Rating: NNNN
Beyonce one-upped the music world last week by proving that you can not only keep an entire album’s existence secret (let alone its content), but you can also make 17 videos for it while gallivanting around the world on tour. And while there isn’t a chart-smashing Single Ladies or Baby Boy in the mix, the 14 tracks (plus 17 videos) make it her most satisfying album.
In a lot of ways, Beyonce is an R&B traditionalist. That explains why, for example, her last album, 2011’s 4, could have an aggro dance hit like Run The World (Girls) and also a throwback soul tune like Love On Top. Here, the old-and-new pattern continues. The singer incorporates elements of 2013 (electronic alt-R&B with of-the-moment producers Pharrell Williams and Hit-Boy) while remaining unapologetically, earnestly, rah-rah-rah Beyonce (see XO).
That’s what separates her from the hard-edged raunch of her peers, but it doesn’t mean she can’t do scandalous. In fact, she’s picked up her sex game big time, working it best on Rocket – a cross between late 90s D’Angelo neo-soul and early 2000s Usher – and Partition, where she narrates backseat shenanigans over deep, resounding bass. (As if we didn’t spend enough time thinking about Bey and Jay’s sex life.)
The future-R&B vibe continues throughout, but there are nostalgic moments, too on 70s-disco-inspired Blow, she manages a Janet Jackson delivery over a Michael Jackson beat.
And while Pretty Hurts, a Halo-sounding song about the pressure to be beautiful, will attract haters of sugary power anthems, the tune showcases classic Beyonce feminism and will appeal to fans of girl power hits like Irreplaceable. (See also Flawless, featuring wise words from feminist Nigerian author Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie.)
Everywhere, Beyonce’s buttery vocals are perfect, whether she’s growling on Drunk In Love (a follow-up to Crazy In Love and featuring Jay Z), unleashed on a ballad (Heaven), restrained on a Noah “40” Shebib-produced duet with Drake (Mine) or rapping an alt-hip-hop intro on Haunted.
Well played.
Top track: Rocket
