SCORE: PERFECT - 100/100
My album of the year so far, ‘COWBOY CARTER’ is yet another artistic triumph for Beyoncé, and it proves that she is a force to be reckoned with.
I cried when the news of this album's release came out for the first time, I was so shocked and it was completely unexpected - I didn’t even think the news was real. I was so dumbfounded by it.
‘COWBOY CARTER’ is a primarily country album that mixes and matches with every genre a person could think of. Beyoncé’s artistry really just overflows on this album - and she did something so incredibly special on this album that I truly think no other artist could possibly achieve.
This is an incredibly personal project for Beyoncé, it highlights her culture and personal experiences, and it was created in part due to a time where she did not feel welcomed when she released and performed her song ‘Daddy Lessons’ from her album ‘Lemonade’.
Her eighth studio album and another completely stunning one, this album runs in at 27 tracks and 1 hour & 18 minutes - it may seem bloated and long, but trust me, it isn’t. The runtime of this album just flew by, which I can’t say about a whole lot of albums that I have heard.
This album has been recorded over a 4 year timespan, and has been in the works for a long time without anybody in the public knowing. Beyoncé is truly an artistic mastermind and the way she shocked me to my core with this album is incredible.
‘RENAISSANCE’ was meant to sound like a DJ set, and this album has the fictional radio station ‘KNTRY Radio’, each interlude is a reflection of this theme, and it plays out like a radio station broadcast would - it really makes you wonder what ‘act iii’ is going to be like.
It may seem unexpected that Beyoncé, the R&B singer, made a country album - but she is so much more than that, and if you knew about her roots, it would all come together wonderfully - and it does.
If you listen to older interviews from when she was a member of Destiny’s Child, you can really hear her accent, she was born and raised in Houston, Texas - growing up a country girl where country and zydeco music were a big part in her childhood - this album celebrates her roots and where she comes from in a triumphant and beautiful display of culture and personal experiences.
Beyoncé has always celebrated her culture and her roots in her music, but this album is a full display, almost like an art gallery in the form of an album.
The artwork of this album depicts Beyoncé on yet another horse, just like ‘RENAISSANCE’, this time she is dressed like a rodeo queen, sitting on the horse sideways, which is historically associated with women of high-status. The artwork is bold and brave, and it really shows off what you are getting into when you listen to this album.
Beyoncé listened to country music and attended the Houston rodeo every year - she has even performed at the event multiple times between the years 2001 and 2007.
Backlash was received when Beyoncé performed her song ‘Daddy Lessons’ at the Country Music Association awards in November of 2016. She also received praise - but people complained that she “did not belong in the genre”.
This backlash is so beyond unfair because Beyoncé has always been a country girl, it has always been in her roots and it shows in a lot of her music, outfits, and other artistic ventures. You may not see her as a country artist, but she’s had it in her from the start - and this album is an astounding showcase of her roots, culture, and artistry all in one.
Beyoncé wanted to push forward away from the backlash she received, which is what inspired the creation of this album. She felt that she was not welcome in the country music space, but she wanted to push forward and ignore all of the limitations put on her - instead of letting it get to her, she let all of it make her stronger, and it led to one of her best albums of her career.
This isn’t my personal favorite, but it is absolutely one of Beyoncé’s best works, the sheer artistry of this project is truly legendary, and Beyoncé has now marked her territory in the country genre, she is truly like no other artist. I believe that she is the only artist who could pull something like this off.
She delved deep into the ties between African-Americans and Western culture such as country music and cowboys, researching content for this album and learning even more about herself and her roots and history in the process of doing so.
Noticing how many of the stories of black cowboys are missing from the media, Beyoncé decided that she wants to reclaim country and Americana from a black perspective - showing the true roots of these genres and stories.
Historically, over 50 percent of cowboys were black - one of the many facts that has led her to really delve deep and take in her culture, she is reclaiming country culture and showing her true roots in each song on this album.
"After understanding where the word 'cowboy' came from, I realized how much of the Black, brown and Native cowboy stories are missing in American history."
Beyoncé had been working on this album since 2019, writing it and recording it throughout the COVID-19 pandemic just like ‘RENAISSANCE’, she was certainly keeping herself busy during the quarantine.
