| The Element of Freedom | 
| Artist: Alicia Keys
Label: J-Records
Category: Music
List Price: $13.98
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Seller: moviemars-cds
Rating:  149 reviews
Sales Rank: 216
Media: Audio CD
Discs: 1
Shipping Weight (lbs): 0.2
Dimensions (in): 5.6 x 4.9 x 0.4
MPN: 746571
UPC: 886974657125
EAN: 0886974657125
ASIN: B002R0F3Q2
Publication Date: December 15, 2009
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
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| Tracks:
| • | Element Of Freedom (Intro) | | • | Love Is Blind | | • | Doesn't Mean Anything | | • | Try Sleeping With A Broken Heart | | • | Wait Til You See My Smile | | • | That's How Strong My Love Is | | • | Unthinkable (I'm Ready) | | • | Love Is My Disease | | • | Like The Sea | | • | Put It In A Love Song (featuring Beyoncé) | | • | This Bed | | • | Distance And Time | | • | How It Feels To Fly | | • | Empire State Of Mind (Part II) |
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| Editorial Reviews:
Album Description
12 time Grammy Award winner Alicia Keys returns with her 4th studio album The Element Of Freedom on December 15. Alicia has sold over 26 million albums worldwide and over 6.7 million digital tracks in the US. Featuring the hits "Doesn't Mean Anything" and "Try Sleeping With A Broken Heart", The Element Of Freedom promises to be one of Alicia Keys biggest releases to date.
Album Description
2009 release, the fourth album from the 12-time Grammy Award winning Pop/R&B diva. The album was produced by Alicia, Kerry Krucial Brothers and Jeff Bhasker and includes the singles 'Doesn't Mean Anything' and 'Try Sleeping With A Broken Heart'. Alicia has sold over 25 million albums worldwide and over 6.7 million digital tracks in the U.S. alone. Elements Of Freedom is yet another big step forward for Alicia. With each album, she has grown as an artist and performer and has achieved commercial success that has lifted her to 'Superstar' status.
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| Customer Reviews:
Showing reviews 1-5 of 149
 The Element Of Freedom....Indeed December 17, 2009
Jason A. Clark (York PA)
31 out of 33 found this review helpful
I was a bit apprehensive with the new album when I heard and saw the video for the first single "Doesn't Mean Anything". It just seemed like it went on and on, and it got boring afterwhile. Then my interest was peaked a bit when the second single "Try Sleeping With A Broken Heart" was released; I didn't care for the video all too much but it was different than her other singles. So when the day came that it finally came out, I figure why not get it (or someone get it for me).
Alicia Keys has never let me down with previous albums, despite the inconsistencies on each album. I put the album in and I haven't stop playing it since.
For starters, she actually put an intro, and it makes sense and its pretty deep given its short.
Then it continues into "Love Is blind" which I really really love because it's not her usual sound and register, I almost thought it was somebody else. The lyrics are 'take 'em or leave 'em' but the music and the production is so addictive, you're jamming anyway.
By the time "Doesn't Mean Anything" came around, it made sense where it was and it was less obnoxious after hearing "Love Is Blind".
Although, I cringe when artists put all there singles in chronological order on the album, it didn't bother me much when the song was followed by the 2nd single "Try Sleeping With A Broken Heart".
There are slight weak moments: "Wait Til You See Smile" is one of those light, fluffy records on the album that teeter between fluff and filler. But I will give Alicia credit for putting those light, airy songs between heavy hitting moments on the album.
My two all-time favorites on the album, three if you include "Try Sleeping With A Broken Heart", are That's How Strong My Love Is" & "Un-thinkable (I'm Ready)".
The lyrics of "That's How Strong My Love Is" are reminscient of the flow of "If I Ain't Got You" & "This Woman's Worth". Her phrasing in the song gives me chills and the haunting chords in the background just knock me out. The chorus is one of her strongest choruses and is a testament of how deep she is as an artist.
