LEAD SINGLE IS ALLEGEDLY CALLED RODEO
I thought the single was called Texas Hold ‘Em, no?
As someone who thinks Daddy Lessons is the best song she’s released in the past fifteen years, I am SO excited for this!!
Ari, Kacey, Beyonce and Tay all within just over a month of each other is insane! 
Texas Hold ‘Em and 16 Carriages are out on tidal!!
(Now please release them on a service people actually use x)
On Spotify now
I knew she was heading country.. but I was not expecting THIS country! I need a cowboy hat immediately!
Always up for giving new Beyoncé music a shot.
Beyoncé going country was not in my bingo card
Ooo Bey going country is an interesting direction.
On first listen, I really like both songs especially Texas Hold ‘Em which I could see being a hit.
Oh wow! Was not expecting Mitski, Beyonce and potentially Lana to all release country influenced material in a year! Anyway, I'll give this a listen...
Ooh I’m up for this, Daddy Lessons was absolutely brilliant and I’ve always thought she would be good going country!! Texas Hold ‘Em is great, 16 Carriages is decent, good start for this album. It will be an absolute serve if she has an angry rock track like Don’t Hurt Yourself with country tinges as well!!
Already loving the 2 new tracks! Daddy Lessons was one of my all time fave Bee tracks so to see her go down the country route is great !
Fun fact: Like most music genres, country music was actually invented by black people.
Country Lana I did see it coming but not Country Beyonce!!!
I'm not sure this is going to be as much for me as the first Renaissance album was. I'm finding 16 Carriages kinda dull tbh. Texas Hold 'Em is better, definitely catchy enough but probably still not something I could see myself listening to really regularly. I initially felt it sounded like a parody of sorts, but then the more I think about it, the more I guess the first Renaissance album could have been viewed a little like that, it's just that I happened to enjoy the influences a lot more than I typically do country music.
I haven't returned to Renaissance Act 1 at all since 2022. If I could had gone to her concert, it'd probably be different, but without that it kind of came and went.
I honestly feel like 16 CARRIAGES is miles above TEXAS HOLD ‘EM.
I’m excited for ACT II, but I was left wanting so much more from Renaissance ACT I. Loving the country vibes and I hope Part III is indeed the Rock inspired album.
I much prefer '16 CARRIAGES' to 'TEXAS HOLD 'EM'. 16 CARRIAGES is one of Bey's best written works in quite a while (probably since 'Lemonade')
This is very much Beyoncé doing Country and whilst not a bad thing, they’re both just like most other country songs in the aense that I will bop to them and like them, but I don’t think they’re anything particularly special as such and just perfectly fine and nice songs to listen to (and I’m not sure my opinion will change on them too strongly either way)
If it wasn’t Beyoncé and just some up and coming country star trying to break through, I’m not so sure they’d get too far beyond a niche corner of online country fans
The rock album that is rumoured??? YES PLEASE!
Edit: TEXAS HOLD ‘EM is a cute bop!
I prefer Texas but both songs are pretty blah.
‘16 Carriages’ is absolutely stunning. ‘Texas Hold ‘Em’ leaves me cold.
I really like both songs. "16 Carriages" is very pretty and "Texas Hold 'Em" is already stuck in my head after 2-3 plays. 
Looking forward to the entire album!
!!!
Kinda shocked there isn’t a Beyoncé artist forum on here
I think there was at one point.
There was and it never got used. I think the genre forum is perfectly fine tbh.
In love with "Texas Hold Em" 
a bop!
I'm in the '16 Carriages is much better than Texas Hold 'Em' camp as well. So good
I’m not really a big fan of Beyoncé apart from the I am Sasha fierce era and the follow up album but I really like the two new country tracks on iTunes. Is country the direction of her new album?
'TEXAS HOLD 'EM' is such a damn BOP! So, SO goooood! It's addicting and whilst it's still nothing too special, I am absolutely having the best time with it right now!
Texas is an incredible bop
Also how is this on the R&B forum?
It still has r&B influence and she's always been in this forum. Idk I guess it just makes sense to keep her here?
Iirc there was a discussion about this somewhere way back when about keeping artists in one genre forum that they’re most known for or something. I might open this up again later because I think it was a while ago now, but I find it a lot better if artists were in one genre forum regardless of their content. She’s a predominently R&B artist with pop/other influences all throughout though.
