Beyoncé's roller coaster

I guess it's time for me to catch up with my reviews, so here we go.

Beyoncé has been a lucky woman. Her music has always tried and managed to please almost every single soul on earth. That's why her previous works were widely celebrated by both critics and public (besides her obvious vocal talent).

But something has changed: with 4 Beyoncé might be facing the biggest 'flop' in her career (actually, the album itself is performing quite good but the singles aren't -let's face it) or her most remarkable success. This risky move she's made has lead her towards a more artistic and less commercial vision that certainly benefits her as an artist but may disappoint some people. Let's analyze her work track by track.

• 1+1: at this point we can see Beyoncé is obsessed with arithmetics. I love her charming voice singing " I don't know much about algebra but I know one plus one equals two" as well, but I declare myself against the lyrics, they're too naïve, like high school poetry. Although, the "make love to me" chorus with the guitar arpeggios sounds magic, and forgetting about the lyrics it is a quite enjoyable classic ballad.
• I Care: impressive background vocals, especially in the final third. One of the better tracks in the album. In my opinion, it should have been a single before Run the World and the terrible Best Thing I Never Had.
• I Miss You: I found this static track boring in my first listen. It's actually quite a good track but it feels strangely incomplete.
• Best Thing I Never Had: awfully conventional, good vocals, as always, but the track is SO ordinary. I hate the piano melody, it's terrible. Barely listenable, probably the worst track in the whole album. I don't think it's a good single choice.
• Party (feat. André 3000): it's good, not great. Easy to listen and paradoxically, quite relaxing. It's got an interesting and decadent 80s funk vibe, but I'd erase André 3000's collaboration, probably because I don't fancy rap much.
• Rather die young: from the first moment this was my favourite track. It's a song of eclectic intentions and made out of classic and modern components. It's like an old, sentimental song with a 00's platinum layer on it. The way she sings it inspires me a feeling of regret. There's such a dramatic accent on her voice that I love.
• Start Over: a remarkably normal ballad that becomes alive with B's stunning vocals. A very good one, without high pretensions, just Beyoncé, singing.
• Love On Top: one of the bests, it's like an 80s R&B song, with a contagious joyful mood.
• Countdown: this five final songs are probably the most original and unexpected material in the album. Countdown starts with a melismatic chant that drive us to a dynamic and irregular beat with constant variations. The countdown that names the track gives the song an original taste.
• End of Time: brilliant intro, ethnic-inspired beats, a kind of a continuation of her work in Run The Word (Girls). I bet this track is what 4 was expected to be after the release of the first single. Such a great song.
• I Was Here: delightful ballad, emotional lyrics. I have to say the beginning is EXACTLY like Hand Covers Bruise, by Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross, from their Academy Award winning score for The Social Network. This track might be Halo's little sister.
• Run The World (Girls): at first I didn't know what to think about this song, but after I get used, I think it's great. It kind of goes on with the Diva-Video Phone spirit, but including some ethnic beats and melting the two personas in I am… Sasha Fierce into one. It would be the most original song in the whole album but I can't say that knowing it's based on Major Blaze's Pon de Floor (it's still great and Beyoncés' version is WAY better). I love when Beyoncé's stacatto singing seems like she's rapping but not really. I can hardly see the song with a conventional structure with verses-prechorus-chorus, it's most like a song with three different motifs that follow each other until they burst into the epic ending.

Overall, the first thing I noticed when I listened the album for the first time was the absurd title choices, along with the unbalanced tracklist, which creates a "rollercoaster effect": the album starts really calm and relaxed with some ballads (that's OK, but I wouldn't have put all those downtempo songs together) and, in the middle, it's like it stops: both Best Thing I Never Had and Party have an anticlimax effect that destroys the continuity of the album. It ends with the fireworks, quality and epicness of Love on Top, Countdown, End of Time, I Was Here and Run The World, but that's not enough to fix this terrible, terrible tracklist.

On the other hand, nowadays is hard to find mainstream artist as committed, talented and sincere as Beyoncé, and this album proves that. She risked a lot here, she has changed her sound moving to a classic 80s R&B adapted to our times —not forgetting, though, what she did in her previous album (just like Lady Gaga did with 80s pop in Born This Way). One of the greatest works of this year and a must-listen.

