BEYONCE Vinyl & CDs

Review: Beyonce's Cowboy Carter is a bold and poignant exploration of American roots music, marking a departure from her previous works while asserting her dominance across genres. Inspired by her 2016 experience at the Country Music Association Awards, where she faced criticism and racism despite her Texas roots, Beyonce delves into Louisiana Cajun country, the rivers of Alabama, and the streets of Memphis, reimagining Americana, folk, and country in her own image. The album serves as a powerful statement on the erasure of Black contributions to country music and American culture, with Beyonce reclaiming her rightful place in the genre's history. Through collaborations with legends like Dolly Parton and Willie Nelson, as well as emerging Black country and rock musicians, Beyonce highlights the enduring legacy of Black artists in shaping these musical forms. Cowboy Carter is both a sonic journey and a cultural commentary, blending elements of folk, country and rock with Beyonce's signature style and vocal range. From the haunting cover of the Beatles' 'Blackbird' to the electrifying trap beats of 'Ya Ya,' the album showcases Beyonce's versatility and musical dexterity. No doubt, 2024 will be another strong year of Beyonce led by this album.

Review: Beyonce's last album was widely heralded as a triumph by all. It found her diving into house music and working with scene stalwarts like Luke Solomon and Honey Dijon. It won a Grammy for its efforts. Now, even though plenty of the originals were ready to work a club dancefloor, we get treated to some remixes. They all focus on the standout single 'Break My Soul' and we get funky and soulful stuff from Terry Hunter, broken beat from Will I Am, house thumps from Honey Dijon, and filter-heavy stuff from The Queens. Add in the Nita Aviance club mix and the original version and you have a useful package indeed.

Review: In what must be one of THE record releases of the year, Queen Bey is back with her majestic new album. As has been hotly discussed online, this album finds her embracing club music in no uncertain terms, with collaborators like Honey Dijon and Green Velvet lending their expert house touch to the fiercest force pop music has ever witnessed. The results are earth-shattering, as if we expected any less, and the due diligence on acknowledging the roots of house music culture is delivered with sincerity and authority. Make no mistake people, this is the real deal.