It has been four years since Alicia Keys' last studio CD, "The Diary of Alicia Keys," which won four Grammy Awards and was nominated for album of the year. A mite bit of pressure following up, perhaps? Launch single for upcoming "As I Am" shows the soulful chanteuse acting her age, in the best possible way. While a number of her hits have mimicked the elegant template of debut "Fallin' "—all well and good—"No One" heralds her youth, while maintaining Keys' lockdown on penetrating hooks and soul-sopped production with a buoyancy that makes it a blast to sing along with. We all know the 27-year-old is a singer's singer, and it's refreshing that she's comfortable enough here to hold back on the mastery of vocal craft to let cool, crisp production lead. Mind you, she still sings piranha circles around most of the ladies in R&B land, but Keys doesn't have to prove it with every performance. "No One" is an ideal understated launch to what promises to be one of the big ones of 2008. —Chuck Taylor
, but that it's weak. 