'TEXAS HOLD 'EM' is already a UK top 10 hit! Debuts at #9 today!
'Texas..' is a lot of fun, happy for it to give her, her first #1 here in so long!
Act II: Cowboy Carter
Ugh I hate the title lol. But she's going to deliver with music as usual.
I don't know which colour CD to pre-order LMAO
Hate the name
lmaoooooo this title
YEE F*CKING HAW
Yeah, that title is ICK
The name is so badddd 
icl Act 2 genuinely sounds better
LOL at that title 
Firstly, Lana calling her upcoming country album 'Lasso' then this travesty The cover art also looks a 'little' less striking then 'Renaissance's 
They are all jumping on the bandwagon aren’t they!
Yes!!! That album cover is much more like it.
God that cover is awful. Photoshopped till she l9oks like a Barbie doll, sat awkwardly upon a cgi horse...
It's obviously going to be a smash album but... I can't believe this is THIS FRIDAY...
Is the tracklist available yet? I found this online but it's 27 tracks (!!) so I'm not sure how accurate it is (and it only mentions one collab whereas she's hinted at multiple collabs):
'American Requiem'
'Blackbird'
'16 Carriages’
'Protector'
'My Rose'
'Smoke Hour' feat. Willie Nelson
'Texas Hold ‘Em’
'Bodyguard'
'Dolly P'
'Jolene'
'Daughter'
'Spaghetti'
'Alligator Tears'
'Smoke Hour II'
'Just For Fun'
'II Most Wanted'
'Levii's Jeans'
'Flamenco'
'The Linda Martell Show'
'Ya-Ya'
'Oh Louisiana'
'Desert Eagle'
'Riverdance'
'II Hands II Heaven'
'Tyrant'
'Sweet Honey Buckin''
'Amen'
I guess some of them sound like they could be interludes so it's not necessarily 27 songs. Also 'Dolly P' being an interlude which goes into 'Jolene' featuring Dolly might make sense?
Yes it's available. As to what the tracks are and whether there are features or whatever... it's a MESS LMAO.
I truly hope that Willie Nelson is featuring.
27 tracks??????
Morgan Wallen when I catch you-
That track list reveal is so messy 😭😭😭 i can’t make much of it out 😭 hope dolly is a feature, excited to hear this!
I actually really like the style of the tracklist reveal!
https://open.spotify.com/album/6BzxX6zkDsYKFJ04ziU5xQ
It's a midnight release at local times!
1. AMERIICAN REQUIEM (5:25)
2. BLACKBIIRD (feat. Tanner Adell) (2:11)
3. 16 CARRIAGES (3:47)
4. PROTECTOR (3:04)
5. MY ROSE (0:53)
6. SMOKE HOUR ★ WILLIE NELSON (0:50)
7. TEXAS HOLD 'EM (3:53)
8. BODYGUARD (4:00)
9. DOLLY P (0:22)
10. JOLENE (3:09)
11. DAUGHTER (3:23)
12. SPAGHETTII (feat. Shaboozey) (2:38)
13. ALLIGATOR TEARS (2:59)
14. SMOKE HOUR II (0:29)
15. JUST FOR FUN (3:24)
16. II MOST WANTED (feat. Miley Cyrus) (3:28)
17. LEVII'S JEANS (feat. Post Malone) (4:17)
18. FLAMENCO (1:40)
19. THE LINDA MARTELL SHOW (0:28)
20. YA YA (4:34)
21. OH LOUISIANA (0:52)
22. DESERT EAGLE (1:12)
23. RIIVERDANCE (4:11)
24. II HANDS II HEAVEN (5:41)
25. TYRANT (4:10)
26. SWEET ★ HONEY ★ BUCKIN' (4:56)
27. AMEN (2:25)
Looks like it’s being released tomorrow only digitally
My CD has been dispatched! 
Also, Miley on the album LET'S GOOOOO!
No actual Dolly Parton feature then? Guessing track 9 is just a spoken interlude from her (and track 6 the same for Willie Nelson).
'JUST FOR FUN' has a male feature too. It could be Willie Nelson, but nobody can tell it's certainly an older, gruff-sounding man.
