Album Reviews

Alicia Keys

`The Element of Freedom'

(SonyBMG)

Grammy Award-winning singer-songwriter Alicia Keys continues to shine with her fourth album``The Element of Freedom.'' A well put together album, it shows a more mature side to Keys. There's a string of good R&B tracks, such as the first single ``Doesn't Mean Anything''; ``Try Sleeping with a Broken Heart'' and ``Un-thinkable (I'm Ready),'' which includes background vocals from hip-hop sensation Drake.

``Put It In A Love Song'' is one of the best tracks, although Beyonce almost overshadows Keys. Yet, the New York City native's soulful vocals are always top-notch. For such a confident album, it's surprising that none of the tracks really stand out as a hit single like ``Fallin'.''

―Cathy Rose A. Garcia

John Mayer

`Battle Studies'

With his growing reputation as a ladies' man, it's easy to forget that John Mayer is one very talented singer-songwriter. ``Battle Studies'' reminds listeners of this fact. It's an enjoyable album filled with Mayer's brand of bluesy pop tunes dealing with the theme of lost love. The song titles say it all: ``Heartbreak Warfare,'' ``Perfectly Lonely,'' ``All We Ever Do is Say Goodbye'' and ``Friends, Lovers or Nothing.''

Mayer made the keen decision of asking pop sensation Taylor Swift to sing back up on ``Half of My Heart,'' a surefire way of ensuring more radio airplay. Other standout tracks include the folksy ``Who Says'' and ``War of My Life.''

The Killers

`Live from the Royal Albert Hall'

(Universal Music Korea)

American rock band The Killers has just released a CD-DVD of their July 5 and 6 concerts at the iconic Royal Albert Hall in London. The disc is packed with electrifying performances of their hits ``Human," ``Spaceman," ``The World We Live In'' and ``This is Your Life.''

``Mr. Brightside,'' voted song of the decade by listeners of British radio station XFM, is one of the most crowd-pleasing numbers. Rock anthems like ``Smile Like You Mean it'' and ``All These Things That I've Done'' will have you singing along with the crowd. Fans can see for themselves just how good The Killers are when they perform in Seoul, Feb. 6.