The album 's first half is full of artistic experimentation , culminating in a sleepy collection of ballads . Vocally , she 's never been better , but the songs are n't she 's equal . On `` Run the World ( Girls ) , '' the first single off the disc , she turns cheesy postfeminism into a martial foot-stomper that crackles like a burst of pirate-radio agitpop . The singer is at her best when she feels like no one but herself , such as in ` ` ' ''
The album 's first half is full of artistic experimentation , culminating in a sleepy collection of ballads . Vocally , she 's never been better , but the songs are n't she 's equal . The singer is at her best when she feels like no one but herself , such as in ` ` ' ''