Disappointed that the Willie Nelson track isn't a proper duet 
Very optimistic for this, I think it feels like it could be really fun
I was kinda hoping that Gaga rumour would come to fruition.
This is incredible. I was worried when I first heard country.. but I don’t know why, she’s delivered!
Bodyguard, Jolene, II most wanted, Riiverdance &Tyrant are probably early faves. Although Honey Buckin’ is probably up there too!
How has she done it again? I'm genuinely a little speechless listening to this — it's so rich and grandiose but also... loose and sprawling? This is going to take a while to unravel and digest.
'TEXAS HOLD 'EM' had me doubting her — what a fool.
it's certainly an older, gruff-sounding man.DAUGHTER *.*
But I'll wait until I hear it in full!
Or maybe Bey is on Gaga's album?
If there is a rock album and Gagz is on that, then I am even more here for it!
The whiplash the little Texas Hold'ems are going to get listening to this album nnn
(Bodyguard sounds like a massive hit though)
This is another fantastic album, but we don't expect anything less from her.
Having listened around four times so far today, here are my track by track thoughts...
09.5 - American Requiiem (what a song to start from... the build, the vocals, the rock elements. YES)
08.0 - Blackbird (a beautiful Beatles cover, but should be later in album? Feels weird as second track)
10.0 - 16 Carriages (still PERFECT)
08.0 - Protector (beautifully melodic - don't love the chorus' lyrics though)
08.0 - My Rose
07.0 - Texas Hold 'Em (bored of this quickly, sorry Bey)
08.5 - Bodyguard (very Fleetwood Mac... will sound incredible in summer. Wish the guitars at end came in earlier)
09.5 - Jolene (this just WORKS - the lyric changes are chef kiss)
10.0 - Daughter (the operatic vocals, the Spanish guitar. I am sorry, THIS IS INCREDIBLE)
06.0 - Spaghettii (I am so confused at why this is here??? I love Rap-Bey and it is not bad but it kills the mood for me!)
07.0 - Alliigator Tears (not bad per se, but seems most unneccessary so far?)
08.5 - Just For Fun (was not expecting a ballad from the name of the song - the second half is beautiful)
09.0 - II Most Wanted (Miley sounds absolutely insane!!)
08.5 - Levii's Jeans (hate Post Malone but he works on this? Love the laidback vibe)
07.5 - Flamenco (more of an interlude, lovely but inconsequential?)
10.0 - Ya Ya (the BEST song along with 16 Carriages - giving updated 'Suga Mama', this is for the B'Day girlies)
06.0 - Oh Louisiana (another interlude which doesn't massively add anything?)
07.0 - Desert Eagle (lovely funky vibe, but think these interludes are only okay... they don't really add to the transitions so just make tracklist longer)
07.0 - Riiverdance (is that a Kelly Rowland - Commander interpolation? Think this will grow, but feels like it drags for me)
08.0 - II Hands II Heaven (reminds me of 'Love Drought' from Lemonade? Lovely)
08.5 - Tyrant (love everything about this apart from the production breakdown which sounds cheap)
06.0 - Sweet Honey Buckin' (people loving this one, but I don't get it... I am finding it annoying as hell, giving country version of 'My House')
08.0 - Amen (lovely way to end)
I would say that there are some songs that need to grow, and personally as I hate long albums, I would have cut 5/6 songs to get it down to the hour mark. I also think the quality of some of the tracks second half, is not as strong as the first half. I have to admit this is the first Beyonce album in maybe 15 years where I think it could have done with a little more editing and curating. But it is such a visionary album, and she achieves everything she set out to here.
It won't beat Act I or even 'Beyonce' or 'Lemonade' for me but it is another triumph, let's be real.
