At least, that's what her album I Am...Sasha Fierce suggests. It's actually a double album: one CD represents one side of the R&B diva, while the other shows a completely different side.
To be fair, I have decided to review the two sides separately first, then combine it later.
So let's start off with the first personality: Beyoncé
"If I Were a Boy" - One of Beyoncé's best songs so far. She may not have written it, but she still performs the hell out of it, allowing her voice to naturally soar and the reaches its climax. It's almost perfect. 9/10
"Halo" - This Ryan Tedder-penned track has been involved in some controversy lately, for a pretty good reason. It's a great song. It follows today's pop format perfectly; a metaphorical title, hand claps, and catchy repetition in the chorus. Some will pull comparisons with another Tedder song (Bleeding Love), but its a perfectly good enough to stand on its own. 8/10
"Disappear" - The dramatics are put aside for some soft, sensitive balladry with this song. Beyoncé proves here she doesn't need to shatter the sound barrier to be an amazing singer. In fact, she sounds amazing with this intimate arrangement. The song isn't very captivating, but its a good album track. 7.5/10
"Broken-Hearted Girl" - Even her album filler is above average. Yes, this song isn't very remarkable lyrically (in fact, I miss the metaphors a bit), but Beyonce's voice picks it up. Also, the composition changes also make it more interesting; the song begins with a piano, but soon a beat picks up and even a light synth dresses things up. 7/10
"Ave Maria" - No, its not a remake of the aria. Still, its sounds a bit like a classical song, thanks to the light plucking of guitar strings and the piano. I wasn't particularly moved by the song, but I appreciate the simplicity of it, even with the inevitable Beyoncé power notes toward the end. 7/10
"Smash Into You"* - This is one of my favorites on the album. The song starts very softly, just letting Beyoncé sing full-voice. I'm particularly fond of the chorus, which is pretty beautiful. Like the first two songs of the album, the song builds slowly to a powerful climax. Yet, she holds back and refuses to over-power the song, which is a pleasant surprise. The ending is very sweet, perfectly capping off the song with just her voice and the whisper of a guitar buzz. 9/10
"Satellites" - It's a very nice song, but my least favorite on this side of the album. The metaphor of satellites and space, paired with the simple arrangement, made for a pretty boring listening boring experience. 6.5/10
"That's Why You're Beautiful"* - Beyoncé definitely loves her guitar. And her drums. Incorporating instruments typically absent in R&B music into a slow-churning ballad is her specialty, as evidenced here. A solid album track, but nothing special here either. 6.5/10
Final Thoughts - The "Beyoncé" side shows a wide array of ballads, from the rhythmic to the simplistic. With only a speed bump or two, this is one of her most solid collections to date.
Rating: 7.5/10
* - only on Deluxe Edition
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