Amazon.co.uk Review
The first single "Crazy in Love" (featuring apparent fiancé Jay Z) opens the album and sets the quality bar high. Catchy, high octane and so, so now, it's the perfect club song. Then it's down to business with "Naughty Girl", a teasing track built around Donna Summer's erotic "Love to Love You Baby"--Beyoncé goes from soul-pop kid to sexually mature woman in three minutes.
The hip-hop of "Star" has a N*E*R*D feel, with Outkast's Big Boi undoubtedly responsible for pushing the track into rock/funk territory, a little out of the way of usual Destiny's Child fare. Sean Paul, fast replacing Busta Rhymes as the omnipresent guest star, takes over on "Baby Boy", riding a fashionably eastern-flavoured beat (not unrelated to the famous Diwali rhythm) around Beyoncé's vocals.
The ballad with Luther Vandross is tender without overdosing on sugar, while the astrological cut "Signs", with Missy Elliott, is another standout. Closing track "Daddy" finds Beyoncé crooning over a psychedelic piece of jazz funk, taken from cult 1970s artist Shuggie Otis, whom Beyoncé has been citing as an inspiration. Surprisingly, Beyoncé is the last member of Destiny's Child to release a solo album. The wait has been worthwhile. --Jake Barnes
Review
Lets face it Beyoncé Knowles is one fine looking lady and she knows it! She strikes all the right poses, capturing the male market in a twinkle of those seductive eyes. While the albums artwork would not look out of place gracing the pages of Vogue.
She's truly a marketer's dream, but most importantly, can also hold a tune. With the transatlantic hits "Work It Out" and "Bonnie & Clyde '03" already to her name, and the third, and possibly the biggest to come, with Jay-Z on "Crazy In Love".
Guest support is plentiful with Jay-Z also featuring on "That's How You Like It", and Missy Elliott lurks in the background on the cleverly worded "Signs". One for the astrologically minded amongst us, this downlow shuffler describes her preferred chemistry and star (sign) qualities for her perfect man.
Guaranteed the number one slot on the US R&B charts, is the update of Roberta Flack & Donnie Hathaway's soul masterpiece "The Closer I Get To You" with Luther Vandross. Also to be found on the convalescing soul man's Dance With My Father opus, (which recently topped the American album listings). This is perfect for the quiet storm format that dominates much of late night radio in the States.
Add to the repeat play list "Be With Me", where B adds new lyrics atop Shuggie Otis sleazy grooves from "Strawberry Letter 23". And the dreamy slow jam "Speechless" for those between the sheet moments, and the aforementioned lyrically smouldering "Naughty Girl".
From the sleeve notes, were told that Dangerously In Love comes during a sojourn from Destiny's Child, not the end of the Texan supergroup.
That said, Knowles co-wrote and co-produced nearly all the tracks here (and least we forget nearly all of those with Destiny's Child too), and despite commendable attempts from her soul sisters, Kelly and Michelle, to prove otherwise, there's only ever gonna be one winner in the Queen of Destiny's Child sweepstakes & and her names Beyoncé. --Lewis Dene
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