Out an hour early on iTunes in the UK
Bodyguard is f***ing incredible omfg
Had a visceral reaction to that clicking sound in the left side of my headphones all throughout Blackbiird… never listening to it again! Which is a shame because it’s a good song, but who is responsible for that clicking 
First listen (except THE & 16C ofc) ratings:
10.0 AMERIICAN REQUIEM > This was getting better and better as it went on. SO good! Bey knows how to open an album! <
06.0 BLACKBIIRD (feat. Tanner Adell) > I'm not too big on this in any form I've heard it. This is a nice enough version though I guess. <
09.0 16 CARRIAGES > This got overshadowed by THE but it's really stunning. I hope it can get the rightful recognition it deserves at some point. <
07.0 PROTECTOR
06.5 MY ROSE
----- SMOKE HOUR ★ WILLIE NELSON
09.0 TEXAS HOLD 'EM > This is such a bop. But I'd be lying if I didn't say Tik Tok is killing this song off for me lmao. <
10.0 BODYGUARD > OHHHH This might be THE ONE! <
----- DOLLY P
07.0 JOLENE > Not crazy about this tbh. I find it quite whiny tbh! <
08.5 DAUGHTER > I think this will be the biggest grower. I expected a bit more as this was one of the initial favourites by quite a few people I saw on socials. It's very VERY good. The operatic vocals *.* <
07.0 SPAGHETTII (feat. Shaboozey)
07.0 ALLIGATOR TEARS
----- SMOKE HOUR II
08.0 JUST FOR FUN > This is lovely! I think it could be the most underrated on the album. <
09.0 II MOST WANTED (feat. Miley Cyrus) > Yeahhh the way Bey sings "SHOTgun" throws me off and doesn't suit the vibe of the song, imo. Other than that, I think their voices compliment each other very well! Miley particularly sounds incred. <
08.5 LEVII'S JEANS (feat. Post Malone) > This is a smooth, sensual bop! I wasn't expecting to like this as much as I actually do... omg. <
07.5 FLAMENCO
----- THE LINDA MARTELL SHOW
10.0 YA YA > THIS IS A LOT OF FUN! YESSSS! This is pretty much the country counterpart to 'Summer Renaissance'! I'M LIVING FOR IT!<
----- OH LOUISIANA > My favourite of the interludes! But that's because it plays more as an exitlude to 'YA YA'... <
----- DESERT EAGLE
07.0 RIIVERDANCE > It's fine. I like elements but it kinda feels incomplete a bit to me? <
08.0 II HANDS II HEAVEN > This starts off better than it ends where it feels like it outstays its welcome a little bit, but I like it (and don't particularly dislike the last 2 mins or so) <
08.0 TYRANT > A bop! Will be a grower I think! <
07.5 SWEET ★ HONEY ★ BUCKIN' > Oh... I was absolutely LOVING (presumably) the SWEET part. Like, it was legit going on to be one of my absolute favourites on the album! LMAO. Not sure it deserved to be in a song that switches into a bit of an over produced mess somewhat. But I don't hate it. Maybe I'll just need it to settle a bit more! So many people are saying this is the highlight but I can't say the same for me personally! <
07.0 AMEN > Nice enough ending but not really one I will care about away from the album. <
Another strong album from her. I think I preferred 'RENAISSANCE' more on initial listen, but we'll see how this grows with me. It's not as country as you'd probably think. It's a really solid and nice album. 'BODYGUARD', 'AMERIICAN REQUIEM' & 'YA YA' are my initial favourites. Probably in that order, but I just know 'YA YA' will overtake and likely become my overall favourite.
AMERIICAN REQUIEM: what a start, I just wanted this track to go on and on.
BODYGUARD: must be a single.
DAUGHTER: sensational and out of this world I am GAGGED.
JUST FOR FUN: would have been better without the collaboration if I’m being honest.
II MOST WANTED: must be a single.
LEVII’S JEANS: so rich and luscious, this collaboration works!
FLAMENCO: 10-minute version WHEN!? Criminally short.
RIVVERDANCE: smash and the transition into II HANDS II HEAVEN - wow. I’m claiming II HANDS II HEAVEN as my song.
TYRANT: oh- I hear a smash, I can see this being EVERYWHERE.
Top Four On First Listen: AMERIICAN REQUIEM, BODYGUARD, DAUGHTER, II HANDS II HEAVEN
This does feel like a second act as well, so many nods to RENAISSANCE while being able to stand out on its own. LOOK AT THAT HORSE!
16 CARRIAGES and TEXAS HOLD EM sound like they have a beefier mix on the album, or is that just me?
why do I hear Taylor Swift in Bodyguard 👀 👀 👀
This is absolutely sensational and I thought Texas Hold Em was very cringe textbook country dictionary, lyric wise. This album is one of the best put together pieces of art ever. In awe actually, hands down to Beyonce, finally living up to the hype
Bodyguard is a MOMENT by far best on the album, number one for 4 months please.
