Beyoncé. What more really needs to be said at this point. Almost two weeks ago I was sitting at my computer at 11:40 at night working on a final paper, and as I was scrolling through Twitter during a break from writing I suddenly saw a flood of tweets about Bey. They all were talking about a new album. I was confused but quickly opened iTunes and much to my surprise what did I see? A new Beyoncé album and iTunes banners completely domineering the top of the page. BEYONCÉ. That's all it was and suddenly 14 songs and 17 videos were being downloaded into my library. The rest of the night was spent freaking out with the rest of the Twittersphere as I rocked out to this plethora of unannounced music from Queen Bey, or as she now is known, Yoncé.

Just when everyone thought a year of incredible music was winding down, Beyoncé pulled a sneak attack with an exclusive album-only iTunes release that resulted in her having a debut at #1 with 617,000 copies sold in just three days. That's a far cry from Lady Gaga's ARTPOP sales of 258,000 which took her seven days and months of in-your-face promo to achieve. King Bey indeed. Without releasing a single or video or even doing one promo performance, Beyoncé did more in three days than what most of our reigning pop divas have done all year. And she did it all while maintaining her dignity and self-respect and without selling out. Like she says, "Radio say 'speed it up', I just go slower."
1. Pretty Hurts - 10/10

Starting off the album is a Beyoncé monster of a mid-tempo that will have you crying within seconds. 'Pretty Hurts' is about grappling with your self image as external forces are telling you that you need to fix this and that. As she proclaims, "Perfection is a disease of the nation." With such simplicity in talking about self-image problems she has critiqued an entire culture all while inducing heart-wrenching sobs. Bey's voice soars and glides over the beats as she screams how "pretty hurts." The video sees Bey partaking in a pageant and ultimately coming in second. And by the end we get an epic trophy room destroyed by Bey as she releases all her pent up emotions. It's powerful.

2. Haunted - 8/10

Moving from a gut-wrenching mid-tempo to something a bit more experimental, on 'Haunted' Bey begins with a critique on the state of the music industry in what is titled 'Ghost' in the video section. It's a very subdued vocal from the usual over-the-top R&B stylings she normally throws at us. 'Haunted' picks up steam as its trap-electronica beat speeds up and Bey gets very sexual, giving us our first taste of what is actually a very sexually charged-record. It's not one of my favorites on the album, but I really like the experimental aspect that unknown producer Boots brings to the track. In the video for 'Haunted' her royal highness Bey turns up and sits there looking fit and fabulous. She channels some of Madonna's most iconic scenes from 'Erotica' and 'Hollywood' but it's still all her own. Want else do you need her to do when she knows she's the HBIC?

3. Drunk On Love (feat. Jay-Z) - 9/10

This is the first real stand-out track/obvious single choice of the album (it's actually hard to pick out potential singles). Bey and Jay are arguably the most powerful celebrity couple out there, and it just wouldn't be an album without the new generation's Bonnie and Clyde making an appearance. It's a great hip-hop track with Bey bringing out her urban side and giving us some ghetto realness with her vocals. And let's not forget her "surfboard" line which is instantly iconic. And then Jay-Z comes in, lays down a verse, and slays our entire lives. We learn quite a bit about the couples' sex lives (more than we wanted to know?). The video is quite simple as the couple dance around on the beach and grind up against each other. Beyoncé shows off her exquisite body and gives us some memorable moves. It's clear these two have the kind of love everyone hopes to find and it's beautiful.
4. Blow - 8/10

'Blow' is one of the more playful songs on the record and is an instant standout because of how catchy it is. Once you get over that, you realize just how dirty the song is but it really doesn't matter because it's such a jam. Pharrell and Timbaland crafted a tune that's hyper-sexual and will never let you look at Skittles the same again. The video is also one of the most fun as Bey and her posse make their way to a roller rink and go for a neon glow-in-the-dark '70s-influenced dance party. Will you turn that cherry out?

5. No Angel - 7/10

After an infectious tongue-in-cheek tune, Bey does a 180 and gives us this mid-tempo that is more urban with an experimental beat. Bey's vocals on this one are interesting as she goes for a more raspy approach at times. There's a disconcerting vibe to the song that is oddly engaging, and I think that's what makes this one so magical. The song is basically about how your significant other might not be an angel, but you love them so much you're going to stick it out and try to make it work. The video for the song sees Beyoncé return home to the 4th Ward and we see gangsters, strippers, cars and money in a not too friendly neighborhood. The video makes the same sort of statement as the song.

6. Partition - 10/10

"Lemme hear you say 'Haaaaayyy, Mrs. Carter" Bey tells us before kicking off the highlight of the album and the song that brings out my inner black diva. The first part of the song which is 'Yoncé' will have you getting down and dirty and shows off the urban side of Bey like we've never seen before. The song is about how she makes her own rules when it comes to making music as "Radio say 'speed it up', I just go slower" and "I sneezed on the beat and the beat got sicker." It's her big F U to the music industry and it couldn't be better. We then segue into 'Partition' and it's the most overtly sexually song on the album. Yoncé is literally telling her driver to put up the partition so her and Jay can get it on in the backseat. Damn, girl.The song ends with a French dialogue which is again targeting criticism about her and her music being anti-feminist, and this is the first time that feminist aspect of the record begins announcing itself. In 'Yoncé' she dances around with a couple of models and shows how sexy a woman can be when she's dancing (without twerking) and then in 'Partition', as only she can, she makes one of the dirtiest songs the classiest and flawless. Who doesn't want a piece of Yoncé?
7. Jealous - 9/10

'Jealous' is where Beyoncé gets real and raw, and she lets her anger out. It's one of my favorites on the album because we really get to see some angst and heart from her. She sings about how she wants to walk in her man's shoes and see what he's really thinking. A more mature 'If I Were a Boy' anyone? She says she's just human and she'll keep her promise if her man keeps his. I absolutely love the production on this one. In the video, she sets the table and then angrily throws all the food off before running out into the street looking upset. We get her best bit of acting in this clip as she runs through the streets crying before happening to run into Jay's car and suddenly everything is ok again.

