4
by Beyoncé
User Score
7.8

Generally favorable reviews- based on 801 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 638 out of 801
  2. Mixed: 57 out of 801
  3. Negative: 106 out of 801
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  1. eddie1987
    Jun 28, 2011
    10
    I love this album so much, very strong, emotional and creative album!! i think its her biggest album yet, deluxe tracks so fits perfectly!! Congratulations QueenBee!! Who run this Mutha?!!
  2. GabroMuzik
    Jun 28, 2011
    10
    i love this album so much, is so different to her previous jobs, she sounds perfect in every aspect and this album has a great production!!! this is my favorite album fo the year...so far!!!
  3. Cazatuz
    Jun 29, 2011
    10
    Anyone who gives this EPIC masterpiece any less than a 6 is either Biased, a Hater or BOTH!! This album is Epic from start to finish. Its Her best album yet, I consider it her career album, Its like bits & pieces from all her past albums all the way back to DC & all her influences wrapped into one, its R&b, Adult contept, Rock, Pop, Hip hop, Soul yet it still sounds modern & fresh & veryAnyone who gives this EPIC masterpiece any less than a 6 is either Biased, a Hater or BOTH!! This album is Epic from start to finish. Its Her best album yet, I consider it her career album, Its like bits & pieces from all her past albums all the way back to DC & all her influences wrapped into one, its R&b, Adult contept, Rock, Pop, Hip hop, Soul yet it still sounds modern & fresh & very sonically cohesive & diffrent. & the vocals are amazing this era. its one of those rare albums were every song is good, you can listwen without skipping tracks, no filler, this alone puts it above the rest. Favs: Miss You, I was here, i care, Party, countdown, dance 4u, Start over, End of time, & love on top.… Expand
  4. Rafa018
    Jun 28, 2011
    10
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. 4 is the best album of Beyonce's career. Love On Top is one the best songs of the year already. Vocally Beyonce has never been better. No doubt 4 is amazing and very well produced. score: 10… Expand
  5. darryltrini
    Jun 28, 2011
    10
    Beyonce - No Sound Defines Her. 4 is a timeless CLASSIC.

    She recently said "no one can define her" and boy did she mean it. With '4' we see a new side of Beyonce that we rarely see. A side that is vulnerable, yet liberating and powerful at the same time. '4' is not just a record, but rather a journey. It describes what we go through everyday; the ups and downs of relationships and our    Beyonce - No Sound Defines Her. 4 is a timeless CLASSIC.

