'Monade isn't my personal favorite style from Beyonce.
I like her a bit more urgent and aggressive. Screaming and carrying on.
But I do appreciate her trying to step outside of her box since 4. Lemonade is so musically and sonically diverse & probably her strongest lyrical album. "Pray You Catch Me" and "Don't Hurt Yourself" are 2 of the strongest songs she's ever recorded. So, even though it isn't my favorite album, she's still showing signs of growth and getting better.
"Formation" really became iconic. Between the Super Bowl performance and the music video, this era really has become what's missing in popular music. No one else really gives ERAs anymore. The way Janet and the girls did in the 90's when there were just all these iconic looks & pop culture moments that made it all so identifiable & nuanced. Even Queen in the yellow dress with the bat became a bit iconic. And these things is what her catalog has been really missing since "Single Ladies".
I prefer Self Titled's production and overall song quality, but not one of those 17 visuals really even pushed into legendary status -- even if a handful of them were really good.
I'm hoping next album she can blend the visual strength and substance of 'Monade with the commercial appeal and fun of Self Titled.
I could type all day about my Bee.