A Look Back at RiRi: "Anti" Review

A Girl Like Me (2006)

1. "SOS"
Becoming her first #1 hit single on the Hot 100, "SOS" definitely succeeds where "Pon De Replay" failed. It's a more pop crossover single than "Pon De Replay"'s dancehall antics. Originally written for Christina Millian, who turned it down, "SOS" is catchy with a feverish beat and a good melody as Rihanna sings of a boy who has her so hot and bothered, she needs to be rescued from her lust. It's a really fun song, great for the clubs and very radio friendly that it's no wonder it became a #1 hit. A great start to the album!
(B+)

2. "Kisses Don't Lie"
Hmmmm, this feels like a leftover track from "Music of the Sun". I do like the rock/reggae feel of the song but nothing really catches your attention in terms of the lyrics or even the melody. It's just kinda...there. Filler worthy for sure.
(C)

3. "Unfaithful"
Hahahahaha, if you want the definition of a vocal nightmare, look no further than "Unfaithful". Don't get me wrong, Ne-Yo writes a good song but my goodness, Rihanna makes a near mockery of it do to her painfully awkward singing here. Like I said previously, ballads aren't Rihanna's strongest asset, at least when it comes to these early albums from her. Sure, "Unfaithful" was a moderate hit, making the top 10 on the Hot 100 but I always found this single laughable. Poor RiRi, her voice just doesn't do the song justice at all. She tries her best but...no...just...no. 
(D+)

4. "We Ride"
Ok, this is a pretty solid R&B track, the hook and melody is catchy enough even though you can give or take the lyrics overall. It's a nice song you can hum to yourself and it's an easy listen. I like this one. 
(B)

5. "Dem Haters" Featuring Dwane Husbands
You know it surprises me how inconsistent Rihanna's singing are, some songs she sounds like she should have found a better vocal coach and on others, she sounds vocally comfortable and pleasant to the ears. I think her voice just sounds better on her Caribbean/reggae inspired tracks...at least for now. "Dem Haters" is decent, passable listen as Dwane Husbands comes in to assist Rihanna as she addresses the subject of haters having nothing better to do. Pretty good overall.
(C+)

6. "Final Goodbye"
 Riri is really trying with these ballads, but her voice (at least at this point in her career) is simply one that can carry a tone here and there. Her attempts as Mariah Carey-isms of balladry are just not successful and this track is really forgettable. I mean if Rihanna really had that power in her voice, actually scratch that excuse, even the likes of Janet (my personal fave) and Madonna have worked wonders on some of their classic ballads with limited vocal range but they put forth the emotion behind it that made up for that. I just don't believe Rihanna when it comes to her ballads, not at all. Next track!
(D)

7. "Break It Off" Featuring Sean Paul
This is an odd collaboration considering it feels more like "Sean Paul featuring Rihanna" with Rihanna singing just the chorus after Sean Paul's verses...only for Rihanna to get one verse before the song kind of abruptly ends. Now don't get me wrong, this is a good club joint but Sean Paul kinda steals the show on Rihanna. Like I said, an odd collabo where Rihanna is a guest star on her own song. I like the beat and it has a nice hook. An otherwise pleasant track I suppose.
(C+)

8. "Crazy Little Thing Called Love" featuring J-Status
Meh, yet another filler track that feels like a throwaway from her debut album. "Crazy Little Thing Called Love" is once again bubblegum reggae...or reggae lite you could call it. Nothing special, you can really just move along from this track.
(C-)

9. Selfish Girl
Ok, this album is starting to get repetitive. Generic reggae beat, mediocre lyrics, lackluster vocals, wash, rinse, repeat! I don't care if you're selfish girl Rihanna, I just hope the next track is better than this.
(C-)

10. "P.S. (I'm Still Not Over You)"
"I wish I could press rewind and slow down the hands of time" Rihanna sings regrettably. Well, so do I Rihanna, as this album is turning out to be weaker than your first. "P.S." is just...boring. A weak production, the lyrics are okay but not memorable and Rihanna sounds more unconvincing vocally than normal. So we have more filler pretty much. I get the message of the song and it's sweet but the execution is quite poor. Oh well. 
(D+)

11. "A Girl Like Me"
This title track, like the last one, is just a sorry excuse of an anthem. Another song that doesn't really grab your attention and feels so much like filler. Rihanna's vocally sloppy and the hook is just a mess. Wow, I'm really over this album...but 2 more tracks left. Oh boy! 
(D+)

12. "A Million Miles Away"
Stop it! Just stop Rihanna! The ballads suck! This one is especially boring with more awkward vocal delivery. Sure, Rihanna is trying but it's all so...weak. Yeah...nothing else to say. Next track!
(D+)