    She recently said "no one can define her" and boy did she mean it. With '4' we see a new side of Beyonce that we rarely see. A side that is vulnerable, yet liberating and powerful at the same time. '4' is not just a record, but rather a journey. It describes what we go through everyday; the ups and downs of relationships and our desire to be remembered in some way and make our "mark" as she describes in the Diane Warren penned power ballad "I Was Here" 4 takes us on a journey of good music. One where Beyonce does not put herself in a box, but has shown that she's willing to take the risk of doing something different than what we hear right now. Overall her most cohesive work yet, and of course her best work, thus far. CLASSIC! Favorite tracks include: Countdown, Best Thing I Never Had, End of Time, I Miss You, 1+1, Start Over, Love on Top, I Was Here, Rather Die Young, Party, I Care, and Run the World (Girls)... Damn I think I listed the whole album, it's just that good. Great job Queen B, oops I mean KING B.    … Expand
  6. Turine
    Jun 29, 2011
    10
    '4' showcases Beyonce's vulnerability as a woman with emotional songs such as 'I Care' and 'I Miss You'. The album is magnificent, though I would prefer it if 'Best Thing I Never Had' or 'End of Time' would have been the lead single instead of 'Run the World (Girls)', because 'RTW(G)' is really average compared to the other songs in the album. I understand Bey's intentions though, since'4' showcases Beyonce's vulnerability as a woman with emotional songs such as 'I Care' and 'I Miss You'. The album is magnificent, though I would prefer it if 'Best Thing I Never Had' or 'End of Time' would have been the lead single instead of 'Run the World (Girls)', because 'RTW(G)' is really average compared to the other songs in the album. I understand Bey's intentions though, since her previous lead singles were mostly uptempo songs, and I think since the album only has two of them, 'RTW(G)' was a better choice. And I think it is. However, all of the tracks on the album are outstanding in its own way. 'I Miss You' and 'I Was Here' are truly masterpieces and are the highlights of this album.… Expand
  7. Omer
    Jul 2, 2011
    10
    I have to admit - it took Run The World (Girls) a while until I understood the genious of it. But once I got into it - I couldn't stop listenning to it. Same thing happened with 4. I had to give it a few listens until I realised how good it is. It really is a brilliant album, and Beyonce proves once again that she doesn't gimmics and conterversy in order to put a good album. She only needsI have to admit - it took Run The World (Girls) a while until I understood the genious of it. But once I got into it - I couldn't stop listenning to it. Same thing happened with 4. I had to give it a few listens until I realised how good it is. It really is a brilliant album, and Beyonce proves once again that she doesn't gimmics and conterversy in order to put a good album. She only needs her huge talent. And it works.… Expand
  8. vitucin
    Jul 11, 2011
    10
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. If Beyoncé wanted to make an album different from the last, she made it! She could mix a lots of rythms as she wanted to. Even though people didn't hope a spectacular performance on charts, the quality of the album guaranteed the success. The best in the CD is End of Time, Love On Top and Run The World (Girls)… Expand
  9. ignaciocorro
    Jul 1, 2011
    10
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. This album is what we needed from Beyoncé after I Am...Sasha Fierce it's so perfectly hot, I remember listening while I was walking and I was surprised by every song I simply enjoyed every work in every track. Well Done!!!… Expand
  10. CyyChi
    Apr 1, 2012
    10
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. There is only ONE problem with 4, and it is not Beyoncé's fault, but the listener's. To enjoy this album, you have to listen from the beginning to the end, having in mind that this is Beyoncé's legacy. These are the songs she will still sing 20 years from now. The songs are timeless, meaningful. When I listen to 4, I hear everything a good pop album should be. It feels like a twelve stories building you are visiting, each song taking you higher and deeper into the icon's heart. And when you're done listening to I Was Here, you just feel so empty, that I would have hated this masterpiece if the upbeat Run The World was absent. Even though I hate this song, I think it's a very important part of 4; it allows us to really feel what this whole album is about without suffering from the emptiness and meaninglessness (?) of our lives. This is how I feel about Beyoncé's 4. I feel that she sings to us as an icon, not as a "friend" (which is the case most of the time in other mediocre pop albums) and this is how she does it. She is writing her legacy.… Expand
  11. hugom2c
    Jun 28, 2011
    10
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. Beautiful album, possibly her best. Her voice has so much power and the uptempo songs are so good. And ou can't forget about the deluxe tracks, they're all amazing!… Expand
  12. ManilaCritic
    Jun 27, 2012
    10
    4 is Beyonce's Best album to date! Its sad that its her lowest selling one because this album is so beautiful. Should have won Best R&B album at the Grammys (or at least a nom smh) This album will stay in my heart forever, it has so much diversity that it will be a classic on its own.
  13. ZuZuZu
    Jun 28, 2011
    10
    This has to be her best album yet. So intimate, so powerful, so Beyonce. The best tracks are by far The End Of Time, Love On Top, Schoolin' Life and Dance For You. 1+1 and I Miss You are the ballads I've been expecting her to do and we also have some really awesome mid-tempos (Party, Best Thing I Never Had, Lay Up Under Me). I appreciate Run The World and Countdown for their magnificentThis has to be her best album yet. So intimate, so powerful, so Beyonce. The best tracks are by far The End Of Time, Love On Top, Schoolin' Life and Dance For You. 1+1 and I Miss You are the ballads I've been expecting her to do and we also have some really awesome mid-tempos (Party, Best Thing I Never Had, Lay Up Under Me). I appreciate Run The World and Countdown for their magnificent beats and the vocals on Start Over and Rather Die Young are just so good .I Care is one of the best ballads lately and contains some amazing vocals. The only song I'm not really into is I Was Here which I extremely hate. Overall, the best album this year (I like her more than Adele) with some songs to remember.… Expand
  14. bittersweet52
    Jun 28, 2011
    10
    This is an amazing album. The instrumentation is rich, the production is full, and the vocals are impeccable. 4 is an album where you will enjoy every song, and IMO will become a classic. This is Beyonce's best work to date, and I'm excited to see what she will come up with next!
  15. TYBYHT
    Jun 29, 2011
    10
    Absolutely groundbreaking album. All songs are a hit, and Beyonce's voice better than ever. I liked every song in the album but my personal favorites Countdown, End of time, I was here and Start over.
  16. Swag
    Jun 28, 2011
    10
    4 is the more developed, mature, and experienced sister album of 2006's B'Day. With convincing emotion, shocking vulnerability, and slick cohesive production to tie it altogether, Beyonce delivered the best album of 2011 and also her career.
  17. Jwalksonwater
    Jun 28, 2011
    10
    After winning 16 grammys, Beyoncé has solidified her star status. Her mark has been made in pop history.
    With that freedom in mind she took an 18 months hiatus to travel the world and explore new sounds. What she came back with is a cohesive timeless masterpiece. By far the best album in her disocgraphy. This album combines the best of the last 3 albums and the best of    After winning 16 grammys, Beyoncé has solidified her star status. Her mark has been made in pop history.
    With that freedom in mind she took an 18 months hiatus to travel the world and explore new sounds. What she came back with is a cohesive timeless masterpiece. By far the best album in her disocgraphy. This album combines the best of the last 3 albums and the best of musical inspiration (Michael Jackson, Prince, EWF etc.). On this album Beyoncé throwbacks to the sound of past decades, but without the music sounding dated. In a time where electro pop and autotune are dominating the charts "4"comes off as rather refreshing. From the use of real instruments to the use of her larger than life vocals. Where it may have felt like she has held back vocally on previous albums, on "4" she gives it her all. Get the full experience.    … Expand
  18. Satellites
    Jun 30, 2011
    10
    Beyoncé is one of the only remaining worldwide sensations, a diva who has more than earned her mononomial recognition; to underestimate her is to appear sour or stupid, or both.

