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Special Event: atrlcritic | Ed Sheeran's new songs after the upgrade
ATRL Contributor
Member Since: 1/3/2014
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Quote:
Originally posted by Satan
omg charles ![clap3](http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v232/korn0818/67d90ee8.gif)
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<3 feel free to use the format
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Also, is it fine if I post reviews in here if they're not technically a part of the "list"? If not, I know another place I can post them.
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Member Since: 8/17/2013
Posts: 5,341
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Beyoncé - Lemonade![](clear.gif)
Few artists can truly turn their music into an event nowadays, let alone into the tour de force that Beyoncé’s releases have become in this day and age. There’s something to be said for the fact that in a nation where black women are seen as the most undesirable people, it is a black woman who has managed to capture the public eye in such a way that her presence demands recognition and acknowledgment. It is because of this ability to captivate that Beyoncé has the power to release music whenever she feels in any manner she sees fit. As such, she saw it fit to release her latest body of work Lemonade firstly as a film – a visual piece framing her latest musical effort in stages detailing her feelings and thoughts.
Lemonade itself as an album proves itself to be her finest work yet. Opening up with “Pray You Catch Me”, the first set of tracks on the album reveal the personal touch and opens the underlying arc behind the album. The first track specifically addresses Beyoncé’s suspicion arousing, as she draws on her religious roots to provide a preface to the pain and betrayal yet to be exposed in further tracks. Here, she suspects and promises to listen for confirmation that she has been betrayed and that her marriage has been wounded. “Hold Up” is where she asserts that she is her love for her husband is true, but cannot quell her desire to know whether her love is in vain. She longs to know if he has betrayed her in the worst way – by giving himself to another. Summery and reggae-tinged in its production, the song could potentially serve as a commercially viable taste of the album. However, the track still has its part to play in unfolding the feelings that come to play in exposing the cracks of her marriage. These feelings come to a head in “Don’t Hurt Yourself” which has Jack White lending a hand in fueling that anger through tinges of hard rock. In a collaboration that is at once unthinkable yet perfectly natural, she unleashes her rage unto her husband, having learned of his betrayal at this point and charging him with the offense as if he were on trial. Here, she points out that in sacrificing their marriage, he has sacrificed a part of himself and lays out consequences for his actions such as losing that which he has readily sacrificed. This is where her suspicion in earlier tracks fully develops into realization and subsequent rage – here, Beyoncé is not afraid to show and flaunt her power. “Sorry” has Beyonce return to lighter fare sonically but still reproachful and unwilling yet to forgive her husband’s transgressions. Still reeling from said crimes, so to speak, she brushes off any attempts of his remorse to focus on herself and having fun – she chooses this moment to leave with their child and focus on what is best for her. She also coyly but firmly accuses her husband’s paramour of being a leech of social status and tells her husband that he needs to mature. Her leaving results in “6 Inch”, a single-worthy collaboration with darkly textured artist The Weeknd, where she instead uses her time of solitude to focus on embracing her power as a working woman. This track sees her expanding that focus through the metaphor of a stripper, showing how a woman can provide for herself when they put in the hard work. This suggests Beyoncé has sought refuge in her art as she focuses on healing from wounds opened as a result of the cracks in her union – in listening to this album, that truth is self-evident.
With “Daddy Lessons”, the journey of healing begins – she reflects on what she has learned from her father and contrasts it with what she learned of her husband. She was raised to be strong and protect herself and her family from pain and men who seek to do them wrong. It is clear that there are parallels between her father’s behavior and her husband’s own behavior. Here, she forays into a genre she is not familiar with (country) in order to explore nostalgia and it works in her favor. “Love Drought” sees her utilize a metaphor of being thirsty in order to paint the picture of how much she longs for the relationship between her husband to be restored. Here, she questions what she did to fracture their relationship but also affirms her belief in their combined power. In this track, she expresses her belief that their love is too strong to overcome and that they can fix what has broken between them. This also leads the mellower part of the album that continues along with “Sandcastles”. Though these tracks do not boast the inherent show-stopping power of the album’s first half, they bring a subtler power. “Sandcastles” continues this trend with Beyoncé’s rawest vocal performance as she brings forth a ballad that sees her lament on the promises they built their union on and how they have been broken. Here, Beyoncé wants to know that he is truly remorseful as she finds herself incapable of truly abandoning their union. This is her extending an olive branch of sorts to her husband, in the hopes that the union they forge from this point is a stronger one meant to stand the test of time. This hope of progression is further reflected in the short but brilliant collaboration with James Blake, as he plays the part of her husband in a short but poignant oath to focus on the future.
“Freedom” sees Beyoncé step away from the emotional warfare of her marriage to channel her power towards her fellow members of the black community. Here, she provides a voice to the black community – particularly black women – as they search for true freedom. Kendrick Lamar, a rapper who has made significant noise in support of the black community, joins her on the effort to use their voices to empower their people and provide fuel to their efforts for a brighter future for their children as well as themselves. “All Night” sees Beyoncé celebrating the reunion of herself and her husband in a more sexual manner – she is truly happy that they have come together as one again, and they are now in a stronger place than they were before. The final track, “Formation” serves mostly as a compilation of the ideas behind this album as she asserts the power she holds over her husband as well as celebrating her identity as a black woman. It serves the same purpose it does in the film, as a credits song of her personal victories and as a celebration of her journey’s completion.
