Alicia Keys, Time Machine | Track Review 🎵

Grammy-winning R&B singer/songwriter Alicia Keys hearkens back to the past on “Time Machine,” her third single of 2019.

“Go out of your mind / Go out of your mind / No, we can’t rewind, life ain’t no time machine / But once you free your mind, there’s beauty in everything.” Prudent to say the least.  Following the release of single “Show Me Love” (alongside Miguel), Grammy-winning R&B artist Alicia Keys returns with “Time Machine.” “Time Machine” actually marks the third single that Keys has released, with the lengthy “Raise a Man” being the first.  “Time Machine” might not run past the six-minute mark like “Raise a Main,” but Keys still gives her fanbase a hearty helping of song – about four-and-a-half-minutes’ worth.

On “Time Machine,” Keys embraces the R&B of the past, at least to an extent.  That notion in itself isn’t shocking, given the fact that Keys was a key figure in the neo soul movement that faded by the wayside in the 00s. The groove, a main, anchoring fixture of “Time Machine,” definitely hearkens back, and successfully so for that matter. Vocally, Keys gives a balanced and cool performance, never over-singing or ‘biting off more than she can chew.’  Her vocal harmonies during the chorus mark one of the highlights of the song.

Beyond the chorus, lyrically, Alicia Keys is reflective throughout the verses.  On the first verse, she sings, “Fear of what’s in the mirror, yeah / So much to be afraid of.” On the second, she adds, “It’s the dreams that we weren’t chasing / Come back to haunt us, eventually.” With both verses having on a few lyrics, there’s also a pre-chorus:

“That’s why every morning, after dawn and
Tell your darling something is calling
Drive me crazy, I just can’t explain it.”

Final Thoughts

All in all, Alicia Keys delivers an enjoyable and respectable record with “Time Machine.” Has Keys delivered a R&B single that’s ‘the second coming?’ No, but she sounds like she’s in a nice place vocally and the old-school sensibilities are certainly a good look for her, an artist who’s already experienced her peak in popularity and commercial lucrativeness.  “Time Machine” won’t change her career trajectory at this point, but it’s worth hearing by all means.

Alicia Keys • Time Machine [Single] • RCA • Release: 11.22.19

Photo Credit: RCA