Keys Finds Her Groove

Alicia Keys is an undeniable talent, and Entertainment Weekly finds ample evidence of that on her third and latest studio album As I Am, out this week. Whereas previous efforts showcased her mastery over a panoply of styles—hip-hop, soul, classical—those elements have been folded this time around into a smoother, more pop package, writes reviewer Neil Drumming.

EW and others seesaw between longing for the edgier Keys of old and celebrating the simpler, lusher modes of As I Am, although most enjoy her shift toward less dramatic piano and vocal melodies from the virtuoso displays of previous albums. Her voice shines, un-showy and understated, on tracks such as "Like You'll Never See Me Again" with the confidence that, by now, she's got our full attention. (More Alicia Keys stories.)