As it stands, from top to bottom, Lemonade is Beyoncé at her most personal and artistic. Never before has she unleashed her power in such a vulnerable and showstopping manner as she has here. In crafting this album, she creates a complex must-listen experience that blends themes of identity with infidelity. This is an effort that seeks to provide and document a spiritual journey from pain and weakness into peace and strength. In this day and age, music has become easily consumable and the art of the album has often been lost in efforts to provide compilations of songs that will prove commercially viable. Here, Beyoncé eschews the idea of commercialism to provide an experience that is both audibly pleasant as well as emotionally resonant. Regardless of whether the album proves to be a commercial success – which it is likely to do, given that the same power Beyoncé has over the general public is the same power she draws on here – this album is a triumph.
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Member Since: 1/1/2014
Posts: 43,331
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Quote:
Originally posted by St. Charles
<3 feel free to use the format
--
Also, is it fine if I post reviews in here if they're not technically a part of the "list"? If not, I know another place I can post them.
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I would post them in that other place, then.
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Member Since: 8/19/2013
Posts: 68,548
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Beyoncé
LEMONADE
8/10
After an unclear announcement, Beyoncé released Lemonade, her least vocally challenging and most experimental album to date. Instead of sticking to only one genre and creating a one-dimensional record, Beyoncé risked it all and included anything she could come up with--and still managed to create a completely solid body of work!
Leaving aside all the speculations on what the meaning of the several catchphrases scattered everywhere in the songs' lyrics, it's pretty clear that Lemonade wants to describe a process of catharsis Beyoncé went through. Hence, the darker and more mysterious-sounding (sometimes even bitter) songs at the beginning, in contrast with the happier, carefree and empowering tracks towards the end. This is just another smart move from Beyoncé, who managed to put her personal experiences into words and melodies to create a universally acclaimed record.
![](http://headlineplanet.com/home/wp-content/uploads/2016/04/Lemonade-Cover-400x400.jpg)
1. Pray You Catch Me – 7/10
The album starts with this slow contemporary gospel track with minimal production and several vocal harmonies. Just like in her two previous albums, Beyoncé goes downtempo for the opening song.
2. Hold Up – 6.5/10
Lemonade continues with a reggae song that might as well be included in the tracklisting of Rihanna's most recent albums. Another track featuring minimal production, except this time we have a faster tempo and a catchy hook.
3. Don't Hurt Yourself – 8/10
One of the most interesting songs in Beyoncé's recent discography. The retro vocal effect makes her completely unrecognizable, and the rock contribution by Jack White hints at Beyoncé's experimentation with new genres on Lemonade.
4. Sorry – 7.5/10
Urban radio candy featuring the typical R&B sounds that you hear these days. I would've made it a little bit shorter, as the ending of the song is a bit unexciting and disappointing compared to the strong hook that runs throughout it.
5. 6 Inch – 8/10
Featuring one of the favorite artists of the moment, The Weeknd, "6 Inch" is a dark R&B song where Beyoncé explores her lower vocal range.
6. Daddy Lessons – 8.5/10
Do I hear Beyoncé singing bluegrass? The biggest surprise of the album for me and who many others who wouldn't have expected to hear her perform at a saloon over chill guitar melodies.
7. Love Drought – 9/10
An extremely chill R&B song with a timeless sound and breathy vocals in its chorus. It doesn't click immediately with the listener because it's not supposed to be catchy or radio-friendly, but it's definitely a highlight on this record.
8. Sandcastles – 3/10
Perhaps the only big disappointment of the album, "Sandcastles" is a bland piano ballad where at times Beyoncé tries to overdramatize her feelings with clearly forced vocal performances.
9. Forward – 0/10
A short interlude featuring James Blake that I don't think we needed at all. The transitions from the previous track and to the following song are completely odd and out of place.
10. Freedom – 8.5/10
Less personal lyrics and more social commitment here. Beyoncé, with the help of the rapper Kendrick Lamar, sings an empowerment funk tune about the black community, a subject very dear to her and to whom she has dedicated several songs.
11. All Night – 9/10
The most pop-oriented Lemonade track, it sounds like a beach song. Carefree and happy in every way, it's supposed to represent the happy ending of the cathartic process she went through and told in the record.
12. Formation – 3.5/10
Thank heavens, Lemonade is not a collection of political-themed trap songs like "Formation" as we thought. The fact that no other song on this album remotely sounds like it is a relief for my ears.
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Member Since: 8/16/2011
Posts: 60,893
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Beyonce - Lemonade (Album review)
Once again, Beyonce showcases her limited understanding of how mighty music can really be. She abided by every cliché that has been exhausted since her past release and trying to sell them as innovative musicianship and artistry. Formation, her lead single which has been a Tidal exclusive so far, is a prime example of a redundant melody drowning, or should I say drowned, in the sound of a beat that Beyonce has used so many times already.
The album starts with “Pray you catch me” which starts with confused sounds that accurate explicate my reaction while listening to the album. The intriguing beginning quickly drains into an insipid ballad very reminiscent of her recent Naughty Boy collaboration. An extended outro for the song is abruptly followed by an island-influenced song, “Hold Up”. It is clear that this song was aiming to match the reggae greats, but sadly it ended up sounding like a song Mag!c passed on. The third track, “Don’t hurt yourself” uses a hefty amount of autotune to give Beyonce a more interesting tone that would fit the song. It is one of the highlights of the album even though it does replicate the duet between Alicia Keys and Jack White, “ Another Way To Die”.
