| 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'
(SonyBMG)
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.''
―Cathy Rose A. Garcia
 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.
| Paloma Faith Offers 'Something Beautiful' |
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British singer Paloma Faith made a splash this year with her debut album ``Do You Want The Truth Or Something Beautiful?''
/ Courtesy of SonyBMG | By Cathy Rose A. Garcia
Staff Reporter
With her smoky voice, retro fashion and stimulating stage performances, British singer Paloma Faith has been attracting fans all around.
Faith was thrust into the spotlight this year with the hit single ``Stone Cold Sober'' from her debut album ``Do You Want The Truth Or Something Beautiful?''
In an e-mail interview with The Korea Times, the 24-year-old singer talked about her music, her stage style and a role in Terry Gilliam's film ``The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus.''
The album title, Faith says, is about honesty, and how sometimes it's not necessarily the best thing. ``You know when people ask you questions, and they don't necessarily want the answer? It's also about how something beautiful, even if it's a myth, is better than reality ― and I don't think there's anything wrong with that,'' she said.
Her favorite song from the album is the title track, which she says is the ``most true to her real self.'' ``It is rare that one is accepted for who they really are without criticism or contempt and mostly we go through life presenting a myth to the outside world for fear of getting hurt or being rejected,'' she said.
Originally from Hackney, East London, Faith has been performing from a young age, taking up ballet when she was four. But it was only a few years ago that she started taking music seriously.
``It's only recently that I started having singing lessons because suddenly they were like, `You need to learn how to breathe properly' and stuff. So it's kind of strange that I came to it very late in music. With the performance side, it's what saves me because it gives me confidence on stage, to pretend I think I am good,'' she admitted.
Half Spanish and half British, Faith has always been ``intrigued by surreal things like fairy tales, magic and theater because it's the expansion of disbelief,'' she wrote. ``I think it definitely affects the way that I perform and how I engage with the audience,'' she added.
Faith's resume includes jobs as a magician's assistant, a trained contemporary dancer, and an actress and performer in a burlesque show. She also studied at St. Martin's College, gaining her master's degree in theater direction.
Her background as a performer has given Faith a lot of confidence when she's on stage.
``I think that even if I sung everything out of tune, I'd still look confident. I'd say that first and foremost, I'm a performer. I started performing when I was four years old, and being on stage from a young age set me up. I went to dance school, and did a degree in contemporary dance before realizing I didn't want to be a dancer. Then, I did a master's degree in time-based arts, specializing in directing and the structure of theater,'' she said.
Her vocal style has elicited comparisons to fellow British divas Amy Winehouse and Duffy, something she considers a great compliment. ``But I hope I bring something of myself to what I do. I think I am a lot more performance-led than them,'' she said.
As for her vintage fashion style, Faith says she loves designer Alexander McQueen and is constantly inspired by style from the 1900s to the 60s.
``I try to mix their nostalgic look with a futuristic, contemporary edge. I guess I am inspired by icons like early tailoring and a lot by couture and theatre costumes. I don't think there is much difference between theatre costumes and couture,'' she said.
Faith also snagged a role in `` The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus,'' co-starring with the late Heath Ledger. She admitted she's been a fan of Gilliam since watching ``The Adventures of Baron Munchausen'' as a child.
``(Gilliam) is a genius, and he's influenced my visual work, and songs ― I think I write my songs as if I'm story-telling. I think a lot of that comes from film references. So it was amazing to see him in action. And actually, I had Tom Waits in my trailer practicing lines with me. It was just amazing. I was so in awe of him. … Working with Terry Gilliam was magic,'' she said.
cathy@koreatimes.co.kr |
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―Cathy Rose A. Garcia |
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Jason Mraz 
Britney Spears
2PM 
Leona Lewis 
Westlife 
Dylan's ``Christmas In The Heart'' is straightforwardly nostalgic, from the traditional cover featuring a horse-driven sleigh to the selection of songs. At first it sounds disconcerting to hear him sing about Santa Claus, snowflakes, angels, drummer boys and winter wonderlands, but there's a touch of warmth in the songs. 
On the other hand, Archuleta, who finished as the runner-up on season 7 of "American Idol," releases his first holiday album ``Christmas From the Heart.'' The album mainly features slow, soulful versions of ``Joy to the World,'' ``Silent Night,'' ``O Come All Ye Faithful'' and ``O Holy Night.'' 
Warner Music Korea has re-released ``The Christmas Song,'' featuring the 16 original tracks plus four bonus songs. Thanks to music technology, Natalie Cole sings with her father on a lovely new version of ``The Christmas Song,'' while R&B singer Anthony Hamilton lends his vocals to ``Buon Natale.''
Queen 
Various Artists 
Snow Patrol 
Robbie Williams 
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