Alicia Keys went from teenage prodigy to 21st Century Soul Queen almost instantly after the release of her 2001 debut, and she continues to wear her crown with confidence on her follow-up, The Diary of Alicia Keys (2003). Keys reaches back two decades for inspiration, giving special attention to R&B balladry with a smouldering cover of Gladys Knight’s “If I Was Your Woman”, and invoking the lush elegance of Philly soul with “You Don’t Know My Name”. Better still: “Heartburn”, a sweat-drenched throwback to ’70s funk co-produced by hip-hop mastermind Timbaland. And Alicia displays a definite Aretha Franklin influence on “Wake Up”, a strutting number with a provocative lyric. As on her first album, Keys’ grasp of songwriting craft and classically-trained piano lend these tracks uncommon substance. Her innate poise as a singer only makes the erotic longing of her lyrics all the more effective—tracks like “Karma” and “Samsonite Man” carry an especially potent charge. Instrumental interludes help frame these sonic vignettes of loneliness and desire. It all adds up to make Keys’ Diary a must-hear work.