Album Commentary: Rihanna: Loud

Rihanna has been busy. Her Loud album is her fifth in five years and is a reaction to the recent rash of bad R&B recordings. After all when was the last time you downloaded an entire album and not just one or two tracks you heard somewhere? Rihanna, in her latest release, dares you to take a chance on every song. She’s pooled together a group of talented producers and writers to bring on the evolution of her sound.

“S&M”

“I may be bad, but I’m perfectly good at it” sets off the kick-ass vibe of not only this track, but the album. It has a great dance beat while simultaneously being versatile enough to sit down and listen to. In essence Rihanna is putting aside the Rated R period of her life and moving on to enjoy her life.

“What’s My Name?” featuring Drake

Collaborations are Rihanna’s specialty. Her hits with Jay-Z, Maroon 5 and Eminem aren’t just catchy tunes, they have provocative lyrics that make you think. “What’s My Name?” featuring Drake has that infectious melody that makes you continuously want to listen to it. Although Drake doesn’t add to the track the way in which her previous duets have he still adds an element that elevates this song above the run-of-the-mill dance tracks.

“Cheers (Drink to That)”

When was the last time you heard a really good drinking song? Well Rihanna has brought “Cheers (Drink to That)” to fill that void. It’s not depressing, instead it has a reggae energy with a cool drumline undertone. The beat definitely drives this grooving track as you won’t care who you’ll be grinding on in the club.

“Fading”

“Fading” is just a good song. The instrumental intro followed by synthesized sounding strings makes the rhythms original. It’s an inventive way of using the drum machine with piano. It’s also way too short as just when you settle into the melody the song’s over.

“Only Girl (In the World)” is surprisingly the weakest track on the album. Still as the first single it gives the listener a taste of the great music on the album.

“California King Bed”

You wouldn’t ordinarily associate Rihanna with an acoustic guitar, but “California King Bed” reveals the growth of her artistry and her successful attempt to branch out into a different sound. The play on the song’s title is also a nice touch.

“Man Down”

You will love “Man Down.” Its West Indian melodies and strong lyrics will take you back to Bob Marley’s “I Shot The Sheriff.” There’s no way to underestimate the maturity on this track as Rihanna goes back to her Barbadian rhythmic roots.

“Raining Men” featuring Nikki Minaj is yet another infectious tune. You won’t know why you like it and you won’t care. The fast paced lyrical rhyming will have you rocking and that’s what makes a versatile track a perennial favorite at any party. “Complicated” and “Skin” shows Rihanna once more pushing her musical envelope. Then there’s “Love the Way You Lie” Part II featuring Eminem that gives the woman’s perspective of a dysfunctional relationship. As a version of Part I it successfully does what Alicia Keys doesn’t on her rendition of “Empire State of Mind” which is keep the integrity of the track while having a different spin on it.

All in all, if you are a Rihanna fan, you’ll be overjoyed at the versatility of her sound. If you are new to the Rihanna bandwagon or have any preconceived notions, check them at the door. Loud is for anyone who loves music. Period.