MUSIC BOX |
Josh Bell |
Alicia Keys (3 stars)
The Diary of Alicia Keys
While this disc isn't as good as the huge debut release, Songs in A Minor, that rocketed Alicia Keys to major radio and MTV rotation, it is a solid sophomore offering that suggests an excellent third effort down the road. The disc lacks infectious singles like "Fallin'" and "A Woman's Worth," but it proves that Keys has staying power, and that she hasn't lost momentum in the two years since her debut.
As the title suggests, Keys' second recording is very much a journey through her daily thoughts, and occasionally leans toward the overdramatic, but the solid production and Keys' likeable voice make up for this. Several songs from the album stand out, including the hip-hop flavored "Karma," which sounds like it could have come off of an Aaliyah album, and the energetic, almost frantic "Heartburn," which carries a distinctly '70s feel. Unfortunately, much of the second half of Diary melts into almost generic, laid-back R&B, but overall, there's enough here to keep Keys fans happy and provide a couple of decent singles.
Maria Phelan
MOBY(1.5 stars)
18: The B Sides
A review of the latest Moby CD in the form of 12 possible responses to hearing it: 1. Yeah, sounds like Moby, all right. 2. The moody "Landing" would make a good sound track for a designer-perfume ad. 3. That Moby is one canny businessmanempty the back inventory onto a CD, label the contents "B sides" to suggest a certain rarity and experimental quality, and you have some newish product on the shelves in time for the holiday buying season. Smart! 4. You can just hear "Love of Strings" backing one of those wistful car ads that shows a gleaming new sedan swooping through the friendly, moonlit night, family snuggled warmly within as the camera sails upward and the car rolls safely toward its destination. 5. OK, OKecho-heavy girl singer sampled over tidal strings and tinkling keyboard. Where have I heard that before? Oh, right. On every other Moby CD. 6. Have to go to the bathroom; don't bother hitting pause; sounds like same song when I get back 10 minutes later. 7. It's hard to know what to make of an atmospheric number like "Soul to Love": computer services ad or another car ad? 8. Wonder what the C sides sound like? 9. "Bed": Synth noodling over a disco throbnow playing on all the hip elevators in Europe. 10. "Horse and Carrot's" light percussive beat and generically melodic sound effects are perfect if you need peppy background music for your upscale cocktail party, theme music for your Zima commercial or are a member of the Blue Man Group looking for stage music you can throw paint to. 11. How many of these 13 songs will be featured on upcoming ads? Final prediction: Six. Any six. They're all ready. 12. The aural equivalent of the trademark symbol, and I don't mean that in a good way.
Scott Dickensheets