This is the pitchfork review, the show about the musicians we're obsessed with and the albums you need to know right now.

I'm Pugia Patel, the editor-in-chief, and today we're talking about Beyonce.

Her highly anticipated record Renaissance dropped in July, and it's only gotten bigger and better since first listen.

It's a dance album that showcases her range and takes you to the club. And if you live in a big

city like New York, like I do, it's basically everywhere. Songs from the record are playing

from cars on the street and are in every single DJ set. And with me now is our reviews editor, Jeremy Larson.

Hey, Jeremy.

Hey, Pujia.

I'm really excited to talk about Renaissance.

I'm excited to get into it.

So, Beyonce made this album, in part, to speak to a specific audience,

an audience that has historically looked to dance music and clubs as safe spaces.

And with the recent violence against the LGBTQ community, it's clear just how important those

spaces are. It feels like with some of this record, Beyonce is saying, I see you.

I'm excited that we have culture critic and pitchfork contributor Julianne Escobedo Shepard

here with us,

the person who wrote our review and is also just another huge Beyonce scholar, to talk about

all of it in just a minute.

So joining us now is Julianne Escobedo Shepard. Hi, Julianne.

Hello.

Thank you for having me on this illustrious podcast.

Jeremy, I also apologize to you because Julianne and I have talked about this album and listened to it together and separately for approximately like one week worth of time in total because we've spent so much hours doing that.

...