This album was actually supposed to be the first act in the trilogy, and it is assumed that each act is a different celebration of the black roots of music genres. Beyoncé takes her cultural ties to different genres and makes them shine all throughout both this album and ‘RENAISSANCE’, and what she has done with both albums is truly something so noteworthy and stunning.
‘COWBOY CARTER’ is full of seamless transitions and the album closes and opens into a loop, the rodeo never ends on this album, and the way everything is arranged is just truly breathtaking to listen to. This is one of those albums that you really have to take in, and every element present is just truly stunning.
This album takes a lot of inspiration from Western films, and there were over 100 songs recorded in total for the album, which makes me really hope that an outtake compilation from the sessions is released at some point.
“The joy of creating music is that there are no rules. The more I see the world evolving the more I felt a deeper connection to purity. With artificial intelligence and digital filters and programming, I wanted to go back to real instruments, and I used very old ones. I didn't want some layers of instruments like strings, especially guitars, and organs perfectly in tune. I kept some songs raw and leaned into folk. All the sounds were so organic and human, everyday things like the wind, snaps and even the sound of birds and chickens, the sounds of nature.”
‘RENAISSANCE’ was released before this album because Beyoncé felt that there was too much darkness in the world due to the pandemic, and that “people deserved to dance”. I think that this was a great second installment - I personally enjoy ‘RENAISSANCE’ more, but this album is absolutely stunning and I cannot say enough good things about it and the way it is arranged. Everything on this album was done to perfection, and Beyoncé makes it look easy.
I think that Beyoncé has one of the most consistent careers of any artist out there, and she really makes it look like a breeze. The third installment in this trilogy has me so excited, I can’t wait to see what she does next.
She is constantly shocking the world and amazing us all, and this was an incredibly well thought out, well paced, well written, and well produced album. Everything goes together wonderfully and the interludes and tone shifts keep the album broken apart enough to keep it interesting throughout the long runtime - the album just flew by and it didn’t feel long to me whatsoever.
Here, Beyoncé once again proved that she is one of the best artists we have in the industry, she pushed every boundary and limit with this album and made the most memorable project of the year so far.
The world hasn’t even recovered from ‘RENAISSANCE’, and now we have this album to go along with it, and it is just as incredible as the first act. It may be drastically different, but this is keeping this whole project so much more interesting.
I’ll note here that I truly believe the next act will be rock/metal, could you imagine that?! Beyoncé doing rock or metal?? Sign me up.
Beyoncé has reimagined yet another genre, and pushed all of the limits in the music industry. She is constantly changing the game and she is one of the best to do it.
“This album has been over five years in the making. [...] It feels good to see how music can unite so many people around the world, while also amplifying the voices of some of the people who have dedicated so much of their lives educating on our musical history. The criticisms I faced when I first entered this genre forced me to propel past the limitations that were put on me. act ii is a result of challenging myself, and taking my time to bend and blend genres together to create this body of work. [...] I hope that you can hear my heart and soul, and all the love and passion that I poured into every detail and every sound. I focused on this album as a continuation of RENAISSANCE…I hope this music is an experience, creating another journey where you can close your eyes, start from the beginning and never stop. This ain't a Country album. This is a "Beyoncé" album.”
This is a long, long album - but I have decided to do a track by track of it just like I did for ‘RENAISSANCE’ because it absolutely deserves it.
TRACK 1: AMERICAN REQUIEM
This one gave me goosebumps and it still does. Beyoncé’s vocals sound absolutely stunning on this track from the minute it starts, her range is shown off wonderfully here and it is the perfect album opener. There was no better way to open this album.
Beyoncé’s vocals are layered in the most stunning way imaginable, and after that haunting echo-filled vocal run that is enough to give anyone goosebumps, the track changes in pace the slightest bit, the instrumental building into this Western sound, the instrumental sounding like it’s straight out of a Western film.
Her lyrics dismiss her being shunned in the country community - ignoring all of the comments about her “not being country” in this fierce yet blissful track. There are a lot of different emotions and this track is truly like a rollercoaster, it perfectly encapsulates the album and what you are getting into.
