Songs In A Minor

New York wunderkind Alicia Keys flaunts her prodigious vocal talent and piano proficiency on this 16-track debut. The deep, purring blues groove and towering, Aretha Franklin-indebted vocal of “Fallin’” paved the way for a collection that takes in tight, retro arrangements, hip-hop flourishes (as on the ODB-sampling “Girlfriend”), and jazz-flecked neo-soul melodies. And the ‘70s-styled funk of “How Come You Don’t Call Me” nods to Keys’ precocity and impending career longevity.

Each Sunday, Pitchfork takes an in-depth look at a significant album from the past, and any record not in our archives is eligible. Today we revisit Alicia Keys’ outstanding 2001 debut, a self-produced, Chopin-inspired R&B album that blazed a unique path to mainstream superstardom.

Check out our album review of Artist's Songs in A Minor on Rolling Stone.com.

Alicia Keys' debut album, Songs in A Minor, made a significant impact upon its release in the summer of 2001, catapulting the young singer/songwriter to the front of the neo-soul pack.

The album is a promising start for a talented young newcomer, mixing obvious influences with classical training and simple yet distinct approach.

Alicia Keys - Songs in A Minor review: One of the best debuts in modern commercial music.