The first 346 days of
Beyonce
's 2013 were eventful enough. She headlined the Super Bowl XLVII half-time show, joined by
Destiny's Child
partners
Kelly Rowland
and
Michelle Williams
. The trio released "Nuclear," an excellent song disregarded for not being an anthem. A documentary, Life Is But a Dream, aired on HBO. There were appearances on albums by
Rowland
,
the-Dream
, and husband
Jay-Z
, as well as a Soundcloud upload "Bow Down/I Been On," passionately debated for its aggression and vulgarity, and the more "ladylike" "Standing on the Sun," a clothing retailer tie-in. And then, on December 13, while engaged in a world tour and when no one expected it, she released her fifth solo studio album with accompanying videos. Easily her best album since
B'day
, it's among her most entertaining and sexually explicit work, yet it's substantive in every respect.
co-wrote and co-produced all of the songs with A-listers like
Pharrell
Timbaland
James Fauntleroy
Hit-Boy
, and
, as well as emerging Detroiters
Detail
Key Wane
and the previously unknown
Boots
. There are deep references to
's competitive show biz upbringing and acknowledgments of her beloved Houston hometown. "Mine" and "Blue" involve vivid expressions regarding the turbulence and thrill of motherhood. Central track "***Flawless" opens with
Ed McMahon
's introduction of her preteen group on Star Search, incorporates the combative "Bow Down" and a portion of celebrated Nigerian writer
Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie
's TED talk on feminism, as well as a booming, quotable-packed victory lap. It concludes with
McMahon
's dismissal of her group, as if to say, "Yeah, but look at me now." There's also a whole lot of romance, heartache, and, most prominently, monogamous sex -- in the kitchen, in a chauffeur-driven car, while drunk. Best of all is "Blow," playfully risque boogie loaded with instantly memorable lines -- "I'm-a let you be the boss of me," for instance -- and a slick tempo change-up. Soul throwback ballad "Rocket" is a close second, another amusing mix of metaphorical and explicit come-ons. It opens with an elegantly delivered "Let me sit this ass on you." When the album came out, the release itself dominated the chatter. In time, it should be seen as a career highlight from a superstar -- one of the hardest-working people in the business, a new mother, in total control, at her creative and commercial peak. [The CD/DVD Platinum Edition of the album, released in November 2014, was packaged in a compact clam shell box. In addition to the original album and DVD set, the set contained another audio disc with two new songs ("7/11," "Ring Off") and a handful of remixes (featuring
Nicki Minaj
Kanye West
Pharrell Williams
Mr. Vegas
), along with a live DVD (filmed during the Mrs. Carter Show tour), and a booklet-size 2015 calendar.] ~ Andy Kellman