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Beyoncé: BEYONCÉ Album Review

Reviewed by on Dec 16, 2012
Rating: 5 Star Rating

Beyoncé stunned fans by pulling off one of the most impressive media stunts of all time in the music industry to date - releasing an exclusive visual album with zero press coverage (and zero leaks!) Find out more in the Kidzworld Review of BEYONCÉ!

Beyoncé released this album as a complete surpriseBeyoncé released this album as a complete surpriseCourtesy of Sony

BEYONCÉ

There are very few artists who could successfully pull off what Beyoncé has managed to do on BEYONCÉ, her fifth studio album, which she released as a complete surprise to fans and critics - she took a major risks and they have piad off in full. Queen Bey not only released the album with no publicity beforehand, she also decided to break the mold by creating a "visual album": BEYONCÉ features 14 songs and 17 videos with impressive collaborators on both ends, like Jay Z, Drake, Frank Ocean, Pharrell Williams and the videos come with big name directors like Terry Richardson and Hype Williams. The album has no "singles," and is available exclusively on iTunes for $15.99, and is meant to be experienced by fans as a complete artistic expression instead of the bits and pieces that normally get released for highly anticipated albums like this.

"Self-Titled" Part 1 . The Visual Album


 

Beyoncé said: “I didn’t want to release my music the way I’ve done it, I am bored with that. I feel like I am able to speak directly to my fans.There’s so much that gets between the music, the artist and the fans.  I felt like I didn’t want anybody to give the message when my record is coming out. I just want this to come out when it’s ready and from me to my fans.

There's a reason she's called Queen B by fans (from the Bow Down vid)There's a reason she's called Queen B by fans (from the Bow Down vid)Courtesy of Sony

This is truly an album that critics and fans alike can agree on - simply put, it's spectacular. Each song has an incredible visual accompaniment that ranges from decadent to eye-popping colors and dance moves. There's no filler on this album, that's for sure. Songs like "Blow" and "Rocket" will take you straight back to the age of classic soul music, and for fans of "Crazy in Love," the duet "Drunk in Love" with her hubby Jay Z will feel like a natural sequel. "Mine" featuring Drake has a soft, but memorably haunting quality and the lush "XO" will make you feel like you're riding a roller coaster (not unlike it's video. Check out a clip from the "Heaven" vid below.)

 

Take a bow Mrs. Carter, this might be your most inspired album yet, and we love every piece of it!

Track List

  1. Pretty Hurts
  2. Haunted
  3. Drunk in Love (Featuring JAY Z)
  4. Blow/Cherry
  5. Angel
  6. Yoncé/Partition
  7. Jealous
  8. Rocket
  9. Mine (Featuring Drake)
  10. XO
  11. ***Flawless (Featuring/ Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie) 
  12. Superpower (Featuring Frank Ocean)
  13. Heaven 
  14. Blue (Featuring Blue Ivy)

The stunning visual album features 17 videosThe stunning visual album features 17 videosCourtesy of Sony

Beyoncé - XO Video

 

Video List

  1. Pretty Hurts -directed by Melina Matsoukas
  2. Ghost - directed by Pierre Debusschere
  3. Haunted - directed by Jonas Åkerlund
  4. Drunk in Love - directed by Hype Williams
  5. Blow - directed by Hype Williams
  6. Angel - directed by @lilinternet
  7. Yoncé - directed by Ricky Saiz
  8. Partition - directed by Jake Nava
  9. Jealous - directed by Beyoncé, Francesco Carrozzini & Todd Tourso
  10. Rocket - directed by Beyoncé, Ed Burke & Bill Kirstein<
  11. Mine - directed by Pierre Debusschere
  12. XO - directed by Terry Richardson
  13. ***Flawless - directed by Jake Nava
  14. Superpower - directed by Jonas Åkerlund
  15. Heaven - directed by Beyoncé & Todd Tourso
  16. Blue - directed by Beyoncé, Ed Burke & Bill Kirstein
  17. BONUS VIDEO: Grown Woman - directed by Jake Nava

​Check out this video preview for "Mine" by  Beyoncé, featuring Drake below!

 

BEYONCÉ Album Rating:5

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