I really love "Un-thinkable (I'm Ready)" because it has a nice groove but it also makes you think of those intimate occasions with a special someone. That also gives me chills.
"Love Is My Disease" reminds me of the song featuring John Mayer from her last album, her voice is a bit hoarse which works for the urgency of the song. This girl shows vulnerability like no other female artist, outside of Beyonce.
"Like the Sea" is another light song but its more about her piano skills than it is about the material. so that's about a 3/5
"Put It In A Love Song", O.M.G. I was a little curious how it was going to work with Beyonce & Alicia. Both are strong women but their styles are different but very much high grade. I could've did without the simple beat but they both brought their A-game to this song.
"This Bed" another light song but the beat is a bit addictive
I guess Alicia had to add some more depth and eclectism to her album, "Distance & Time" and "How It Feels To Fly" are what that's for.
"Empire State Of Mind (Part II)" is almost a better version than the original. She kept the chorus, which made sense, but she added her own words. I love it...
all and all, this is one of her more impressive and fun records and it sounded like she was more free on this record...
Thank You Alicia for another great album December 15, 2009
king_lee (Baton Rouge, La)
6 out of 6 found this review helpful
I bought this album first thing this morning and on the first listen i honestly told myself,"I can see myself really getting into this album--still not quite as good as as i am but thats okay"(who really outdoes themselves back to back on every album, i think it's always a lot of hit and miss and because you really like the artist you take the good with the not so good)
Note:What i don't understand is why other reviewers have to form some kind of an opinion about other peoples reviews--everybodys entitled to their own opinion its not that serious.
Now to the album--I,as a fluent music listener and alicia keys fan,appreciate when an artist changes it up every album,i also believe its not fair to compare albums unless the album is just really gagrbage---and this album is NOT garbage--trust me.This album is just a distinct change from alicia's normal style(which every album has been--go listen before you speak)and i appreciate it.Just give it a chance--i think if you are a true alicia keys fan, and not just someone who calls themselves a fan because she's popular and you thought it was the cool thing to buy her previous albums,you'll really enjoy this album.It may not hit you as soon as As I Am probably did but youll still enjoy it very much.GREAT LYRICS,GREAT TRACKS,GREAT TOPICS,GREAT VOICE.
HIGHLIGHTS:
Love is Blind
Thats How Strong my Love is
Love is my Disease
Like the Sea
Distance and Time
How it Feels to Fly
others are still really good..
THANKS ALICIA
Never misses a beat! December 15, 2009
Nse Ette (Lagos, Nigeria)
8 out of 9 found this review helpful
On studio album #4, Alicia Keys stretches herself even more, vocally and musically. She uses that higher/strained-sounding register she introduced on her last album (especially on a song like "No one"), as well as huskier, Rockier sounding tones. Lyrically, there seems to be a theme of pain and longing caused by love.
The result is a rather eclectic sounding album, very pleasing to the ears. She sounds virtually unrecognisable on the opening Rock-tinged ballad "Love is blind" (with awesome harmonies and an impassioned fiery delivery from Keys), my absolute favourite song. The single "Doesn't mean anything" reminds one of the afore mentioned "No one" (same thumping beats and feel), while "Try sleeping with a broken heart" is simply beautiful with feathery vocals offset by thundering beats, and a nice piano coda.
Everything stands out really; "Wait til you see my smile" (with marching beats and soulful harmonies), the beautiful piano ballad "That's how strong my love is" (reminds me of "Tender love" by Force MDs), the melancholic soul of "Un-thinkable (I'm ready)", the Reggae-tinged "Love is my disease", the cascading piano-sprinkled "Like the sea" (with a classical overture, and interesting synth flourishes), the sunny sounding "This bed" (on which she pines for her lover), the soulful ballad "Distance and time", and the Retro Soul of "How it feels to fly".
