Beyoncé
Beyoncé · 2013
144 min · 32 tracks · contemporary R&B
A bold, genre-blurring exploration of identity and empowerment wrapped in lush production and provocative lyrics.
Top tracks — play these first
-
→
Pretty Hurts Start here — establishes the sonic palette early
-
→
Drunk in Love — Combining intoxicating imagery with a hypnotic beat, this track showcases Beyoncé's vocal prowess and chemistry with Jay-Z, becoming an anthem of modern romance.
-
→
***Flawless — This empowering anthem features assertive lyrics about self-confidence and feminism, amplified by the iconic spoken word piece from Nigerian author Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie.
-
→
XO — With its heartfelt lyrics and sweeping production, this love ballad encapsulates vulnerability and passion, highlighting Beyoncé's ability to blend pop sensibilities with emotional depth.
Elevation
Our rating, out of 100 — and why.
AI-generated from five scored dimensions. An opinion, not a measurement.
The album showcases strong writing and production but has some issues with sequencing due to bonus tracks.
- Composition 25% of the score
-
8/10
- Craft 20% of the score
-
9/10
- Durability 25% of the score
-
8/10
- Distinctiveness 18% of the score
-
8/10
- Sequencing 12% of the score
-
6/10
the writing — melody, harmony, structure, lyrics
production, performance, arrangement
whether it rewards returning to it
whether it sounds like itself
running order, pacing, length
Significant within its genre. Reported but not counted — how far a record travelled describes its reception rather than the record, and a newer release has had less time to travel than an older one.
Is this for you?
Good fit if you like
- dynamic journey with emotional peaks
- wave-like pacing inviting immersion
- bold themes for reflective moments
- late-night exploration of self
- cathartic release through powerful vocals
Maybe skip if you
- seeking quick, catchy tracks
- prefer straightforward, concise albums
Where this album fits
- In the catalog
- Critical Peak — This album is a significant artistic statement and showcases her evolution.
- Themes
- feminist empowerment· intoxicating romance· visual storytelling
- Moods
- Introspective· Dark
- Career context
- Released on December 13, 2013, this self-titled album marked Beyoncé's fifth studio release, arriving after her critically acclaimed '4' and showcasing her evolution as an artist. It represented a significant departure from traditional album promotion, as she dropped it unexpectedly without prior announcement, setting a new standard for music releases.
- Stylistic neighbors
- Janelle Monáe· Alicia Keys· Rihanna
Moments worth listening for
Where the writing does something specific.
-
***Flawless
The shift to a spoken-word interlude that introduces themes of feminism and resilience through a powerful narrative voice.
This structural choice not only emphasizes the message but also disrupts the song's flow, making the listener pay close attention to the ideological underpinnings being presented.
Tracklist
Disc 1
- 1 Pretty Hurts Start here 4:17
- 2 Haunted 6:09
- 3 Drunk in Love 5:23
- 4 Blow 5:09
- 5 No Angel 3:48
- 6 Partition 5:19
- 7 Jealous 3:04
- 8 Rocket 6:31
- 9 Mine 6:18
- 10 XO 3:35
- 11 ***Flawless 4:10
- 12 Superpower 4:36
- 13 Heaven 3:50
- 14 Blue 4:26
Disc 2
- 1 Pretty Hurts Start here 7:05
- 2 Ghost 2:32
- 3 Haunted 5:21
- 4 Drunk in Love 6:21
- 5 Blow 5:26
- 6 No Angel 3:53
- 7 Yoncé 2:03
- 8 Partition 3:49
- 9 Jealous 3:26
- 10 Rocket 4:31
- 11 Mine 4:59
- 12 XO 3:36
- 13 ***Flawless 4:12
- 14 Superpower 5:24
- 15 Heaven 3:55
- 16 Blue 4:35
- 17 Credits 2:34
- 18 Grown Woman 4:24
If this landed
Records by other artists that run on the same instinct.
Reference: Wikipedia · MusicBrainz · Wikidata
Sync your library
Everything you track here works immediately — no account needed. Create one when you want to sync across devices.