I Am... Sasha Fierce

iTunes Review

Like so many artists before her, Beyoncé has designed an album that reflects a dual personality. The first side (I Am…) demonstrates her vulnerability, while the second half, named for Beyoncé’s superstar alterego Sasha Fierce, exudes attitude and assertiveness. From the first set, “If I Were a Boy” and “Disappear” are acoustic downtempo tunes that follow in the mold of Beyoncé’s smash hit “Irreplaceable.” On the opposite end of the spectrum, her larger-than-life voice is perfectly suited to the sonic enormity and melodrama of “Halo,” even if the song is a blatant retread of Rihanna’s “Umbrella.” Although Beyoncé sometimes suffers from a desire to do too much at once, she is one of the few performers who can swiftly shift from a song like “Ave Maria” (which subtly matches the ancient melody to a gentle drum track) to the booty-shaking uproar of “Single Ladies (Put A Ring On It).” She even has enough sass and swagger to pull off the fearsome throb of “Diva,” a fearsome track that would usually go to a mean-eyed rapper like Young Jeezy. Even if Sasha Fierce forgoes the vintage soul that elevated past tracks “Crazy In Love” and “Déjà Vu,” the album accomplishes Beyonce’s goal of showcasing a diverse set of talents.