Closing is a drastic makeover of her hit with Jay-Z, "Empire state of mind (Part II) Broken down", a very soulful Jazzy piano ballad with just Keys vocals. The lone song I don't quite get is the contemporary R&B dance song "Put It In A Love Song" featuring Beyoncé, and which can best be described as "Single ladies part II". Same skeletal sound, chants and drum rolls, and even similar lyrical theme: "Say you love me, then put it in a love song". I didn't like it at first, but it does grow on you and if you're one of those that loved "Single ladies" (I wasn't), you'll love this.
I think this album will catch fans of her Soul sound a bit off guard as it is more experimental, but it's an album that richly rewards. Definitely one of her best efforts!
On Par with the first, Better than her last Album December 17, 2009
D. Kumar (Union, NJ)
6 out of 7 found this review helpful
Alicia Key's "The Element of Freedom" is on par with her first and second albums. It is outstanding. This is the Alicia you remember from her earlier work, not the screaming Aretha Franklin Alicia, which I find nothing wrong with, but if you loved her "Butterfly" "Diary" "Fallen" "Mr. Man" voice, you will love this album. It is a preferance. She doesn't belch out hig notes as much, its just sweet and humble. Almost every song on this album has single potential. Except for the track with her and Beyonce, each track is crafted beautifully. I Love "Try Sleeping with a Broken Heart" but check out "Unthinkable" which is sleeper hit. I complete disagree with one of the reviewers who hated, "Empire State of Mind 2" because it sounds even better. Pick this album up, its worth it, best work in 6 years, I love it.
She Did It Again! December 15, 2009
BeautifullyCreated07 (Houston, TX)
5 out of 6 found this review helpful
Alicia Keys' voice has grown so much over these years that no one can deny it. And that's not to say she was a bad singer to begin with. It's just that in this album, she's strong with the vibrato, beautifully executing 5th register notes and hitting those runs like a track star. Her voice is wonderfully maturing. I definitely feel that with this album she sings with passion like nothing else. There are mostly mid-tempo songs with whimsical strings, crazy piano melodies, lovely chord progressions, strong vocals(of course), with hot drums for the rythym.
9/10 Empire State of Mind- great sequel to the first; I just wish she could've re-worked the hook and toned it down until she got to the end, when the music actually grows in texture and rhythm
10/10 How It Feels to Fly- great inspirational song, with a powerful choir at then end that when played in theatre will definitately take your breath away.
7/10 Distance and Time- this song is okay. I tend to skip it alot though. It just doesn't get it for me. Nothing about this song stands out.
10/10 This Bed- nice adult contemporary R&B field, circa Prince with the falsetto nights. Great song.
7/10 Like the Sea- I love the piano melody and the heavy drums; a bit faster than mid tempo; nice.
10/10 Love is My Disease- this is a beautiful song; reggae-esque chord progressions and base but it's very subtle. I think I notice right off bat because of my love for music. very passionate lead and background vocals.
10/10 Un-thinkable- this is another one of those fabulous mellow contemporary R&B works. It's the PERFECT song in the background to play when you bring your date home from a night out.
4/10 Put It in a Love Song- this is one song that I really don't like; it has Beyonce and big weave written all over it. It's completely shallow subject material and that is SOOOO not Alicia. And I understand experimenting but this "Put a ring on sound" is lame. I didn't like when Beyonce did so...go figure.
10/10 That's How Strong My Love is- the most BEAUTIFUL song on this album. enough said.
6/10 Wait Til You See My Smile- very cute lyrics but not particulary a stand out.
10/10 Try Sleeping and 8/10 Doesn't Mean Anything- of course I'm sure you guys have heard these songs already. They're still great, especially Try Sleeping with a Broken Heart...
10/10 Love is Blind- reminds me a 70s R&B and this song JAMS especially with great stereo speakers. It's slow tempo; almost like a song that you could smoke a joint to (not that I would know anything about that) but it's a GREAT song.
Showing reviews 1-5 of 149
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