    And so it should come as no surprise that 4 is hardly the debacle some have predicted; to the contrary, it's difficult to imagine any long-standing admirer feeling even the slightest disappointment    Beyoncé is one of the only remaining worldwide sensations, a diva who has more than earned her mononomial recognition; to underestimate her is to appear sour or stupid, or both.

    And so it should come as no surprise that 4 is hardly the debacle some have predicted; to the contrary, it's difficult to imagine any long-standing admirer feeling even the slightest disappointment with the record. True, it does not contain a single as immortal or immediately recognizable as "Crazy in Love" or "Single Ladies," but it also contains far less filler than the albums that feature those blockbusters. In many ways, 4 most closely resembles B'Day, Beyoncé's sophomore stumble: neither record possesses a clear thematic concept or authorial voice, but both display Beyoncé's willingness to experiment with more adventurous sounds, sometimes at the hazard of irritating her more conservative fans.

    Beyoncé hasn't produced anything as ferocious (or obnoxious) as "Ring the Alarm" on her fourth album, but "Countdown," a maximalist dancehall-cum-Baltimore drum banger, comes close. Packing steel drums, regal fanfare, a stealthy Boyz-II-Men sample, and the most exuberant vocal performance of the album into a deliciously overstuffed three and a half minutes, "Countdown" sounds like the work of an artist who is trying too hard to produce a classic (see: My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy), but over-eager as it might be, the song succeeds at what it sets out to achieve: It annoys its way into your heart.