I adore what Beyoncé was doing with her voice on this track, she uses such a crazy range with higher pitches as well as her lower tone that just makes this track explode into this cinematic 5 minute ballad that opens the album in the most stunning way possible.
Beyoncé really knows how to open an album.
The very first line brings attention to how racism is still very much something that occurs in America as well as the whole world. Racism has never truly ended, and it will continue to be a heartbreaking topic that will continue to be discussed because of how disgustingly common it is.
During the experience that inspired the creation of this album, Beyoncé was met with backlash for “not being country”, as well as racism.
Beyoncé wants to reclaim country and show off the genres roots, and it is done to perfection all throughout this storybook of an album.
TRACK 2: BLACKBIIRD
I only knew this was a cover of a song by The Beatles because I had seen it being talked about online, I kind of forgot about ‘Blackbird’ and honestly the entirety of the self titled Beatles album, it might be their least memorable album - at least in my opinion.
I went back and listened to the original version of the song to get a bit of better context and wow - Beyoncé did a stunning job. She perfectly recreated the track while making it her own rendition at the same time and it’s wonderful.
The track fits Beyoncé’s style perfectly and she sounds incredible here. It’s a short little track, and these shorter tracks do really help to break up the album and make it feel shorter than it is.
I wasn’t a fan of the clicking sounds at first, but hearing them in the original track provided more context to those being there… and then something hit me. It sounds a bit like a horse galloping - I wonder if this was intentional.
TRACK 3: 16 CARRIAGES
I’ll never stop mentioning this, but this track brought tears to my eyes the first time I listened to the first little bit. I couldn’t believe it.
This track is just stunning. The way the instrumental just explodes into this fiery and emotional ballad is breathtaking. The lyrics are so deeply powerful and they really tug on your heartstrings in every way possible.
I love the slight tone shifts throughout that add those extra layers and depth to the track, there are so many layers to the instrumental here and the slight vocal layering is utilized in the most gorgeous way possible.
This track was most likely written (and possibly recorded) sometime in the summer of 2020, since Beyoncé was 38 when she wrote it as said in the lyrics. The lyrics have this theme of Beyoncé growing up throughout her life - showing her advancement into maturity on this country ballad.
TRACK 4: PROTECTOR
This track is more family orientated - it features a brief appearance from Rumi Carter, one of Beyoncé’s children.
Rumi was 6 years old when her part for the intro was recorded, and it paints this track as a lullaby, an ode to her children and how she cares for and protects them with her entire life.
Seeing these bonds between Beyoncé and her children and family is one of the most beautiful things, seeing and hearing how much she loves her children and how much she cares for them - it’s the most genuine and sweet thing.
She takes great pride in her motherhood and her children, knowing that they will thrive later in life. She protects her children with her entire being and this track is a love letter to all three of her children.
The line about being “tangled up in marigold” may be a nod to Beyoncé’s pregnancy announcement and how she was sitting in front of a backdrop full of flowers. The announcement I am referring to is the one that was to announce that she was carrying twins, Rumi and Sir Carter. This announcement was posted to Beyoncé’s Instagram in 2017.
Beyoncé portrays her love for her three children on this intimate and personal track full of emotional layers. The entirety of ‘COWBOY CARTER’ is incredibly personal in nature, and having this song dedicated to her children was such a beautiful thing to add.
TRACK 5: MY ROSE
This is the most wonderful out of all of the interludes, I truly wish that it was made into a full track because it nearly made me cry when I heard the first line for the first time when the album dropped.
Beyoncé’s fast singing mixed with the soft longer notes and layered vocal effects just make for this stunning arrangement of sounds - and the writing here is wonderful in every way.
This track really touched me, and it is one of the highlights of the album for me because of this, I absolutely adore the lyrics and the first lines really spoke to me a whole lot.
It’s really short but sweet, but it’s incredibly touching and Beyoncé’s vocals are just stunning here. The way layering is used here is incredible and her voice shines more than the instrumental does, almost overpowering it - but in an amazing way.
