Keys to the World

{{Use dmy dates|date=August 2024}}

{{Use British English|date=April 2021}}

{{Infobox album

| name = Keys to the World

| type = studio

| artist = Richard Ashcroft

| cover = Keys to the World.jpg

| alt =

| released = 23 January 2006

| recorded = State of the Ark, 2005

| venue =

| studio =

| genre =

• Post-Britpop
• folk rock

| length = 44:18

| label = Parlophone

| producer =

• Chris Potter
• Richard Ashcroft

| prev_title = Human Conditions

| prev_year = 2002

| next_title = United Nations of Sound

| next_year = 2010

| misc = {{Singles

| name = Keys to the World

| type = studio

| single1 = Break the Night with Colour

| single1date = 9 January 2006

| single2 = Music Is Power

| single2date = 17 April 2006

| single3 = Words Just Get in the Way

| single3date = 10 July 2006

| single4 = "Why Not Nothing?" / "Sweet Brother Malcolm"

| single4date = 4 December 2006

}}

}}{{Album ratings

| MC = 52/100{{cite web|url=https://www.metacritic.com/music/keys-to-the-world/richard-ashcroft |title=Keys to the World Reviews, Ratings, Credits, and More at Metacritic |publisher=Metacritic |accessdate=11 April 2021}}

| rev1 = AllMusic

| rev1score = {{Rating|3|5}}{{cite web|url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/keys-to-the-world-mw0000407949|title=AllMusic Review|publisher=AllMusic|last=Jurek|first=Thom|accessdate=11 April 2021}}

| rev2 = BBC

| rev2score = (unfavorable){{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/music/release/94dp/ |title=Music – Review of Richard Ashcroft – Keys to the World |publisher=BBC |last=Jones|first=Chris |date=20 November 2002 |accessdate=21 June 2011}}

| rev3 = Drowned in Sound

| rev3score = 6/10{{cite web|url=https://drownedinsound.com/releases/7067/reviews/622617-|title=Drowned in Sound Review|publisher=Drowned in Sound|last=Gourlay|first=Dom|date=9 February 2006|accessdate=11 April 2021|archive-date=10 April 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210410220039/https://drownedinsound.com/releases/7067/reviews/622617-|url-status=dead}}

| rev4 = Gigwise

| rev4score = {{Rating|3|5}}{{cite web|url=http://gigwise.com/contents.asp?contentid=13224|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060628014820/http://gigwise.com/contents.asp?contentid=13224|title=Gigwise Review|publisher=Gigwise|last=Gosling|first=Emily|archive-date=28 June 2006|accessdate=11 April 2021}}

| rev5 = The Guardian

| rev5score = {{Rating|2|5}}{{cite web|url=https://www.theguardian.com/music/2006/jan/20/popandrock.shopping5|title=The Guardian Review|work=The Guardian|last=Petridis|first=Alexis|date=20 January 2006|accessdate=11 April 2021}}

| rev6 = Pitchfork

| rev6score = 2/10{{cite web|url=https://pitchfork.com/reviews/albums/313-keys-to-the-world/ |title=Pitchfork: Album Reviews: Richard Ashcroft: Keys to the World |publisher=Pitchfork|last=Hogan|first=Mark |date=30 January 2006 |accessdate=21 June 2011}}

| rev7 = PopMatters

| rev7score = 5/10{{cite web|url=https://www.popmatters.com/richard_ashcroft_keys_to_the_world-2495674856.html|title=PopMatters Review|publisher=PopMatters|last=Lomas|first=Michael|date=31 January 2006|accessdate=11 April 2021}}

| rev8 = Q

| rev8score = {{Rating|3|5}}{{cite magazine|title=Q Review|magazine=Q|issue=235|date=February 2006|page=99}}

| rev9 = Rolling Stone

| rev9score = {{Rating|2|5}}{{cite web|url=http://www.rollingstone.com/artists/richardashcroft/albums/album/9480702/review/9514684|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071029104745/http://www.rollingstone.com/artists/richardashcroft/albums/album/9480702/review/9514684|title=Rolling Stone Review|work=Rolling Stone|last=Relic|first=Peter|date=21 March 2005|archive-date=29 October 2007|url-status=dead|accessdate=11 April 2021}}

| rev10 = Slant Magazine

| rev10score = {{Rating|3.5|5}}{{cite web|url=https://www.slantmagazine.com/music/richard-ashcroft-keys-to-the-world/|title=Slant Magazine Review|work=Slant Magazine|last=Shetler|first=Scott|date=29 March 2006|accessdate=11 April 2021}}

}}

Keys to the World is the third studio album by English singer-songwriter Richard Ashcroft. It was released 23 January 2006, reaching number 2 in the UK Albums Chart (see 2006 in British music). Ashcroft worked on the album at State of the Ark Studios and Julian Kershaw wrote string arrangements for some of the songs later recorded by London Metropolitan Orchestra. Strings are featured on eight songs on the album which also features electric viola on some tracks – played by Bruce White. The engineer/producer of this album was Chris Potter, and being his final solo album for a decade, until These People (2016).