Album- Beyoncé
Artist- Beyoncé
Beyoncé Knowles is a world renowned artist who has really
put her stamp on the music world not only with her girl group Destiny’s Child
but with her immense and amazing solo career. So it is no surprise that when an
artist of this calibre drops an album exclusively onto ITunes with no prior
warning to any media or her fans, the world really does stand to attention.
This is a really cool and amazing way to release an album in today’s market, but
could the quiet release of this record nicely contrast the power and quality of
the album itself? Or is this album actually a poorer offering that deserved its
hush hush release?
Track 1- Pretty Hurts
Album opener Pretty Hurts is a pop soul number co-written by
current hit maker Sia Furler, and which finds the singer giving her listeners a
self-empowerment anthem. The song opens up with dialogue that gives the track a
more cinematic feel, whilst the real lyrics are potent as Beyoncé highlights
the tyranny that exists within the beauty industry and condemns the beauty stereotypes
that exist within today’s world. The song perfectly captures the essence of
love your inner self very beautifully, with the lyrics being astutely assembled
to show a mix of vulnerability and strength. Beyoncé is vocally really strong
within the track, giving the song the soul and power that it needs, whilst the
layering of her voice adds further drama to the track. The pop production is
simple but effective with stomping bass and small electronic flourishes that
really just creates a forceful sound to drive the lyrical message home and make
this a great, empowering number.
3.5/5
Track 2-
Ghost/Haunted
Described as two part dream, Ghost/Haunted once again begins
in a cinematic way that also feels a bit more personal this time around. The
song starts with the singer robotically rapping over a thumping heartbeat esque
rhythm in which she focuses on the fact that she is in this industry whilst other
people work 9 to 5 jobs to stay alive. The song is lyrically potent even if at times
things are lyrically sparse, whilst the track is smart in the way that it
brings out elements of self-empowerment and also allows Beyoncé to really analyse
her own life and maybe show the listener that she is human to. The track is
vocally powerful with the singers lilting delivery in the songs latter half,
whilst the sonic experimentation of the production with the snappy bass and
murky keyboards creates this intensity that is continually changing and which
continually captivated the listener.
3.5/5
Track 3- Drunk in
Love (featuring Jay-Z)
Things take an overtly sexual turn with Drunk in Love, which
finds the singer lyrically being strong in the way that the singer doesn’t talk
about sex subtly but simply gives us an ode to love making, as she sings of
wanting her man and being consumed by him. The singer vocally gives us an
attitidue laden performance that compliments the songs lyrical sentiment,
whilst the singer nicely deivates from sensual tones to aggressive rapping with
ease. The songs sound features hazy synths and heavy trap beats that gives a
good urban sheen to the song that shows the singers roots, even though it probably
won’t work on top 40 radio. The only issue of the song is Jay-Z’s rap as he
compliments his wife’s vocals but creates some controversy within his rap with
his referencing of the marriage of Ike and Tina Turner and comparing that to
his sex life, and so at some points you can feel uncomfortable as a listener.
3.5/5
Track 4- Blow
The singer goes more innuendo heavy with the funky, retro
track Blow, which sees Beyonce team up with mega producers Timbaland and
Pharrell Williams, as well as featuring a writing credit from Justin
Timberlake. The song is lyrically sensual and although the heavy innuendo isn’t
probably for all listeners, the singer still gives us an array of hooks and an
awesomely catchy tune. The vocal performance is strong in the way that the
singer utilises her falsetto in places and brings her smooth tone to the track
to great effect, whilst the song features some snappier vocal moments that
creates a lovely, feisty dynamic within the track. Timbaland and Williams do a
great job with the production, giving us a cool sound that features some heavy
bass and funky synth instrumentation with some sparse piano chords, creating a
great vibrancy to the track that makes it a good single choice for the future.
4.5/5
Track 5- No Angel
A synthpop number that has a sultry feel to the heavy bass,
No Angel is a song that simply finds the singer declaring that she and the
object of her affections aren’t all that perfect. The song is the first misstep
within the record, as the lyrics don’t feel as fine-tuned and as catchy for the
listener as the previous tracks. Whilst the minimalist beats, heavy electronic production makes for an interesting, more
diverse sound for the singer, the sound is at times overpowering and feels like
the singer is trying too much to be contemporary, whilst the vocals can feel a
bit whiny in places but nice sultry in other places.
3/5
Track 6- Yonce/
Partition
Two part hip hop song Yonce/Partition is another song in
which sex is discussed quite frankly, as the song lyrically follows a narrative
in which Beyoncé describes having sex in a limousine. The lyrics are feisty and
link more with the singers hip hop side, whilst the vocally delivery of the
track will appeal to fans of the feisty and confident artist that Beyoncé is.
The two tone vibe of the track is really strong and makes for a track that is
more fun and sassy and a more interesting listen, with the singer delving into
a sultrier, layered vocal style in the latter part of the track. Within the
song we go from heavy hip hop beats to more synthesised Eastern rhythms to
create a feisty then sultry sound that somehow perfectly compliments each other
and finds Beyoncé nicely pushing her artistry.
3.5/5
Track 7- Jealous
Jealous is a self-referential song that is brooding and dark
and which finds the singer taking on this role of a woman who is making their ex-lover
envious. The song is lyrically strong in terms of the narrative quality of the
lyrics, whilst the singer vocally brings a fierce, smooth tone to the track
that allows the lyrical statements to feel a bit more passionate. The songs
sound is more electronically heavy with a stomping bass towards the end and a
dark tone to the beats that compliments the lyrical sentiment and which makes
this a simple but strong electro RnB tune.
