Beyoncé
by Beyoncé
  • Record Label: Columbia
  • Release Date: Dec 13, 2013
User Score
8.4

Universal acclaim- based on 1750 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 1,482 out of 1750
  2. Mixed: 66 out of 1750
  3. Negative: 202 out of 1750

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  1. All_ButTrU4
    Nov 27, 2021
    9
    Would it be hyperbolic to say Beyoncé invented feminism? Well imma go ahead and no cap that,personally at least. Her self titled really is as personal as the name suggests:This is her. Not promoted at yet still having the biggest impact in music history.

    Opening with the motivational Sia penned ballad "Pretty Hurts" filled with the staple anthemic Knowles choruses she's perfected since    Would it be hyperbolic to say Beyoncé invented feminism? Well imma go ahead and no cap that,personally at least. Her self titled really is as personal as the name suggests:This is her. Not promoted at yet still having the biggest impact in music history.

    Opening with the motivational Sia penned ballad "Pretty Hurts" filled with the staple anthemic Knowles choruses she's perfected since "B'day". This just being the first of the karaoke ready ballads.

    "Haunted "is a slow burn catharsis attached to the unsettling hidden track "ghost " that comments on music,record labels and creativity. It's a brave well executed risk that adds nuance to Beyoncé thesis oscillating from quasi-spoken word to explicit sensuality. The shedding of the Madonna/Whore complex is perhaps an unintentional theme throughout the Lp brought to epic fruition on the sensual masterpiece of D'angelo proportions,"Rocket". A torch song to her husband Jay z doesn't leave anything to the imagination. "Drunk in Love" is a fkn epic sequel to "Bonnie &Clyde " hyped up to raunchier heights as if it's as "Drunk "as the songs title.

    "No Angel " a Caroline Polachek assist comes in at a high register punctuated with breathy vocals and smootg falsetto. "Partition " which sounds like a forebearer to "Lemonade " takes a martial sexual rendezvous,it's steamy and confident.

    The feminist manifesto "***flawless" features a perfectly placed Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie sample. By far the most notable song here featuring lines like "i woke up like this " that boast female empowerment without heavy handed cliches that marred "Run the World ". Drake appears in the slow "Mine ". There are no skips on this record all the risks taken were so successful they invoked copy cats and now sound commercial.

    With its sweeping highs are emotional lows. The insecurity of "jealous " seems pretty aware post Lemonade. The solemn "Heaven " mediates on a miscarriage and seems to reach acceptance preceding the maternal bliss of "Blue " which features Beyoncé daughter Blue Ivy.

    Arguably Beyoncé best record this album cemented her status as a musical icon, having immeasurable impact on culture.    … Expand
  2. marcmyworks
    Jan 1, 2014
    8
    Beyonce shocked us all when she released her self-titled album without any sort of promotion or any indication she was working on her new record. This album is less commercial than her previous efforts but channels more soul and depth than a lot of her pop/r&b contemporaries.
  3. Muddsjr
    Feb 22, 2014
    8
    though the visual side to the album offers some background to each song, the album alone, without the videos is touching and enjoyable enough. There is an awful lot of language in there that might perhaps need some over-looking but otherwise Beyonce seems to have messages to deliver in her songs and they make the songs feel more vital and enjoyable. Beyonce has redefined her music, and shethough the visual side to the album offers some background to each song, the album alone, without the videos is touching and enjoyable enough. There is an awful lot of language in there that might perhaps need some over-looking but otherwise Beyonce seems to have messages to deliver in her songs and they make the songs feel more vital and enjoyable. Beyonce has redefined her music, and she has created without doubt the greatest album of her entire career in the music business.… Expand
  4. Panchogul
    Aug 7, 2022
    9
    No soy taaan fan de este disco, pero es indudable el impacto que tuvo, cambió por completo las reglas del juego.
  5. adhamhany
    Dec 15, 2013
    10
    For a long time, i thought that Beyoncé was old news.

    Big mistake. Not only is this a terrific album, It is her most powerful and mature to date. This will probably be recognized as her magnum opus in years to come. The lyrics, her voice, her awesome vocal work, the music and production, all work together to create a mood that i actually can't find a word for. I don't think    For a long time, i thought that Beyoncé was old news.

    Big mistake.

    Not only is this a terrific album, It is her most powerful and mature to date. This will probably be recognized as her magnum opus in years to come.

    The lyrics, her voice, her awesome vocal work, the music and production, all work together to create a mood that i actually can't find a word for. I don't think "Beautiful" does any justice for this amazing work of art. I'm saying all that and i haven't even watched any of the videos yet.

    The significance of the album is derived from many reasons. Not only because it's spectacular, but because it's spectacular in a time when albums are looked upon as anything but. At a time when they are looked upon as an unnecessary idea from a bygone era.

