Beyonce's new album, the second of her Renaissance trilogy came out at midnight. It's her foray into country music which has been praised and criticized (before the album even came out).

Tracklist:

1. AMERICAN REQUIEM
2. BLACKBIRD
3. 16 CARRIAGES
4. PROTECTOR
5. MY ROSE
6. SMOKE HOUR ★ WILLIE NELSON
7. TEXAS HOLD 'EM
8. BODYGUARD
9. DOLLY P
10. JOLENE
11. DAUGHTER
12. SPAGHETTI
13. ALLIGATOR TEARS
14. SMOKE HOUR II
15. JUST FOR FUN
16. II MOST WANTED
17. LEVI'S JEANS
18. FLAMENCO
19. THE LINDA MARTELL SHOW
20. YA YA
21. OH LOUISIANA
22. DESERT EAGLE
23. RIVERDANCE
24. II HANDS II HEAVEN
25. TYRANT
26. SWEET ★ HONEY ★ BUCKIN
27. AMEN

"Blackbiird" is a cover of the Beatles' "Blackbird," written byJohn Lennon andPaul McCartney.
"Dolly P" features a "voice mail" interlude by Dolly Parton.
"Jolene" is a cover of Dolly Parton's song of the same name, written by Parton, but it features significant lyric changes.

Featured artists:

Track 2: Brittney Spencer, Reyna Roberts, Tanner Adell, and Tiera Kennedy

Track 4: Rumi Carter

Track 6 and 14: Willie Nelson

Track 12: Linda Martell and Shaboozey

Track 15: Willie Jones

Track 16: Miley Cyrus

Track 17: Post Malone

Track 19: Linda Martell

Track 26: Shaboozey

Segues:

Tracks 5, 9, 14, 19, 21

Does she scream-sing over her country tracks too is all I'm curious about.

Surely the answer is a unanimous "yes" so I'll move on now.

It's cute I guess if you like that kind of music. I enjoyed The Beatles cover. Didn't enjoy the new Jolene.

I'm just not really into her anymore, I was never big on her, shes amazingly talented and great performer Im just not in that space of that kind of artist, pop/rb mainstream etc...it gets boring after a while to me, which is why I tired of Mariah and others. I saw a funny article about JLO and her camp wondering why her album did poorly and one person said "i think people have moved on" I mean especially in the commercial mainstream type of star you are, you can't be in your 50's still singing new songs that "sound like" you wish you were 20 still. I get this vibe with Mariah, Beyonce and others. It's also the fact they have huge teams behind them, writers, beat makers, producers, there is that "been there done that". But I mean the Beyonce will be a huge first week seller etc...and then if she loses a country or album of the year award to Kacey Musgraves next year, we will have to hear from Jay again on how she is deprived. Also 27 tracks (22 songs) 78 minutes, sorry this is another one of my complaints not just with her many others too, someone needs to step in and hit the edit/stop button

RJOrion said:

Great Great album

I've gotten through about 2/3 of it then I had to go to bed. It started late.

I mostly enjoyed what I heard. Some things stuck out more than others. "Jolene" is good for her voice, and the addition of a bridge, and the lyric changes feel more empowering for a woman, rather than the "please don't take my man" stance in the original.

I wish Willie or Dolly were actually singing. But the Post Malone track is nice. I need to revisit the Miley one to get a handle on it.

Sampled through some of this on iTunes last night just outta curiosity. Not into Beyonce or country music but much MUCH respect to her for doing this and even more respect to her for using her platform and popularity to bring attention to Black country singers of the past...

The guitar solo on Bodyguard... ... sounds familiar...

It's another bold, creative, inspired album. The past 10 years have been wild from her, and it's so rare for an artist to sound this free at this point in their career. It's an awesome thing to see.

Mintchip said:

The guitar solo on Bodyguard... ... sounds familiar...

What is sounds like is some of the same petals or FX that Prince used in later years; that compressed weird rubber-band sounding thing. I noticed that too, but Prince didn't come up with that either. So, there are probably 500 other songs in the world that sound like that.

I've not been able to circle back to the album to finish it yet. But I'll be able to soon.

Never been a fan - but was curious so took a listen - well, still not a fan... I sorta liked the cover of Blackbird. But all it really did is make me want to listen to the White Album. Jolene was painful.

But total respect for trying something new and that people are diggin it.

WhisperingDandelions said:

Does she scream-sing over her country tracks too is all I'm curious about.

Surely the answer is a unanimous "yes" so I'll move on now.

Better never judge so fast, it's maybe a unanimous 'no'.

This is a decent and actually a very good coherent album!

Should've been five or six songs shorter for me.

But all material is good.

(Just don't get the ACT II part. This album is so far away from 'Renaissance' to me.)

