#81 Beyoncé, 'Beyoncé' (2013)

I’ve been waiting for Beyoncé to show up. With this album, Beyoncé changed the rules. She redefined herself as an artist and simultaneously redefined the way albums could be released. She gave birth to first child, Blue Ivy at the start of 2012 and would return to work just 3 months later, making a point that mothers need not indefinitely pause their careers to raise children. ‘Beyoncé’ was recorded in strict secrecy, which is a miracle in itself in the age of social media. And seemingly out of nowhere, without warning, the record was released on 13 December 2013 in the early hours.