13. "If It's Lovin' That You Want" Part 2
This Part 2, like most of this album, is an outright disappointment. The beat is horrible and makes me want to listen to the MUCH better original. This is just so unnecessary, especially the random rap verses. Man, why fix something that isn't broken?! Bah!
(D-)


"A Girl Like Me" was apparently rushed into a mere week after Rihanna's debut album was released...and it shows. The album, despite experimenting with pop here and there, never really feels ground-breaking, innovative or the least bit impressive. It really feels like more of the same from her debut. The Caribbean inspired/reggae track feel a bit tired this time around when her first album has a Caribbean charm to it like I mentioned. Honestly, from "SOS" (a pretty strong pop single) to the last track feel like such a massive dip in quality. Her producers at the time try their best to push Rihanna's sound to have that crossover appeal, but never hone or perfect it. Even Ne-yo with "Unfaithful" fails to capture a presence from Rihanna that feels distinct and memorable. Seriously, that song is a mess! The album was suppose to be a more mature record since at the time Rihanna was saying such at the time, even going as far as saying "Now I'm singing about experiences that I've gone through and stuff that other 18-year-old girls go through, so it's all about progression." Progression is honestly no where to be found. Like I said, the album is simply more of the same from her debut with slightly better singles (Once again, with "Unfaithful" not withstanding. Obviously, a #1 hit and Rihanna's "bubblegum reggae" image just wasn't enough as once again, "A Girl Like Me" is forgettable amongst her discography. But there is some hope in the next few albums...at least I hope.

"Released less than a year from her mildly entertaining freshman effort, "A Girl Like Me" can't really be considered a sophomore slump when it is almost an exact replica of her first album. "SOS" is a great pop/dance club fare, "We Ride" is contagiously catchy", but Rihanna's weakness as a vocalist shines through during the album's ballads even more so this time and the generic reggae beats start to bug."
(C-)

Good Girl Gone Bad (2007)/Reloaded (2008)

1. "Umbrella" featuring Jay-Z
As far as great lead singles go, none get better than "Umbrella". It's a pop song done right with an infectious hook and frustratingly catchy melody. A song originally meant for Britney Spears but turned down by her label at the time, like "SOS", Rihanna makes "Umbrella" her own. Producers Tricky Stewart and Kuk Harrell as well as co-writers the Dream and Jay-Z do a fine job rapping themselves around a pop hit that effortlessly uses a rain metaphor to describe a strong relationship. This wasn't just a big hit in the states, it was international and solidified Rihanna's fame as a well known pop diva. A great song then and now as well as one of Riri's most memorable hits.
(B+)

2. "Push Up On Me"
This is fast paced track with some sexual undertones. It has a pretty nice hook, if not a bit jumbled sounding. Rihanna intently sings about having a guy "push up on" her, which over of course implies some foreplay, even sex, but it's a fun colloquialism type song. An easy listen and a solid follow-up to the first track.
(B-)

3. "Don't Stop The Music"
This is great dance track that's perfect for the clubs. The beat is fun and infectious, with nice sample of Michael Jackson's "Wanna Be Starting Somethin'". The lyrics are pretty generic with Rihanna calling out the DJ to not stop the music but like I said, this is strong dance song that perfect for the clubs and will immediately get you dancing whether you want to or not.
(B+)

4. "Breakin' Dishes"
Lol! This song is pretty funny with Rihanna confidently singing about an unfaithful man causing her to become violent and out of control. It's a pretty decent song, though a little short. Can't really get much of an impression of besides that it's entertaining since it's such new territory for Rihanna. I guess it works thematically for album with Rihanna shading her good girl image and getting her hands dirty...literally.
(B-)

5. "Shut Up and Drive"
This is a good pop/rock song!! Another single from the album, while not as successful as her first or latter singles, it's a quality track that sees Rihanna having a need for speed as the rock melody becomes imbedded in your head. Who knew Rihanna would make such a convincing switch to this genre but it really does work as you can image yourself cruising down the street with this song blasting through the speakers.
(B+)

6. "Hate That I Love You" Featuring Ne-Yo
Awwww, this is a sweet collaboration between Rihanna and Ne-Yo with both artists complimenting each other vocally. Ne-Yo does a fine job on the lyrics and the beat reminds me of most of his work, especially "So Sick". The song tells of lovers who hate much they are infatuated with each and how frustrating it can be. It's a nice R&B song that sees both artists surprisingly at their best and I enjoyed it immensely.
(B+)