8. Rocket - 9/10

After that glimpse of vulnerability, we go back to sex. 'Rocket' is basically just a huge euphemism and if this doesn't make you horny, you've got a problem. She wants her man to punish her and she sings, “Rock it ’til waterfalls/Bathe in these waterfalls.” That about sums it up. The slick R&B production just adds to the perfection of this song. In the video, Bey's body is the star as the camera follows her curves and shows us just how beautiful pornography can be without being in your face passionless sex. Bey gets artsy here.
9. Mine (feat. Drake) - 8/10

Featuring the second collaboration on the album, Beyoncé enlists rapper Drake for this moody uptempo that is pretty damn great. The song is probably the second most personal track as she openly sings about her relationship issues with Jay. She lets us know that they've talked about separating, and things after she had the baby weren't such smooth sailing. When Drake and Bey sing together it's magic, and with the back and forth verses floating over the piano melody and woodblock makes for a strong track. The video is where things get taken to a new level as Beyoncé recreates Michaelangelo's iconic Pietà, but she turns it into a moving artwork masterpiece and it is easily one of the standout videos.

10. XO - 10/10

Remember that Ryan Tedder-produced song that he was raving about and said how it was like the best thing he had ever done? Well it's here, and it's a highlight of an already spectacular album. The song is much lighter and airier than the preceding songs making for a nice emotional break, and we get to hear Bey be happier in this life-affirming anthem of love. The electronic production makes for a euphoric radio smash that will propel her career to newer heights. I cannot wait to see her perform this one. It's the first single for Top 40 radio, and it could not be a more perfect choice. The video for the song is really the only one that we had known about prior to the album's release. Bey goes to Coney Island for a day of fun and hangs out with friends and her fans. It's feel-good. What more can you ask for?
11. ***Flawless (feat. Chimamanda Ngozi Adiche) - 10/10

Remember 'Bow Down / I Been On' that leaked over the summer? Well Yoncé resurrected the first portion and incorporated it into this new epic song that almost rivals 'Partition' for the best urban track on the album. 'Bow Down' is literally epic as Yoncé asserts her domination and tells the lessers to "bow down, bitches." A spoken word piece from Nigerian novelist Chimamanda Ngozi Adiche highlights the feminist aspect of the record, and moving into 'Flawless' one realizes how powerful of a statement this song makes once you distance yourself from Bey's shockingly filthy mouth. The video begins and ends with Beyoncé's original girl group competing on Star Search where they only got three stars (hence the title of the song) and lost to a boy band. No matter what, rise above diversity and obstacles and prove why you should be taken seriously.

12. Superpower (feat. Frank Ocean) - 7/10

I still don't understand the rage over Frank Ocean. I just think his music is so boring and entirely overrated. That being said, this is a nice smooth track to wind things down after '***Flawless' and before we get to some emotionally draining songs. My first thought when I heard this was Glee. The song is primarily made of acapella "do do dos" which have become a signature trademark for the now derailed teen dramedy. The song is mainly about the power of love. And that's really all there is to it. It's really one of my least favorites. The video is where things get interesting. Bey shows some breast as she's wearing a burka-type headpiece while walking through a parking garage. Things begin getting crazy as she walks out into a riot, but all the while nothing happens to her and she begins amassing a posse. And then comes the biggest WTF moment: MICHELLE AND KELLY SHOW UP. Destiny's Child reunion for the third time this year. Epicness.

13. Heaven - 10/10

And now for one of the most heart-wrenching ballads you've probably ever heard in your life. It's clear from the opening piano chords and Bey's lamenting vocals that this is a serious subject. Listening to the song, it's safe to guess that this song is about Bey's miscarriage as she sings "Heaven couldn't wait for you. Now go home." Just thinking about her writing and singing this song breaks my heart. Not many artists open up about something so personal so kudos to her. In the video, Bey doesn't give us what we're expecting but she still manages to break our hearts into a million pieces. The video shows Bey hanging out with what appears to be her best friend, but then the friend dies and Bey sings at her grave.

14. Blue (feat. Blue Ivy) - 9/10

Probably the most surprising collaboration is the final cut from the album. Not only does Beyoncé gives us a song about the love she has for her daughter, but she also features Blue Ivy on the song and it results in one of the cutest things you've probably ever heard. The song is really a mixture of every piece of this album as it fluctuates between R&B, electronica and massive orchestral moments. The tune also has one of my favorite choruses from the entirety of this record. It's just so beautiful and genuine. As for the video? It's basically a home video of Bey, Jay and Blue.
Tracks to Check Out: 'Pretty Hurts', 'Drunk On Love', 'Partition', 'XO', 'Flawless', 'Heaven'

Overall Rating: 9/10