As I understood, the whole album can be bought now, no singles yet. On 20th the physical release will be out. And on 21st each song can be bought as a single. With the videos I assume. So basically she is leaving it to the consumers, they buy what they like and want, she didn't pick singles to release.

And I know I'm all over this post, time to get out, I'm just really excited for this, good music and such a game changer.

I just watched all the video snippets and the songs sound really good, Mine should be the lead single.

Well it's certainly not a return to the commercial pop of I Am...Sasha Fierce.
I give Beyonce props though for releasing music she obviously really wants to do, rather than chase an obvious chart hit. I do wonder if she'll start to alienate the more casual fan though if she continues down this path of "more urban, less poppy" music.

This album is really good it's not the people who like Beyonce's Commercial pop side it's very Rnb/Hip Hop Influenced .

I haven't yet heard any of it but on the release strategy alone I'm thoroughly impressed.

Still haven;t heard it but i like what she has done with how she has released it

A physical release has been confirmed for the week of christmas

I love that she's making the music that she wants to make.

Hoping to hear it in a while when my laptop has charged.

I wonder how it charts?

Can this still chart even though it's only on iTunes? Or will we have to wait until 20th when it's released? Xmas number one? I'm confused.

I do too.

I am so liking this album, it is good music, every song is good, there is nothing I don't like. That is rare.

This is the kind of album I have been wanting her to make. I'm interested to see where she goes with it though in terms of singles as we have all the videos already. Other bands and artists such as Radiohead have released albums this way years ago. However, what will change things in the industry is soemone as big as Beyonce doing it. She's a huge force in the music industry and the fact that she's doen this could influence other big stars such as Rihanna and future artists. Smart move.

Well the snippets are getting better as they go along but I haven't heard anything special yet.

Shes changed her sound and style, i dont like it.


This release strategy is an awful idea. She is going to flop

It sounds trashy and quite vulgar. It's a shame because 4 was a great album. The song about her daughter is the only decent song on there.

I don't think it is a strategy that is sustainable. Alot of artists rely on marketing build up.

I think this release will work for Beyonce, because of her name being a brand and for what she sort of represents. Some artists rely on singles sales and getting big with them.

After thinking a bit, I doubt many artists will follow the suit, this is just perfect for Beyonce, and her style.

There's no chance of this flopping.
The buzz online has been incredible today and most fans who have heard it's out have legged it to iTunes to pick it up.

I grabbed it from my favourite invite only music torrent site and listened to the first 10 tracks on the way to work.

I'm not a fan in general but found it pretty dull as there was nothing that really stood out chorus or hook wise and no obvious singles. I'll give it another listen after my "Family Of The Year" album finishes.

She's not changed her style at all i'm sure your just use to the more commerical side of Beyonce Single Ladies/Crazy In Love extra but she has always had this kind of style.

Oh my god, the beat in Blow is amazing. It's so sexy

Hmm...really disappointed, I don't know why I expect so much from her she's always been a singles artist.
Basically not impressed, a dull, boring album, no hooks, no catchiness, not a whole lot of experimentation, an album of filler.

Those are my initial thoughts, I will of course give it another try because there are tons of albums that have grown on me after the intial listen.

See I disagree. I feel like she's created a real body of work with this album.

I'm going to wait to buy physical.
So where do we watch/listen to all the visuals ?

Which is the Ryan Tedder and Justin Timberlake track?

Exactly. As far as I remember, this has been the Beyonce sound from the start.

I wonder how her label let her do this, and not go for commercial hits.

how the hell has she kept this a secret