Most of us know there's very little Alicia Keys can't do well.

It's pretty clear that when it comes to vocal prowess, piano-playing ability and songwriting savvy, Keys has it all - and looks picture-perfect to boot.

So it makes sense that the 29-year-old r & b songstress, now four albums deep in her career, would seek to move beyond prescribed boundaries. Especially since her latest album, and the accompanying tour, is titled "Freedom."

Monday night at a sold-out Agganis Arena, Keys fiddled with formula and opted for a set list that was more artistic than anthemic, drawing heavily from her latest album, which has a slow-to-build appeal.

While Keys, her live band and backup singers were virtually impeccable musically, she seemed intent on holding out on her biggest hits, often introducing unexpected twists and turns into familiar songs.

When the 90-minute set began, you expected one of her pulse-pounding smashes. Instead, she opted for "Love Is Blind", a midtempo burner that found a curly-haired, spandex-wearing Keys writhing inside a cage. It was a more theatrical way to open the show, but somehow it felt anti-climactic.


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