http://news.yahoo.com/s/usatoday/20051011/en_usatoday/evenunpluggedaliciakeystalentsareelectric

If one had to look for a unifying theme among this week’s new CDs, it’s all about collaboration. Alicia Keys brings in Maroon 5’s Adam Levine and a trio of rappers on her Unplugged effort, while Ricky Martin turns to Daddy Yankee and Will.i.am for Life, his first new album since 2002.

R&B:

Alicia Keys, Unplugged (* * * * out of four) Keys has won Grammys, sold millions of albums and staged major tours, but her musicianship and personal warmth are best appreciated in an intimate setting. This concert was recorded at the Brooklyn Academy of Music in July for MTV’s Unplugged series. It is a perfect venue for the singer/pianist, who is unafraid to play with the arrangements of her hits (Fallin’, You Don’t Know My Name) or to reimagine cover songs (Every Little Bit Hurts, If I Were Your Woman). She introduces new music, including her playful hit Unbreakable, co-written with Kanye West, and the soulful Stolen Moments. Guest stars are limited to Maroon 5 guitarist Adam Levine, who joins her on a stirring rendition of Wild Horses (by the Rolling Stones) and rappers Common, Mos Def and Damian Marley on the finale, Love It or Leave It Alone/Welcome to Jamrock. The passion she pours into Unplugged shows why she should be a lasting star. -Steve Jones