I Am...Sasha Fierce (Deluxe Edition)

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Album Description
Deluxe two CD pressing containing five bonus tracks. One of 2008's most hotly anticipated album releases, I Am..Sasha Fierce marks the artist's first new studio collection since the Grammy-winning multi-platinum-selling B'Day debuted at #1 on charts around the world shortly after its international release on September 4, 2006. With all songs co-written and co-produced by Beyonc,, the artist's third studio album is her most personal, reflective and revelatory collection to-date. 16 tracks.

Customer Reviews: Read 153 more reviews...

2 out of 5 stars

This album should be retitled "I Am...Trying Too Hard" November 18, 2008
58 out of 77 found this review helpful

I don't have a lot of good to say for this album. "I Am...Sasha Fierce" appears to be an ambitious creative undertaking by the undeniably talented Beyonce, and in many ways it is. But it's that very ambition that nearly destroys this project.

From the first single off the album "If I Were a Boy" you get a distinct feeling that Beyonce is trying very hard to branch out into different territory. The song is quite understated for her, although her signature shatter every piece of glass within a 3 mile radius pipes do start in during the somewhat over-dramatic chorus. Still, it's a nice song and accessible enough.
The next track on the album is "Halo" which is one of the stronger songs on the whole album. It has a big sound and it really compliments Beyonce's style without sounding too much like her previous work. Unfortunately after that things start to go downhill. "Disappear" sounds interesting for the first 10 seconds, but then the generic drum machines kick in and the rest of the song is a slow, bland mess. "Broken-Hearted Girl" is almost indistinguishable from the track before it, and it's just as dull. "Ave Marie" has beautiful vocals and is a very nice song, but it's not something most people will listen to constantly. "Satellites" almost reminds me of some type of trance music. It's very understated, but it's also nearly lifeless. Just try staying awake listening to that over and over again.

Then comes disc 2, "Sasha Fierce". I expected this disc to really pick things up after a first disc full of disappointing slow songs that could barely even be deemed ballads. After all, Sasha Fierce is supposed to be the high-energy side of Beyonce that we're all familiar with from her "B'Day" album. Well, it turns out that this time around "Sasha Fierce" barely even has a pulse. Things kick off with "Single Ladies" which sounds like a "B'Day" leftover, (that's actually a good thing), and it really is what we expect from Ms. Fierce. But that turns out to be the only track that has anywhere near that much ferocity. Next is "Radio" which is a busy number, but still falls short somehow. I suppose it could go over well in a club with a bunch of flashing lights, but it can be quite noisy to listen to by oneself.
Next is "Diva" which just sounds like a female knockoff of Lil'Wayne's "A Milli". It's very street and pompous and will probably annoy anyone who isn't a fan of that generic hip-hop sound.
"Sweet Dreams" is a respectable track if for no other reason than that it's obviously different, but for some reason it's yet another song I can't bring myself to listen more than a few times. Honestly, it doesn't sound like it really fits in with the rest of the songs anyway.
The next track "Video Phone" is just too street for me. The production is uninspired and it's lacking energy just like the rest of "Sasha Fierce". And it's about making video phone porn. Great.
If you want the REAL Sasha Fierce you'll have to go listen to "B'Day" because this is honestly the ghettofied version of Beyonce in many respects. And it doesn't suit her well. Perhaps we have her new husband to thank for that.

I'd say if you have to buy this album then get the Deluxe version. The extra tracks "Ego", "Scared of Lonely", "Hello", "Smash Into You", and "That's Why You're Beautiful" are almost all superior to anything on the standard edition. I believe Beyonce knows this which is why she's releasing "Ego" as her next single.

I have to say that overall I feel the first disc from "I Am..." will bore many listeners, and the second disc will leave them wondering if Sasha Fierce is the woman they've seen strutting on stage to tracks like "Crazy In Love" and "Ring the Alarm" or a diva looking for street cred like on tracks "Diva" and "Video Phone". I'll give Beyonce props for trying something different with the first disc, but it's really not enough. Both discs are a mish-mash of sounds that don't gel together well and make it strikingly obvious that Beyonce was experimenting in the studio. Problem is, most of those experiments went awry, and those that didn't seem too safe and boring.

I say download:
Ego
Scared of Lonely
Halo
If I Were a Boy
Single Ladies
Hello
Ave Marie

None of those tracks are outstanding, but at least they're a cut above the rest of the mess.

A final note: I have NO clue why Beyonce decided to split this work into two disc. It was totally pointless, especially for the standard edition which only gives you 6 songs on one disc and 5 on the other. But even with the two standard discs conjoined, the extra tracks from the deluxe edition added, and the bonus tracks from Japan added as well, every song would fit on ONE disc with room to spare. The two disc thing proves to be little more than an annoyance and I hope Beyonce won't do it again. I do feel that the whole thing is about record sales more than anything else.

3 out of 5 stars

At Its Best, Average November 23, 2008
24 out of 29 found this review helpful

The album is split into two sides--the first side being "I am..." and the second side being "Sasha Fierce". "I Am..." is nothing less than 8 ballads thrown onto a cd while "Sasha Fierce" is 8 uptempo tracks thrown on another.

Simply put, the Sasha Fierce side of the album is garbage. I've followed Beyonce since her early days (97-98)with Destiny's Child and am one of the few who truly appreciated her talent then. But I find it amazingly hard to listen to this newer uptempo side of her music. With the exception of Single Ladies and perhaps two other tracks, this second half is a complete waste of time for the listeners--album filler that many are sure to skip. If the lackluster track production on some of these songs are not enough, surely, Beyonce's juvenile niche for writing senseless lyrics will distract those looking for substance. (i.e.: "A diva is a female version of a hustler... of a hustler..." is enough to make anyone shake their head in disagreement.)

