REVIEW: BEYONCE – 4

By

(3.5/5)

Two years ago a girl was running the world of music, and fiercely tearing down stages across the globe. Aside from putting away her alter-ego, Sasha, not much has changed for the incomparable Beyonce Knowles. Other than a missing #1 single, which she is now expected to have prior to the release of a new album.

Today, Beyonce released her aptly titled album “4,” to a varied mix of reviews, and fan feedback. Claiming the #4 has multiple meanings for the pop queen. One thing is clear, this is her fourth best album — meaning her weakest. Many in music refer to the studio as the ‘lab,’ and B has delivered a science experiment.

Beginning with the vocally strong, but lyrically stale ballad “1+1” Beyonce takes a risk of ignoring the need to grab the listener and pull them in immediately on the album opener. While she can make you believe it and enjoy the emotion with her live performance, the playback factor falls short due to the elementary lyrics. Followed by high and low mid-tempos and more ballads “4” plays through like a collection of recordings inspired from four decades of music. At times it seems to jump generations of musical tastes. While it mostly showcases a mature B, who seems to be having fun with her career it never comes together as cohesive piece of art.

Highlights such as “Party” and “Love On Top” feature a sound of Bey, she is showing us for the first time, which is refreshing. The buzzed about “End Of Time” doesn’t necessarily show us a new Bey, but out of all 12 tracks this is the most fitting and inventive. The later, being something we have come to expect from the megastar. It should have been considered for the first official leak.

If these 12 songs were the best out of 70+ recordings it proves again experimenting across genres with many styles and sounds will not lead to a cohesive album. However, every great artist has “that” album, sometimes more than once, but this is an important album for B. Although the whole project has had its questionable moments (even the cover), it was necessary for her progression as an artist, and to the next stage of her career. Beyonce has opened her wings on “4,” hopefully her fans will open theirs also, and embrace her experiment.

Stream and Buy the album HERE.

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What do you think? Leave your own review in the comments section below.

3 Comments
  1. Humberto 13 years ago

    Good review.
    I give the album 4.5/5, just because I didn’t felt in love with “Love On Top” and “Best Thing” is a lil bit generic.

    I Care, I Miss You, Party, Rather Die Young and End Of Time are EPIC.

  2. Heart Me 13 years ago

    After having three platinum albums, and 15 number one hits, you only expect the best, right? Wrong! Being one of Beyonce`’s biggest fans, I must say this album is a let down. I expected this album to be about girl power, women uniting together; showing we’re the backbone of the world. Basing that off of her first single “Run The World (Girls)” I just knew I had a power album for the summer, but I am sadly mistaken! Unfortunately this album is all over the place. “Countdown”, great song, if you’re 14-21. That’s fine if that’s your target group, but you can’t follow that song with “Love On Top.” That song is way to mature for a teenager. That’s a song for their parents, age group 30 and up. I think after this album, she’s going to have to take a break, and come back with something stronger! Don’t get me wrong, I definitely found some “repeat killers” on this album. I just wish this album wasn’t so weak. I will still go see her in concert, let’s just hope she doesn’t perform to many tracks from this album!

  3. obamarocks 13 years ago

    Everybody go to Youtube. Beyonce and Nicky Minaj are on a rermix of her leading single Run the World Girls together. This guy name Fyuchur produced it. Its Hot!! Both of their fans love it

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