“Sorry” feels like yet another song by her meant for the twitter community. Lyrically, the whole album reads like the diary a vitriol-filled teenager. “I ain’t sorry, I ain’t thinking about you”, “Today I regret the night I put that ring on” are prime examples of that. Not to mention the album is filled with self-aggrandizing lyrics that make me wonder if she really needs people around her to keep her grounded.
On “6 inch”, Beyonce rides one of the many trends of the past few years I mentioned earlier and features The Weeknd on the song. Though the jazzy chorus is a nice addition, the song’s quality is still considerably brought down by the vengeful lyrics and the uninteresting association of their voices.
Have you ever wondered what Nickelback would sound if he were black? I tend to think that Daddy Issues is a pretty accurate representation of that. “Love Drought” is another ode to the electro R&B trend that’s been burgeoning lately. I do find it to be one of the nicer tracks on the album. On “Sandcastles”, Beyonce chooses to take a more stripped-down route forgetting to add a melody in the process. Falling into the same trap Adele fell into with 25, Beyonce’s vocals wander with the piano playing behind them without going anywhere. Any emotion that was supposed to be exuded was lost in the mix. Her raw vocals do not do the song any favors either.
“Freedom” and “Forward” are two surprisingly uneventful collaborations. Reducing James Blake’s complicated sound to a mere piano interlude nicely sums up Beyonce’s biggest mistake on this record; So much potential and very little achieved.
Overall, this album seems to be lost between trying to be descriptive of the journey of a strong independent woman and attempting too speak on the behalf of a community. You can do one or the other, not both.
Score: 5/10
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Member Since: 1/1/2014
Posts: 43,973
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LEMONADE by Beyoncé
PRAY YOU CATCH
I just wanna scream HER BEST INTRO EVER. The harmonies at the beginning immediately set the tone, from the first line "you can taste the dishonesty, it's all over your breath" to the strings at the end, the track perfectly sets up the story of this album.
HOLD UP
I love the Caribbean sound of this song (thank you Diplo) and it perfectly captures one of the stages after being cheated on, the disbelief, the "what were you thinking" moment. The Vampire Weekend influences are also immediately recognizable. Mixing genres is my favorite thing in music, so I had an eargasm.
DONT HURT YOURSELF
You don't need to read the credits to know that this is a Jack White song. I never thought I would see this collab. That's what I love about it, Bey still manages to push herself and surprises us. And being a Jack White fan for years now, I peed my pants. Eargasm!! The anger and hate in this track is real and the natural follow up to the disbelief stage from the previous track.
SORRY
"Tell him boy bye. Boy bye" leave his cheating ass
This story is as old as it gets but this turned out to be one of Bey's most original self empowerment song. The production is top notch but that's a given
6 INCH
The Weeknd is perfect for this song which reminds me of The Hills meets Partition. I'm so grateful Bey reunited with Boots, they always create magic.
DADDY'S LESSONS
This song threw me off at first. I mean it's a damn country song y'all. Then again, if anyone is entitled to do country is Bey. She's from Texas after all. This song mixes Country with Jazz and Bey's story telling is inspired.
LOVE DROUGHT
Parkwood artist Ingrid did a flawless job writing this song. Just WOW. The lyrics are a highlight. At this point the relationship is over and she's now reflecting on it. What is she gonna do next?
SANDCASTLES
I love the imagery of this this. Sandcastles are temporary and always wash away or get destroyed, just like most relationships but also just like pain. We eventually heal. We always do. And when we do...
FORWARD
...we forgive and move forward. James Blake is the only one on vocals (with a brief Bey appearance on background) on this criminally short song. This is one heck of an interlude. James also penned Pray You Catch Me. It's worth noting that his songs pack an powerful emotional punch. And once again, this is an artist, I never thought Bey would work with.
FREEDOM
My anthem! My favorite song! And a much needed uptempo song. Probably her most powerful song. Bey is free from the pain but she makes it about something bigger than herself. I love the Rolling Stones influences, the Kaleidoscope sample which I have been listening while waiting for the album and the drums are insane. Finally Kendrick is at his best.
ALL NIGHT
Welcome back the Caribbean sound. This is one of the poppiest song on the album and I love that she used the Outkast sample she used in Flawless Remix. It's a love anthem and packs more punch than XO.
FORMATION
I loved this song when it came out, then grew tired of it. Then heard it at the club and it was lit as hell.
I love all the different genres, rock, soul, pop, R&B, country, trap, hip hop, jazz, and the samples from the 70s to now, extremely diverse album but flows perfectly well.
10/10
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Member Since: 5/22/2011
Posts: 21,227
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I've been so bad with reviews and I am so sorry, unfortunately school life has been very hectic.
I am done this week though, so I will be back. ![:)](http://www.atrl.net/forums/images/smilies/images/smilies/smile.gif)
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ATRL Contributor
Member Since: 8/19/2013
Posts: 43,104
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Quote:
Katy B strides through album of glossy EDM
Katy B’s last record, 2014’s Little Red was sleek, club-ready pop, bolstered by British hits like “Crying For No Reason.” However, on her latest LP, Honey, Katy B settles on smooth and psychedelic electronic music that rarely goes for the jugular.
