By 2009, Alicia Keys was already an R&B powerhouse. However, The Element of Freedom marked a distinct pivot in her career. Leaving behind some of the traditional soul structures of her earlier work, Keys embraced a more expansive, synth-heavy, and pop-forward sound.
Some reviewers, like Andrew Burgess, found the production a "perfect counterpoint" to her voice. However, others from Rolling Stone felt the production compressed her voice too much, making it sound "a lot less like her". Standout Tracks vs. Criticisms Reviewer Consensus "Try Sleeping with a Broken Heart" alicia keys the element of freedom zip
Lyrical themes