Beyoncé

Dropped Dec. 13, 2013, Beyoncé launched a salvo of imitators releasing albums without notice while the world sleeps. By comparison, a cryptic HBO teaser for the Texan's sixth solo LP, Lemonade, telegraphed its intent like a billboard. An hourlong film followed last month. How then did the singer maintain the element of surprise? By effortlessly topping her own best work. Lemonade now sets a new standard for cross-genre collaboration. The Houston-born music mogul here expands beyond the bangers squarely in her wheelhouse – bass-heavy hip-hop beats and soulful pop cuts – by roping in classic rock and the American blues songbook. Bolstering a wheeling electric organ on Jack White partnership "Don't Hurt Yourself" are Led Zeppelin's booming drums from "When the Levee Breaks." Reusing the tune and ethos of Animal Collective's masterpiece "My Girls" into the cathartic bridge rounding out a throbbing anthem, "6 Inch" grinds. Beyoncé even manages an instant country keeper on "Daddy Lessons," which melts Louisiana jazz into a distinctly Texan guitar line, all of it christened with a whispered, "Texas, Texas, Texas." As with its predecessor, Lemonade pulps ample messaging alongside its music. Similar to Beyoncé's feminism, the singer's scorched-earth screed against infidelity holds the center spotlight, "Hold Up" rehashing 2006 single "Irreplaceable" with sophistication. As the album then works through the stages of betrayal ("Don't Hurt Yourself" being the most satisfying), the cracked vocal swells of late-album ballad "Sandcastles" settle on forgiveness: "And I know I promised that I couldn't stay, baby/ Every promise don't work out that way."