Rap-Up.com || Review Roundup: Beyoncé – ‘I Am…Sasha Fierce’

Beyoncé’s highly anticipated third studio album I Am…Sasha Fierce hits stores and online retailers next Tuesday. Does it live up to the hype? Find out what the critics are saying…

Entertainment Weekly: On Beyoncé, there are some lovely ballads, including ”Disappear,” with its sweet guitar-picking and delicate harmonies, and the soaring ”Halo” and ”Ave Maria” … The collection might have been better served had she edited it down to one disc, rather than belabor what ultimately seems like a marketing gimmick. B+

Rolling Stone: But the Sasha disc boasts Beyoncé’s most adventurous music yet: She rides frothy techno on “Radio,” turns out modal-sounding hooks over 808 bass on “Diva,” and juices the eerie, Nine Inch Nails-style beats of “Video Phone” with lines like “Press ‘record’ and I’ll let you film me.” 3.5 out of 5

Los Angeles Times: As a vocalist, Beyoncé seems more comfortable in Sasha’s stilettos. Her performances on those cuts feel unforced and fun, like she’s thinking on her feet. Stretching for deep meaning on the Beyoncé ballads, she risks sounding ponderous—communicating thoughtfulness weighs her down.

The Guardian (U.K.): Elsewhere, though, they’ve come up with stuff such as “Halo,” a pallid rewrite of Rihanna’s “Umbrella”—same icy synths, same drivetime rock dynamic, same repetitive chorus—which certainly raises some questions: is this any way for the queen of R&B to be carrying on? 3 out of 5

New York Magazine: The more-subdued first disc, for which B.’s less outrageous side was responsible, really isn’t bad (we like “Disappear” and “Halo,” especially), but who listens to Beyoncé for the ballads? NOBODY.

New York Daily News: The loosening of Beyoncé’s melodic structures allows her to circumvent the constricted, and rhythm-driven, shouts of her earlier work to access new parts of her range. She snakes up the crescendo of “Satellites” with fresh grace, and embraces operatic flourishes in “Ave Maria” with heavenly élan. 4 out of 5

Rap-Up’s Favorite Tracks: “Halo,” “Radio,” “Smash Into You,” “Ego”