7. "Say It"
You know a good sample should make you start to forget how good the original was...but "Say It" doesn't really do Mad Cobra's "Flex" justice. For me, it just makes me want to listen to the original. "Say It", production wise, sounds like a mess. Like the melody in the background and the beat are clashing against each other. Not really pleasant to the ears...at least for me. It also makes to song sound dated, which is never a good thing! The album's first dud for me.
(D+)

8. "Sell Me Candy"
Hmmm, given the title, sounds like a song made for pedophiles but it's a song hard to get feel for during it's short length. Now I've had my issues with songs with short run times before but that shouldn't automatically make a song suck. A good song is one that no matter how long or short keeps your attention and leaves you wanting more. "Sell Me Candy"...is just...well...kinda there. Almost feeling like a prolonged interlude and filler material. Next!
(C-)

9. "Let Me That"
Nice beat but we are hitting filler material again. Don't really don't care for the lyrics as they sound repetitive and like a whole bunch of non-sense. The next track though...
(C-)

10. "Rehab"
Not to be confused with Amy Winehouse's famous hit, "Rehab" is a cautionary tale of a toxic relationship that leaves Rihanna feeling like sh!t and desperately needing to be relieved of it. Timbaland and Justin come in for background chants/vocals as Timbaland produced tracks tend to be. While I'm not the biggest fan of Timbaland/Justin oversaturating the songs they produce for other artists with their cameos in them, I'm just glad we got a good song on the album again.
(B)

11. "Question Existing"
Hmmm, this song is like a mix of foreplay and existentialism. Wait...a thought provoking Rihanna song? Not really. Though it does bring back the theme of the album with Rihanna taking on a more racy approach to her music. It's honestly more a sex song than a moving ideal that Rihanna is planting in listeners heads. It's pretty...ok overall.
(C)

12. "Good Girl Gone Bad"
Finally title track from Rihanna that has some meaning and enough of a decent production that is maybe memorable. Rihanna sings about the cautionary tale for men to understand why girls go bad and leave. It's because of being mistreated or disrespected which I so get. Amen Riri!
(B-)

13. "Disturbia"
This once again a great pop track from Rihanna. She kinda creates her own little "Thriller" here with the haunting/disturbing (pun intended!) imagery presented in the lyrical content. It's just an overall fun track with it's infectious beat and auto tuned harmonies by Rihanna. Makes me want to leave my criticizing hat at the door and just dance.
(B+)

14. "Take A Bow"
This cleverly written, Ne-Yo produced track is another great song/single that went to #1 for good reason. I like the lyrics with Rihanna mocking her soon to be ex-lover for making a show literally during their break-up. I'm sure a lot of women can feel this song so much and understand it's message so much. It's really sad when the unfaithful are so overdramatic. I really like this one and can't help but sing along.
(B+)

15. "If I Never See Your Face Again" Featuring Maroon 5
Hmmm, not really feeling this collaboration, though I admire Rihanna going to back to the pop/rock genre but it's not the best from either artist both melodically and lyrically. Not the best end to the album, but an admirable song for what it is.
(C+)


"Good Girl Gone Bad" isn't one of best pop albums of it's era, but it's certainly an immense improvement over Rihanna's first two albums. This album is said to be the turning point in Rihanna's career and I definitely agree. Musically, Rihanna steps away from her Caribbean/reggae sound as she experiments with other genres like R&B, pop, even rock, doing a fine job each of them. The production and writing is much more solid even if the mid section of the album is pretty weak, the beginning tracks and tail end are pretty strong over all though. Rihanna for the first time traded in her good girl image for an edgier look and sound, which worked out well for her by ushering in a new phase of career. Thematically, there are only a handful of songs that capture the album's concept. "Shut Up and Drive", "Question Existing", "Breaking Dishes" but not much else. What made the album good is Rihanna's maturity and her writers/prtoducers making some fun pop music that doesn't feel repetitive or have the same generic beats. Not all of it worked, but there was enough hr to make we want a little more from Riri. "Reloaded" is slightly better and a competent re-lease as "Disturbia" rocks and "Take A Bow" is a reminder of how good R&B use to be.

"Credited as the album that made her not only a household name in music but an international star, "Good Girl Gone Bad" and it's re-release make for a solid pop album with Rihanna more confidently singing better music that puts her first two albums to shame."
(B)

Rated R (2009)

1. "Mad House"
The album opens with an "Thriller"-esqe intro with a deep, creepy voiced announcer welcoming us to the Mad House. I like it as well as the beat that incorporates it.