    Over the years, many female artists appeared and achieved great success over the years, whether in rap, r&b, or pop. But Beyoncé has, without a doubt, cemented her place as their queen.    … Expand
  6. victorcarter
    Nov 21, 2016
    10
    Beyonce at her core has proven to be a student of music, particularly of the R and B genre, but with each album she has experimented with other flavors. This album amazingly brings so many sounds together while still sounding like one. Clearly Beyonce's best album by far, and arguably the best mainstream album in the last decade. Impeccable production, unique song structures, mind blowingBeyonce at her core has proven to be a student of music, particularly of the R and B genre, but with each album she has experimented with other flavors. This album amazingly brings so many sounds together while still sounding like one. Clearly Beyonce's best album by far, and arguably the best mainstream album in the last decade. Impeccable production, unique song structures, mind blowing vocals, boundary pushing content, everything you want and more from a cultural blockbuster… Expand
  7. asjklasjklas
    Jan 18, 2015
    8
    Beyoncé has at last experimented with the themes she’s continuously half-explored throughout her decade(+)-long career—feminism, sexual expression, self-empowerment—and overall, she has created her most erotic, overtly feminist, and sonically experimental record to date. The intros and interludes of audio snippets seeming to act out Knowles’ childhood experiences and the segments ofBeyoncé has at last experimented with the themes she’s continuously half-explored throughout her decade(+)-long career—feminism, sexual expression, self-empowerment—and overall, she has created her most erotic, overtly feminist, and sonically experimental record to date. The intros and interludes of audio snippets seeming to act out Knowles’ childhood experiences and the segments of speeches discussing society’s expectations of women (“***Flawless”) and why women can openly love sex (“Partition”), it’s a concept album through and through. Besides its accompanying visual experience, the dark, moody production trails PBR&B, electronic, and even ambient influences and its large array of producers—Ammo, Boots, Detail, Hit-Boy, Timbaland, etc.—and featured artists—Drake, Frank Ocean, and, of course, hubby Jay-Z—help her achieve her musical ambitions. The monumental “Drunk in Love”, the sultry “Partition”, the urban confidence of “***Flawless” featuring an insert from Nigerian novelist Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie, Beyoncé’s self-titled fifth studio albums further certifies her status as one of pop music’s most dominant divas and if her overnight release date without any prior promotion or singles isn’t evidence of that, let her musicianship and vocal capabilities speak for her themselves.… Expand
  8. andyn823
    Jun 6, 2020
    8
    An impressive album by Beyoncé. This album, along with Lemonade, is one of the masterpiece of Beyonce's discography and it's also one of the masterpiece of the decade of 2010s. Listening to this album makes me feel very fierce, strong, confident and fun. Every songs of this album have different meanings and different messages, which makes me love this album. My favorite songs on this albumAn impressive album by Beyoncé. This album, along with Lemonade, is one of the masterpiece of Beyonce's discography and it's also one of the masterpiece of the decade of 2010s. Listening to this album makes me feel very fierce, strong, confident and fun. Every songs of this album have different meanings and different messages, which makes me love this album. My favorite songs on this album : "7/11", "XO", "Jealous", "Drunk in Love".… Expand
  9. ihavevocaloid
    May 30, 2015
    8
    Beyonce is Beyonce's best album to date, not only because it contains some of the best songs she has recorded in her career, but also because this is her first album where she shows a great deal of artistry (I guess Kanye West was right then...) She has always been a great vocalist, but she has never showed this much artistry on anything she has ever done before. This artistry lies in theBeyonce is Beyonce's best album to date, not only because it contains some of the best songs she has recorded in her career, but also because this is her first album where she shows a great deal of artistry (I guess Kanye West was right then...) She has always been a great vocalist, but she has never showed this much artistry on anything she has ever done before. This artistry lies in the combination between the often meaningful lyrics, great production, and the fact that she decided to make a video for each song (even though I didn't watch all of them). Now, to break down each individual element of the album. This album finds Beyonce at her most explicit lyrically - and usually does a great job of this. Some of the lyrics get repetitive sometimes, but the varying topics, ranging from the struggle of wanting to be pretty every day to showing off how flawless she is to loving Blue. And although sometimes she may prove to be very similar to other R&B artists, she solidifies her place as a very special diva and vocalist on this album. What really got me into this album, though, is the ambient production Beyonce uses on a great deal of the album. The often trendy, but still very interesting and original production, is one of the main reasons I gave this album an 8. If she had kept her production styles from her previous albums I probably would have given this a 7. And this is definitely an imperfect album with a few shining weak sports, but this doesn't stop it from being Beyonce's best and an album that shows the artistry of a vocalist. Grade: B+/A-. Highlights: "Drunk in Love", "Partition", "Jealous", "Mine", the "Flawless" portion of "Flawless". Worst song: "Superpower"… Expand
  10. greedybadidea
    May 29, 2020
    7
    Beyoncé's fifth solo album surely has a new sound as she attempts to create a sound that is unique to her voice and message. The major failure on this album has to come from the length of many songs and their features as well. The album seems very experimental and I need a perfected version of this record to fully appreciate what Bey is trying to give us with her latest project.

