Is it any good?
On her two previous albums she showcased flawless vocals mixed with catchy songs with an old school soul feel – something pretty hard to do for a 24-year-old in today’s industry. But on a live album she truly comes alive; listening to the unplugged album makes you feel as if you are actually there.

How many good tracks?
13 out of 16. ‘Karma’ and ‘Heartburn’ open the album, packing a punch with energy and enthusiasm while ‘A Woman’s Worth’ gives an emotional and soulful edge. Prince’s classic ‘How Come You Don’t Call Me?’ sounds fresh and new, while the gritty ‘Streets Of New York’ brings her right back down to street level. ‘Diary’ and the acoustic gem ‘If I Ain’t Got You’ is stunning live. But one of the biggest surprises on the album is the cover of the classic ‘Wild Horses’ with Adam Levine from Maroon 5. Dripping with raw emotion and a wonderful mix of pop/rock boy and R&B/soul girl, the song just couldn’t have been covered much better.

And the worst?
There isn’t really a “worst” track, although the intro to the album - an acappella prayer could be taken out and no one would have noticed.

Verdict:
With another fantastic album under her belt, and a fourth one on the way, Alicia should feel on top of the world. A must for fans.
(4½/5)

Release Date: 10 October 2005

---

MTV Unplugged  Check For Live Dates