2. "Wait Your Turn"
We get football metaphors over an electronic beat with Rihanna expressing "the wait is over". There's even some cursing for the first time from her in a song. I just wish I knew what Rihanna was talking about. Kind of a song I'm struggling to find the meaning of it. It's kinda just there, it's a bit too early for filler. lol.
(C)

3. "Hard" Featuring Young Jeezy
Rihanna so confidently comes through with this R&B/Hip Hop mash up to tell the world just how "hard" she is in all aspects, fashion, swagger, etc. It's a fun and catchy song I remember hearing a lot of in '09. It doesn't matter if you believe Rihanna's bad girl attitude, the production is good and the melody is catchy as well as the hook. So this is a solid track that made for a radio hit single.
(B)

4. "Stupid In Love"
Through this snapped filled ballad, Rihanna sings of being in a screwed up relationship where she refuses to be in denial about her man's disrespectful nature. I like the message of the song and the lyrics are pretty good. Not the strongest track but a pretty good one for me at least.
(B-)

5. "ROCKSTAR 101"
I really like this track and it made for a cool single from this album. With a Slash's guitar solo that rocks, this is a good song with Rihanna idolizing the life of a Rockstar over a rock/hip hop beat. It's catchy enough too that it doesn't bore you. Shame it wasn't a bigger single.
(B)

6. "Russian Roulette"
Too say this song is dark would be an understatement! Written and produced by Ne-Yo, the fatal foreign game is used as a metaphor for a tumultuous relationship. For the first time, the lyrics go above and beyond what you'd expect from Rihanna, dare I say it borderlines thought provoking. If the song doesn't hit you over the head with it's disastrous theme, then the last few moments where you hear Rihanna breathing her last breath before a gun shot fire will leave you speechless. Rumored to be inspired by her abusive relationship with Chris Brown that ended with her brutally beaten, it really doesn't matter. This is a strong and pretty moving track. The best song of her career thus far.
(A)

7. "Fire Bomb"
Another rock/pop song that has sort of a chaotic melody if that makes sense. The lyrics seem to have a deep meaning as well as metaphors. "Fire Bomb" could be about another explosive relationship and the consequences of it. I especially love the lyric "I just wanna set you on fire/So I wont have to burn alone". It's kinda beautiful and heartbreaking all at once. I feel like this is a song that needs repeated listens to truly understand it's menacing message...yet it has an upbeat tone to it from the way it sounds production wise. Quite a stunning piece of work.
(A-)

8. "Rude Boy"
Going back to her Caribbean/dancehall roots with a vengeance, "Rude Boy" is a cock teased, infectiously upbeat track that went to #1 and for good reason. While Rihanna would go on to make even more sexualized music, this is the perfect mix of sexual but playful as Rihanna continually sings about how man enough her lover is in the bedroom. This is just a great club hit that's a melodic tune and will make you dance. A good anthem for the ladies as well. I loved when this came out in '10 and still do 'til this day.
(B+)

9. "Photograghs" Featuring will.i.am.
"Photographs" is a song that seems to be full of regret and loss in it's meaning. The lyrics once again are pretty song and I like Rihanna's vulnerability...but will.i.am's part feels unnecessary and tacked on for no reason. Rihanna carries the song well on her own and the emotion is real and when compared to the electronic non-sense that will.i.am brings is kinda laughable and ultimately hurt the follow of the track. But when it's Rihanna front and center, this is a good song no doubt.
(B-)

10. "G4L"
"G4L" aka "Gangsta 4 Life"...is...okay. Pretty much your run of the mil track with Rihanna once again emphasizing her tough exterior that she has developed for this album. It is a noticeable change from her, even after "Good Girl Gone Bad". Whether you believe or not once again is up to you but it's decent album far that fits the tone and theme of the record.
(C)

11. "Te Amo"
This Latin flavored track is a fun and a nice break from the serious, dark nature from the album. I like the inclusion of the Spanish guitar as it rides the beat. I enjoyed this one, though it could have been longer.
(B)

12. "Cold Case Love"
"Cold Case Love" is another metaphorical song using love as the means of breaking the law. I enjoy the meaning behind this song, using love as a way of having blind faith, leading into a crime. The lyrics are well crafted and the production is solid. I enjoy this one with every listen with the lyrics touching my heart more and more. Also, you would think with the long running time that it would drag, but it flows very well.
(B+)

13. "The Last Song"
Well, it doesn't get more climatic than naming your last song on the album..."The Last Song". Though, to me, it doesn't make much of a lasting impression. It doesn't really invoke any sadness or deep sorrow that the song is going for. It felt like Rihanna and her writers pretty much ran out of ideas and made this song just to make a rushed conclusion. Its just meh. Not a strong end to an otherwise good album.
(C)