    Aside from the aggressive rhythms of "Countdown" and "Girls," 4 is, for the most part, a slow-building, slow-burning growth spurt of an album. Of its 12 tracks, only "I Was Here" and "Best Thing I Never Had"are aligned along Nathan Rabin's "I'm awesome. **** you." thematic axis. In fact, over the first three songs â    … Expand
  19. DJTQ
    Jun 28, 2011
    10
    Beyonce has came and with a SOLID, GREAT album. From track 1 to track 12 (or 15 with the deluxe). This is the first album in along time that every song on the album is just a great as the next. No Pop Gimmicks here, Beyonce is the truth. Her voice has matured and her lyrics has too. She teamed up with The Dream, Frank Ocean, Ester Dean, Baby Face, Shea Taylor, Diplo & Switch, & DianeBeyonce has came and with a SOLID, GREAT album. From track 1 to track 12 (or 15 with the deluxe). This is the first album in along time that every song on the album is just a great as the next. No Pop Gimmicks here, Beyonce is the truth. Her voice has matured and her lyrics has too. She teamed up with The Dream, Frank Ocean, Ester Dean, Baby Face, Shea Taylor, Diplo & Switch, & Diane Warren to produce this Classic piece. Beyonce is an underrated producer and vocalist who is here to prove her critics wrong.… Expand
  20. JamieLeeke
    Jun 28, 2011
    10
    This album is by far the best album she has ever released. She's gone back to her R&B roots and yet still maintained that commercial and appealing element that her previous three albums had. Her voice has matured and the emotion on her records has definitely been upped. I cannot begin to recommend this album more. The best album of 2011 and most definitely her entire recording career.
  21. Donatella
    Jun 28, 2011
    10
    With titles such as "I Care" and "Rather Die Young" I was ready to be sung to sleep. I wasn't, Beyoncé blew me away with this collection of beautiful, soulful songs. The Ballads are what make this record, contrary to what some of these "critics" are saying. Hands down the best album I've heard vocal wise from any pop artist in years. She's an upcoming legend, more than that,With titles such as "I Care" and "Rather Die Young" I was ready to be sung to sleep. I wasn't, Beyoncé blew me away with this collection of beautiful, soulful songs. The Ballads are what make this record, contrary to what some of these "critics" are saying. Hands down the best album I've heard vocal wise from any pop artist in years. She's an upcoming legend, more than that, an icon. Brava Beyoncé!… Expand
  22. JaeB
    Jun 28, 2011
    10
    This is absolutely Beyonce's best work to date. And one of the best albums of the year. The writing, the instrumentation, the production...everything about this album just flows. Every song is a winner. She's taken a bit of each genre that's influenced her and mixed them to make an immaculate work of musical art. You can dance, you can groove, you can cry, you can fall in and out of loveThis is absolutely Beyonce's best work to date. And one of the best albums of the year. The writing, the instrumentation, the production...everything about this album just flows. Every song is a winner. She's taken a bit of each genre that's influenced her and mixed them to make an immaculate work of musical art. You can dance, you can groove, you can cry, you can fall in and out of love with this album.… Expand
  23. Beyonic
    Jun 28, 2011
    10
    This album is amazing! The production, the lyrical content and the vocals take you over the edge and sends you free-falling into a state of euphoria. There aren't enough adjectives in the English language to describe Beyonce's greatest album to date. As a fan, I am extremely pleased she didn't follow the euro-pop throwaway easy hit trends so many utilize in music today. Beyonce savedThis album is amazing! The production, the lyrical content and the vocals take you over the edge and sends you free-falling into a state of euphoria. There aren't enough adjectives in the English language to describe Beyonce's greatest album to date. As a fan, I am extremely pleased she didn't follow the euro-pop throwaway easy hit trends so many utilize in music today. Beyonce saved us all from the generic music we're bombarded with daily. It would have been quite simple to give us what every artist out now, aside from Adele, Erykah Badu and Jill Scott, have offered. For this fearlessness Beyonce WILL be rewarded.

