When Neil Young released Harvest, he was booed on stage for playing his new album in its entirety. He promised the crowd that when he had finished it, he’d play them “something you’ve heard before.” True to his word, after finishing the set, he played it all again.

Musicians performing a new album in its entirety is a well known bugbear for gig goers. No one pays large sums of money to see Stevie Wonder perform his new stuff, they pay to see ‘Sir Duke’ and ‘Living For The City’.

Former Destiny’s Child, Beyonce, will be headlining Glastonbury Festival this year and I can honestly say that I would be happy for her to only play tracks from her forthcoming LP, 4.

Opening with the powerful love song, ’1+1′, Beyonce’s new album is an one of two halves. The first half is about love and loss, with tracks such as ‘I Care’ and ‘I Miss You’ keeping us in familiar lyrical territory, played over the kind of cutting edge production that a career such as Beyonce’s affords.

Part two, whilst still about pop’s favourite subject, love, is also about partying. ‘Love On Top’ is tinged with the kind of retro-soul that will have you smiling ‘from ear to ear’, while ‘Countdown’ showcases Beyonce’s incredible vocal range over an ever changing beat which will no doubt be remixed to death over the coming months to fit onto numerous Ministry of Sound-style compilations.

Beyonce’s Glastonbury set will be a highlight of the coming weekend. 4 is already a highlight of the year.