Album Review: Beyonce's '4'

It seems just like yesterday (in Beyonce years) that her last musical treat was abroad the masses.Now the King of Pop/R&B is back with her 4th ejaculation 4.In earlier reports, Bey spoke highly about her massive yet intricate inspiration for this album which resulted in her impregnating a whopping 7o tracks to decipher through.Ever-so the busy Bey,she narrowed her gusto down to 12 tracks and 3 bonus original songs + 3 remixes.In a fiscal year of female chart juggernauts  (Rihanna,Gaga,Katy Perry & Britney), Beyonce eloquently stuck her leg out and hitchhiked her ride back to the scene with a collective feast of incredible songs.Let's take a gander shall we...

Starting the album off is the infamous '1+1' ,the Dream decorated track that oozes the very nectar of raw romance.You already know what that this song snatches at my heartstrings.It's simplicity and Prince-esque essence screams ultimate love sonnet.It's pretty much challenges her previous beautiful ballad 'Dangerously In Love'. Next up is 'I Care'.It starts off with vocals Bey seldom utilizes on albums.The song tears into a memoir of thoughtless romance and the un-equivalency & tolerance she has for a spouse who just got too comfortable with lines like,"Ever since you knew your power you made me cry/Every time our love goes sour you don't sympathize!".Bey's vocals on this: It's more of what we hear during her concerts-chilling,undeniable theatrical vocals.There's a part of the song when she slapped the shit out of me where she harmonizes with the guitar matching every note with syrupy vocal acrobatics that phantoms phenomenal.Things get even more vulnerable on the smooth track written by new artist Frank Ocean- 'I Miss You'.Bey capitalizes the essence of solitude (similar to what she channeled on 'Scared of Lonely').With breathy vocals stressing," I thought that things like this gets better with time/But I still need you/Why is that/You're the only image in my mind/So I still see you around." It's a very calming,demure side of Bey-very intriguingly refreshing.It reminds me of a track Drake may have touched (Unthinkable(I'm Ready),Fall For Your Type).The official second track offering from '4' is the karma plagued Babyface decorated track ,'Best Thing I Never Had'.On first listen ,I couldn't quite grasp the songs overall effect because it was a classic Beyonce track catered to overcoming relationship fatalities with arrogance and self-empowerment sorta on the same lines as Irreplaceable.However,the anthem like vocals and drum/piano patterns made the song challenge the latter with an infectious momentum;Bey outshines the instruments with signature grunts & tiny roars in which I favor.Hip-hop heavyweights Ye' & Andre 3ooo team up with the Houston  native on the mid-tempo 9o's inspired jam 'Party'.This track reminds me of 'Fighting Temptations' w/Missy & MC Lyte,lending you that seasoned Summer love with lyrics,"Top down with the radio on & the night belongs to us/Just hold me close,don't let me go/I don't care what they say/I don't care if they talkin' tomorrow." The only vice I have about this track is that I wish it was more heavier in tempo and more of a club banger.It's a nice 2 step song tho--I like parrrty(fuck)"  :)  On 'Rather Die Young',Bey exclaims the option of dying rather than living without her companion.Ms.Knowles-Carter is really challenging her element on this track-it's as if she channeled her character in Cadillac Records with the saucy vocals starting with a more timid beginning & rising to a conundrum of,  "I'd rather  die young than live my life without you or rather not live at all !".Reminiscent of the late 8o's to early 9o's R&B slow jam factor,Bey triumphs with a genre that many artist have deserted.I fucks with this new Bey.

Bey came out and dragged me by tonsils on the tremendous 'Start Over' with lyrics that I could relate to (5 years ago..) -"I feel weak/We've been here before/Cause I feel we keep going back and forth/Maybe it's over ,maybe we're through/But I can honestly say I still love you ." The undertone instruments on this reminds me of Lisa Fischer's 'Ease The Pain' mixed with a dragged percussion that conquers.SANG Bey.It's my nourishment.Let's give love it's wings.YES! ////

When I first seen 'Love On Top' on the tracklisting of '4' ,my interest immediately peaked.After hearing it my immediate gesture was a silly giggle.Bey really took me by surprise with this track.I thought it was gonna be a slow,sultry 'Speechless' favored song-It's not.I thought I would be indulged with sexy moans and love making suggestive lyrics-I wasn't.Instead ,Beyonce once again took us on a trip through an R&B time machine and channeled the likes of Natalie Cole,Evelyn Champange King & Whitney Houston (especially on the incessant soprano notes when she sings 'YOU').Bey sings,"You're the one that gives your all/You're the one I can always call/When I need you,you make everything stop/Finally,you put my love on top!"<<--grown folks music ///32 y.o & above.If you were wondering when the old Bey was gonna resurface in the multitude of these groundbreaking tracks then you will get your feeding of it on the hip-hop tinged 'Countdown'.Rapping mixed with rapid runs,country twanged riffs,soulful hypnotic choruses and the convenient obese bass are saturated all up IN thru! The beat is appealingly busy and like a hue gumbo of all the fast paced tracks on her previous albums.The song speaks humorously about her longing devotion to her man (Jay) and how he still peaks her interest after all these years.It's a cute hip-hop ode to everlasting love.Cute.
The previously leaked 'End of Time' picks up the uptempo corridor of the album with MJ & Fela Kuti inspired drums/horn repetitive rhythms.This is one of those songs that makes it imperative to dance and feel good.Confirmation of notoriety & evident existence is embedded within the dramatic ballad 'I Am Here'.The Diane Warren written track displays a more diligent side of Beyonce as she realms a personal testimony ,"I was here/I lived,I loved/I was here/I've did,I've done everything that I've wanted/and It was more than I thought it would be".The song puts me in the mood of a more darker version of 'Halo' (the same person produced 'I Am Here' as well) and is somewhat truthful and a considerably strong contender for a pop single.Concluding '4' is the estrogen empowerment based 'Run The World (Girls)'.Significantly meant to steer the overall effect of the album it failed short to peak the masses.This song still doesn't sit to attractive to me.Yes,it boasts club anthem & overall movement.However,I think it was a little dated and not effective...making it Bey's most unsuccessful debut single to date.

Overall , '4' signifies GENUINE growth.Not that artificial growth every other artist claims they've experience readying for a new album.Bey isn't playing it safe anymore.She's embracing her status and going against the grain and birthing an entirely risky piece of work.I'm so on board with the musical story she told on this album,it's like what the sequel to 'Dangerously In Love' would have progressed to if she was to repeat that route.Revisiting the basics and refreshing it with a fresh outlook, '4' is more mature,more relaxed and less uptempo,more r&b,less pop,more gritty.In addition,I don't think that '4' is better than it's predecessors -just an exceptional addition to her commendable discography.All these factors may scale down some Bey fans with it's unexpectedness. But I believe Bey Knowles best! I give it a A-////////

Top 5 Tracks 

[Outside of the  other released singles that I like -'1+1','End of Time' & 'Best Thing I Never Had']

 1.I Care

2.I Miss You
3.Start Over

4.Countdown

5.Party