Album Rating: 3.5

finally properly sittin down w a bey album and its dope

Album Rating: 4.0

aw man... ):



"Tyrant" is kinda a bop tho

Album Rating: 3.0

I didn’t like that the second song was a cover of Blackbird. If I wanted that I’d just go to Christmas Dinner 2007

Album Rating: 4.0

New album is excellent



Bodyguard, Daughter, and Ya Ya are so damn good

I enjoy the covers, Jolene more than Blackbird

The last 5 songs are a great way to close out

her version of jolene is actually a travesty lmao

Album Rating: 4.0

I disagree, love the lyric changes

i am surprised that anyone likes it honestly lol

Album Rating: 2.5

All my criticisms of this album can basically be applied to Cowboy Carter.



The drive to create a Beyonce album supersedes the clear admiration and knowledge of the genre she's touring once again. Only, instead of giving in to let the production take center stage like she should've on Renaissance, she is unable to use vulnerable storytelling aspect of Country to say anything meaningful other than once again hold the audience hostage with as unwilling participants to their clear need of marriage counseling. Although, there are a few preciously rare cute moments reflecting on motherhood that I wish were more emblematic of the project as a whole.



The covers and blink-and-you'll-miss-it cameos from legends don't help with the feeling that this genre tourism feels more like a pastiche than appreciation, despite knowing that she genuinely loves the genre and clearly did her homework. Miley's song is kinda cool. Post Malone's is among the worst this year. Riiverdance and Alliigator Tears are legitimately great tunes. But this thing is too long, too monotonous, and too corporate to be the tectonic shift it clearly wants to be. Meh.



Absolutely not a fan of the Jolene changes.

Album Rating: 4.0

What don't you like about the Jolene changes?

The lyrics make so much more sense for Beyonce... like why would she beg another woman to not take her man lol

she turned a song that was vulnerable and devastating into the most obvious, played out, banal shit ever. so shallow

Album Rating: 4.0

Would have sounded weird af if Beyonce was like "no please no" like come on

“ We’ve been deep in love for twenty years
I raised that man, I raised his kids”

truly a powerful feminist anthem
i mean she shouldnt have covered it at all but doing the normal lyrics wouldve been 1000x better than these

Album Rating: 2.5

Haven't heard the new one but this album sounded like a better idea on paper than in practice.

Album Rating: 4.0

Totally understand what you're saying Odal, but to me most of your criticisms of this and CC do not deminish the quality of the work. Yes she could have leaned in more to the genres, but I honeslty like the blending. Yes it's a big corporate production, but it's still really enjoyable. No it's not ground breaking like some people think it is, but there are a handful of some of the best songs she has ever done on both of these albums.



My only fault for both is that they are a bit bloated, she could use some editing to really make an impactful album, but hey she'll get more streams this way

Album Rating: 4.0

"truly a powerful feminist anthem"



I too would be pissed of at some woman trying to take the man I have kids with, I don't get your point

i was more laughing at the “I raised that man” part lmao

i mean sure but while the original was vulnerable this one is just girlbossy in the most vapid way possible

Album Rating: 4.0

Hah fair enough, I think the reason you dislike it is the reason I really like it

Interesting to read Yasmin Williams' reflections on Cowboy Carter.

https://amp.theguardian.com/music/2024/apr/02/beyonce-version-of-country-cowboy-carter-yasmin-williams?fbclid=PAAaZK_0xrXs3Md5K_2NvfM559IqKNTXcx7a2HvOfR2pYKrdoDsS8gzPqiXm0

Album Rating: 4.0

Great read, but this line kind of washes over her entire point:

"Ahead of release, Beyoncé stated that Cowboy Carter was “a ‘Beyoncé’ album, not a country album”, and she sings that she wants genre to become meaningless."



It's really not as deep as people want it to be

I think her idea is that it doesn't achieve that ambiguity and very much still owes a lot to country while also treating it as a gimmick. At least, that's how I read it.

But I agree with the sentiment and genrelessness, and at the end of the day, it's Beyonce's album, so of course it's going to be about Beyonce. Still a nice read, though. I enjoyed it.