After sweeping the 2002 Grammy Awards with her debut album, “Songs in A Minor,” Alicia Key’s Sophomore disc, “Diary of Alicia Keys,” was highly anticipated. After listening to it several times, it was clear to me that though she is very talented, she simply lacks variety.
The first single, “You Don’t Know My Name,” is doing well on the charts. The old school vibe, upbeat tempo, and catchy lyrics immediately get you hooked. The rest of the album is laid back and funky, but you will find that it sounds a little too much like the first album.
As far as vocals go, Alicia has definitely matured. Songs like, “So Simple,” and “When You Really Love Someone” show off her range quite well. They may not, however, be ready for the remake of “If I Was Your Woman,” which was originally done by Gladys Knight. Overall it is a good album and I give it two and a half stars.
Friday, July 4, 2025