I love the lyrics and how they are packed with this message of self love and acceptance, telling you to just love yourself - flaws and all (get it? Get the B’Day reference?). It sends such a genuine message of not letting things get to you, letting you know that everything is okay and that you should just love yourself and all of yourself.
Nobody’s perfect - not even Beyoncé. Everyone goes through struggles in their lives, and Beyoncé has never been shy about singing about the things she has gone through - this whole album is about a negative experience she had, and she turned it into something positive.
And isn’t that the best thing to do? Make the negative situations positive. There is almost always something you can learn from a negative experience - if you are struggling, you can think of it as something that is there to give you more strength for the future, and you can endure anything.
I know that this track is just an interlude, but it’s really something so beautiful both lyrically and vocally. This track is dedicated to her son, Sir Carter - but I found that it really spoke to me and it is one of my favorites off of the album without a doubt.
It’s an intimate little interlude, and it is so lyrically beautiful. Truly stunning.
TRACK 6: SMOKE HOUR ★ WILLIE NELSON
This interlude is the start of the full format of this album being a radio broadcast - it helps to introduce the next track perfectly. This album is full of incredible transitions and the way the interludes sound just like something from a radio was so masterfully and cleverly done.
Beyoncé is a mastermind, ‘RENAISSANCE’ had the sound of being a DJ set, and this one is a radio broadcast/radio station.
Willie helps to further brush off the negativity - basically telling people that if they don’t want to listen, then don’t listen. Because why listen to the album JUST to hate on Beyoncé? If you don’t want to hear her do country, listen to one of her other albums - if you hate her just to hate her, you very clearly do not know what she’s all about.
TRACK 7: TEXAS HOLD ‘EM
Now this, this is something I could dance to. Say what you want, but this song is a damn good time.
The banjo sound really helps to amp up the country sound that is somewhat subtle throughout some of the album. I do really like that this album isn’t your average country album - it has this boldness to it and Beyoncé wasn’t afraid in the slightest to experiment.
Beyoncé is constantly reinventing herself and it’s absolutely incredible. Her artistry is truly unmatched and what she did with this album is so beyond impressive in every way possible.
This is just such a fun track - it’s one of those songs I can see myself dancing all happily to thanks to that infectious melody and those joyful “Woo”’s and “Hey”’s.
TRACK 8: BODYGUARD
This track honestly gives me the best, fuzzy feeling. As soon as I heard the first little bit when I was “previewing” the album, this track went into a bunch of my playlists, immediately.
I love the sensual lyrics present on this track with that joyful melody and upbeat instrumental, everything here is done perfectly and it is another one of my favorites from the album as a whole.
This is another track where I really love the lyrics on it - the overall theme was done perfectly and Beyoncé was loving without being too crass about it, a switchup from songs like ‘Cuff It’ and ‘Partition’, and a glimpse into a sweeter side that is so much fun to listen to.
She is offering her love and protection to her lover, and the production is a bit more mellow - leaning more towards R&B in this sultry love letter. The way Beyoncé sings on this track is just breathtaking.
Another stunning track - one of the major highlights of the album and one of my favorites.
The mosh pit line… Beyoncé… are you giving us a rock album next? Please tell us you are.
TRACK 9: DOLLY P
What an incredible thing to get to cover Dolly Parton’s iconic ‘Jolene’ - and have her ANNOUNCE the song in an interlude on the album!
It was such a treat to hear Dolly on this interlude - it’s a sweet and honestly very cute interlude that introduced and announced the next track perfectly. I love the interludes on this album and they are quite clever.
These interludes really help to break up the album into sections which makes it feel a whole lot shorter than it really is. This album just flew by for me.
TRACK 10: JOLENE
Beyoncé made the perfect cover with this song. She made the track her own and did something special of it while still keeping the original charm of the song clear.
I love the way she added her fierceness and love for her family to the track and the way she reimagined such a timeless classic turned the track into another timeless classic.
Covers can be hit or miss a lot of the time - but this one was done to perfection. It isn’t common for Beyoncé to do a cover song, but when she does, it always turns out incredibly well.
This was a perfect thing to add to the album, it reimagines a classic country song and one of the most iconic songs of the genre - adding another piece of the history of the genre to the album beautifully.
