(CBS News) An artist’s sophomore album is almost always watched very closely. Score big on your debut and your second release will likely be monitored even more closely.

As is the case with Nicki Minaj.

The rapstress, pop superstar and Top 40 radio regular is out this week with her sophomore album, “Pink Friday: Roman Reloaded.” It comes on the heels of her 2010 Grammy-nominated debut “Pink Friday.”

The reviews for Minaj’s highly-anticipated follow-up are mixed, even within the actual reviews themselves.

Take a look:

Los Angeles Times: “It’s the kind of concept-heavy follow-up album that makes record label execs bolt awake at night soaked in a cold sweat. But if it sticks, ‘Roman Reloaded’ might secure Minaj’s career in her best role yet — as one of the most daring and versatile pop artists working today.”

Slant gave “Roman Reloaded” one and a half stars, noting in the review, “The three tracks following ‘Roman Holiday’ are ‘Roman’ songs–i.e., hard, confrontational rap songs with guests like Cam’ron and Rick Ross. And they’re brilliant …”The remaining 53 minutes of Roman Reloaded are a disaster, so much so that I could fill the rest of this review with a non-exhaustive list of the most embarrassing missteps.”

Associated Press: “For all her phenomenal success, Minaj, on the verge of 30, seems to be a talent that is trying to find her way. She can rap, 5000 원 꽁 머니 sing (so-so) and she’s got stamina like the Energizer Bunny, yet those facets don’t always mesh together smoothly.”

Minaj, for one, knows she’s taking risks with her second album. And she’s OK with it.

“I think I went from being a caricature in people’s eyes to becoming someone with a lot of layers,” she told MTV News. “You just gotta realize that I’m never gonna be one-dimensional,” she said. “Even my core fans I think, at times, thought I was one-dimensional when I was doing mixtapes.”

Tell us: What do you think about Minaj’s new album?