I must be honest when I first heard the snippets off the album I wasn't sure. I however decided to listen to it a few more times and now most of it seems to be growing on me! It is very different from that of Bday, a lot more mature. I think the reason it has received so much negative criticism is due to how different it is to most commercial material at the moment and Beyonce is usually associated with the contemporary crowd. The concept of a split album is a brilliant idea! Not everyone is a fan of Beyonce's ballad stuff... Personally I am and I think that this album has some of the best of her ballads ever! Her voice also seems to have matured in some ways, it sounds as though she is a lot more comfortable with her vocal range. Bday although a fantastic album had a rushy feeling very high strung in some places. I would even go as far as to say that the album is very diverse as it seems to be influenced by so many different styles and genres of music. Beyonce seems to have shifted a little bit away from the 'Deep' R&B and soul found in that of 'Bday' Halo definitely stands out for me, it really introduces the idea of a fresh style ballad for Beyonce. 'I Am' being compared to 'Circus', Britney's new album is really stupid; they are like chalk and cheese! I being a fan of both artists can say with definite certainty that they are by no means similar, Britney's album is going to be fantastic no doubt about that but people will listen to that album for different reasons. I think that people have forgotten what music is all about at times, it is about expression of the artist and if you don't like what they have expressed then clearly you don't relate to it. Just remember you don't have to listen to it and you are not obligated to buy it.
I have not downloaded any songs; I want to wait for the album to be released.