    Album    Beyoncé's fifth solo album surely has a new sound as she attempts to create a sound that is unique to her voice and message. The major failure on this album has to come from the length of many songs and their features as well. The album seems very experimental and I need a perfected version of this record to fully appreciate what Bey is trying to give us with her latest project.

    Album Track Ranking:
    1. ***Flawless (feat. Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie)
    2. Pretty Hurts
    3. Drunk in Love (feat. JAY Z)
    4. Haunted
    5. 7/11
    6. Partition
    7. Blue (feat. Blue Ivy)
    8. Blow
    9. Heaven
    10. XO
    11. Ring Off
    12. No Angel
    13. Superpower (feat. Frank Ocean)
    14. Mine (feat. Drake)
    15. Rocket
    16. Jealous    … Expand
  11. NathanCabello
    Dec 16, 2014
    7
    (Already counting on the Platinum Edition) I can not understand all this love that people have for this album, it really is a good album, but not the best of Beyoncé, many his songs make me sleep and I can not hear whole, the lucky for you there are great songs that save the album.
    Highlights: Partition and Drunk In Love
    Lows: Superpower and No Angel
  12. Clubsocial
    May 4, 2015
    10
    her best effort as of yet. Sonically this album is a masterpiece and visually stunning. It emotes so much emotion it's almost tangible. In closing Beyoncé has proved yet again why she
  13. SumitSumbria
    Apr 30, 2016
    10
    It was undoubtly the best album of 2010s decade until Beyonce outdid herself with her best album "Lemonade" One of my Top 10 albums of all time. One can say this album is "Flawless". 
    Top 3 tracks - 
    1. Drunk In Love
    2. Flawless
    3. Haunted
  14. arcanjo
    May 29, 2016
    9
    Since its not personally my best I must recognize the incredible increase this album come in Beyoncés discography. First time she really improves and puts her experiments in a solid, self conscious way. Even though she puts some poppish songs, the album as a whole comes as alternative. and the visual album concept gives this album another life, since if we ever get tired of hearing it, weSince its not personally my best I must recognize the incredible increase this album come in Beyoncés discography. First time she really improves and puts her experiments in a solid, self conscious way. Even though she puts some poppish songs, the album as a whole comes as alternative. and the visual album concept gives this album another life, since if we ever get tired of hearing it, we can catch ourselves watching the videos and fall in love once again with the tracks.… Expand
  15. khutch
    Dec 19, 2013
    8
    She can cause many feelings here, sadness, love, happiness, aggression. And in all cases, in the highest and best way possible.
    Do not say it is the best cd I've ever heard, or even that it is the best of the year, but after that cd, Beyoncé showed he can do a little of everything, and what a pop star really is.
  16. 0987
    Mar 20, 2014
    5
    Average album. I only like Pretty Hurts, Drunk In Love, Yonce and Blue. To be serious, other songs made me bored!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
  17. LuizFelipe
    Feb 28, 2015
    10
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. this is the most amazing work of Beyoncé , she is already a historical icon , and then this masterpiece she still deserves more recognition ( if that is possible) then I found the amazing and wonderful all the work and I believe that will please everyone who will listen ...… Expand
  18. Lopesito27
    Jan 23, 2021
    9
    Beyoncé opens up about her sexual and emotional life while subtly experimenting with different production elements that were key for the change in R&B, but above all that, she seems to be enjoying every moment of it, which makes for a lot of gems. If you don't think this is the album with the most bops, you're just wrong. It's the album that made me fall in love with Beyoncé.
  19. PinkFriday
    Sep 6, 2014
    5
    O álbum BEYONCÉ foi uma surpresa para todos, quando foi lançado de surpresa no iTunes, e ele surpreendeu a muitos. Depois de ouvi-lo, formulei uma opinião própria: é um album mediano. Não que seja ruim. BEYONCÉ é um álbum com músicas lentas em sua maioria e também são muito compridas. Dangerously, I Am... Sasha Fierce e 4, em minha opinião, são bem melhores do que esse álbum.
  20. ray32
    Mar 3, 2023
    0
    This album has it's highs and lows. Personally, Rihanna is way better and is the queen.
  21. philosophorse
    Mar 15, 2014
    9
    Her best yet. It is most certainly, most determined to be only about the music. It abandoned inspiring messages, marketing, and everything else to be able to make an album so perfectly woven together, it's simply a masterpiece. The crown jewel is Ghost, which uses such ambient and soft sounds, so quiet yet it speaks louder than any of her R&B songs. Good job, Queen Bee. Good job.
  22. rebeligado
    Nov 17, 2015
    9
    The Masterpierce, Bey pegou todos de surpresa com esse hinário conceitual.