On the flip side, the "I Am..." half is fairly decent. I especially enjoyed the first four tracks and can't quite get enough of "Halo" and "Disappear". The remaining tracks are so-so and would have to grow on most people.

To appreciate this album for anything at all, one may have to disregard Beyonce's uptempo approach to satisfying mainstream fans. Her faster tracks not only come off underdeveloped but with tracks like "Diva", "ego" and "Video Phone", they also give off a shallow vibe. If this is to be Beyonce's most personal album it then becomes clear that perhaps Beyonce has some out-of-studio maturing to do. With only a third of her tracks being radio-possibles, at its best this album is average.

4 out of 5 stars

Review of "I Am ... Sasha Fierece" (Deluxe) November 18, 2008
20 out of 29 found this review helpful

The 16-track deluxe version of Beyonce's "I Am ... Sasha Fierce" is, in my opinion, the best solo release from this artist. While "Dangerously In Love" and "B'Day" were both good cds, this one is far more mature and stronger from start to finish than the other releases which sound a bit juvenile compared to this. What works best for this release is Beyonce's willingness to put out two discs with very different vibes and directions; the first discs features a slew of ballads that definitely make for the stronger of the two discs. These songs include "Halo", which I suspect will be the hit song from "I Am ... Sasha Fierce" simply due to the great production and how it plays well with her voice and vocal abilities. "Smash Into You" (a song available only on this deluxe version) is also a great power ballad unlike anything she's done before that takes her out of the R&B/pop arena that she's been in before and makes her a true mature artist.

The second discs, featuring songs that are more urban and hip-hop orientated is where this release becomes a bit weak. While the songs "Single Ladies", "Hello" and "Ego" are great, songs such as "Video Phone", "Diva" and "Sweet Dreams" left me feeling as if she was trying too hard to distance herself from her clean/neat persona to take on this rapper/urban vibe. It didn't work for me on some of these tracks. The second discs' songs feature her tossing in a few choice words, pronouncing certain words and vowels in a bit of a ghetto manner to channel 'Sasha' and the tracks are less polished and sound a bit rushed and sloppy. One 'Sasha' ballad that did work for me was 'Scared of Lonely' which was a good blend of 'both worlds'.

In all, easily the best work she's done so far. If you're expecting "Dangerously In Love" or "B'Day" then you'll be let down. This cd is a big departure for her, obviously an attempt to be more mature and take on material that is going to appeal to a more mature crowd than to the club/tweens that may have flocked to songs such as 'Crazy In Love' or 'Get Me Bodied.' I enjoyed it and after a few listens found myself getting into it, with the exception of a few named tracks that simply were too over-the-top where I felt she tried too hard to pull off this 'Sasha Fierce' persona. Buy this version of 'Sasha Fierce' and you won't be let down.

1 out of 5 stars

Sasha Fierce needs ANOTHER MANAGER! November 20, 2008
18 out of 23 found this review helpful

Now I am a HUGE Beyonce fan but this album is absolute GARBAGE! This album seems rushed and put together without thinking. If she had 70 songs to choose from for this album then she chose 16 horrible tracks! Popa Knowles needs to sit down, retire and let someone take over the reigns. This is NOT a normal Beyonce CD and I am mortified! What is going on BEY!?! This is definitely not a good look. I can't even groove to anything on this album. Sasha Fierce is suppose to be her crazy "alter ego" then why the heck are majority of these songs ballads? The only songs I like on the album are "Single Ladies", "If I were a boy" and "Halo".. Damn Bey 3 out of 16 songs? Sad! Well you did one thing right.. You married Jigga! Thats the ONLY thing I can commend you on this year.

Here's a suggestion.. How about letting Sasha Fierce go? How about something simple? Like.. Ummm.. BEYONCE!??! Sasha Fierce didn't do it for me! Sorry. I'm not buying into this one Bey..

You need to go back to making good music instead of worrying about who's going to take your space in the game if you're aren't being heard on the radio. Take a break!! Let Keyshia Cole, Rihanna or Ciara take over for a while. You need to recuperate from this loss because you are definitely trying TOO hard!

And for the other customers reviewing this album with more than 3 stars, WHAT ALBUM WERE YOU LISTENING TO??!!

1 out of 5 stars

If you have to purchase Beyonce at all, get this one... November 22, 2008
18 out of 23 found this review helpful

I used to like Beyonce. Now I have very negative feelings about her motives with this record and do not feel I could support her again.

The standard edition is garbage. I am so glad that I was able to listen before I purchased it. But you noticed how they had the standard edition and deluxe edition mixed in together for listening on the myspace page, so you don't have a clear idea as to the fact that the standard one is lacking...everything. They were blended together as if they were all one record. The only really good songs are If I Were A Boy and Halo, which she didn't even write. She stole the first one. What a joke.

This was a gimmick and strictly about fooling everyone into buying the deluxe.

With the economy the way it is, they figured, everyone will buy the $8.99 standard edition to save money, and the diehard fans likely will. Once they realize it's garbage and get that "where's the rest of it" feeling from the record (they arranged it that way), they will go out and get the deluxe, thereby ultimately spending at least $24 on her.

Beyonce, you are rich enough. Why rip off your loyal fans, especially in these hard times? It's not even about making good music, its about making money by any means necessary. That is very wrong and I will never support you again. I downloaded the few songs I liked because you won't be ripping me off. I saw past the gimmick and so have many others, but unfortunately not enough. This is the beginning of your downfall as an artist. You have shown your true colors. You've gotten complacent, thinking you can release garbage and your stans will buy it anyway, and they will. But YOU have to live with lying and cheating to make your millions. Your loyal fans will support you because they love your past work. THEY can help make you rich with this (whatever it is that you are trying passing off as music). I won't help them.

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