Sharing the personal

The two artists today have new CDs that at first glance, may go against the grain of what would be the music their legion of fans would readily expect. It seems they’ve both taken the time out to come up with music that’s a little more personal and closer to where their hearts are right now. Hopefully, the audience will be ready to give the music a listen, as they may still have quite a lot to say.

Beyoncé — 4 (Columbia/Ivory). Recorded over a year, this is Beyoncé flirting with various musical genres — all steeped in R&B of course — that would have preoccupied her over that period of time. It seems the CD is more of a showcase of her personal tastes, than going for the formulaic, commercial approach to releasing an album — the one exception being the rather derivative single Run the World. The best tracks here are the collaboration with Andre 3000, Party, Love On Top and her slow burn The Best Thing I Never Had. On the bonus CD, the first song, Lay Up Under Me, is another winner. The rest of the album has something of a take-it-or-leave-it vibe, and while I heard some highlights, will the public readily take to this more mature Beyoncé?

Incubus — If Not Now, When? (Epic/Ivory). Recent Manila visitors Incubus clock in with its sixth studio album, and it’s been five years since the last one. This one will be something of a surprise for most of their followers, as it’s a very restrained, yet still deeply musically textured, set of songs. Darker, slower, more refined, songs like the title track, Promises Promises and Friends & Lovers, herald a whole new sound for the band. Think of U2’s ballads and Pink Floyd, but with lead vocalist Brandon Boyd’s distinct delivery. For some, the more helter-skelter attack of Switchblade and Adolescents will come as a relief, which the band can still rock with the best of them. The rest of the album does reflect this seemingly more mature approach — mid-tempo tunes and almost-ballads.