Beyoncé

Beyoncé (stylized as BEYONCÉ) is the eponymous fifth studio album by American recording artist Beyoncé Knowles, released on December 13, 2013 by Parkwood Entertainment and Columbia Records. Described by Knowles as a "visual album", Beyoncé consists of fourteen tracks, each having an accompanying short film. Musically, the album explores "post-dubstep tinted future R&B", combining minimalistic production, loose song structure and emotive vocals. Knowles revisits her common theme of self-empowerment, but takes on much darker themes previously unexplored in her music, including "bulimia, post-natal depression, the fears and insecurities of marriage and motherhood" and frank, often explicit, discussion of sex. Knowles served as executive producer, co-writer and co-director of the album's seventeen music videos, while significant musical contributions came from Boots, Timbaland and Pharrell Williams. Recording began in 2012 in New York City, and continued under strict secrecy internationally during Knowles' world tour in 2013. In December 2013, it was unexpectedly released to the iTunes Store, with no prior promotion or announcement. Beyoncé garnered acclaim from critics who commended its experimental production and Knowles' vocal performance. In the US, Beyoncé debuted at number one on the Billboard 200 with three-day sales of 617,213 digital copies, giving Knowles her fifth consecutive number-one. It became her highest first-week sales of her solo career, and the best-selling debut week for a female artist in 2013. "XO" was chosen as the lead single for both the U.S. and worldwide; while "Drunk in Love" is being released to urban radio in the US only.