Only listened once but pretty certain this is yet another masterpiece after Pt I. The progression over her career is really something else
Bodyguard and Jolene are IT! What a bops
On first listen I liked Bodyguard, nothing else stuck out, I don’t get what I’m missing with Beyoncé that everyone else sees?
I’ve ended up cutting Protector, My Rose, Alligator Tears and Flamenco. None of them are bad as such but they don’t hold my interest like the rest and I just think the album works better without them.
This does nothing for me, not really my thing
I miss pure pop Beyonce of the early days
i'm just relistening to it now, but from my first listen jolene & levii's jeans are highlights. bodyguard is also amazing, i am convinced its taylor on backing vocals
Not for me 
I’m loving this project a lot more than I did with Renaissance, which I appreciated for being excellent musically but didn’t personally go back to much. I am a country fan anyway so I expected to enjoy this, but is sonically so rich and really pushes the boundaries of country in a way that very few artists do, much less seasoned country artists who often play it safe.
I do think it’s a bit bloated but I rarely listen to full albums repeatedly tbh, and there are a lot of great tracks from this project that would still make a great album for anyone else.
My thoughts are very similar to Liam's, this album was always going to be more up my street than RENAISSANCE (and actually the couple before that too, as much as I've got a good handful of songs I enjoy from each), so it's no real surprise that I really enjoyed my first play. It's VERY long and my attention span is weak so I'd struggle to name individual favourites from the second half but I generally enjoyed most tracks. BODYGUARD really does feel like a potential hit, would be shocked if that doesn't take off at some stage.
TEXAS HOLD 'EM has properly clicked now, I think it arrives at just the right moment in the album to pick the pace up. I never got round to 16 CARRIAGES (think I assumed it'd be top 40 in its first full week so I'd hear it on Radio 1 and then it just missed out) but that's really lovely, as is BLACKBIIRD. The Jolene cover is cute!
I enjoyed the album on first listen but not sure if I'll be revisiting it as a whole. I was apprehensive as I'm not the biggest fan of country or TEXAS HOLD 'EM for that matter but thankfully there's much better material on the album. The standouts for me are BODYGUARD, AMERICAN REQUIEM, JOLENE, DAUGHTER and LEVII'S JEANS. 16 CARRIAGES also remains the superior single so far.
Struggling a little to get into this compared to how instant Renaissance was for me - but country just isn't my thing so I'm ok with that. Bodyguard is definitely my favourite and the cover songs are nice, but I don't see myself returning to this as much as Renaissance which is pretty much still on repeat.
It's not a Country Album, it's a Beyonce album. LOOK AT THAT HORSE!
So many songs don't even touch the Country landscape but still tie back into the album or her discography in its entirety. There are songs you could easily pop onto RENAISSANCE, Lemonade or B'Day and they'd fit perfectly.
The tracklisting needs some work, I would have preferred FLAMENCO and DESERT EAGLE to be flushed out as full tracks, and drop all the interludes.
On my second listen, growing to appreciate SPAGHETTII, LEVII'S JEANS and YA YA more. AMEN back into AMERIICAN REQUIEM is why you need to have the album on a loop, it transitions PERFECTLY. But also transitions into "I'M THAT GIRL" seamlessly as well.
This stands out as its own album, but also fits in so well being ACT II and with the rest of her discography. Yes, for me not as instant as RENAISSANCE but so much here to explore as it's not quite as in your face.
I’ve had YA YA stuck in ny head all day! So so good! Not enough people commenting/appreciating that for my liking!
I've rejigged it and it's taken some editing of transitions to make it work but I've decided it's a great album if you have it like this...
