Nov. 20 (Bloomberg) -- Beyonce Knowles, who is barely 27 and well on her way to establishing herself as a corporation with feet in music, film and fashion, is a hard woman to resist. Beyond her good looks and talent, she has the moxie to produce records that are state of the art.

Her latest, ``I am… Sasha Fierce'' (Sony/BMG), appeared in stores on Nov. 18 and sprawls across two discs. It is ambitious, cutting through a myriad of styles -– from musings that wouldn't be out of place on a Stevie Wonder or Joan Armatrading album, to flat-out, driving R&B for dancing and blasting from car stereos.

This is music the way we hear it today on the radio, the beats we dance to and the look, the groove, the vibe that will leave a mark on a decade of pop music. Beyonce has two films coming out in the next year: she will be hard to overlook in the coming months, so get used to it.

``Sasha Fierce,'' which Beyonce says draws its name from her on-stage alter ego, was overseen by more producers, musicians and engineers to create 100 records. It still feels singularly focused around her own personality and ideas.

``Sasha'' is split into two discs, with the first offering the more restrained songs and the second emphasizing up-tempo dance. The material is strong enough to carry it without boredom.

I would have been satisfied with just the first disc, mostly because the kind of dance-oriented R&B that fuels disc no. 2 isn't my cup of tea and never will be. Still, fans who already snacked on monster hits such as ``Crazy in Love'' or ``Ring the Alarm'' will find new work like ``Single Ladies (Put a Ring on It)'' just as propulsive.

Saturday, Sunday

Disc two could be played on a Saturday night, while the mellower, more introspective first CD, embellished with guitars and often spare arrangements, can follow on Sunday when songs such as ``Ave Maria'' and ``Satellites'' will help to soften the mood.

Beyonce's singing remains tremendous, mostly because she has the sense of restraint that eludes other divas such as Maria Carey or Whitney Houston. Instead of spending every bar trying to impress you with vocal gymnastics, Beyonce remains controlled, tasteful, riding the beat, placing the emphasis on control, color and teasing the melody.

Although the lyrics are sometimes vapid or just silly -– did you expect Bob Dylan here? –- there are some killer moments, especially on ``If I Were a Boy,'' in which she imagines herself as a better member of the opposite sex than those born into it.

This is the kind of intelligent, passionate material modern radio so desperately needs. In ``Boy,'' which peaked at no. 3 on Billboard's Hot 100, I haven't heard a better mainstream single this year.

Rating: ****

Tasteful Dido

Dido's ``Safe Trip Home'' (Sony/BMG) is her first new record in almost five years. Little has changed for this London native. If you liked ``No Angel'' and ``Life for Rent,'' this is much of a piece, with carefully arranged quasi-pop-folk set against tasteful use of electronica.

Some may see her as a female David Gray or akin to Beth Orton, but Dido really lacks Gray's edgier side or Orton's exotic musical tastes and off-the-wall sensibilities. Things could be worse, because Dido isn't mawkish and has the good sense not to lurch so far into solipsistic tragedy that she becomes a female James Blunt.

This is all Sunday morning music, although Dido's detractors might say that the music is not so much guaranteed to ease a hangover so much as generate one. I myself found that a little of ``Safe Trip Home'' went a long way.

It's certainly easy to listen to, but wasn't generally memorable, and I had the sense Dido, 36, was crafting lyrics by flipping through confessional diary entries: ``I can stop and catch my breath/ and look no further for happiness/I will not turn again/ cos my heart has found its home,'' she sings in ``Look No Further.'' Hmm, ok. Now what's on the next page of your Moleskine?

The packaging is nice, with plenty of pictures of Dido looking introspective and all tea-and-sympathy-like.

Rating: **

The albums are priced about $18.98. Download fees vary across services.

What the Stars Mean:
****          Excellent
***           Good
**            Average
*             Poor
(No stars)    Worthless

(Douglas Lytle writes for Bloomberg News. Opinions expressed are his own.)

To contact the writer on the story: Douglas Lytle in Prague at dlytle@bloomberg.net.

Last Updated: November 19, 2008 19:00 EST