Beyoncé - 4


For most, the leak of an album a month early to its speculated release date, the mixed reception of a lead single and the relatively poor charting position of it would spell disaster. Beyoncé makes it look like a bump in the road. Because with performances like this at the Billboard Awards, a Glastonbury headlining set to come just years after her husband's and a worldwide presence like hers the world is always left to watch in wonder. 3 years after the phenomenal I Am... Sasha Fierce, which spawned a number of singles I can't even count (including the iconic Single Ladies, the beautiful Halo and the questionable Diva), 4 is...her fourth album as a solo artist.

The album commences with guitar solos, romance and basic arithmetic on "1+1", the promotional (free) single with a preorder of the album. It's a simple, quiet and restrained musing about partnership and pure compatable bliss that'll piss off the single ladies, but oh well. The instrumentation is minimal, giving her voice time to shine - and it's not too overbearing, just soulful. This combination continues into 'I Care', with a pointedly 90s sound that's neither too sassy for the reserved audience, or too dull for the hardcore Bees.

Unfortunately, 'I Miss You' is a little too 80s. Knowles is husky throughout, with an echoed howl giving the track something of an "In the Air Tonight" feel that's probably not the desired effect. The beats are a little bit uninspired too, as though lifted from a Lumidee b-side. Again, she's vocally faultless, but when this is the norm such tracks appear rather squalid. By contrast, 'Best Thing I Never Had' has grown to be my favourite from the record - reviving the piano-cutesies of Halo or Smash Into You for an endearingly chipper take on sneering at former lovers. "Sucks to be you right now!" she taunts, making this more playful than bitter.

The starpower arrives on 'Party', including long-time collaborator Kanye West and relative newcomer (to Beyoncé's discography, at least) André 3000 (if you need me to explain he's the more extroverted one of OutKast, get out). Slick Rick and Doug. E Fresh's classic "La Di Da Di" plays in the background giving the track as classic a backdrop as the 80s synths and beats in the foreground. It's a little disappointing on first listen, but does grow to be something of a summer anthem once given time. 'Rather Die Young' sounds like a Destiny's Child hit being covered, which I guess would appeal to many but for me it feels a bit dated, quite repetitive.

'Start Over' is the first real sign of anything that's not a ballad, but still Knowles' vocals are the main attraction. The tune is quite pleasant, but again nothing spectacular. Easily the most nostalgic of the record, 'Love on Top' sounds like an early 90s Whitney Houston track without the desperate coke addict in the foreground. Backing vocals give it a kitsch edge, the chorus is full of trumpets, a Motown beat and effortless fun. Modernity eventually wins out though - 'Countdown' is a cacophony of drums in dizzying rhythms with Diplo's jerky tunes giving it a real energy. It's the album's "Get Me Bodied": silly, fun, ridiculous, fierce.


'End of Time' was leaked a while ago and will inevitably be released as a single at some point on account of its catchy chorus, gritty hooks and potential for choreographed videos that she's regarded the best at. It's got a bit of a Gloria Estefan feel to it (especially in the lines "you don't have to worry, baby, I promise I'll set your (???) free") which sounds like an awful prospect but it's Beyoncé: she can pull it off. 'I Was Here' is my second favourite ballad from the record, dabbling in the want for a legacy and achievement. Your typical "make the best out of life" lines are churned out but with a vocal tenacity that restricts the track from cheese or clichés. And then of course there's 'Run the World (Girls)' which is just phenomenal for what is essentially someone being a bit feminist over a Major Lazer song. Music videos and performances sway me, guys.

Once all of the labels are pushed to the side (performer, dancer, singer, artist, fashion icon) the record might appear to be a disappointment. Indeed, there are times when I've felt frustrated because it takes so long to get going - but by the end of these 11 (I think the smaller number of tracks than seen on Sasha Fierce might also be a problem) tracks are over you'll have been floored at least once. Even for Beyoncé, one of pop's biggest performers, there might be a struggle to find a hit single here - but in a society where Pitbull and Jennifer Lopez can grab number ones, I'm not entirely sure chart success is a good measure of even pop music any more. 4 is Beyoncé. You love it or you ignore it.

Rating: 7.5/10
Highlights: Run the World (Girls), Best Thing I Never Had, Countdown, I Was Here, End of Time, 1+1
Avoid: Rather Die Young, I Miss You
Artwork Watch: Quite sexy. Nice colouring. Blue feathers. Nudity. ARE YOU WATCHING, GAGA?

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