Beyonce fans have been waiting for 3 years for this album. Beyonce wanted to take a break to get some inspiration to make new music. Now after about 4 leaked singles, the album is here. Beyonce in my opinion proved her staying power as an artist!!!
This album "4" I was really nervous about especially after the first single, Run The World (Girls), I prayed that she didn't take that route again like she did with "B-Day". Then End Of Time was release, I was excited because that's the Beyonce I love, the one that shows her vocals. Meanwhile a day after, 1+1 was released which caused me to say this album will be a "Dangerously In Love" part 2, which in my opinion is Beyonce's best album. On 1+1, Beyonce really sings with emotion that actually brought me to tears. Finally, she came with my anthem Best Thing I Never Had, that song to me was needed because it's says everything I wanted to tell the person that broke my heart. Now, that I have given you a little background I will proceed to the review. Lastly, if you loved B-Day or the Sasha Fierce side of "I AM..SASHA FIERCE", this is NOT that kind of album.
She starts the album with 1+1, which I feels really shows Beyonce vocals. When I heard her sing this live I was floored. Beyonce in an interview explained that she will be showing us her vocals on this album, which is clearly obvious on this song. This song in my opinion should have not been released it should have stayed as an album cut. Then she goes into rock-inspired I Care, which gives me a anger type of feel, but I like it. Again she is really showing her vocals at the end of this song, while she keeps up with the guitar. I Miss You gives me a Destiny's Child's T-Shirt feel, which you can tell is very inspired by Jay-Z. Now, Best I Never Had in my opinion is one of the best songs on the album. This song is for anyone that has every been hurt and finally getting over it, this song is Irreplaceable to the 10th power. After listening to this song about 20 times, I finally got to Party. The Kanye West produced song took a little while to grow on me, which it took 30 mins. But this song is definitely a summer song, you can be riding in your car with all the window down and cruise. Another on of my favorites, is Rather Die Young. Another Jay-Z inspired song, it gives you that Walking In The Rain With The One I Love by Love Unlimited vibe. Songs like these show you that Beyonce is very happy in her marriage. Starting Over and Love On Top shows Beyonce's vocals which I love. Countdown is another favorite of mine, I love how she uses the countdown in Boyz II Men's Uh Uh. This song to me is very creative, she doesn't use the countdown like you think, which I really love. End Of Time was a favorite of mine because I didn't like Run The World, so I was happy to hear a much better song from her. On this song, I love the harmonies, clearly it was well produced. I Was Here was an Adele inspired song because even though I love Adele, this was a song that I really couldn't get into, but it might take time but for now I don't like it. (UPDATED..I loved I Was Here because of the lyrical content.) Lastly, Run The World (Girls) I didn't like the song because I feel like we have been waiting for Beyonce and she gives us this as a first single. I feel that Girls shouldn't have been released as a first single because it's not the mood of the album. But I guess she had to give the fans an uptempo song, but I could do without it.
In conclusion, I clearly understand why she named the album 4 because in my opinion I feel that she is talking about her and her husband relationship. Both of their birthday's are on the 4th of the month and their marriage as well. This album shows Beyonce has grown as an artist, in my opinion I was getting a little tired of SASHA, I wanted to meet Beyonce and I feel with this album we did. 9.0/10
STANDOUT TRACKS
I Care
Best Thing I Never Had
Rather Die Young
Start Over
Love On Top
Countdown
End Of Time
