s another major plus; that she can get away with Caged Bird’s Stevie Wonder-isms and Fallin’s near plagiarism of James Brown’s It’s A Man’s World speaks volumes.

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75

Entertainment Weekly

Though the second half slackens with sad sack teen themes, ''Songs'' is a debut full of promise.

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60

Launch.com

The mournful, blues-and-gospel-based "Fallin'"--a great song that was certainly no obvious choice as the first single--is the most notable declaration of independence, but Songs In A Minor is full of them.

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60

Rolling Stone

The singing is more mature than the self-consciously retro arrangements and sometimes thin sonics.

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50

Sonicnet

It sounds like she couldn't care less if anyone's listening.

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What Our Users Said

The average user rating for this album is 8.2 (out of 10) based on 13 User Votes

Note: User votes are NOT included in the Metascore calculation.

Jennifer P gave it a9:
An amazing debut album that manages to transform a soul, jazz, and R&B coalescence into a masterpiece of a debut album. An album that, in my opinion, may have established a pathway for similar jazzy-pop artists such as Norah Jones, is not only creative but created one of the biggest R&B stars in decades. From the first songs, which convey a more hip hop/jazz flavor, to the album's latter songs which mix R&B with deep soul, Songs is clearly the breakout album of 2001.

Jamal B gave it a5:
its an average cd

Matty D gave it a10:
This is one of the best albums of our era. Alicia Keys delivers an amazing mix of R&B, Blues and Soul on one of the best debut albums of all time, one which showcases the amazing talent which we have discovered, songwriting to dream of and an ability unseen by her contemporaries. This album is the album of our generation, and it all comes from the place where it hits the most: the heart.

Yesenia C gave it a 10:
This album is no doubt a masterpiece, full of promise. It keeps you wanting more from Miss Keys. I've listened to it a million times and can never get tired of it. Anyone who appreciates Real music will love this album. She possesses the power to make you sing, cry, smile, reminisce and relate. Alicia does what some artists fail to do, and that is to feel what she sings. Beautiful!

Felipe R gave it a 4:
It´s not so good, but Is´nt bad

Víctor gave it a 10:
She is a very good talented girl, and listening her songs trasmit you all kind of feelings

Mitch H. gave it an 8:
I've listened to this cd about 100 times and it gets better with every listening. I love this cd and I think Alicia Keys s a great songwriter and vocalist. I would higly recomend ths cd to anyone with soul.

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