    Faixas pra dançar: Partition, XO e Blow.

    Faixas Cult: Mine e Superpower.

    3º melhor dela.
  23. Juan12353
    May 30, 2016
    10
    1. Pretty Hurts 9/10
    2. Ghost 9/10
    3. Haunted 9/10
    4. Drunk In Love 10/10
    5. Blow 9/10
    6. No Angel 8/10
    7. Yoncé 7/10
    8. Partition 10/10
    9. Jealous 10/10
    10. Rocket 10/10
    11. Mine 9/10
    12. XO 9/10
    13. ***Flawless 10/10
    14. Superpower 10/10
    15. Heaven 10/10
    16. Blue 10/10
    17. Grown Woman 10/10
    18. 7/11 10/10
    19. Ring Off 10/10
    20. Standing On The Sun (Remix) 10/10
  24. leostarboy
    Sep 9, 2020
    10
    Beyoncé’ is one of the best damn albums of 2013, basically, however you’re looking at it: as an R&B record, a pop set, an electro collection. Whatever your tastes, you can’t question the quality here. Without playing into cheap “tortured by fame” tropes, she’s made an emotional album that’s dense and substantial but never difficult or self-important. It is a bold, expansive body of workBeyoncé’ is one of the best damn albums of 2013, basically, however you’re looking at it: as an R&B record, a pop set, an electro collection. Whatever your tastes, you can’t question the quality here. Without playing into cheap “tortured by fame” tropes, she’s made an emotional album that’s dense and substantial but never difficult or self-important. It is a bold, expansive body of work that should have all the praise heaped on it because, without warning, she dropped one of the strongest albums of the year on us.… Expand
  25. ivanhugo
    Aug 6, 2019
    10
    Por que tão perfeita? Beyoncé mais uma vez mostrando que é um dos grandes da música pop, trazendo um álbum com hits e letras que abordam temas importantes, como Pretty Hurts e ***Flawless.
  26. Teodoro
    Jun 20, 2014
    1
    Mais uma prova de que nem tudo que a crítica aclama,é bom.
    Talvez esse 85 no Metacritc sejam pelas vendas,que sim,foram altas,mas não compraram a qualidade desse album.
    Continuo achando que I Am...Sasha Fierce é seu único bom album.
  27. victorialiewind
    Sep 20, 2019
    10
    Hard work and smash hits. Congrats! Beyonce now understands what is music industry like. She releases one of the best albums in 2013 and claims status of new queen of R&B.
  28. cuzinho1
    Mar 19, 2021
    0
    Musically, it's the same kind of electro R&B with which radio is already awash--in large part because it's produced by the same small coterie of hip producers, with Timbaland appearing to take the most prominent role amongst the likes of Detail, Jerome Harmon, Pharrell Williams and Ryan Tedder.
  29. WANGWEST
    May 31, 2016
    10
    Perfect 10! She is the most talented, beautiful, magnificent woman on earth. Beyonce on this album shows her vulnerability and when she is mostly desiring of. From 90s inspired song Blow, to suggestive songs like Drunk In Love and Partition and songs where she shows her vulnerability like Jealous and where she shows that she is Queen Bee and sets the internet on fire!
  30. Brad_
    Dec 16, 2013
    8
    Ratings! It's not the male bashing/women empowering stuff we are used to hearing from Beyonce. Very good album. My only criticism is that certain songs like Superpower featuring Frank Ocean and Mine featuring Drake sound like the featured artists written works respectively and Beyonce just lends her vocals for the songs, puts it on the album and calls it her own.
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Awards & Rankings

35
#35 Best Album of 2013
4
#4 Most Discussed Album of 2013
1
#1 Most Shared Album of 2013

Critic Reviews

All reviews »
Metascore
85

Universal acclaim - based on 34 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 32 out of 34
  2. Mixed: 2 out of 34
  3. Negative: 0 out of 34
  1. Sputnikmusic
    Feb 14, 2014
    90
    At its dizzying zenith, Beyoncé is a loaded fusion of generosity and self-empowerment. or perhaps, more accurately, it finds self-empowerment in generosity.
    Read full review
  2. Mojo
    Feb 11, 2014
    60
    It's this continued need to feed her multi-platinum beast that stops the album from being the post-modern wheeze it could have been. [Mar 2014, p.94]
  3. The 405
    Jan 23, 2014
    90
    Though there are a million details about BEYONCÉ to examine--from the release strategy to the visual aspect and more--the strongest ideas are still found solely in the music. She addresses topics like beauty, body image, miscarriages, jealousy, sexuality, marriage, motherhood and self-worth.
    Read full review
See all critic reviews »