Album Review: Rihanna

Loud is on the same level as Michael Jackson‘s “Thriller”! It’s the next step in the evolution of Rihanna, packed with tracks that are sassy, fun, flirty and energetic! Rest assured, this isn’t a generic pop record that Ke$ha, Lady Gaga or Katy Perry could do! Every song on the album was tailor-made for Rihanna, as if she were literally the “Only Girl (In The World)” who could perform them!

Aside from a bit of paraphrasing, that’s an accurate representation of the pre-release hype for Rihanna’s Loud, including several quotes from the artist herself. Does the final product deliver on any of these promises? Absolutely not. But does that necessarily mean it’s a bad album? Nope, it’s far from it.

The set opens with alleged third single “S&M”, a raucous club track which proudly proclaims “Sticks and stones may break my bones, but chains and whips excite me”. Somehow, it’s the sequel to both “Disturbia” and “Only Girl”, exploring a darker theme with a balls-to-the-wall Euro sound. Perhaps one could even call it a balls-chained-to-the-wall sound?

Things get stranger on the album’s third track “Cheers (Drink To That)”. The song interpolates a sample of Avril Lavigne‘s hit single “I’m With You” for a carefree, drunken anthem for the weekend. The lyrics are packed with references to Coyote Ugly, Jameson Irish whiskey and Ray Ban shades. Here’s hoping the last two brands paid for the mention…

Of all the things we were promised on Loud, the biggest offense lies in the title alone. It suggests an adrenaline-packed dancefloor energy, from start to finish. Instead, we get a handful of mid-tempo tracks like “Fading”, “California King Bed”, “Complicated” and “Skin”. While they’re all decent in their own right, they wind up dragging the project down as a whole. Sure, there’s something to be said for Loud, but we’re still left wishing that Rihanna would turn up the volume.

- Dewitt

To listen to select songs from this album, follow the JUMP:

ONLY GIRL (IN THE WORLD):

WHAT’S MY NAME?:

S&M:

LOVE THE WAY YOU LIE (PART II):