Saturday, January 9, 2010
Alicia Keys, Singular Artist
On her fifth album, "The Element of Freedom" (J Records), 28-year-old Alicia Keys embraces both the seductive sway of old-school soul and the brash bluster of modern, hip-hop-influenced R&B.On "The Element of Freedom," which comes out today, Ms. Keys sings about the anguish of recent heartache and the joy of newfound independence in such a way that we seem to be witnessing the moments when a young woman is saying goodbye to the past and moving on.