This one was supposed to be easy. A new album from a star as bright as Beyonce is supposed to sell itself. Albums like 4, are more akin to moments in time that will define the era perfectly in retrospect, than just 14 mastered tracks on a disc.

But it wasn’t easy. Things have been awry with 4 since the rushed release of the lead single ‘Run the World (Girls)’. After an early demo that fans and critics alike gave a collective yawn to leaked, the single was released digitally April 21, 2011, ahead of schedule. After failing to make a huge debut similar to past singles by contemporaries, which for preemptive fandombreakdown measures will remain nameless, ’1+1′ was Bey’s answer.

For fans and critics alike that wanted something for the mature Beyonce fan this was it. A song she co-wrote even. Part Prince ‘Purple Rain’ part ode to everybody’s favorite Brooklyn rapper. A much hyped performance on ‘American Idol’ was to be the nail in the coffin, Beyonce’s song of the summer was a ballad. But when ’1+1′ failed to move anybody to do anything but question Bey’s 2nd grade math teacher most were left bewildered.

‘Both singles were left field for Beyonce who’s mainly played it safe musically since ‘Crazy In Love’. Beyonce’s third single came in the form of ‘Best Thing I Never Had,’ a lazy redux of ‘Irreplacable.’ While that was huge, this is just rehasing for rehashing’s sake. Something was building though. A sentiment displayed across the board. Fans and critics alike wanted more from Beyonce, they will always want more. Those who said she went too left field were saying she is being too safe. She can’t win. At this point she’s Lebron James, this time a few weeks ago.

Then, three weeks before a June 28, release date, the album leaked in it’s entirety on the Internet. Knowles even addressed the announcement via Facebook. Even with close to 2 million followers on Twitter she hasn’t tweeted a damn thing. Mark Zuckberg stays winning.

Rumors of a supposed push-back and no hit single in sight have made some question whether 4 is going to be Beyonce’s American Life or 20 Y.O. or worse Bionic. Gasp. It’s pop music. You’re only as good as your last hit. And her last three, well… The album is out today and well, the numbers will speak next week. The worst part in all of this is 4 is a damn good album. Outside out of the aforementioned hit and miss singles, 4 is the best thing she’s done since her debut album Dangerously In Love.

From the smoky, Lil’ Wayne sampled and Frank Ocean penned ‘I Miss You’, to the instant vintage that is combination of Beyonce, Kanye West, Andre 3000, 4 echoes a confident strut that comes to cataclysmic, and dare i say it epic sound in ‘Countdown.’ This is her biggest ode to Jay. Not only a literally livelong, her cadence, flow and clever wordplay on this track bring to mind a strong influence of Jay.

Another missed opportunity for a single comes in the form of ‘End of Time’. Easily the cousin of ‘Run The World.’ While ‘Girls’ was hasty and erratic, ‘End Of Time,’ throws in every influence from FELA! to Timbaland to The Wiz & dutch house. Beyonce vocally at her best, turns the track into a full on Theatrical production. Here’s to Beyonce getting the role of the Glinda in any update of the Wiz. These theatrical moments pop up again on ‘Rather Die Young’ and the lesser Whitney Houstonesque ‘Love on Top.’

4 feels good. It feels powerful and vulnerable at once. Sonically 4 is on point. And if nothing, can be appreciated on a musical level, each track whether ballad of full on dance party bangs with intensity and fire that sounds perfect but unlike anything on the radio. The things being achieved in the production, in the writing, in the vocals are unmatched in pop music.

‘I Was Here, I lived I loved,” Beyonce coos in full on diva mode on the Ryan Tedder produced and Diane Warren written track. Fitting. Though, If Beyonce’s 4 era will be remembered by any statement, it’ll be ‘Where was Matthew?’

Who Run The World? #MatthewKnowles

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