    Thank you Beyonce! We love you... I love you.    … Expand
  24. sophstar007
    Jun 28, 2011
    10
    Classic, timeless, different, soulful, mature, experienced and incredible album. The best album Beyoncé has released to date, expanding on her previous masterpieces to create a completely new 'brand' of music unique to 'King B'. I love it...'Miss You', 'I Care', 'End of Time' and 'Countdown' are personal highlights.
  25. charli_b
    Jun 28, 2011
    10
    This album surpasses everything she's ever done. This album for me showcases what made B'day a success for me. It's that no one else...no other artist can do these songs. The vocals are beyond amazing and make you want to listen to the songs and you believe the things she's singing about. I am so glad that she took a risk and put this out.
  26. curtwill
    Jun 28, 2011
    10
    This is an awesome album. I am happy to have the pleasure of listening to it. First of all, the vocal arrangements are outstanding. Lots of beautiful, rich harmonies, strong vocal depth and great syncopation. Listen to End of Time, Party and Love on Top for what I speak of. In fact, I will say that there are AT LEAST 5 songs that are the best Beyoncé songs that she has everThis is an awesome album. I am happy to have the pleasure of listening to it. First of all, the vocal arrangements are outstanding. Lots of beautiful, rich harmonies, strong vocal depth and great syncopation. Listen to End of Time, Party and Love on Top for what I speak of. In fact, I will say that there are AT LEAST 5 songs that are the best Beyoncé songs that she has ever recorded and I have been a Bey fan since the Survivor era. You can tell Bey really put her heart and soul into the vocals. The production is strong. The best of it, is the the work that Jeff Bhasker and The Dream did. Schoolin' Life is everything!!!! Ester Dean also did a great job with Countdown too. The lyrics which some people always say is a weak spot with Beyoncé's music, are very good. Now I am one who always view, Vocals/Sound>>>Lyrics so if someone wanted to cover Mary had a Lil Lamb and gave a Grammy caliber vocal performance, I might buy the Physical Single. But anyways, the lyrics from 4 are very good, and I always find simple is good because when some artists try to be super deep, it takes away from the other aspect of the song, but the good thing is 4 isn't shallow. It's all about love and relationships and it has songs that are for everyone. And it is great she didn't jump on the Electro Pop/Temo Bandwagon that is pervading Pop Entertainment. It may not reinvent the wheel so to speak, but sets itself apart that way and more important, if you love outstanding musician from the aspect of vocal arrangements, you will love this album.… Expand
  27. momo1122
    Jun 28, 2011
    10
    I'm loving this new Beyonce! The best track off the album are: Best Thing I Never Had, Love On Top, End Of Time, Party, I Miss You
    It gives a lot of freshness to this boring music industry!
  28. thebait
    Jun 28, 2011
    10
    very good album. her best and one of the best released this year! great mixture of everything and i applaud her for sticking to her guns (releasing the music she wants).
  29. JustActinUp
    Jun 28, 2011
    10
    A fantastic album. 4 shows Beyonce at her most adventurous and creative.Vocally, she soars and sounds majestic without being overshadow by production.Without a thought, this Beyonce`s best album to date.
  30. Speakerphone
    Jun 28, 2011
    10
    Flawless album. Beyonce shows her growth. 4 is very different from a few other mainstream albums now. Beyonce plays with old school beats and creates an album that flows very cohesively. From the haunting 1+1 to the find booty shaker Run The World (Girls). Beyonce sings with such emotion and conviction on the track. Beyonce proves just why she is one of the top females in the game.
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Awards & Rankings

3
#3 Most Discussed Album of 2011
16
#16 Most Shared Album of 2011

Critic Reviews

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Metascore
73

Generally favorable reviews - based on 36 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 27 out of 36
  2. Mixed: 8 out of 36
  3. Negative: 1 out of 36
  1. Uncut
    Aug 18, 2011
    80
    The lyrics are occasionally hackneyed, but overall 4 is a very strong record indeed. [Sep 2011, p.79]
  2. Q Magazine
    Aug 16, 2011
    60
    At Glastonbury she dazzled; here she plays it safe. [Sept. 2011, p. 105]
  3. DJ Booth
    Aug 2, 2011
    70
    While I suspect 4 was made in large part to sound more natural and real, it doesn't succeed entirely. The album is a refreshingly understated change from the constantly banging and bumping sound of modern R&B, but it doesn't really bring us closer to the Queen B.
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