After their Christmas album in 2001, Destiny’s Child decided to take a break and let each member do their thing. And so they did. Back then Beyonce Knowles, the 21 year – old Houston native, multi-platinum-selling pop/urban recording artist and also founding member of Destiny’s Child, was the first from the three to take the step with her debut solo album.

If you’re a fan of DC and were expecting a change in musical direction, you’re wrong, for she’s surprised everyone by releasing an album that sounds almost like…Destiny’s Child.

Musically challenging and lyrically honest, the album is divided between seductive mid-tempos, such as Hip-Hop Star (feat Outkast Big Boi), Signs (feat Missy Elliot) That’s how you like it (feat Jay Z) to lush ballads in The closer I get (a duet with legendary Luther Vandross). The fiery club bangers come out in the hot favorite Crazy In love (feat Jay Z), Naughty Girl that’s laced with an Arabic ambience, fused with a ghetto fired edge and encompassing a sample from Donna Summer’s Love to love you baby. It’s uptempo beats is party perfect, and revolves around a sexy fantasy about having that one night where you lose all your inhibitions, head to the club and work it like a naughty girl. Also sexy lyrics come in the dance hall – Arabic favored Baby Boy (feat Sean Paul).A pulsating Work it Out a single which was one of the highlights in the sound track for an Austin Powers flick, finds its place here.

The independence she got here while doing her solo effort shows her more mature, more playful, more deeply passionate and sexually aggressive side. A close listen to the album will reveal a sound of a grown woman clearly staking her claim in the world and in the process, redefining expectations of who she is. The album is a more personal effort for her, as she got to collaborate with other artists.

A close listen to the album will reveal a sound of a grown woman clearly staking her claim in the world and in the process, redefining expectations of who she is. The album is a more personal effort for her, as she got to collaborate with other artists.

With an erotic inlay card that’ll leave you gasping for more, Beyonce’s album needs a rewind for an honest judgement. Good arrangements all around, but its only average. It showed promise, but then it gets monotonous: To be honest, its good while it lasts, occasionally impressive, but isn’t very enjoyable.

This gorgeous looking beauty would do better remaining with her bandmates. Don’t say you weren’t warned.

Rating: ****

Reviewed by Verus Ferreira