I'm giving it:  out of 5

Techno-electro-rock-pop-dance album

Do I have to introduce her? Don't you recognize the moto-girl? She's Lady Gaga, that's right. And she always delivers. This time, with Born This Way, she's done it again. The fusion of genres in this album's one of the things that makes the whole piece such a beautiful work. The non-autotuned voice of Lady Gaga creates a very special halo throughout the whole album, and (in my opinion) despite it doesn't have the consistency of The Fame Monster as a whole album, each single track is worthy of a few listens, if not a whole life listening to them. I really think Lady Gaga is one of the best things have happened to pop in a lot of years. WARNING!, track by track review ahead:

• Marry The Night: The chapel-esque intro of this song (also the intro for the whole album) is spectacular. Then she's starts singing and the world stands still. The chorus is very catchy and repetitive -not in a bad way-, but on the other hand, the verses have meaningful and complex lyrics. Probably one of the best tracks on the album. However, this song hasn't an appropiate sound quality, because of the recording circumnstances.
• Born This Way: Along with Bad Romance and Poker Face, this is one of the Gaga anthems. Strong and very literal lyrics whose mission is to share a message. And that's what the song is about. Very catchy bridge, overall. Despite the Madonna's comparisons, in my opinion, is one of the most original-sounding songs on the whole album. This song will be remembered.
• Government Hooker: This is a 80's-disco-underground sluttery track. Explicit lyrics about being a Hooker for the Government. Anyway, extremely original sound beats by DJ White Shadow, that's grown to currently become one of the most usual Gaga producers.
• Judas: This song's the second single out of Born This Way, and although it's been highly compared to Bad Romance -it's structure and rythm is practically the same- and it didn't go so well in the charts, Lady Gaga's Judas video makes up for its lack of success/originality. By the way, the lyrics are very controversial, and they slay, for sure.
• Americano: Mariachi-Tecnho-Record. Half in spanish, half in english. This song is catchy, happy and uptempo breakgrounding song that will become a successful hit, but it also has a strong message. The land of the free now has degrated itself to a country where government kicked the dreamers out. The gun click and shot at the beggining and at the end of the song, respectively are good moments, so is the "Don't you try to catch me, living on the edge of the law, law, law" part.
• Hair: RedOne produced hit with a meaning slightly similar to Born This Way's. It has memorable and epic moments. The chorus is very catchy too, but this track is not one of the best in the album.
• Scheiße: One of my favourites. The acapella gibberish is unexpected, even though we did listened to the Mugler remix a few months ago. The chorus is, in my opinion, the most epic and memorable on Born This Way. RedOne has topped himself. This is one of the best works they both have ever done.
• Bloody Mary: Most of people didn't expected a lot from this song, that's what I think lots of fans ended up loving it. It's certainly the best lyrics on the album. The beat is completely sick, and the religious/legendary references are so pop art that I honestly think is my favourite Gaga song of all time.
• Bad Kids: underrated, for sure. During the intro Gaga starts screaming such an statement, and that's only the beggining. In Born This Way all the bridges are epic moments, so Bad Kids isn't less. This song may haven't any commercial or single potential, but it's still a favourite on the album. It reminds me of The Fame a little, but its meaning still is very Born This Way-esque.
• Highway Unicorn (Road To Love): I gotta say I wasn't very fond of this title before I even listened to the song, so the first time I heard it, I was shocked. It did really surprise me a lot. The theme is very original, so are the lyrics. Who else would sing about unicorns and motorcycles in the same song?
• Heavy Metal Lover: This song is charming and sexy. The lyrics couldn't be more explicit, and despite I wasn't expecting a lot from this track, I now love the intentional autotune, and the hammering beats during the intro. Amazing. This song live performed could end up on a mass eargasm.
• Electric Chapel: Electronic music + Rock music never worked together like this. The guitar riff degradated itself onto a techno rhythm. My heart stood still the first time I listened to this instrumental. And I loved it even more when I listened to the whole song with the lyrics. Gaga is such a rock-woman!
• Yoü And I: This ballad may sound a bit overproduced at first, but as it goes on, gets better and better. This rock-ballad produced by Mutt Lange can be improved when Brian May plays the guitar while Gaga starts screaming the title track. However, until you get used to it, this version can sound a bit cheesy. The live performance of this track is way better than the studio version.
• The Edge of Glory: Third single out of the album. Confusing video. Beautiful vocals + music. Deep meaning. It follows the style of Hair and Born This Way. Uptempo song with a happy vibe... However, it hides a deep meaning: celebrate life while dying. It's a beautiful song, the album couldn't end better.