The UK pop starlet’s new record features collaborations with 21 artists, but Katy B remains the star of the show. With her two preceding albums only featuring three collaborations, Katy B shows that she has the confidence to work with other artists without the fear of being overshadowed.
From start to finish, Honey is startlingly consistent, displaying lustrous and well constructed EDM. Opening up with the eponymous title track “Honey,” Katy B sets up the themes of the record as a whole, relying heavily on midtempos while trying to work in sexual innuendos. But the song’s lyrics, such as “Darling just lean in / I am sure you’ll want to taste this honey on my skin,” ultimately fall flat.
Though the tracks continue on slowly, with most clocking in at an exhausting four minutes, each one offers a new sound: pop, EDM, R&B and rap all find a place on the album. Ultimately, each track features a collaboration with one or multiple new artists, who each bring their own influences. From wobbling synths on the opener, to sharp, accelerated drums on standout track “So Far Away,” the songs manage to keep the listener’s attention throughout.
The nearly two dozen collaborations make each track and production sound fresh, without becoming gimmicky. The bubbling, staccato synths on the Floating Points and Four Tet’s assisted “Calm Down” are unlike those on the rest of the record but shine in their simplicity. “Water Rising,” featuring MssingNo and Geenus, is dark and dramatic, a great example of the versatility that can be found on “Honey.” The only questionable contributions appear on track five, the rap/sung collaboration “Lose Your Head.” With three rappers — The Heavytrackerz, J Hus and D Double E — delivering sloppy and annoying verses, the song should crash and burn. However, Katy B’s confidence in the hook and an inoffensive production manage to save the sinking ship.
While each track’s production thrives off of the adrenaline fueled percussion, Katy B’s vocal delivery often doesn’t capture that same energy. Katy B isn’t a poor singer by any means, she simply avoids utilizing her full vocal potential track after track. Too frequently, she sounds lifeless and lethargic, lingering in her middle voice when her underutilized belts would be appreciated. For example, on the UK No.1, the KDA-assisted “Turn the Music Louder (Rumble),” she propels the fireball chorus by moving into her upper register. In the bridge, she unleashes riffs and growls that could blow plenty of her contemporaries out of the water. However, this is one of the rare instances in which she chooses to show all that she is capable of. For most of the album, she sells herself and her voice short.
As a B-List pop star five years into her career, Katy B hasn’t been able to achieve the success her fellow UK acts Ellie Goulding or Jessie J have during the same timespan. Though Honey isn’t the breakthrough record that will make her career, in sparse moments such as “Rumble” and “I Wanna Be,” the album shows that Katy B has the potential to become a much more formidable artist if she chooses to harness her full potential.
Artist: Katy B
Genre: Electronic, Pop, EDM
Tracks: 13
Rating: 7.5/10
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In case we end up reviewing her! I'll try to write a Lemonade review this week too.
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Member Since: 8/19/2013
Posts: 19,167
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"LEMONADE"
BEYONCÉ
After a whole year milking and spoiling, finally, Beyoncé has released one of the most anticipated albums of 2016, LEMONADE. It is said to be the most experimental album Beyoncé has ever recorded where she mixes genres that originally thought to not go well together, from R&B, soul to country, funk. Also, the background and main idea of the whole album is about a woman trying to heal, to find herself is really interesting.
1. Pray You Catch Me : Right from the intro, Beyoncé leads us to a very dark road about a journey of a woman on a way to find her voice. I understand and love the concept, however, I think this is a bit too long so that it makes the song repetitive. 6.5/10
2. Hold Up : Follow after the intro, Beyoncé introduces us into a raggae track with an upbeat instrument. However, the instrument juxtaposes with the content of the song which is about a woman who loves her man physically and emotionally, even if he has already cheated on her. To me, I just love it. 9/10
3. Don't Hurt Yourself (featuring. Jack White) : I must say that I'm really surprised this turns out realy well. The track follows up to the latter about the theme and the way Beyoncé agressively expresses it is so on point. 9.5/10
4. Sorry : The whole track just feels like she is too greedy adding too many sounds that don't go well together, especially the third verse which sounds completely different. Hence, makes the song sounds all over the place. But, I really like the second verse where she sounds really sexy and addictive. 6/10
5. 6 Inch (featuring. The Weeknd) : Beyoncé opens a new chapter from this track, fighting for the rights for black people and most mainy, black woman. However, I expect from this a lot more. Even if this is bitchy, ratchet and gives a very appealing dark vibe, this is bad for both these artists' standard. 5.5/10
6. Daddy Lessons : The biggest surprise in the album. Beyoncé first foray intro country is all about everything she learns from her father, the man whom she owes a lot to. Definitely one of the best songs ever recorded by Beyoncé, no doubt. 11/10
7. Love Drought : And here we are again in the mid-section of the album. Despite the fresh R&B sound, Beyoncé sounds boring in this thus making the whole track feels down. 5/10
8. Sandcastles : Although I like the idea of the track is to be raw, I don't like how she sings in this track. It just sounds overdramatic and all over the place. 6/10
9. Forward (featuring. James Blake) : A small interlude but has a lot of meaning, after overcome all of the difficulties in her relationship, what she should do next is to go "forward". Also, it creates a contrast vibe with the third track, with the track featuring Jake While, he sounds really angry then in this track featuring James Blake, his soft vocal brings us a peaceful vibe, showing that Beyoncé has finally known what to do. What has happened, can't be changed. 6.5/10
10. Freedom (featuring. Kendrick Lamar) : A perfect collaboration which shows real chemistry between these two artists. The two create two different scenes whereas Beyoncé is to empower other women and Kendrick continues to touch on institutionalized racism but when you combine them together, it is a perfect track to fight for social equality justice. 10/10
11. All Night : The track is the unofficial "ending track" where Beyoncé finally finds her way. The midtempo love ballad illustrates a wise love when a woman has overcome difficulties and deep pain yet still be able to stand up. 7.5/10
12. Formation : Even though I like the meaning of this track, she shouldn't have included this in track at all, it just sounds totally different from the other tracks in term of emotion. 8.5/10
To say about LEMONADE, it is really a special album that there's a big difference between the strong tracks and the weak tracks. Also, I'm glad that this album is not fully about politics and actually has a whole theme all over the album. And, the most important things, in term of quality, this tops Self-Titiled anyday which is a really good sign at this stage of her career.