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27 Comments

Monica
November 15th, 2008 at 5:22 am
I agree with the reviewers this album was average…just like the rest of them.Maybe itll be better next album.
DONNIE
November 15th, 2008 at 5:28 am
what how was this album average, she had so many diverse songs that u got a taste of love,hate,passion, and fun. just because beyonce dont sing some bullshit like deja vu and ring the alarm, dont mean she dont have great music. i dont understand how people go all crazy for soulja boy,lil wayne and keri hilson. beyonce is ***** and i aint even a stan, stop hating
DONNIE
November 15th, 2008 at 5:30 am
THE GARDUIAN, HOW IS BEYONCE COPYING RIHANNA UMBRELLA, WHO THE FUCK IS RIHANNA, RYAN TEDDER WROTE THAT SONG, SO HOW RIHANNA GOT TO DO WITH IT, I THINK THAT IS JUST A CHEAP SHOT FOR CONTERVERCY
blue
November 15th, 2008 at 6:38 am
im aint no beyonce fan but i must say the album does have a few song dat gud be HITS (Radio,Halo,Hello and maybe ego) but let be real ppl only about 5 track off the album the keep on repeat ………THE ALBUM DOES LIVE UP TO THE HYPE…..IT FALLS REAL SHORT …… IF SHE IS THE QUEEN HER WHOLE ALBUM SHOULD BE THE SHIT AND EVERYONE EVEN PPL WHO HATE HER SHOULD WANNA BUY IT AND LISTEN LIKE B-DAY I HATED BEYONCE BE4 DAT SHE CAME HARD ON DAT DISC……and on hello sounding like umbrella ….i dont think dey sound alike but as soon as she said hello my mind went on rihanna and das not a gud thing
Woodridge
November 15th, 2008 at 6:43 am
This album ain\’t average at all. Beyonce\’s versatility is remarkable from \’I Am…\’ to \’Sasha Fierce\’. I\’m loving HALO, SMASH INTO YOU, DIVA and EGO. EGO in particular is awesome in that if you read the lyrics alone you\’d think that she\’s up herself. But the way she sings it so soulfully only makes you wanna join in and sing bout your own ego. The only issue I had with the album is that I woulda liked more light, up-tempo songs on \’Sasha Fierce\’ (similar songs to CHECK ON IT and SINGLE LADIES)… The fast tempo songs were just a bit too heavy (vocally) for me. But yeah, overall the album rocks.
Joey
November 15th, 2008 at 8:04 am
Donnie, Umbrella was written by The Dream, Tricky Stewart & Kuk Harrell.
BhrisB
November 15th, 2008 at 10:23 am
Man.You guys must not know beyonce.
Im a fan and if you’ve been listing to her since she was 17 in DC3 you would know that cd is SO open.
She’s tellin a story of yall would listen.
Both cd’s go HARD!
I BET IT WILL BE NUMBER 1.
ucjr05
November 15th, 2008 at 11:38 am
If your looking for the latest video’s, music, industry news, and free beats check out the ubnation.
http://www.ubnation.com
amy
November 15th, 2008 at 12:31 pm
Donnie you are sooooo right!!!! i absolutely love her new album all of the songs are sooo amazing and so different!! she has put alot of hard work into it and it has paid off!!! the first cd has the most beautiful ballads i have ever heard and the second cd has the coolest and funest songs beyonce or any woman rnb artist has made..like \
Trent
November 15th, 2008 at 12:38 pm
well i think that she could have did a way better album i only like about 4 songs on the album i\’m not a fan of hers but i like some of her music and this album don\’t really do a thing for me and i\’m with the New York Magazine: The more-subdued first disc, for which B.’s less outrageous side was responsible, really isn’t bad (we like “Disappear” and “Halo,” especially), but who listens to Beyoncé for the ballads? NOBODY its no lie
Deontae
November 15th, 2008 at 1:05 pm
I think the album is okay it\’s getting so much hype for no reason when it\’s not all that at all! I don\’t like around 6 songs on there! Her best is Radio, Halo, Single Ladies, and If I Were A Boy (which I still don\’t like as a single)
Catie
November 15th, 2008 at 1:14 pm
Ouch, the reviews aren’t looking so good. It’s almost weird that the album is already coming out Tuesday. I feel like there isn’t enough hype on it, which is weird.
djbaps
November 15th, 2008 at 2:18 pm
don’t care about the critics all that matters are the fans i luvit!!! my favourite songs on her album are radio, halo, dissappear, ego
Denise
November 15th, 2008 at 2:41 pm
I don’t agree with those reviews. I love the album so much! There are just 2 songs on the standard edition I don’t like. I still have to get used to the deluxe edition and listen to the “new” songs more. But right now I can’t stop playing songs like “Halo”, “Disappear”, “Ave Maria”, “Satellites”, “Radio”, “Diva” and “Sweet Dreams”. Most of those songs could be very successful singles. I didn’t get into “Ego” yet and so I can’t really understand why she picked that one as the follow-up to “If I Were A Boy” and “Single Ladies”.
Congrats BEE!!
November 15th, 2008 at 3:09 pm
I really think the critics are not use to this style coming from beyonce. She has a fan base that spans in hundreds of countries, her single If I were a boy is a hit on POP radio and her single ladies song is a hit on R&B urban radio. If you say that this cd is not hyped up then your a big FOOL! NY Times dont have a clue, this is the POP Queen of the world really and if you say she is not big for her ballads just look at irreplacable!! And who compares Beyonce to Rihanna, she is from Barbados with an accent uummm they are completely different. I can only bet you that this cd is going to sell off the charts because BEYONCE has a huge fan base and WE like her music. Congrats on your versitility with this album and prove to these HATERS that your the best! OVA!! LOL
Efe
November 15th, 2008 at 3:10 pm
I Looooove the whole CD. Halo, Ave Maria,Diva Disappear,Smash into you, Ego are all really good. Gosh! wat more do people want from her, her vocal ability alone is a killer( Ave Maria, Halo Shows). This CD is her best to date (IMO)
Dehlilia
November 15th, 2008 at 3:27 pm
i totally disagree that beyonce is really r&b. shes pop, always has been. and definetly not the queen of r&b. shes got a beautiful voice, and shes captured many with her persona, but the woman has NO-THING on patti labelle, sade, or mary j blidge who continues to stay classic and still update her sound, not to mention her journey from the bottom, to the top, to nowhere, and back to the top again.
Casey
November 15th, 2008 at 4:17 pm
many people even some fans NOT all are saying same thing with the critics. I love her Album I think its MAINLY for white audiences and have great songs Halo Disappear Radio Sweet Dream Ego all are may fave!
But im broke so yeah dont expect me scrap up any funds to get the album its hot and better then bday but really not worth my money when its free on Myspace on HER page! So Yeah Hope she does well oh Mary is Queen of Hiphop/RnB Keyisha the princess.Bey is Queen of Rnb/Pop. Ciara the Princes of Rnb/Pop/Hip Hop. Then Queen of Crunk N B. Idk where Rihanna fall I guess princess of Pop but thats Britney\’s place. Queen is Madonna I guess Rihanna is just little miss sunshine! nothing special she has #1 hits cus she force feed us her Crap and no one was out and Production/song writing was from them best so what yall expect?!?! Why you think she stay coming out cus she doesnt have staying power if she left for 2 yrs. No one would care about her.
GARLIC
November 15th, 2008 at 7:46 pm
It\’s important that Beyonce grows as an artist. If she were to give the same fast tempo tracks via B-Day people would complain that shes doing the same thing. There is no pleasing everyone. The only person she should worry about pleasing is herself. Although I feel B-Day is her best album, Beyonce delivers some of her best songs on this album. A lot of the songs give a BIG Epic type of sound. When will the world realize, Beyonce doesn\’t like singing R&B. I applaud Beyonce for stepping out of her comfort zone and channeling what best suits her. Pop. She gives you sounds shes never given you before and experiments with her voice. This album is definitely her defining moment… If u don\’t see it.. Take those LATE shades off and GET IN.
Q72
November 16th, 2008 at 5:29 am
Her cd is alright and i wouldn’t spend money on it. She had to step it up.
Jayceon
November 16th, 2008 at 11:01 am
man beyonces album is tha shit like real talk, that Diva track reminds me of weezys a milli she goes hard no doubt! Luv me some B!!
bass_man
November 16th, 2008 at 4:40 pm
where’s the hype for this album?