In conclusion, the album is very good. But The Fame Monster was more thick as a whole piece of work. Most of the tracks are beyond amazing, they also work together, but the album doesn't sound as a one piece work. Pros: Lady Gaga sounds way more natural and human in Born This Way. It's like going deep into her heart and look for what she believes in. This album is a piece of feelings all put together. Her best album yet. Full of influences from the 80's, 90's. Madonna. Queen. Withney Houston and Bruce. All of them are in Born This Way. Even Brian May played guitar. Clarence Clemons played two saxophone solos. People may accuse her of plagiarism, but on the other hand, there's way more people copying her vision in music nowdays than legends' influences in her own music.

I give the album a...

R&B Milkshake

I love Beyoncé. I love Amy Winehouse. But what happens if you take Amy's voice and Beyoncé's rythm? Here she comes! Jill Scott. I never had listened to her, until I did some research in Spotify. Her last album, The Light of The Sun is beyond amazing. This album is full of very original lyrics with a neo soul vibe. I find this woman amazing and talented. Very, very talented. In my opinion, R&B isn't very catchy at all, but Blessed, one of the singles, is stucked in my mind. And by the way, I just noticed Le BOOM Vent Suite, one of my favourite songs on the album, lasts over nine minutes. Honestly, the track is so entertaining that it seemed like three minutes tops. Another thing I love in this album is Jill's voice. She sounds so human and pure, full of power and love. She really can show the world that not only pop stars can top the Billboard charts.

In The Light of The Sun you can also find these 2 minutes tracks. They're almost songs, but more certainly amazing monologues of Jill talking/singing about the story that tells the whole album. It isn't very clear what the storyline is about, but I feel like it's a love/self-empowerment story. I don't know if I'm right, but seriously... I don't give a damn. This album's R&B gold. That's it. This is totally worthy of listening to. Everytime I listen to the album, I feel the need of raping the play button again. And again. And again. It ain't only the music, it's also the way she charms the audience with her talent.

I give this album a.../5

Good album. Bad choices.

This is the debut album of Natalia Kills. It's not avalaible to buy worldwide, but you can already get the first single 'Mirrors' on iTunes. I'm going to review this album as a whole piece, and not track by track, as I use to.

Natalia is a good singer, I haven't seen her performing or promoting very much, but I can say she has potential to become a big artist. But I don't think she's making good choices lately. The singles are probably the worst tracks on the album (except for Mirrors) and I just can't stand the collaboration with will.i.am in Free. Acid Annie, Superficial and Love Is A Suicide are way better choices to put singles out. And in my opinion, these are as important as the artwork or the quality of the music. The main genre of the album is this kind of pop that lately has been re-invented into a techno-electro-dance-pop. Fernando Garibay and Kierszenbaum are big producers on the album, and that's, in my opinion, a pro and a contra throughout the journey of Perfectionist. I really can see Lady Gaga influences in her music (mainly, because of the producers) and her public image reminds me a little of Mother Monster too. But I really don't blame anyone or anything of plagiarism or accuse anybody of being a copycat. Influence always is present in an artist work and personality, and most of people don't understand that.

The artwork is outstanding, I love the cover and the whole booklet. Nevertheless, huge artists always had a big start, and I can't see Natalia being known worldwide because of Perfectionist. I really couldn't decide if I had to choose the single she will be known for. Not yet. Neither Natalia's ready for the world, nor the world is ready for Natalia. Perfectionist is a good album, but not The Album. I'm sure she will make better music with a bigger impact on the media in a few months/years.

I give the album a... /5

Femme Fatale, seriously? Like, seriously?

This is not the album you wanna buy, for sure. I'm going to review the album track by track, but I don't think it's worthy of a long review...

• Till The World Ends: This uptempo track is such a generic pop song. Such is the video, that is, furthermore, unoriginal and absurd. I had enough with the Roland Emerich movie, thank you.
• Hold It Against Me: The lyrics aren't as bad as the rest of the track's, but it's still such a mess. I find this single boring and cheesy. And I'm not even going to talk about the music video...
• Inside Out: One of the few decent songs on the album. I like the vibe of the song and this is definitely the most listen-able track on Femme Fatale.
• I Wanna Go: The song AND the video has no meaning. But if I dig a little bit I can see how Britney is on a 30-year crisis. Shame on me! (Really?) Her voice sounds like if a generated by a computer.
• How I Roll: Another decent song. That's it. What do you want me to say? This song is as flat as Arizona.
• (Drop Dead) Beautiful: This is one of the only songs with single potential on the whole album. The lyrics are lame. Sabi's collaboration is acceptable, at least.
• Seal It With A Kiss: Even liking this song, I just can't assume it's a good track. 'Cause it's not. The breakdown during the second half of the song always makes me think the song is over, but it's not... This track is TOO pretentious.
• Big Fat Bass: I kind of like will.i.am, but this song is SO BORING. The only interesting thing on the song is the bass, which appears to be what the song is about... What? I just can't stand this track. One of the worst. The will.i.am part is remarkable, though.
• Trouble For Me: This is such a forget-able song. And Britney sounds very autotuned, and I surely don't like that.
• Trip To Your Heart: This sounds like an Ibiza remix of a bad song. Seriously. It's bad.
• Gasoline: If I'm honest, I should confess I couldn't listen to the whole track. And it's 3:08...
• Criminal: This is the only remarkable song on the album, but of course, it won't be a single, neither a song she sings/lipsynch during her Femme Fatale Tour. I like the music, and she doesn't sound too bad, but it's like she forgot about this acceptable piece of music.

