RENAISSANCE by Beyoncé | Album Review

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// Beyoncé's seventh studio album is a tribute to dance music past and future, adding her signature touch to a magnificent set of moving and sweaty pop.

Beyoncé's seventh studio album is not only a celebration to dance music past and future but a rich set of sweaty and moving club pop. It's a magnificent addition to Beyoncé lore and showcases her exceptional range, and a step forward.

Score: 9.0/10 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Every Beyoncé album going forward in time has been an integral part of its predecessor. Beyoncé's records have always evolved, they've stretched themselves out across genres and played with forms, attaining exactly what they set out to achieve. You may recall her last studio album in 2016, the visually vigorous and brilliantly political magnum opus "Lemonade", which saw Beyoncé playing with different genres like Country or Rock, while also creating a beautiful portrait with confessional storytelling, whether that would be her turbulent relationship with rapper Jay-Z or the cinematic, raw image of autobiographical Black heritage. Even though she hasn't put out an album in 6 years, Beyoncé has been on a roll. She released a film (Black Is King), released a collaborative record with her husband (Everything Is Love), and lent her voice to a Disney+ film celebrating the long legacy of Black artists and African culture. Her worldwide approach is that Beyoncé, one of the biggest artists of all time, is not going to be put in a box of stereotypical genres and styles, she's come to play. Her seventh studio album, the long-awaited "RENAISSANCE" proves just exactly that.

It's not only a celebration to dance music past and future but a rich set of sweaty and moving club pop. It's a magnificent addition to Beyoncé lore and showcases her exceptional range. As a pop star in the game for decades and a visual genius in terms of theatrical themes, RENAISSANCE seems like a surprising step forward for the singer, her approach to different genres is spectacular and sets her at the level of her peers. RENAISSANCE is a vibe all around and will set the scene in clubs that transitioned back to the real world after the quarantine that has sprouted some pivotal albums in pop culture. Though maybe the timing isn’t perfect, it’s a comeback as surprisingly and powerful as her last.

RENAISSANCE is a melting pot of various styles and sub-genres, like dem-bow and afro-pop. To even disco on a Donna Summers sample, or a drag race bop about getting down and dirty, bashing label execs. The opener “I’M THAT GIRL” is a stadium pop bop that will fuel fans and their confidence. And confidence plays a big part in the structure of the record. You'll hear songs about loving yourself ("COZY"), songs about being down bad ("VIRGO'S GROOVE"), and even songs about being comfortable in your own skin and body ("THIQUE"). This record marks Beyoncé's most explicit record yet, but the deep honesty of getting down and groovy with your lover is the fuel of its efficiency. Cynics will cry foul of an “uneven” record, that Beyoncé remains an entitled superstar, raging at a label exec. Those cynics will be ignoring one of this year’s finest albums. Unique, strong, and sexy—that’s exactly how Beyoncè wants you to feel. And after years of indoor anxiety and the world in its own shells, she offers a liberating and lively performance that’s among her best.

And it's not the perfect Beyoncé album, but it comes damn near close. Her approach to the dance genre is beautifully thought out. From disco trap to Latin pop, Beyoncé does what she does best and adds her signature touch to all the songs, and what's most appealing about RENAISSANCE is that every song suits a different occasion. The BEAM collab "ENERGY" is a full-on club bop with experimental elements, and "PLASTIC OFF THE SOFA" is a soft R&B treasure. "SUMMER RENAISSANCE" is a disco ball closer that will power any party with its dazzling and propulsive synths. This record by far marks Beyoncé's best-produced studio LP. From background angelic vocal layers to Miami bass and drums, Beyoncé sticks to a fabulous formula. It isn't necessarily a disco record as most would call it due to its pre-released single "BREAK MY SOUL" but marks a clip of what the record aims for, which is reminiscing throwback trends that once had a big place in culture. And taking ideas that were integral in the past, and bringing new light to their structure is Beyoncé's forté, sampling all over the place to bring passion to being "born free", ("CHURCH GIRL"), and her style and her enigmatic charisma make a huge mark; nothing on the record is uneven as it was seemed to be.

And even if this record is not like the previous "Lemonade", it stands alone and will shine on this generation of pop music. RENAISSANCE is a culmination of freedom and escape that encourages unimaginable jubilation and movement with abandon. Confirmed act 1 of 3 acts, the start of Beyoncé's prime is here. The neat story of black love is impeccable, and there are no stories left behind as Beyoncé brings the beautiful ups and downs of her relationship and even delights in giddy romance at the same time. RENAISSANCE reinvents Beyoncé once again in a new fashion. "I'm gonna love on me, nobody can judge me but me, I was born free," says Beyoncé. As the world's most integral pop star to date, even when the bangers aren't always substantial on RENAISSANCE, flowing through Beyoncé's deep honesty on self-love and uniqueness is not only inspiring but seems like a breath of fresh air. And after all these years of lockdown panic, RENAISSANCE is an invitation to a better kind of party and shows that Beyoncé's the hostess with the most-ess. It's her grand opening and shows promise to her career, and if anyone can make a quiet Friday night come off like an open-bar blowout, it's Beyoncé.

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Buy Beyoncé's fourth studio album now: Rough Trade