It only seems fitting that amidst this flurry of publicity that Beyoncé would seek to reconnect with her past: cue Love Songs, a compilation showcasing Destiny’s Child’s sweeter, sensual side. It’s a nice return back to the slow R&B stylings of Beyoncé’s earlier career, and above all, it reminds you that the Beyoncé of 2013 is not the Beyoncé of 1999. Before Jay-Z, “Single Ladies,” and even Michelle Williams, there was LaToya, LaTavia, and those horrible denim-on-denim-on-denim outfits.
This compilation, however, is sure to displease a great deal of Destiny’s Child fans. There are no tracks like “Survivor” or “Independent Woman, Pt. 1” or “Bootylicious” to be found on Love Songs. Instead, the album looks away from later DC songs about being a bad-ass woman who doesn’t take bullshit and turns to songs dealing with more personal and emotional struggles. This side, incidentally, contains some of the best work in the Destiny’s Child saga—yet often the most forgotten. New single “Nuclear” expands upon their previous work but places it squarely in 2013 with sleek production and catchy hooks.
To a degree, Love Songs turns away from what made Destiny’s Child the premiere girl-group of the early-to-mid 2000s. But for any die-hard Destiny’s Child or Beyoncé fan, Love Songs is a must-hear. If anything, it reveals the Beyoncé Knowles that lives and feels behind the mega-mass-fame of recent years.