01 AMERIICAN REQUIEM
02 BLACKBIIRD (wasn't keen on this as track 2 initially but I read about why she covered it and had the features she did and now it makes much more sense and feels poignant)
03 DADDY LESSONS (yes I know this is cheating but let's be honest it fits so perfectly with the sound)
04 BODYGUARD
05 LEVII'S JEANS (much prefer this earlier on away from the other features tracks)
06 SMOKE HOUR ★ WILLIE NELSON
07 TEXAS HOLD 'EM
08 DOLLY P
09 JOLENE
10 DAUGHTER
11 PROTECTOR (this gets lost for me at the beginning of the proper album but I think it's much nicer following DAUGHTER)
12 SMOKE HOUR II
13 JUST FOR FUN
14 II MOST WANTED
15 SPAGHETTI
16 16 CARRIAGES (numbering a nice fluke but it genuinely works much better here after Spaghetti) - ALSO, this is so much better on the album than I gave it credit for before
17 THE LINDA MARTELL SHOW
18 YA YA ★ OH LOUISIANA
19 DESERT EAGLE (so annoying that this isn't longer as I love the vibe of it)
20 RIIVERDANCE
21 II HAND II HEAVEN
22 TYRANT
23 SWEET ★ HONEY ★ BUCKIIN'
24 AMEN
Whilst this isn't quite up there with Renaissance for me as a whole, it runs it a lot closer than I expected it to. This one definitely has more songs that work as standalone tracks though so it feels like there could be a lot of potential singles and be quite a consistent seller.
Texas hold em has really clicked big time for me now I utterly love it!
After first listen, there's some really great songs but also a lot that didn't interest me. Maybe some are growers but these are the early standouts:
Texas Hold 'Em
Bodyguard
Jolene
Alligator Tears - possibly my favourite from first listen?
II Most Wanted
Levi's Jeans
Ya Ya
Riverdance
Tyrant
Future & Metro Boomin tracks are still #1 and #2 on US Apple Music. Thought this would be a landslide #1 there.
The country scene is still very much racist there so I’m not surprised people are not listening to it as much as some mediocre rent-a-rappers
This is definitely her strongest album for me. I’ve never really rated *any* of her projects as whole bodies of work except for maybes self titled but this is definitely a strong body of work.
I am partial to country in general though so it may be that playing into it but yeah I’m actually surprised by how good this is and I’m speaking as someone who’s never really *gotten* the vast majority of her work.
It's not really a country album tbh. The "vibe" and imagery lean towards country tradition but it's very genreless.
My CD hasn't even arrived yet, even though I pre-ordered it a few weeks in advance.
After 2 listens yeah I definitely wouldn’t class it as country, it obviously has bits of it there but there’s many different genres
Overall it’s a good album, but way too long imo, Theres probably only 10-14 songs max that are standing out to me at the moment
Faves so far -
Ameriican Requiem
Daughter
Just For Fun
II Most Wanted
Tyrant
And of course
16 Carriages
Texas Hold ‘Em
Both covers are great too although I think maybe too many lyric changes in Jolene
Loving the Post Malone collab!
Great album, not as country as I expected on the whole.
I saved the following to my playlist to add to Texas Hold 'Em and 16 Carriages, in order of preference (fave at the top):
Bodyguard
II Hands II Heaven (the melody gives me a Born Slippy vibe?)
Alligator Tears
American Requiem
Daughter
Amen
II Most Wanted
Jolene
Blackbiird
Levii's Jeans
Just For Fun
Riverdance
The top four are so good. As always, a brilliant album. A little long but doesn't feel really overblown or anything, I'd have just shed about 3 or 4 songs maybe.
It's all just continuing to grow with every listen for me, she really has excelled with the first two albums of this project. I know people loved self titled and Lemonade but Renaissance and Cowboy Carter are both much better for me
This was quite the experience. If Renaissance was a deep dive into dance music, this was one that goes even deeper. I'm surprised there's comments of 'country's not for me so I don't get this' as this is such a genre spanning album that properly dissects the roots and influences of the genre. There's electronica, hip hop, R&B, Opera (!), rock and roll...I'm not a huge country music fan myself, but I found a lot to enjoy here, and it really works as a statement of country's versatility and how it is so often pigeonholed and exclusive in certain circles.
It's a little overbearing and definitely could've used some edits, the mid section with the features didn't quite hit the mark for me, but the craziness of the opening and closing sections makes up for it. Of the highlights, Daughter is wonderful and I certainly didn't have opera down as something she dabbles in here. Nor did I have 60s Psychedelia, YA YA is wonderful and Riiverdance is a riot too. The beefed up production of Jolene is good and I do appreciate a new interpretation of the song, but it doesn't quite work for me as the desperation and vulnerability was part of what made the original so powerful.