__________________________
7.6/10
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Member Since: 8/7/2015
Posts: 11,012
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LEMONADE
![](http://images.rapgenius.com/59fc635f7dbe6b5cd1e07e5e605c96b5.640x640x1.jpg)
![](https://nikgspot.files.wordpress.com/2011/11/5.png)
Lemonade, the 6th album from the international superstar Beyoncé, is truly something to behold. Never before has someone of her stature created such an experimental, personal, captivating, and genuinely mind-blowing spectacle of an album.
The album starts with a subdued but still attentive record, ‘Pray you Catch Me’. It's a beautiful start and gives the instant indication that this will be her ‘break-up’ record. ‘I pray I catch you whispering’ she sings. Who is she talking about? Well, if the media is to be believed, she's talking about her superstar husband, Jay Z. It's only during the second song of Lemonade that you begin to realise that this is to be a conceptual album of sorts. ‘Hold Up’ is probably the most catchy moment on the Caribbean-influenced record, with her professing her thoughts and feelings on her husbands supposed infidelity. ‘Hold up, they don't love you like I love you’ she teases.
However, the third song on Lemonade is probably the highlight of the album. It's probably her riskiest record to date and features the rock-star Jack White. ‘Don't Hurt Yourself’ is just bloody fantastic. ‘Who the **** do you think I am?’, she ferociously insists. Never before has Beyoncé’s voice felt so powerful and inspired. Jack White adds another dimension in the chorus, but not so much that he outshines her. Instead, Beyoncé was careful to leave the verses to herself and to kindly share the chorus. It's a beautifully designed record and already a classic.
‘Sorry’ is the next track. This is obviously going to be a single. It's probably the most radio-friendly single in a LP that is so very obviously not going after such a sound. The visual, if you haven't already seen it in her awe-inspiring HBO special, features the tennis superstar Serena Williams twerking and dancing whilst Beyoncé watches. It's a very fun track with Bey confessing that she isn't sorry and is ready to leave the relationship. 6 Inches solidifies this sentiment. She addresses how hard she works and how little she gets in return from her husband when she returns home. A song with which many other independent women will be able to identify with. It features The Weeknd. Whilst I'm not the biggest fan, he adds another dimension to the record and his voice sounds utterly fabulous and compliments Beyoncé’s very well.
Lemonade follows with what is another surprise for the megastar, a country-influenced folk sounding record called ‘Daddy Lessons’. Here, she illustrates how her Father’s infidelity has had an impact on her life and the men she chooses. ‘[When] men like me come around, my Daddy said shoot’. It's a very cleverly written record and Beyoncé’s voice has never felt so wholesome. ‘Love Drought’ follows, accompanies by what is the most spacious and relaxing instrumental in the record. This is probably the least-interesting but perhaps the most revealing song on the record. She discusses how she wants to forgive Jay Z and move on but she's not ready. But wait, neither is Jay Z. They're not connecting and it all seems like a lost cause. Just when you recover from that, ‘Sandcastles’, the most heart-breaking song of Beyoncé’s career starts. Wow. Her voice is spectacular and the lyrics create imagery so vivid that you feel you've got a first-row seat to the end of this superpower couple. You'd be forgiven at this point for thinking that Beyoncé is going to announce her divorce at the end of this record.
The interlude ‘Forward’ provides a transmission period for both the record and seemingly the reconciliation between the couple. ‘Freedom’, featuring the fabulous Kendrick Lamar, has both relevance to the ongoing theme of the record, but also has very political connotations. ‘Freedom, I can't move. Freedom, cut me loose… Ima’ keep runnin’ cus a winner don't quit on themselves’. This could both be in relation to her marriage but also to the black experience in America right now. Kendrick’s verse is beautifully written and definitely elaborates on the struggle of the black experience and touches on police brutality and racial profiling.
‘All Night’ – the penultimate song on Lemonade, indicates a point in the marriage in which both Beyoncé and Jay Z are at the place where they want to give the marriage another try. However, the ballad illustrates a reluctance to fully trust Jay Z again. He must earn it. Understandable, right?
‘Formation’, the most electrical and political song rounds the album off beautifully.
Round of applause, Beyoncé.
