Songs In A Minor
★★★☆☆
First time writing on an R&B album! it should feel new, I’m not sure what I should be writing for. I always looked down on R&B (alongside rap, EDM, house, and a handful more). this doesn’t mean I can’t “enjoy” them though. I particularly like 90’s R&B, and I chose this album because I’m expecting some inspirations drawn from classical music.
the first track proves me right: Piano & I sounds perfect as an album opener for Alicia Keys’ debut album: an introspective monologue, a promise of what’s to come. classical piano, spoken words, starting the queue perfectly.
Girlfriend doesn’t have anything special, typical 90s R&B: 4/4 808s with repeating sections. How Come You Don’t Call Me on the other hand delivers it all! the vocal performance is unforgettable. the piano does a little more than just another instrument in the background and there’s a Rhodes stepping in sometimes as well. her performance steals the spotlight.
I like to learn to cherish the simplicity of the songwriting. Fallin’ sounds more bluesy with a 6/8 and the gospel-y choir. the lyrics is faithfully bluesy though. the staccato violins in the middle makes it sound a lot like A Man’s World, it could be even a sample!? I can’t be sure. I do know that it’s getting better as it’s going forward.
Troubles starts off sounding a lot like reggaeton openings. the chorus is the catchiest so far. the little empty space in the middle with the police sirens feels so unexpected yet on-point. makes the return bigger. could be shorter.
Rock Wit U builds up beautifully. her singing sounds very different than the previous tracks, and the bridge! oh my god, the bridge is stunning. the timpo joining the claps at the end, the little jazzy piano licks, the Rhodes appearing again. you can imagine the band enjoying themselves as they play this piece.
A Woman’s Worth’s is more mature. both in delivery and in lyrics. the pre-chorus sounds catchy, not a very singable piece overall.
Jane Doe sounds different. it’s mysterious and more word-y. I like the chord production in the chorus. it keeps focusing on vocal performance.
Goodbye is textbook hip-hop. it’s sensual and bittersweet. it’s spacious and Keys’ performance is breathy. the vocal harmony in the chorus is astounding.
What went wrong with something once so good?
How do you find the words to say goodbye
Is this the end? Are you sure?
How should you know when you’ve never been here before?
When this is the one and only love I’ve ever known
The Life is a simple rant, too simple! serious but underdeveloped. feels like they came up with a cool beat and tried to shove some text in it too.
Mr. Man sounds very different with the starting fiddle. the melody sounds slightly latino. I like how the chorus tries to match the sample, and also the fact that it’s a conversation. simple but effective overall form. it’s a little awkward to me (for some unknown reason).
Never Felt This Way starts tenderly with, surprise, a piano introduction. it’s more pop-y, more of a ballad than a hip-hop piece. I like it, it could be longer than 2 minutes. Butterflyz is a piano-guitar duet but I can simply imagine it arranged as a typical R&B piece, as if it was written to be like that but it ended up being this ethereal and dreamy hymn that gradually builds up into a crescendo.
the tracks are rather mid after the amazing beginning few! they’re not “bad” at all, they’re actually awesome but nothing more than that.
Why Do I Feel So Sad isn’t an exception, just another track. everything’s “fine” but nothing stands out in particular. the bridges is my favorite section. it doesn’t “surprise”. as if they had a blueprint for 30 seconds of the song and they’re told to repeat it 3 times, add a bridge, and then repeat it one last time. the form is being repeated too many times… Keys’ voice does not cease to amaze the listener though, even in the most boring moments.
Caged Bird has some new sounds, gospel-infused instrumentation and the spacious utterance of the verses create a deeper experience than the previous few pieces. it catches more attention. asks for more attendance from the listener. amazing with a steady pace, almost perfect.
Lovin U is the last track. it’s vibrant and rich with interesting sounds. in contrast to the minimalism of the previous piece, this one is cultivated and refined in harmony and arrangement.