R&B: Beyonce

Move over Beyonce, the new queen of R&B is Sasha Fierce.

Of course, Fierce is Beyonce -- more precisely, Sasha Fierce is an alter ego devised by B to perform the second, more dance-oriented disc of her new album, "I Am ... Sasha Fierce." The album's first disc is devoted to more meditative balladry, and is performed under Beyonce's own given name, presumably because it offers a more personal and authentic glimpse of the singer.

The split personality move is odd and unnecessary on several levels, including the terrible pacing involved in stringing together six slow songs and then five fast songs, as well as the wholly wasteful dual-disc format. Then there's the fact that B's last album, 2006's "B'Day," consisted almost entirely of upbeat dance fare yet didn't require any sobriquets.

Well, if taking on a goofy moniker is the only way for Beyonce to give us club tracks now, then so be it. Sasha Fierce's stuff is great -- five dynamic, workout-ready bangers that showcase B's legendary swagger and commanding pop skills, highlighted by the sassy first single, "Single Ladies (Put a Ring On It)," and the darkly insistent "Sweet Dreams."

As has been the case throughout her career, though, Beyonce remains an unsatisfying balladeer. The "I Am" disc starts promisingly with the intriguing "If I Were a Boy," but when the words are boilerplate, on songs like "Disappear" and "Broken-Hearted Girl," B's weaknesses are glaring.

Despite possessing a world-class-powerful voice, Beyonce still struggles to convey real hurt, settling for mere facades of emotion. The irony of B's expressly personal disc being notable for its lack of intimacy should be lost on no one.