(10/10)
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Member Since: 1/1/2014
Posts: 43,331
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All three albums will end on Thursday night.
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ATRL Contributor
Member Since: 4/24/2011
Posts: 8,547
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Kanye West - 'The Life of Pablo'
(7.7)
Being a Kanye West fan is… hard. Just, I mean, some of his attitudes… are a bit too much. Some of the things he does are (unintentionally) funny, like the (kinda problematic, but… to be honest, it’s not that serious) supposed feud with Wiz Khalifa and Amber Rose, or even actually interesting, like his VMA speech in 2015. But sometimes, he does things that indeed suck. Things that are moderately annoying, like him constantly saying stuff like “he’s the greatest artist of all time”, saying “Beck doesn’t respect true artistry, like Beyoncé”, when Beck is one of the most influential artists since the 90′s (even though I think Beyoncé had the best album). Or things that are actually terrible, like claming “BILL COSBY IS INNOCENT!!!”.
But I never considered that an actual problem (except for the last thing, maybe), since his douchebag attitudes never really made it to the music. I mean it’s also very easy to be a Kanye stan if you really take a listen through his work. Sure, some boastful and vulgar lines here and there, as usual, but nothing too serious. Except that this time, he did do some things that could be related to the music, like releasing this album only on Tidal, and only there. And not free, unlike generosity queen Rihanna. But still, let’s leave that behind, and focus on the actual album.
The first song, “Ultra Light Beam”, featuring Chance the Rapper, The-Dream and Kelly Price, is truly a Gospel epic. It’s probably as epic as anything from ‘My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy’. It’s indeed magical. But the magic suddenly stops with the song “Father Stretch My Hands Pt. 1″, I mean, the song itself is good, but the line about the… um, bleached asshole, and his T-shirt… it’s a bit too much information. It’s actually kind of disgusting, since the line itself isn’t too poetic or anything like that, sadly. The “Pt. 2″ is much better thanks to Kanye being a little more personal on the lyrics, and the interpolation of Caroline Shaw’s vocals in the middle of the track, that actually sounds a lot like Laurie Anderson.
“Famous” has that questionable Taylor Swift line, but other than that, Rihanna’s hook (who is sampled from Nina Simone), and the final section, sampling Sister Nancy’s dancehall classic “Bam Bam”, is pure gold. “Feedback”, is probably one of the tracks that takes the most from his amazing 2013 album, ‘Yeezus’, but, despite the hilarious Oprah impression, this same effect is used way better on the criminally short “Freestyle 4″. The strings sampled from Goldfrapp’s 2000 track “Human” makes it sound terrifying, and the libido-fuel lyrics make it sound actually kind of paranoic? Whatever it is, it works, it sounds great.
“Waves” sounds really good, but the Chris Brown feature kind of ruins it. Still, it does seem like an important of making the flow of the album work, so thank you Chance the Rapper for actually saving this song I guess. And despite its cheesy title, “FML” is actually a wonderful, personal, vulnerable track, and its chorus, courtesy of The Weeknd is probably the best on the whole record. And “Real Friends” the first actual song we got to hear from the album is as great as it when it first released.
But truly, if I had to pick best song from the record is “Wolves”, which initially featured Vic Mensa and Sia, and even was performed on SNL with both of them, but they were cut from the record, in favour of the previously mentioned Caroline Shaw… and Mr. Frank Ocean. The song itself, co-produced by Cashmere Cat and Sinjin Hawke, sounds like the middle ground between the autotuned laments of ‘808s and Heartbreaks’ and the abstract futurism of ‘Yeezus’. Truly a masterpiece, which would be even better if you added Sia to it. Just saying. But if he decided to leave it like it is, I wouldn’t complain either.
Sadly, the album is brought down by unnecessary skits (like “I Love Kanye” or “Low Lights”), or even unnecessary actual tracks. But that doesn’t mean Kanye has lost it or anything like that, he’s still probably one of the most interesting rappers out there, and while this is not close to ‘MBDTF’ or ‘Yeezus’, this is a very good album, still, despite not being necessarily “conceptual” or following a certain type of sound, it’s diverse enough to keep you on the edge of your seat, and like it or not, despite everything he might or might not do, people will be listening to his music regardless. And they might love it, too, there’s still a lot to like.
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Also, it would be nice to see the Katy B album being reviewed too!
Honestly, TRF.
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Member Since: 3/14/2013
Posts: 37,294
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Bey was served lemons, but she made lemonade
![](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/5/53/Beyonce_-_Lemonade_%28Official_Album_Cover%29.png) | The latest release from Queen B represents yet another phenomenon for the media and both her fans and non-fans, alike her 2013 self-titled release. She took the internet and the critics by a storm with her affirmations about her husband Jay-Z regarding his cheating and what she felt through this entire process. In addition to that, at about the end of the record, we address the political and social situations of black people and especially black women in today's society. At about the same point in the record, the songstress puts emphasis on the fact that she can't give up totally on Jay-Z, that she still loves him, but can't trust him as she did before.
