Beyonce
Beyonce
Reviewed By: Sebastian Mackay
“I see music” said Beyonce on her new self titled album. Well, she’s not the first and she certainly won’t be the last to see its colors or patterns or however it may present itself. But stealth bomb of her latest record, the fanfare and around the delivery and the videos for all 14 tracks don’t answer the most important question:
Is it any good?
It’s a wash with dirty sexy pop synths and noticeably is void of anything organic. By the time “Blow” comes around you’ll be thankful Beyonce knows how to keep an album interesting. Because there’s so much sleaze on this track, when I’m done writing I’ll be heading for a long cleansing shower (and not a good way, mind you). “Haunted” and “Pretty Hurts” are enough to prepare you for the down turn and if you think happy thoughts, you’ll make it to “Jealous.”
And “Jealous” is slower, less dirty, and the beat provides a center point for Beyonce’s vocals (and we all know she can sing). Lyrically, she covers the spectrum of sex, love and parties, which I suppose is exciting if you’ve never heard of them before, but otherwise it’s a slightly different take on what we know so oh so well.
“Rocket” feels a touch repetitive. A sense of Deja vu, we’ve been here and done this – and we have, with several of the tracks on the self titled.
If you’re hoping the saving grace will be a collaboration with Blue Ivy (“Blue”), you’d be half way there. You’ll also end up feeling like you’re in the Bahamas (with this weather that might not be such a bad thing).
The answer to the question: it’s not great.
Rating: Listenable
