Keys' vocal performance was lauded; Sal Cinquemani from "Slant Magazine" declared that Keys' displayed a "powerful range, proving she can belt along with the best of them". "Uncut" called the album "frequently stunning" and said that Keys sings like "a young Aretha Franklin". However, some found her lyrics to be sub-par to her singing and musical ability. "The New Zealand Herald"s Russell Baillie stated that Keys "might indicate abundant talent aligned to neatly reverential vintage soul style", but expressed that the songs "don't add up to anything particularly memorable". "Entertainment Weekly"s Beth Johnson called the second half of the album slacked with "sad sack teen themes", but called it a promising album. "Rolling Stone"s Barry Walters perceived her singing as more mature than her songwriting, but commended Keys for her "commanding presence" on the album. "Los Angeles Times" writer Robert Hilburn said that it "makes a convincing case that's she's going far—in both a commercial and creative sense".