3.5/5
Track 8- Rocket
Rocket opens up with some steamy lyrical statements and is
another sensual music affair that finds the singer once again showing off her
female sexuality. Here Beyoncé sings of rocking with her man and gives us an
array of sexual innuendos that might sound uncomfortable coming from other artists,
but somehow she manages to make things sound simple and cool. The vocals are
nicely layered and allowing the singer to really hold the notes and elevate the
sensuality of the track. The song has this retro soul sound with snappy rhythms
and funky beats that gives the track a fun sound that manages to sound really
cool and vibrant for all of the songs six minutes and more.
3.5/5
Track 9- Mine
(featuring Drake)
Featuring Canadian rapper Drake, Mine finds the singer
deviating from her sexual tones and instead shows a bit more human
vulnerability. The song finds the singer worrying about everyday life with her
family, with the song featuring some potent repetition that feels passionate,
and the singer nicely shows the human wish for things to just be a bit simpler.
Vocally the singer’s smooth tones work well within the track and she breathes
this sense of vulnerability within the song, whilst Drake is a welcome addition
to the track that brings some snappy hip hop elements to the song whilst also
giving us a male vocal that adds a cool two tone perspective to the lyrics. The
songs production is more minimalist and deviates from a soft jazzy flow to moments
to snappy hip hop beats. This is an emotionally strong piece that manages to
maintain its power throughout the song, and which for me would work well as a
future single.
4/5
Track 10- XO
XO is simple mid tempo pop song that is built on the idea of
love and which would work well for fans of the singer who are getting married
in the near future. The song finds Beyoncé singing about how she has searched
for this person and now they should really live in the moment and bask in their
passion and love. The song nicely falls between the line of pure love and
sexual love, and the song is vibrant and different from some of the other
tracks in terms of the more pure pop sound. The track features some juddering
synthesised rhythms and a forceful, marching drum beat that makes it one of the
more standout tracks in terms of production, whilst the singer’s soft but
powerful vocals work great within song and really do feel like she is singing
from a place of pure love.
4/5
Track 11- Flawless
(featuring Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie)
Flawless is another female self-empowerment anthem that is
more forceful and maybe a little more thought provoking than Pretty Hurts.
Opening with a sample from a competition called Star Search in which Beyoncé
appeared with her former girl group Girl’s Tyme. The song then melds a portion
of the singers previously released track ‘Bow Down/I Been On’ in which she sings
of the pressure of women to feel perfect to think of marriage as the main goal
for life. The song then incorporates a sample of a feminist speech from Chimamanda
Ngozi Adichie, before beyond ends by singing of this idea of a woman waking up
flawless and perfect, before the song ends with another Star Search sample that
shows Girl’s Tyme losing the competition. This is a multi-layered, thought
provoking song that shows of the feminist that Beyoncé is, with the trap beats
of the production creating a forceful, snappy sound to perfectly compliment the
lyrical tone and message.
4/5
Track 12- Superpower
(featuring Frank Ocean)
A duet with RnB star Frank Ocean, Superpower finds the
singer giving us vocals that hark back a little more to her Destiny’s child
days. The song focuses on Beyoncé telling this person of how they have this superpower
over her and how the two of them together are an amazing pair. The lyrics are
simple but effective, but what is more intriguing is the depth of the vocal
performances and the vocal harmonises that brings old school glamour to the
track that shows Beyoncé off at her best. There is a mysterious intensity to
the track in terms of the production, with the song having a slightly soulful
groove with snappy percussion, a smooth string arrangement and cinematic beat
that allows the vocals and lyrics to shine at their best.
3.5/5
Track 13- Heaven
Heaven is an emotionally loaded song in which Beyoncé seems
to mourn for the loss of someone dear to her who meant a lot. The message is
simple and pure and gives the song a fresh honesty with the use of lyrical
repetition, and this is probably a song that many people who have lost someone
will easily relate to. The track features minimal production with a haunting
piano melody and potent drum beats that add to the tracks intense feel, whilst
the minimal production really allows the singers vocals to shine, as she gives
us a performance that is superbly controlled but also really passionate and
emotionally invested.
4/5
Track 14- Blue
(featuring Blue Ivy)
Closing track adds a final personal flourish to the album
and finds the singers vocal once again really taking centre stage. The song
finds Beyoncé telling her daughter to hold onto her and emphasising that they
could last forever, with the song being a lovely insight into the singer’s
feelings on motherhood and the love she has for her daughter. The singer’s
vocal performance is honest and beautifully, whilst the production nicely
builds from simple piano to snappy instrumentation and electronic grooves that
makes this a strong pop ballad that neatly finished off the record, whilst the final
moments of the singers daughter speaking adds this lovely personal feel to the
work that really does show that Beyoncé is an artist who really connects within
her music and who also cares about her fans.
4/5
Final Review
Beyoncé Knowles is a great artist who has delivered a
stellar, innovative fifth studio album. The self-titled set is lyrically smart
and vocally sophisticated, with the singer nice exploring the idea of female
sexuality and being a pro feminist, whilst she also brings some strongly
personal touches to some of the songs. The album is also a fun record in terms
of the eclectic structures of the songs and the varying tones of each track,
with the singer exploring different elements of her sound and delving into
different genre’s to great effect. This is just a great record that features a
good number of hits and which is a great musical journey from start to finish,
and this is just me listening to the record and not even thinking about the
amazing visual side of the album with its 17 music videos! Beyoncé just cements
her superstar status and shows that she will still be in the music game for
quite a long time.
8.5/10
Best Track- Blow
Worst Track- No Angel
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