‘COWBOY CARTER’ is one of Beyoncé’s most innovative and daring projects yet. She is constantly changing the game with every single release she puts out.
TRACK 11: DAUGHTER
This track can be seen as a kind of sister song to ‘Daddy Lessons’ from ‘Lemonade’.
Beyoncé sings about infidelity on this track, tying back to the toughness of her father and tracing those qualities to herself.
This track is a somewhat eerie one. Beyoncé is clearly upset on this one and it sounds like something that could’ve been on ‘Lemonade’ without a doubt. It goes back to the themes present on that album and it’s something very neat to see.
TRACK 12: SPAGHETTII
I was and still am blown away by this track. That intro wasn’t even enough to prepare me for what was coming.
The way that pounding bass comes in and drops and Beyoncé raps over this trap-influenced beat like she’s been in the rap game her whole life is so beyond entertaining and impressive.
‘SPAGHETTI’ gets its title from Spaghetti Western movies, and it is one of the highlights of the album without a doubt.
Beyoncé is extra fierce on this track and listening to her rap in such a fiery tone is incredible. She refuses to be tied down and she shows it off with pride on this high-energy track.
TRACK 13: ALLIIGATOR TEARS
This track returns back to the more country sound, the last track was a lot different from this one.
I love the melody here and the way Beyoncé sings is just gorgeous. This track is another one about love and relationships - possibly touching on the theme of being manipulated.
TRACK 14: SMOKE HOUR II
Another interlude with Willie Nelson that helps to introduce the next track. I really like the whole radio theme on this album and what Beyoncé did with this album and how it is laid out is incredibly interesting and unique.
TRACK 15: JUST FOR FUN
This emotional piano ballad is another change in pace for the album which really helps to keep the whole project as interesting as it is.
Beyoncé sings about how she will always push through no matter what she goes through which is such a powerful and beautiful message that is in a lot of her music. She is such an incredibly strong woman and it is such a beautiful thing to see and hear.
TRACK 16: II MOST WANTED
I wasn’t very excited about Miley Cyrus being featured on this album but her and Beyoncé sound incredible together.
Miley’s vocals actually fit here incredibly well and she sounds great on this track. I love how Beyoncé and Miley harmonize and the melody on this track is just so beautiful.
This is another more mellow track on the album and it is an incredibly enjoyable and beautiful one. Miley is a surprising featured artist that works here incredibly well.
This track could be a tribute to Beyoncé’s mother in law Gloria Carter, who married her longtime partner Roxanne Wiltshire in 2023.
TRACK 17: LEVII’S JEANS
Post Malone is another surprising feature who actually works quite well on the album. This song actually sounds like something that could be on one of his albums but Beyoncé rocked this track.
I love the witty writing on this track, the bass, and Beyoncé’s sultry vocals that just glide across this track so beautifully and smoothly.
This is another romantic track that could be directed towards a lover. Beyoncé’s clever lyrics fit the tone beautifully and I love the writing on this track - it’s a very unique track with a great melody.
TRACK 18: FLAMENCO
This is another short but sweet one with incredible writing on it.
The writing on this track really hits me just like ‘MY ROSE’ does, and I absolutely adore the melody and Beyoncé’s vocals on this track.
Beyoncé’s voice stands out so much on this track and she sounds stunning. The soft guitar that backs her was the perfect choice and it is such a powerful and beautiful little track.
TRACK 19: THE LINDA MARTELL SHOW
A fun, cheer-filled interlude that really helps to introduce the energetic ‘YA YA’, which is one of my favorites.
I love the description of the track in this interlude and the transition to the next track is just flawless.
TRACK 20: YA YA
This is another one of my personal favorites off of the album.
The tone Beyoncé uses at the start is just so addictive and the claps, samples, interpolations, and production is just mind-boggling.
‘YA YA’ is without a doubt one of the essential ‘COWBOY CARTER’ tracks, and one of the new essential Beyoncé tracks.
‘THE LINDA MARTELL SHOW’ wasn’t kidding about this track mixing with multiple genres. Beyoncé does everything at once on this show stopping track and it shows just how far her artistry can go.
