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4
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Metascore
73

Generally favorable reviews - based on 36 Critic Reviews What's this?

User Score
7.8

Generally favorable reviews- based on 801 Ratings

  • Summary: The aptly titled fourth studio album from the pop songstress has both dance-floor-ready jams and down-tempo tunes that are a bit tamer than those in the last album.
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Critic Reviews

Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 27 out of 36
  2. Mixed: 8 out of 36
  3. Negative: 1 out of 36
  1. Consequence
    Jun 24, 2011
    90
    Between doing more of the same old goodness and boiling everything down to its most essential lethality, Beyoncé also makes room on the album for more grandiose tracks that would sound right at home in Broadway musicals.
  2. The New York Times
    Jun 30, 2011
    80
    Those ["Single Ladies (Put a Ring On It)," "Get Me Bodied," "Crazy in Love" and "Baby Boy"] were also songs that other singers could have plausibly released and made their own. Most of 4, though, no one else could get away with, or would even want to try.
  3. Uncut
    Aug 18, 2011
    80
    The lyrics are occasionally hackneyed, but overall 4 is a very strong record indeed. [Sep 2011, p.79]
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  4. Entertainment Weekly
    Jun 22, 2011
    75
    Vocally, she's never sounded better - throaty and precise - but the songs here just aren't her equal.
  5. Rolling Stone
    Jun 28, 2011
    70
    4 might be her strangest rec­ord. It's a big-budget megapop album with an A list of guest stars (Kanye West, André 3000) and songwriter-producers (Tricky Stewart, the-Dream, Diplo, Ryan Tedder, Diane Warren). Yet it's as eccentric-- as unmistakably personal and quirky--as anything that Sufjan Stevens ever cooked up in his bedroom.
  6. Chicago Tribune
    Jun 27, 2011
    63
    She reportedly considered 70-plus songs and hired a variety of collaborators, ranging from Babyface to M.I.A. producer Switch, and yet the album feels skimpy, half-finished.
  7. No Ripcord
    Jul 18, 2011
    20
    Where this album should be fresh and current, it sounds tired, repetitive and uninspired.

See all 36 Critic Reviews

User Reviews

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Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 167 out of 196
  2. Mixed: 7 out of 196
  3. Negative: 22 out of 196
  1. 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 slick4 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.… Expand
  2. johnh
    Jun 29, 2011
    10
    Beyonce never really convinced me with her previous albums and I can now say that this album ticked every box in the checklist. This album isBeyonce never really convinced me with her previous albums and I can now say that this album ticked every box in the checklist. This album is different to anything she has ever done. It is an album where she showcases her stunning voice with some beautiful ballads and mid-tempo tracks. There are still some tracks where it makes want to get up and dance. I predict big things for this album because it is a quality piece of work and I would say that this is one of my favourite albums this year if not the best.… Expand
  4. sixinch
    Aug 30, 2016
    10
    Amazing! The best Beyoncé album ever! Is everything and has everything i always wanted Beyoncé to do. She presents a perfect masterpiece andAmazing! The best Beyoncé album ever! Is everything and has everything i always wanted Beyoncé to do. She presents a perfect masterpiece and not everyone these days can do it like she can. Collapse… Expand
  5. cortez
    Jun 30, 2011
    10
    Beyonce has capitalized on her positives and put forth, what I think, may be her second best or even best album. Beyonce's vocals on thisBeyonce has capitalized on her positives and put forth, what I think, may be her second best or even best album. Beyonce's vocals on this album are undeniably at a peak. The range of her voice and the complexity of the vocal harmonies have not been seen since B'day, arguably since DIL. She demonstrates how aggressive her voice can be on "Run the World (Girls)" and "I Care", one of the immediate highlights of the album. However this album isn't all about aggressiveness, she displays subtle emotion on "I Miss", which shows just how talented the singer is at changing the emotional display she puts on with her voice. Vocals are not the only showcase of this album. The lyrics within each song are simple, however they are effective, and at times witty. It's amazingly produced as an eclectic mix of many genres, however it all flows together very well. From the throwback "Love on Top", which once again displays the singer's gifted vocals, to the futuristic-african horn-driven End of Time, the albums rhythmic foundation doesn't fail to excite. My favorite production may come from the Kanye West produced track "Party". This is one of the most genuine sounding early 90's tributes I've ever heard, this on top of Beyonce's ingenious vocal production on the song. I feel like this album could be her best.… Expand
  6. BrandonRager
    Sep 1, 2011
    9
    with this album, beyonce proved her vocal abilities.. she sacrificed making #1 records for making quality music with great lyrics, and in thewith this album, beyonce proved her vocal abilities.. she sacrificed making #1 records for making quality music with great lyrics, and in the end we get a product that seems more mature and raw.. the emotion you hear in beyonce's voice is stunning. there are plenty of tracks that deserve recognition including Start Over, I Miss You, 1+1, and I Was Here; but these are DEFINITELY not the only hits on the album. i think every single song on the album is amazing in it's own right, and the more you listen to them the more they grow on you.… Expand
  7. arianagrande626
    May 9, 2021
    8
    Amazing vocals as always. It's sad that the album flopped, it deserved so much better.
  8. liamconnor
    Jan 21, 2012
    0
    ... over produced to my likings, it just seems like she is yelling and just has no true emotions in it, sadly this album has great lyrics to... over produced to my likings, it just seems like she is yelling and just has no true emotions in it, sadly this album has great lyrics to songs, but the singer lacks in the ability to produce emotions. Poor beyonce, she tried but fell apart. :(… Expand

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

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