Beyonce is bold with her statements, especially in songs like "Don't Hurt Yourself" where she claims "Who the **** do you think I is?/You ain't married to no average bitch boy" or in "Sandcastles" where she wonders if he is as hurt as she is. The record wants to be seen as personal (which we presume it is), but we can't be sure with the huge number of writers featured on the album. However, Bey definitely impresses the public, especially with the film, which includes all the "Lemonade" songs, minus "Formation" (which already had a music video prior to the album's release) which definitely explains deeper what Bey wanted to express with her music. In the writing credits, other than Beyonce herself, we see Kevin Garrett, Diplo, Ezra Koenig, Emile Haynie, Joshua Tillman, MNEK, Sean Rhoden, Doc Pomus, Soulja Boy, Mort Shuman, Antonio Randolph, Kelvin McConnell, Brian Chase, Karen O, Nick Zinner, Wynter Gordon, Jimmy Page, Robert Plant, John Paul Jones, John Bonham, Derek Dixie, Hit-Boy, Stuart White, Danny Boy Styles, Benjamin Diehl, The-Dream, Ahmad Balshe, Boots, Avey Tare, Panda Bear, Geologist, Burt Bacharach, Hal David, Ben Billions, Kyle Cox, Kevin Cossom, Alex Delicata, Mike Dean, Ingrid Burley, Vincent Berry II, Malik Yusef, Midian Mathers, Jonathan Coffer, Carla Marie Williams, Dean McIntosh, Frank Tirado, Alan Lomax, John Lomax, Sr., Just Blaze, Rock City, Ilsey Juber, Akil King, Aman Tekleab, Jaramye Daniels, Andre 3000, Sleepy Brown, Big Boi, Ricky Anthony, Henry Allen, Rae Sremmurd, Jordan Frost, Ashton Hogans, Mike Will Made-It and Pluss, but also features from The Weeknd, James Blake, Jack White and Kendrick Lamar. Albeit the long list, it is pretty obvious that the ones who had the more writers are the better songs and that Beyonce is a perfectionist at it.
The album is made full-cycle. She goes through so many emotions in 12 tracks and is the perfect break-up album for someone who still has hope that things can still recover though. Beyonce has become in this modern era, an inspiration for everyone, on the one hand, to continue to make art and not radio friendly songs, in order to achieve success and, on the other hand, to promote "freedom", brave black people and to manage to become one of the few people to have a bravery of expressing their opinion for a social cause. Moreover, what is also impressive is that she managed to flow perfectly in so many genres, we even see her doing folk-country in "Daddy Lessons".
In conclusion, although it is definitely an appealing album after some listens, it also has some inconveniences. I, personally, don't think it deserves its 93 Metacritic score, because, let's be honest, other personal and raw albums have gotten a way lower grade and I am hoping the critics are not doing this just because she's Beyonce. I am not saying it is not a quality album, however, but I am not sure that it should be this overpraised. "Self-Titled" had been a way shocking change for her, in my opinion in terms of music style, especially from the poppier "4". However, I think that "Lemonade" has higher highs than "Self-Titled" and less fillers, but that might be due to its shorter length too. However, it is still a hit album for Beyonce that everyone should give more than one listen.
Recommended for the listeners of: Kelly Rowland, Rihanna, Nicki Minaj, Ciara, Michelle Williams (as suggested by last.fm) |
Score: 8.2/10
Track by Track review
1.Pray You Catch Me - it starts in a very slow paced mood, only to introduce the listener into the theme of the song; it's a pretty good track, but it doesn't shine above the rest very much
2.Hold Up - this Caribbean, reggae-inspired type of track definitely sets out the faster pace of the album, it's perfect for the summer
3.Don't Hurt Yourself - easily another favourite of mine, a moment when Bey risks and does not fail at it; I still don't like some of the overly aggressive lyrics, though
4.Sorry - one of the weaker moments of the album; I feel this is way too repetitive
5.6 Inch - an anthem of empowering for the women who have been cheated before or about whom their lovers don't care enough
6.Daddy Lessons - my favourite song of the album; she goes back to her Texan roots, she makes a parallel between her father and her husband, and she does it in the best way possible |
7.Love Drought - good track lyrically, but Bey doesn't seem too excited about singing it
8.Sandcastles - a soft side of Bey's vocals are explored here; it is a song which basically describes the ups and downs of their relationship, with a feeling of hope at the end
9.Forward - a disappointing track due to being too short
10.Freedom - a song where Beyonce claims her "freedom" the best, she fights for the black community here and she does it justice
11.All Night - she still is positive about her love for Jay-Z and she hopes it will last now
12.Formation - the trap anthem about black people; a celebration of everything their culture is about; however, I still feel that sonically it is too loud, especially coming after the softer "All Night" |
Other reviews
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Member Since: 1/1/2014
Posts: 43,331
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I didn't really give advance notice, so I'm extending the albums by a day.
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ATRL Contributor
Member Since: 8/19/2013
Posts: 43,104
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Can I write a review by tomorrow night? We shall see! ![Duca](http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v232/korn0818/ATRL_Smilies_All/atrlers/duca_zps480ab501.gif)
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Member Since: 8/19/2013
Posts: 58,053
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My review for Lemonade ~ 4/10
Most of the vocal editing is atrocious and the electronic beats seem so out of place. Pray You Catch Me is a great opener, but Hold Up didn't hold up what could have been a strong opener. The Weeknd is the highlight of 6 inch and outshines Beyonce. Love Drought's production is sleek and gorgeous.. Seems the second part of the album starting with Love Drought focus on her vocals and stripped down beats. Sandcastles sounds great. Forward is great, but when they're vocals are layered they sound awful. Freedom is probably the best song on the album. Kendrick and Beyonce both deliver. All Night is beautiful. I didn't like Formation when I first listened to it several months ago, but pieced together with this it sounds amazing and a great outro.
