Alicia Keys Releases "As I Am"

Alicia Keys released her latest album, "As I Am," today to lukewarm reviews, according to the Chicago Tribune. As one of the most talented musicians around, she has sold 19 million albums worldwide and won nine Grammy Awards.

In a sea of pop and hip-hop artists that all seem the same, Keys absolutely stands out as a class-act. She is a classically trained pianist and musician and is also one of the most intensely marketed recording artists.

Despite her inarguable talent and success, critics, including Greg Kot of the Chicago Tribune, find that her albums -- especially the latest -- continue to fall short. As writer and co-producer of every track on "As I Am," Keys seems to struggle between "old-school soul and new-school bling."

As Keys tries to emulate her obvious muses for the album, Janis Joplin and Aretha Franklin, critics complain that she is simply trying too hard and comes off unnatural. Only a few songs from the album are done well, including "Wreckless Love" and "Teenage Love Affair."

There are several notable collaborations on the album, including those with hip-hop producer-songwriter Kerry "Krucial" Brothers and pop producer-songwriter Linda Perry. John Mayer also co-wrote and co-produced a track called "Lesson Learned." However, all these tracks are predictable, and it highlights the fact that Keys is lacking any sort of unified artistic vision.