This track celebrates the many artists who toured the Chitlin Circuit, and Beyoncé is showcasing more aspects of music and the rich history all genres have in this stunning track.
TRACK 21: OH LOUISIANA
A nice interlude, but probably the least interesting out of all of them. There isn’t much to this one but it was still a nice way to break up the tracks a bit which all of the interludes do a great job with. Still a nice listen and a great transition into the next track.
TRACK 22: DESERT EAGLE
Act iii funk rock anyone?
This track features this funky and groovy guitar that is unlike anything else on the album or anything else in Beyoncé’s catalog.
‘DESERT EAGLE’ easily has one of the most unique instrumentals on the whole album, and it is a bold piece of the album.
Beyoncé sings on this track so beautifully and I love the ending transition into ‘RIIVERDANCE’.
TRACK 23: RIIVERDANCE
This is another album highlight. I absolutely adore the production on this one and it’s honestly addictive.
What Beyoncé did with this track is so stunningly amazing. That pumping bass mixed with the many layers of instrumentals and her different vocal styles at different points in the track - it all comes together into this stunningly perfect blend of sounds.
‘RIIVERDANCE’ incorporates more Irish influenced sounds on it which is a really interesting element. Beyoncé had no boundaries with this album and it led to this incredibly creative album with so many different unique and beautiful elements to it.
Beyoncé, your invitation to dance has been accepted, because this song makes me want to get up and groove.
A fun fact about this song is that Beyoncé uses Dolly Parton's “nail trick” as the percussion for this track. That sound you are hearing in the background of the song is Beyoncé’s fingernails.
TRACK 24: II HANDS II HEAVEN
This is a more mellow, almost serene track. It has this relaxed sound to it that is just so beautiful to listen to.
There is this sense of beautiful freedom on this track - it is vocally stunning and Beyoncé sings about going to Marfa, Texas - almost as a way to feel free and go see the brighter side of things.
TRACK 25: TYRANT
And now here is the track where Dolly and Beyoncé are ACTUALLY on the track together and it turned out to be one of my favorites on the album.
That heavy bass is just incredible and I love the way Beyoncé sings on this track, she uses a slightly different tone and the melody on this track is just so infectiously catchy.
‘TYRANT’ has a pretty interesting instrumental with quite a few different elements to it, and the melody is without a doubt one of the best parts of the track.
There is a pretty cool beat switch present on this track as well which was a nice thing to add to the track before it went back to the original instrumental.
TRACK 26: SWEET ★ HONEY ★ BUCKIN’
This track has really grown on me since the first time I heard it.
This is a three-part track and I find it to be incredibly well produced and so interesting - it has absolutely grown on me since my first album listen and I love the way this one is put together.
‘PURE/HONEY’ from ‘RENAISSANCE’ also has a track with a part two titled ‘HONEY’ - this track may have done this intentionally.
‘SWEET’ has an interpolation of a Patsy Cline song which is another great reference to the history of country music.
This track is almost like a sister song to ‘PURE/HONEY’ in a way, and it is a very fun one.
‘BUCKIN’’ is my personal favorite part of this track, I love the fierceness of it and the way Beyoncé just switches tones so well and shows her bold side once again.
TRACK 27: AMEN
This last track is a beautiful end to the album, tying back into the first track before creating this seamless loop back into the start of the album.
Beyoncé’s vocals shine so bright on this track and the gospel-esque sound here was so beautiful to listen to, it really highlighted her vocals.
‘COWBOY CARTER’ was a cinematic storybook ride of an album, with dramatic instrumentals, tone shifts, interludes, an incredible theme and idea, and stunning vocal performances.
Beyoncé looked to reclaim country as a black artist, and she did just that. Highlighting both her and the genre's roots while creating one of, if not the best album of the year.
This will most likely be my favorite album release of 2024, and Beyoncé really created something so unique and beautiful with this album. It is so impressive to listen to and really understand what she did with this album.
The artistry of this project is truly off the charts, and it is worth every ounce of hype that it gets.
‘COWBOY CARTER’ - FIRST FULL LISTEN THOUGHTS/TRACK BY TRACK PART II
Here’s something new - my first, fresh thoughts on each track as I listen to the album! I put this on as soon as I could when I got home, and I was so excited to listen to this album. Included this here as a little bonus to look even deeper into my insight and overall feelings about the project as a whole.
