Guess which one leads to better songs? … The subtext of Girl on Fire, full of collaborations with other singer-songwriters, is that marriage and motherhood have given her new freedom, confidence and momentum. But there’s something so typical about the booming title track and ‘New Day ‘ - both of which feel cut from the same cloth as ‘No One ‘ and ‘Doesn’t Mean Anything ‘ - that it’s hard to hear what Keys is trying to tell us.”īen Rat liff of The New York Times writes: “Girl on Fire, Alicia Keys’s fifth album, has two modes: lofty and submerged. ‘ Nor does it take away the spacey loveliness of ‘Listen to Your Heart, ‘ Which John Legend helped pen. The familiarity of that formula doesn’t diminish ‘Tears Always Win, ‘ a Motown-crinkly lament that Keys cowrote with Bruno Mars, or the folky, Babyface-produced ‘That’s When I Knew. “In spite of that fresh blood, Girl on Fire basically delivers the same payload as Keys’ other albums it’s a collection of handsomely crafted, gorgeously sung ballads interrupted by several overworked anthems about the value of perseverance. The L os A ngeles Times‘ Mikael Wood isn’t a fan of the album’s familiar sound. You know it’s a good sign of a strong album when the singles (‘New Day’, the Nicki Minaj-assisted track) are among the weakest songs.” It’s equally concerned with settling the score with a few former flames as it is with celebrating her wedded bliss with her new husband, thus saving it from schmaltz. Low on the filler that bogged down albums like 2003’s Diary of Alicia Keys and more sonically adventurous than 2007’s As I Am, Girl on Fire explores love past and present with a triumphant mood that prevails throughout. Some critics praise the album’s fiery sounds, while others claim Girl on Fire has yet to ignite:Īndrew Hampp of Billboard comments that, “It all gels impressively well on Girl on Fire, her fifth and arguably most consistent album to date. PHOTOS: 40 Years of the American Music Awards