I think I may like this more than Renaissance as there is a bit more variety, though they are very close together and work for different reasons. It's insane almost 30 years into her career how much she continues to push boundaries and surprise people, waiting for that rock album with anticipation x
Tyrant is absolutely incredible as is Riverdance! So many good songs though.
This truly is an incredible album, possibly even better than 'Renaissance' (which is easily Bey's best album for me and one of my fav albums of this decade so far). 'AMERIICAN REQUIM' immediately stood out as an instant masterpiece, I'm adoring the psychedelic-gospel vibe on that one.
SPAGHETTII tho.. bangahhh
Heard just Blackbird and Ya ya so far, the former is nice enough, the latter Nancy Sinatra reckons it's prob the best use of a These Boots Are Made For Walkin' sample to date. It bungs in Beach Boys to boot and 60's go-go girl rhythms from zillions of beach teen movies. Much better than Texas Hold 'Em.
Only "Texas" is charting in top 10 on Spotify globally, 3 tracks in top 20, so it's not that bad, but definitely not the giga smash the online hype indicated two days ago.
The CD/Vinyl being called BEYINCÉ rather than Cowboy Carter, and having a few tracks missing from them, is catching attention outside of just the fans/collectors:
Beyoncé album is missing tracks on vinyl, fans say
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-68702870
Beyoncé Fans Are Not Happy That Some ‘Cowboy Carter’ Songs Were Cut From CD and Vinyl
https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/beyonce-fans-upset-cowboy-carter-songs-missing-cd-vinyl-1234997062/
Fans say Beyoncé's 'Cowboy Carter' is missing tracks on vinyl
https://www.nme.com/news/music/fans-say-beyonces-cowboy-carter-is-missing-tracks-on-vinyl-3611530
Beyoncé's new album missing five tracks on vinyl, fans complain
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2024/03/31/beyonces-new-album-missing-five-tracks-on-vinyl/
Many seem to think the album was originally called BEYINCE until a last minute change.
I wonder if her having a self titled album may have spurred the decision to change it? But the idea of several tracks being missing would definitely make me feel short changed as a fan.
It is a bit weird that it wipes out the Linda Martell contributions. I was 50/50 on buying it but now I think I'll definitely pass tbh, the digital version is fine for me
Presumably it is just a case of her continuing to work on the album after copies had already been pressed, this has happened a few times recently and this is far from the most egregious case (see Nicki Minaj's 'Pink Friday 2' missing over half of the final tracklist on its physical version!), though I think it might be the first time that the album has gone out physically with a completely different title lol. Maybe if they were more transparent about it being a different tracklist (e.g. marking the digital only songs as bonus tracks) it'd be a bit less dodgy but really artists should just either commit to the tracklist if they want physicals out on the first week, or accept having a belated release for the physicals if they insist on making last minute tweaks. You can't have both.
My pre-ordered CD hasn't even arrived yet. I assume because it's the Easter holidays.
For some inexplicable reason Beyonce has a writing credit on the Blackbird cover.
She doesn't have a writing credit on the Jolene cover.
f*** me 'Bodyguard' is insanely good. Career highlight right there!
My CD arrived yesterday. The four missing tracks issue is definitely annoying, as is the fact it was clearly called Beyincé. I wonder if they'll repress it with the other songs and updated cover art at some point.
I’m assuming with the delay with it going into stores maybe the ones released on the 12th will have the updated track list and names? I got a cd just cos I think it’s quite cool to have it with the different name and track list, hopefully there’ll be complete ones too so I can grab one of those!
Ooh I’m just listening to the cd now and Jolene sounds different! There’s a prominent male voice in the cd version that doesn’t seem to be there on Spotify! Maybe it’s just blended into the choir more on streaming!
Bodyguard is down to #94 on global Spotify - it's not going to be a hit is it
It took a while for the album to hit me but gosh it is so good. I really enjoyed the experimental tracks on CC the most like Spaghettii, Tyrant, Bodyguard, Ya Ya, Sweet Honey Buckiin' to name a few. Although I enjoy RENAISSANCE more as a whole, this album is very good.
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