TRACK 1: Gave me goosebumps. The production is truly unlike any other projects Beyoncé has done so far and the sound is incredible overall. Her vocals are absolutely stunning as always and I think this will shape up to be one of, if not the best album of 2024. I wanted to listen to this the night it dropped, but I wasn’t home - so this is like an Easter present for me, this most likely will not be uploaded on Easter, but Happy Easter to everyone who is a part of this lovely community!. 100/100
TRACK 2: What an incredible transition. Beys vocals are stunning on this track as well and as always, and the sound of this album is so full of joy and bliss. Truly a stunning body of work just two tracks in. Beyoncé is constantly proving what a powerhouse of an artist she is - and her artistry is truly unmatched. The only element of this track I wasn’t huge on was the clicking sound throughout that is almost like a metronome. 98/100
TRACK 3: I still remember crying tears of joy when this and ‘TEXAS HOLD ‘EM’ came out, and it still hits just as good. Another goosebump inducing track, Beyoncé's vocals are absolutely breathtaking on this track and album, and the production is so cinematic and wonderful. The way the instrumental just builds and builds is one of the most truly stunning elements on the album so far. 100/100
TRACK 4: You would more expect a Blue Ivy feature on this album, but here, Rumi gets to shine. This track is truly beautiful and seeing & hearing Beyoncé's unbreakable bond with her family and children is such a beautiful thing. What a beautifully done family orientated track, tugs on the heartstrings hard. 98/100
TRACK 5: The night this came out, I listened to a few seconds of each track, and this one hit me so good. This one almost brings me to tears even though it’s just an interlude. The lyrics here are just incredible. 100/100
TRACK 6: A cool introduction to the overall radio theme and style of the album, this format is really well done and incredibly well thought out - Beyoncé never fails to make her albums overflow with creativity. 95/100
TRACK 7: Another one of the singles for this album and an incredibly catchy one. I honestly love the bluegrass sound of this track and it’s such a danceable bop. I remember yelling “OOOHH!! OOOHH!!” when I first heard a little bit of this track when it was released on the night of the Super Bowl. 98/100
TRACK 8: As soon as I heard a little bit of the songs and the lyrics, this was instantly in about three or four of my playlists. I absolutely adore the writing on this track and the melody is incredible. Beys vocals are breathtaking here especially and this is my favorite on the album so far I think, I love the melody. Gorgeous. 100/100
TRACK 9: What an AMAZING way to introduce her cover of ‘Jolene’! This interlude honestly gave me goosebumps. Loved hearing Dolly on this album and Beyoncé's cover of Jolene is honestly one of the best covers I have heard of any song. 100/100
TRACK 10: I listened to this one a few times before sitting and listening to the full album and I LOVE this cover. I love the lyric changes - Beyoncé made it her own and her spin on it is absolutely incredible, what a way to reimagine an absolute classic. I love the very slight changes in the production from the original version and this cover just fit in perfectly with the album as a whole. Stunning. 100/100
TRACK 11: An incredible ballad and change of pace. I love the strong family ties shown on this album and the way Beyoncé displays her culture and roots with such pride on this album is just incredible. What a way to leave your mark on the music industry again and again. This whole album is so wonderfully and deeply personal and it’s such a beautiful and immersive listening experience overall. That vocal run near the ending of the track was truly stunning. 100/100
TRACK 12: You would think an album of this length would feel, well, really long right? Not this one. This track BLEW ME AWAY. This is another one I listened to before this and WOW. She really can rap. That cinematic buildup before the track starts followed by that amazing drop and advance in the production is just the thing dreams are made of. One of my favorites from the album without a doubt. I went back to listen again and the bass on this track is just mind blowing, one of my new favorite Beyoncé tracks. 100/100
TRACK 13: I love the melody on this track too and the instrumentals all throughout this album have been absolutely incredible. What an amazing track. The way the instrumental builds is incredible and I love all of the layers and different elements scattered all throughout. 100/100