Even I practically said this album is trash, I gotta say it's one of Britney's best works. Circus was worst, but Blackout was better. It's not an album worthy to buy. The bonus tracks are even better than most of the main tracks. It's too soft and angelical - it's called Femme Fatale, though... This is not a Femme Fatale. I thought it was pretty obvious to say it, but... oh, well!

I give the album a... /5

I Am... Beyoncé.

I'm sure Bob, the other manager of this site will make another review about 4, the new Beyoncé album, but I wanted to make one as well. So here it is. I'll be reviewing the LP track by track, as I usually do.

• 1 + 1: This amazing ballad doesn't meet my expectations. But the way she sings "One plus one equals TWO" is charming and makes me want to listen to the track over and over. The lyrics are quite good. I dislike the track title though.
• I Care: One of my favourites throughout the whole album. It makes a good contrast after a slow song like 1 + 1. Neither is a ballad, nor an uptempo hit. It's something beyond that. During the verses the song turns out to be very static and calmed, but the choruses speed it up. Not a big fan of the song title either. Potencial single, in my opinion.
• I Miss You: Is very good, but it ain't long enough. There are songs that could be shorter, but this is exactly the opposite. But thei instrumental stands out over the voice, what I don't really like. Another title track that I don't like, by the way.
• Best Thing I Never Had: People may say is the most commercial song on the album, along with Run The World, but I love this track. Beautiful ballad, I LOVE the title, and the lyrics are quite good. Beyoncé goes crazy by the end of the track, I really like that part.
• Rather Die Young: I wasn't a big fan of this song, but it's growing on me. This track tells a beautiful story of love, as usual, but in a very R&B way. It sounds like Beyoncé standing in front of a crowd and arguing with it about her own decisions.
• Star Over: The instrumental intro makes me wanna jump myself of a cliff on the Caribbean. Seriously, this song is such an amazing hit. I really want this to close the single chronology of the 4 era, and a video of this would make my life a bit better. As usual on this album, I don't like the title very much...
• Love on Top: Probably the best-est song on the album, in my opinion. Despite the first five tracks of the album weren't such an amazing experience, this is the time when the album begin to grow and this is the first song on 4 that I loved the first time I listened to it. Papapará, papapará.
• Countdown: This has to be a single and be a ground breaking disco hit. The literal countdown during the first part of the song is such an epic moment. The music behind those amazing vocals is very Sasha Fierc-esque and I love it.
• End of Time: The instrumental intro is GOD. This should have been the first single. I definitely love uptempo Beyoncé tracks, they're such amazing songs to dance to. The african beats should have appeared like this a lot more through the album, in my opinion. And I love the title.
• I Was Here: This ballad is BEAUTIFUL. And the lyrics are BEAUTIFUL. BEAUTIFUL. That's it.
• Run The World (Girls): I love it, but I didn't love it at first. The music video is quite amazing, so are the lyrics, but I really think it gets boring and annoying during the last third of the song until the end. I don't really like the way the album finishes, but the song as a piece of work is still quite good. Who run this motha?

In conclusion, the album is very good. The best work Beyoncé has ever done besides I Am... Sasha Fierce, which is, in my opinion, one of the best albums of the last decade. I don't think she topped herself, but she didn't hyped a lot the album, so it didn't afected the audience negatively. I love the vibe of the album and the only thing I can't stand about it are the title tracks. I don't know, they look very simple. Furthermore, the bonus tracks are quite good, and they would have perfectly fitted in the standard edition.

The photoshoot shown in the booklet is one of the most amazing photo sessions I've ever seen, by the way.

I give the album a...

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