I'm through "Alligator Tears" so far. Like Taylor, she's a pop star. That means despite her ballyhooed genre-bending she's basic. That means I can tell exactly what she's doing. I don't like understanding an artist so well, unless the art is piercingly perfect. When Beyonce raps, it sounds like a non-rapper trying to rap. When she tries country it sounds like she's trying country. I say the same of Taylor attempting anything but pop or country-pop. I can see too much of the artist in the art. I said years ago art needs an air of effortlessness. Sylvia Plath was my negative example then. Beyonce is more negative. Her efforts are painfully overt. They don't sound authentic. The first track was the worst so far. I hated it. It sounded so high-effort low-intelligence.
Obviously her physical talents remain. She's a real singer. But the songwriting is rough.
I don't think her country inauthenticity is racial. After all, I said the same things when Hootie went country. (lol)
Almost done now... I almost hate the album. I wonder who wrote the songs. Beyonce must not be a great songwriter, otherwise she would have written these and they'd be good. If she didn't write them, then why couldn't she get better songwriters? She has entirely the fame and finances. She must not have great taste in songwriters.
Well, if the album is no joy to me, I hope at least it injects some soul and dimensionality in the world of country.
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