Song for song, Alicia Keys’s fourth album, The Element of Freedom, has as much excellence on it as any other record she’s ever released. “Empire State of Mind (Part II) Broken Down” removes Jay-Z from the NYC anthem they’d recorded and still retains its power. Reading between the lines of “Un-Thinkable (I’m Ready)” foreshadows her relationship with producer Swizz Beatz. “Wait Til You See My Smile” could be her strongest positivist anthem; “Doesn’t Mean Anything” makes for a great anti-materialist love song. Anyone brand new to Keys may as well start with this one.