Favs: Formation
Worst: Hold Up
Overrall: first part of the album is extremely mess, but the second part is extremely amazing. Best album of the year so far.
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ATRL Contributor
Member Since: 8/19/2013
Posts: 43,104
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Quote:
Originally posted by DevonDreams
My review for Lemonade ~ 4/10
Most of the vocal editing is atrocious and the electronic beats seem so out of place. Pray You Catch Me is a great opener, but Hold Up didn't hold up what could have been a strong opener. The Weeknd is the highlight of 6 inch and outshines Beyonce. Love Drought's production is sleek and gorgeous.. Seems the second part of the album starting with Love Drought focus on her vocals and stripped down beats. Sandcastles sounds great. Forward is great, but when they're vocals are layered they sound awful. Freedom is probably the best song on the album. Kendrick and Beyonce both deliver. All Night is beautiful. I didn't like Formation when I first listened to it several months ago, but pieced together with this it sounds amazing and a great outro.
Favs: Formation
Worst: Hold Up
Overrall: first part of the album is extremely mess, but the second part is extremely amazing. Best album of the year so far.
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Quote:
Best album of the year so far.
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![deadbanana](http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v232/korn0818/ATRL_Smilies_All/bananas/deadbanana2_zpsd45da7d4.gif)
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Member Since: 2/5/2014
Posts: 29,111
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Kanye West - The Life of Pablo.
The release of The Life of Pablo, Kanye West's seventh studio album, was met with many setbacks, delays, twitter rants, angry Taylor Swift fans... slightly more messiness than the usual Kanye West album release is associated with.
In fact, for a time it seemed like the album wouldn't even come out. Kanye's last album, 2013's Yeezus, still his best album, was reportedly fine tuned and polished up until the last minute, like a college paper. Pablo, went well past the due date. The original release date came and went. Kanye held an album listening party prior to release without a fully complete album. The album eventually came, as a Tidal exclusive to the dismay of fans, and even then wasn't fully finished. Kanye continued tweeking tracks (Wolves went from featuring Vic Mensa and Sia, to just Frank Ocean, back to featuring Vic Mensa and Sia with a Frank Ocean outro listed as a new track as an example). Kanye proclaimed that the album would only remain on Tidal, yet eventually released it to Apple and Spotify; where fans still are reporting that the songs are possibly being altered. There was also some dramatics involving a line about Kanye making Taylor Swift famous that ruffled a few feathers.
The release of the album overshadowed the album itself somewhat. The album itself actually turned out to be pretty good despite all the hullabaloo surrounding the release.The songs maintain the raw nerve that Yeezus exposed, the expanse of Twisted Fantasy, while also riding some of 808s frosty edge, and Late Registration's polish.
Alienation, Arrogance, Confidence are the major themes of the album. There's even a song title called "I Love Kanye" which proclaims a love as strong as "Kanye loves Kanye." Pablo though, feels less outright angry and a lot less like a primal scream when compared to Yeezus. At times, Pablo feels almost tongue-in-cheek, like Kanye knows exactly how he has come to be seen, and is kind of decided to hang back and just have fun messing with his fans and the public.
"I Love Kanye" shows Kanye's well aware of how the public sees him. It's a track that's part ego-boost, part poking fun at his public image and his critics, part breaking down the fourth wall and letting us know he's in on the joke, and part track for the critics to be able to use it to frame their narrative around the album. On previous album, he called himself God. On this one, there are Ultralight Beams, outstretched hands, waves that sound downright spiritual, and features gospel singers. "This is a God dream" Kanye sings on the opening song to the album he called his gospel album. It could be that Kanye knows that he's became the standard for quality music, and has assembled this living, breathing album with everlasting tweaks and alterations, as a way for fans to worship his godliness, the sonic equivalent of one of his twitter rants, or it could be a tongue-in-cheek joke of an album as he just has fun playing with all of us since he really doesn't have anything to prove anymore.
"I feel like Pablo when I'm workin' on my shoes
I feel like Pablo when I see me on the news
I feel like Pablo when I'm workin' on my house"
he raps on the bonus No More Parties in LA alongside the best-rapper-to-ever-walk-the-Earth Kendrick Lamar. He doesn't really ever let us know what Pablo he's referring to, Neruda, Escobar, Picasso... but it's probably for the best. It could mean anything just like the album itself.
Overall, the album isn't his best, it sits somewhere in the middle of his discography, but when your best is the standard, not your best is still pretty great also.
![](http://i.imgur.com/Q4gBiBN.png)
Grade: A-
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Member Since: 8/6/2015
Posts: 5,766
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ATRL Contributor
Member Since: 4/24/2011
Posts: 8,547
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My Junk review: http://all-they-say-is-na-na-na.tumb...77553/m83-junk
I'll post my Bey review tomorrow I think. Also, there are a lot of amazing and relevant albums that got released in this 2-3 weeks, that I think we should review, so I thought maybe we could do something like this?
This week: Drake, Katy B and Death Grips
Next week: Anohni, Radiohead and James Blake
But idk, just my thoughts.
Honestly, TRF.
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