THINK Beyoncé, and "mellow" isn't the first word that comes to mind. But on "4," the singer stifles Sasha Fierce -- her hip-hop alter ego -- for a collection of mild-child R&B tunes.
This slow-rider attack doesn't lend these tunes more depth, but does allow Beyoncé to showcase singing skills that range from soprano highs to her knack for shifting from growl to purr. As flexible as her voice is, it's wasted on songs that wouldn't stick in your head even if they were smeared with "Crazy in Love" glue.
"4" opens with the love ballad "1+1," a sleepy R&B piece that floats on subtle neo-soul strings and horns. If vocal elegance is the goal here, Beyoncé ruins the mood by jumping to high notes at the end of each verse, as if somebody had goosed her.
Kate Turning
The lady finally puts a ring on "4" in the hip-pop jam "Countdown," and later with the Prince-esque "End of Time." Unfortunately it's too little, too late.
Credit: New York Post
Read more: http://www.nypost.com/p/entertainment/music/missing_beat_RnkaH96sIeF1wJNS94Vf8N#ixzz1Qi32xvjA
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