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October 21, 2005
UNPLUGGED
Plug into Alicia's UnpluggedBy DARRYL STERDAN -- Winnipeg Sun
Alicia Keys Unplugged (J/Sony BMG) Unplugged she may be. But alone she most certainly is not. For this 72-minute live album, neo-soul piano diva Alicia Keys is backed by a full band including a drummer and percussionist, an electric bassist, horns, strings and backup vocalists. OK, so maybe these reworked cuts from her two studio albums aren't exactly the introspective, bare-bones versions you might expect from an Unplugged disc. But they are somewhat stripped-down, as Keys reshapes her songs, editing and stretching arrangements to deepen grooves and give her more room to vamp and improvise vocally. Those who want to hear Xerox-perfect copies of How Come You Don't Call Me, If I Was Your Woman, Karma, Heartburn and others might be disappointed. But those who prefer their Unplugged albums to have a few unexpected twists and turns -- like a duet on the Stones' Wild Horses with Maroon 5's Adam Levine -- won't mind joining Alicia and her posse for an evening. Track Listing:
1. Intro A Cappella
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