• Record Label: J
  • Release Date: Dec 15, 2009
User Score
7.4

Generally favorable reviews- based on 88 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 67 out of 88
  2. Negative: 14 out of 88

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  1. Vanessa
    Jan 8, 2010
    5
    As I Am was GREAT, even The Diary of Alicia Keys. The Element of Freedom...not so much. I only like two songs on this album. I'm kind of disappointed.
  2. Love
    Dec 17, 2009
    6
    It's not bad, but it's not good either. Mediocre at best. Alicia did some good things in the past, but The Element Of Freedom gets boring after listening to it twice. Love Is Blind, Try Sleeping With A Broken Heart and Unthinkable are the best tracks. ¿The worst one? Put It In A Love Song (feat Beyonce).
  3. SmittyC
    Dec 23, 2009
    5
    Her debut album on non-evolving sentiments of love. Every idea has indeed been sung before, and every song keeps you waiting for a heavy dose of her beautiful talent; but fails. A good listen for the high-school teen who "thinks" he or she knows love.
Metascore
67

Generally favorable reviews - based on 16 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 9 out of 16
  2. Negative: 1 out of 16
  1. Jan 14, 2011
    50
    In most of these dozen tracks (not including a ponderous intro regarding the necessity of risk and a slow-jam sequel to Jay-Z's "Empire State of Mind") Keys seems uninterested in breaking new ground, snooze-controlling her way through a series of familiar piano-soul platitude.
  2. It's far from a shock but definitely a disappointment to watch Ms. Trained Pianist survey her branding options and choose the bland card over the brains card.
  3. After so many highlights, the duds feel inconsequential, easily bypassed. Only when Keys panders to Top 40 radio does the album truly stumble, sounding like a hodgepodge of transparent ideas.