4, Beyonce's first album since 2008's I Am…Sasha Fierce, has been leaked online in its entirety, nearly three weeks before its official release date of June 28. While the leak left Beyonce disappointed, especially after her first two singles underwhelmed critics, the critics pounced, eager to see if 4 would live up to her previous efforts — lauded albums that garnered labels like "compelling" and "the cutting edge of modern pop." And their response has been muted:
4 is, at best, a "change of pace": This is the kind of record "a pop star makes when she doesn't feel like she has anything to prove," says Matthew Perpetua at Rolling Stone. Unlike her earlier albums, which were stuffed with "blockbuster jams," 4 emphasizes "ballads over bangers." That makes the record "slow-burning" and "low-key," which is not a bad thing. It's just different.
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