Most Helpful Customer Reviews
|
|
90 of 100 people found the following review helpful:
1.0 out of 5 stars
I Am...Making You Pay For A Deluxe Edition That Could've Been a One Disc by Beyoncé, November 18, 2008
Before I start, I'm just gonna say I'm not an amazing reviewer, but I am going to give an honest review.
I am definately not the biggest Beyonce fan by far, as I usually like to stray away from mainstream music as often as I can, being such over processed crap as most of it is. But this is Beyonce we're talking about, she has amazing talent, and an amazing vocal range. Which is why I'm so appalled that she had the audacity to release such an album. It's almost like she's saying, "I'm Beyonce, I'm amazing, and people will jump on anything I create, so why even make an attempt."
I'm one of the idiots who purchased the deluxe album, and after unwrapping it at home and actually checking out the track listing and such, all of these songs could have DEFINATELY fit onto one album. There was nothing deluxe about it.
After listening to the first disc, I almost felt I had to check my stereo to make sure I didn't have the same song on repeat over and over. The entire first disc is nothing but power ballads, that lack just that, power. There was no emotion, they all sounded exactly the same: bland, dull, and over-polished. It made me feel like she went into the studio and just recorded each track to the same intrumental, back to back, and called it a night.
The second disc I'm assuming was supposed to be the disc with club anthems, party songs and such. It had the typical "independent" ladies song, and the typical "boast like a man" song. I forced myself through the whole thing just to say I gave it a shot. Basically the only song worth anything on this entire collection is the song "Single Ladies", which I'm still not bananas about.
Beyonce, you're incredible, but this album was a slap in the face to all of your fans and anyone who even mildly liked you. Giving it two stars is generous, and I wasn't in the mood.
It definately seems like I'm bashing Beyonce in this review, but I'm not bashing her, I'm bashing her feeble effort in this album release. I'm sure she'll notice the poor feedback from this cd and the next will be incredible. She should definately take her time and create an album with songs that have some staying power. Because if there ever was a Beyonce album to forget in the dust it's definately this one.
|
|
|
34 of 36 people found the following review helpful:
2.0 out of 5 stars
You're better off with the deluxe edition, November 18, 2008
On her third solo disc, Beyoncé returns with a concept album of sorts, a double disc with disc 1 comprising ballads reflecting Beyoncé, and disc 2 comprising more uptempo songs reflecting her fiercer alter ego, Sasha.
Opening the album is the smash hit "If I were a boy", co-penned by Toby Gad who also co-penned such lovely acoustic ballads for Fergie ("Big girls don't cry") and Donna Summer ("Sand on my feet"). The song is a beautiful acoustic ballad with Beyoncé stepping into a guys' shoes and telling how she would treat a girl better if she were a guy. It also features some of Beyoncé's most heartfelt and best vocals. Other standouts on Disc 1 are "Broken-hearted girl", the acoustic "Smash into you" (on the deluxe edition), and the bonus cut "Save the hero", a Timbaland-style groove with lyrics asking who will be there for her in her time of need, as she's always there for others.
Disc 2 boasts more sonic variety; The techno-tinged "Radio", the club number "Sweet dreams" (which sounds like something off of former bandmate Michelle's recent Dance CD), the piano drenched "Hello", the retro Soul sounding "Ego" (with organ, horns and lovely harmonies), the stomping Darkchild produced "Scared of lonely" (nice keyboards and swirling synth effects) and the closing bonus cut co-penned by her sister Solange (who I feel should have co-penned the entire CD), the Motown-tinged bouncy "Why don't you love me" (the latter 4 on the deluxe edition).
That makes it 10 good songs on the entire album (assuming you have all 18 cuts), or simply 4 on this version of the disc. And therein lies the problem. The disc could have been effectively whittled down to just 10 tracks and it would have been much more effective. Songs like "Single ladies", "Diva", and "Video phone" are more of the same skeletal atonal tuneless stuff like "Ring the alarm" or "Get me bodied", while much of Disc 1 passes by harmlessly making no impact. Disc 1 sounds like an attempt to muscle in on Leona Lewis' territory; "Halo" was co-written by the same chap that co-wrote "Bleeding love" for Leona and was apparently originally intended for Leona. The songs also largely lack the vocal dexterity she displayed in her first CD on songs like "Be with you", "Yes" or "Speechless"; her singing on practically every song except "If I were a boy" is basically the same. Also, she seems unable to recapture the charm and excitement that was "Crazy in love".
If you go for the regular edition of the album, you miss most of the best songs ("Smash into you", "Hello", "Ego", "Scared of lonely", and bonus tracks "Save the hero" and "Why don't you love me"). It's really pointless getting the regular edition. All 11 songs on the regular edition could have conveniently fit onto a single disc.
I won't be surprised if months down the line, she releases a deluxe deluxe edition including the good songs that should have been on the album in the first place, much like she did with "B'day". Albums like this strongly argue the case for illegal downloads!
|
|
|
25 of 30 people found the following review helpful:
2.0 out of 5 stars
The Diva Jinx, November 18, 2008
Bottom line...this album is not worth the money. For someone who puts themselves on the highest pedestal possible, whether its her willing to outshine or overshine every female artist who dare to dominate the #1 spot (even her own group members), Beyonce really took a drink of confidence of splitting a 1 LP album into 2....NICE TRY!!!
There's nothing here that brings out the Beyonce she knows she's supposed to be. So its obvious that listening to this album is a fascade to the ear...with the exception of "Halo", where she pulls off a nice Leona Lewis challenge, and the actually BANGER on this entire package is "Scared Of Lonely". Those 2 songs are the reason for the 2 stars.
Once again.....It's not worth it. Unless you are a CD collector or you just wanna see some sexy pics (5 star photography lol....hmmmm), this isn't worth your money.
|
|
|
Most Recent Customer Reviews
|
Interact With Your Music: Discover, listen to, and buy new music, all from the pages of SPIN's digital edition, free to Amazon customers.
by Beyoncé 
