ALICIA KEYS “As I Am†J Records

€œIt’s my time,” sings Alicia Keys, “it’s my time to shine.” This climactic assertion arrives on the centerpiece track of her new album, and it fits. Never mind that Ms. Keys, once touted as a prodigy, has been shining for some time now. “As I Am” radiates not just confidence but also experience. On the whole it’s her strongest effort yet.

Of course, like her last three albums — two studio releases and an “Unplugged” title, all of which hit No. 1 — “As I Am” draws inspiration from old-school soul and R&B. But especially on tracks like “Wreckless Love” and “Teenage Love Affair,” made with the producer Jack Splash, and “I Need You,” produced and partly written by Mark Batson, Ms. Keys explores a bright vintage sound that isn’t weighted with nostalgia.

Ms. Keys sings ardently throughout, favoring steady heat over pyrotechnic flash. She indulges in some righteous anger (“Go Ahead,” with a contribution by Marsha Ambrosius of Floetry) and, much more likeably, in self-affirming reflection (“Lesson Learned,” written with John Mayer). Her lyrics maintain a professional distance, reaching toward emotional truths that feel universal, or at least relatable.

This is a good strategy, even if the specifics are what sparked the songs. The last few years have found Ms. Keys branching into film acting, supporting philanthropic causes and caring for an ailing family member. She has also deepened her partnership with the producer Kerry (Krucial) Brothers, who worked on half the album’s tracks. (That’s his hand on “No One,” the solid lead single, and “Like You’ll Never See Me Again,” a distant cousin to Prince’s “Purple Rain.”)

Ms. Keys comes closest to transparency on the tunes she wrote with Linda Perry, including “Thing About Love,” the one with the line about shining. The likely anthem of “As I Am” is “Superwoman,” an exhortation sure to appear soon in a montage near you. It’s not the album’s best piece of music (not even close), but it extends an effective invitation. As Ms. Keys has surely learned by now, no one can afford to shine alone.

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