User Score
8.4

Universal acclaim- based on 64 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 52 out of 64
  2. Negative: 4 out of 64

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  1. FelipeR
    Jan 9, 2004
    4
    It´s not so good, but Is´nt bad
  2. JamalB
    May 22, 2005
    5
    its an average cd
  3. Apr 29, 2013
    5
    When its good, it can be occasionally captivating however the record relies heavily on its production, without which a lot of the material just saunters along without ever saying much. For me, it's a record that is overrated and forced too much of the time. That said, there are a number of tracks worth getting hold of such as "Falling" and "Girlfriend". As I've already mentioned though,When its good, it can be occasionally captivating however the record relies heavily on its production, without which a lot of the material just saunters along without ever saying much. For me, it's a record that is overrated and forced too much of the time. That said, there are a number of tracks worth getting hold of such as "Falling" and "Girlfriend". As I've already mentioned though, without the backing of major production this wouldn't be half the record. Collapse
  4. Jul 26, 2019
    6
    A solid entry in the 2000s R&B/neo soul catalogue. If you are a fan of the genre and haven't listened to this already, you should definitely check it out. Alicia Keys' voice is stunning throughout, filling each song with emotion.

    However, though I do like this album, it does have a few flaws that hold it back from truly being great. The runtime comes in at about an hour, which just
    A solid entry in the 2000s R&B/neo soul catalogue. If you are a fan of the genre and haven't listened to this already, you should definitely check it out. Alicia Keys' voice is stunning throughout, filling each song with emotion.

    However, though I do like this album, it does have a few flaws that hold it back from truly being great. The runtime comes in at about an hour, which just feels a bit too long. Couple this with the fact that some songs feel weaker than others and you get a record that feels just a bit bloated. And it doesn't help that most of the songs feel pretty safe and standard for the genre. Usually this isn't a problem for me. Not every song has to be groundbreaking to be interesting. But when you have 15 songs on an album, then the more predictable tracks will sort of blend together and fade into the background.

    Despite my criticisms, I do think that this is a decent record. It's just that when you shake off some of the nostalgia, you recognize the presence of a few imperfections.
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Metascore
78

Generally favorable reviews - based on 10 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 7 out of 10
  2. Negative: 0 out of 10
  1. It sounds like she couldn't care less if anyone's listening.
  2. 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
  3. 100
    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.