TRACK 14: Another pretty good interlude - it isn’t much but I love the feel of the radio theme/format and it’s really a lot of fun. 95/100
TRACK 15: This is a beautifully written ballad that really touched me with the lyrics. I absolutely adore Beyoncé's songwriting and this track is gorgeous. The instrumental is incredibly interesting and very well done and the sound of this album overall has been stunning. I wasn’t huge on the glass bottle sound or the Willie Jones on this track but other than that it was very, very well put together. 97/100
TRACK 16: I was NOT excited about Miley being on this album but her and Beyoncé sound incredible together on this duet. I actually think Miley fits really well here and it was a good pick for a feature. Her raspy voice sounded very good with Beyoncé's incredibly smooth vocals. 98/100
TRACK 17: Post Malone was an… odd pick for a feature? I really like the instrumental and melody on this track, and Beyoncé's vocals are incredible. The bass here just booms and it sounds absolutely incredible, quite clever lyrics too which are always a treat. Post Malone actually worked and sounded very nice here too which was slightly unexpected. The “You’re my RENAISSANCE” line completely gagged me. Beyoncé never EVER fails to amaze me. 98/100
TRACK 18: I love the writing on this track from the very start, the messages of family, love, and self-love and finding yourself are scattered all over this album and it’s beautiful. I love Beyoncé's vocals as always on this track and this is an incredibly beautiful and touching track. 100/100
TRACK 19: I love how the interludes break up the album perfectly, and this one is great - even more enjoyable than some of the others. 98/100
TRACK 20: THAT SAMPLE?? THAT TRANSITION?? Beyoncé's COCKY VOCALS?? GAGGED. This is one of the catchiest tracks on the album and is SO MUCH FUN. One of the most enjoyable and another huge highlight. ALSO, THE BEACH BOYS INTERPOLATION??? THE INTERLUDE WASN’T KIDDING ABOUT THIS BEING A BLEND OF GENRES. 100/100
TRACK 21: Another absolutely SEAMLESS transition. Wow. I really like how this closed out the previous song and opened up the next. 96/100
TRACK 22: I love the funky sound of this track and Beyoncé sounds incredible here. Another highlight and an amazing switch in sound for the album, for so many tracks - this album hasn’t felt long at all. It is incredibly consistent and the overall sound is incredible. It stays so incredibly interesting and it does not fall flat. 100/100
TRACK 23: These transitions are gagging me. This track is so fierce and I love the way it gradually progresses until the bass booms and the track blooms. This track has a sound you can really move to and I love it. 100/100
TRACK 24: GOD THESE TRANSITIONS ARE SO SEAMLESS. I love the plucky sound on this track and it has such a soothing melody. I absolutely adore the production all around on this album but this track has such a unique and beautiful melody to it. It’s so soothing. 100/100
TRACK 25: MORE DOLLY PARTON! I didn’t even know that she was on this track so this was quite the surprise. This is another very interesting change in pace for the album and I love that room-shaking bass. Love the writing and the little “HEY!” sounds and everything here is just PHENOMENAL. What Beyoncé did with this album is so special and important, she showed that she is in fact more than welcome in the country community and her artistry here is completely off the charts. This album is so incredibly fearless and bold. 100/100
TRACK 26: I think that this album is one of Beyoncé's most interesting and diverse projects. Once again I love the bass on this track - not my favorite unexpectedly because I was excited by the title but it wasn’t what I was expecting. Love the production on this one and of course Beyoncé's vocals. That instrumental break was actually mind blowing as well as the switch up in the last half of the song - two of the best parts of the track. I love the rap elements of this album and how Beyoncé really takes risks all throughout this album. Absolutely fearless. 97/100
TRACK 27: Man this album went by FAST. 27 tracks have never sounded so consistent and energized. What a breathtaking way to close the album, there was no better way to close it off. This track really feels like the perfect ending to the album and this was such an incredible ride. That little part that reflected back on the opening track was just gorgeous as well. 100/100
FAVORITES (in no real order):
-BODYGUARD
-MY ROSE-SPAGHETTI
-JOLENE
-TEXAS HOLD ‘EM
-YA YA
-DESERT EAGLE
-RIIVERDANCE
-TYRANT
common vivi w