I never was a big fan of her, but Lemonade made me listen better and appreciate her more.

I am surprised how well crafted and interesting this album is made with a lot of tribute, instead of re-inventing country.

You just don't mess with the power and talent of Beyoncé.

She is unblievably talented, whether you like her or not.

I just don't give a horse shit (to stay album theme related) about all the bling-bling attitude.

-

Pitchfork has a great and really long detailed review on this album, worth a read while listening.

Rick Beato talks about how bad her lyrics are. lol

Vannormal said:

2freaky said:

All the positive reviews made me realize The-Dream must have credits on these.

How are these ones:?

1. ALLIGATOR TEARS
2. LEVI'S JEANS
3. YA YA
4. OH LOUISIANA
5. RIVERDANC

RJOrion said:

Rick Beato is no slouch. He knows his shit and has great interviews.

TrivialPursuit said:

Rick Beato is no slouch. He knows his shit and has great interviews.

That doesn't tell us what he's done such that we would value his opinion. Simply being a Youtuber holds no weight.

whodknee said:

TrivialPursuit said:

Rick Beato is no slouch. He knows his shit and has great interviews.

That doesn't tell us what he's done such that we would value his opinion. Simply being a Youtuber holds no weight.

LOL @ "a youtuber."

He's out there if you actually want to learn who he is, is all I'm saying.

whodknee said:

TrivialPursuit said:

Rick Beato is no slouch. He knows his shit and has great interviews.

That doesn't tell us what he's done such that we would value his opinion. Simply being a Youtuber holds no weight.

Credentials went the way of the dodo.

Get a nice microphone, some decent lighting, maybe a green screen, a "relatable" personality. Modern media don't need no stinking credentials.

[Edited 4/11/24 23:07pm]

99% trash. I NEVER want 2 hear this album again.

Cinny said:

Dolly admiring the looks of another woman is what made “Jolene” interesting, not the possessiveness of the partner, so I think Beyoncé leaned into the toxic side of the song with her writing camp’s changes.

My wife and I listened to Beyonce's version of Jolene the other day. To be honest, it wasn't bad, but to your point it does take the song to a dark place. Having said that, it was more of a curiosity thing and I doubt I'll ever hear it again.

There's another song that Beyonce's Jolene slightly reminds me of in tone, and that's "Before He Cheats".

There's a frailty and charm to Dolly's original that can't be replaced.

Side note: there was a Netflix special that made mini-movies of some of Dolly's best-known songs. One of them was Jolene, with Julianne Hough as Jolene. Great movie, very well done. You get to see the pre-affair from both sides.

Gooddoctor23 said:

99% trash. I NEVER want 2 hear this album again.

I know a good doctor that can help U on the 2 and 4...

I have to say, I've listened twice, and it felt like I was dragging ass through it. I don't know why it's not really hitting me the way Renaissance did. I appreciate what she's trying to do here. I don't know if it's the length of it, the kinda unnecessary segues (leave that to Janet), or whatever.

It'll be another 2 years probably but I'm more ready to hear Act III just to see if there's an upswing.

Vannormal said:

Gooddoctor23 said:

99% trash. I NEVER want 2 hear this album again.

I know a good doctor that can help U on the 2 and 4...

When shit like this is a hit..........all music lovers r in trouble.

Gooddoctor23 said:

Vannormal said:

I know a good doctor that can help U on the 2 and 4...

When shit like this is a hit..........all music lovers r in trouble.

...You're on a Prince fan site, be careful... all the party people on the floor!

Bass!

TrivialPursuit said:

I have to say, I've listened twice, and it felt like I was dragging ass through it. I don't know why it's not really hitting me the way Renaissance did. I appreciate what she's trying to do here. I don't know if it's the length of it, the kinda unnecessary segues (leave that to Janet), or whatever.

It'll be another 2 years probably but I'm more ready to hear Act III just to see if there's an upswing.

I agree partly, perhaps too long (for most). They could have split the album into a double album, with two titles and two different concepts. It would have been even more massive and clear. And that can easily be done with the same songs and segues.
For me, this album is much more a tribute to her own talented voice instead of country. With fewer long drawn-out notes in that exagerated R'nB sustained whine style. With this album, she obviously thanks those who made their own country style more accessible to pop music. Because rhythm and blues, blue grass, Amercana, etc, they all have something to do with each other.

Another thing, she doesn't go bluntly into any kind of classical racism, often related to country music lovers, and that too makes the album transcend for me. I've heard the whole album several times by now, very strong album. It's a Beyoncè album, just like a Prince album. She uses other styles, but still her voice is the main important instrument here, just like P's typical production style was his most important instrument for his abums (imo). Yeah, this Beyoncè album has something of a Prince album to me.
"Renaissance" for me is her (much) lesser album tbh.