There’s usually like a high anticipation countdown almost to her releases…

can’t believe it’s coming out in 2 days..
crunkpoet
November 17th, 2008 at 3:38 pm
sorry its wack and boring..aint nothing groundbreaking..typical beyonce…gotta find her niche..and at what 26 27 years old she still aint found it..boring
the real dream
November 17th, 2008 at 5:25 pm
BURN IT!!!!!!!!!! BUY It black market!!!
Anonymous
November 19th, 2008 at 10:49 am
I\’m a huge B fan but The CD DIDN\’T LIVE UP TO THE HYPE AT ALL…Hands down. I went to three stores to get this deluxe editon album and it wasn\’t what I expected at all. I think the first CD wasn\’t bad…I love the ranges and it\’s more personal but B DOESNT give us personal she gives us B which is BadAss and this wasn\’t that…this was like ridin\’ in the car alone on a country road music. I liked it but it wasn\’t what I wanted to hear from B. I rather just down load If I were a boy. Which I am proud of her because B biggest problem is she doesn\’t know how to be emotional. And in all her songs and acting she really never captures you. She finally did that with If I were a Boy…and I give her that. Almost made me cry. U go Girl! Now just add it to your acting and you\’ll be straight. Back to I am Sasha Fierce… B should\’ve came harder with this concept. She shouldve had two CD\’s and made them fierce as hell like B-day and then as a bonus had the first cd in the case and it wouldve suprised us. It would\’ve slowly eased us into another side of B. Bad Marketing. The CD was average as hell. When I buy B I don\’t expect average. I get the whole story thing but nobody wants a story from B…we want entertainment. If I were a boy was good but if she\’s not going to make songs to that emotional extent …put it on a bonus CD. I love B but this comes to me as her worse album…For the entire Concept and image of Sasha Fierce…this album isn\’t it. Maybe under a different name it could\’ve been more accepted…I mean I still don\’t see the Sasha Fierce concept at all in the songs. I see an attitude change on CD2 which was a good start but it still wasn\’t Fierce enough. Who is Sasha Fierce…she never answered that. As far as Rihanna is concerned B is B Ri is Ri stop comparing them. There are alot of songs that imitate other artists in B\’s cd but I don\’t think it was intentional. If anything The whole first CD was a copy of Sade…the tone and the actual pictures. The entire Sasha Fierce theme was just a waste…the pictures hyped you up and for the most part the songs didn\’t deliver.
brooklynn
November 21st, 2008 at 2:54 pm
BEYONCE I AM SASHA FIERCE-! BEYONCE I AM SASHA FIERCE-! BEYONCE I AM SASHA FIERCE-! BEYONCE I AM SASHA FIERCE-! BEYONCE I AM SASHA FIERCE-! BEYONCE I AM SASHA FIERCE-! BEYONCE I AM SASHA FIERCE-! BEYONCE I AM SASHA FIERCE-! BEYONCE I AM SASHA FIERCE-! BEYONCE I AM SASHA FIERCE-!

OUT NOW!!!!

including
single ladies
put a ring on it!

BEYONCE I AM SASHA FIERCE-! BEYONCE I AM SASHA FIERCE-! BEYONCE I AM SASHA FIERCE-! BEYONCE I AM SASHA FIERCE-! get it now yo !
ashley
November 26th, 2008 at 12:01 pm
Wow its amazing how ppl just cant give beyone her props. She is the best and this album shows EXTREME growth and versatility. This album just doesnt reach out to her normal fans who like her booty shakin music, but this album broadens her fan base, and shows why she deserves to be on top. Ppl dnt like this album because they are ignorant to change, and their close minded, but if you truly knew music, and understood it, you would see B is on FIRE!!! I don\’tsee you people doing what or selling as much albums as she does so you cant talk. GO BEYONCE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!