"Rated R" is a dark, mature album that I feel was the right evolution for Rihanna following her last. Whether the album's melancholy tone was inspired by the incident with Chris Brown earlier that year or not, this is a good follow-up showing a more introspective side of Rihanna. Ne-Yo as well as the rest of her writers and producers come up with an album that, for the most part, succeeds in it's theme. Rihanna is showing a tough...yet vulnerable side to her not heard from her before and it is wonderfully realized in tracks like "Russian Roulette" and "Cold Case Love". But she never forgets to have some fun and relief by having up-beat dance tracks like "Rude Boy" that are much appreciated. Once again, Rihanna experiments with different genres of music from rock to pop to reggae/dancehall, giving the album a very eclectic feel that makes it enjoyable. The album overall was a continued success for her with it selling more copies than "Good Girl Gone Bad" in it's first week and showed Rihanna could be an artist with much more substance than previously thought. I enjoyed the album as it felt that a true extension of her personality and what was going on in her life as well as left me curious about her next album.

"Filled with lyrics of regret, sorrow and pain, "Rated R" lives up to it's title as Rihanna curses and sings her way through a plethora of tracks that delve deep into her mischievous adulthood. It's an album that proves to be her best yet and a solid effort from the young Barbadian diva."
(B)

Loud (2010)

1. "S&M"
Like I said, it's hard to believe how innocent Rihanna was at the beginning of her career compared to her at this point in her career. "S&M" needs no explanation of what it's talking about. Who knew Rihanna was this sexually devious and depraved! A bigger shock is how successful this song became as it went to #1 among Rihanna's many. I won't lie, this song is so infectious and extremely catchy that I can't help but sing along to the melodic hook. Whether you are into bondage or not. Who would think in this day in age a song like this would be a hit and not banned for publically celebrating sado masochistic practices...but Rihanna pulls it off and it's a pretty superb start to the album that embodies a great pop hit.
(B+)

2. "What's My Name" Featuring Drake
This electronic R&B/Hip Hop collaboration from Rihanna and Drake was another big hit for the two of them and I can't deny this is a great track. It's fun, playful and sweet song that sees Rihanna singing about a guy who makes her feel amazing and makes her forget her own name. I've enjoyed this song ever since it came out in '10 and it's still a good song.
(B+)

3. "Cheers (Drink To That)"
A great anthem for the end of the week, "Cheers (Drink To That)" sees Rihanna singing about the joys of indulging when the weekend comes but most of all just being carefree when life gets you down. It's a pretty good song even if the it's message is pretty simple. It's overall enjoyable and catchy.
(B-)

4. "Fading"
"Fading" is a heartfelt song that sees Rihanna singing of her man who is "fading" as to say that her man is losing himself as their relationship begins to fall apart. I like it. The hook is nice and catchy enough with the lyrics being pretty good overall.
(B)

5. "Only Girl (In The World)"
I feel like "Only Girl (In The World)" is the song that really cemented that that Euro-Pop/EDM craze that hit that 2010s was here to stay. This is a great pop song, filled with infectious electronic beats, a fine vocal performance from Rihanna and lyrics that emphasize that this is one you'll remember for years to come. This was a major hit around the world and really was the best opening single for the album. One of Rihanna's best hits that shows that she can be a very capable pop artist.
(A)

6. "California King Bed"
"California King Bed" sees Rihanna drawing inspiration from the pop/rock genre once again and she does a fantastic job with this track! The lyrics are saddening as Rihanna sings of a relationship that couldn't be more at a distance as two lovers lie next to each in bed. Rihanna's vocal performance, once again, is superb (at least for her) and I feel the emotion that was surely lacking from her earlier ballads that were just so bland. Anyway, a great song.
(A-)

7. "Man Down"
I love when Rihanna goes back to her Caribbean roots with these latter albums. Where "A Girl Like Me" seemed to drown itself with generic reggae songs, songs like "Man Down" stand out because they are rare and have more effort put into them. "Man Down" is a tragic tale of Rihanna shooting a man out of blind anger and I love every minute of it, especially when she delivers the Jamaican patois portion of the song. A strong follow-up to the last track and a nice change in genres.
(A-)

8. "Raining Men"
Another R&B/Hip Hop collabo from the album, this Rihanna and Nicki Minaj join forces. Though I find it funny that a part of the song samples "enney, meany, miney, mow" of all children's games. I guess it could be worse. It's okay I guess. Kind of filler.
(C)

9. "Complicated"
Once again, Rihanna sings of a relationship that has become tedious because of a lover who makes things worse through their disrespectful tantrums. I enjoy the song for it's lyrical content and Rihanna's above average vocals. It's relatable and it works.
(B-)

10. "Skin"
Now, this is level sexy I like from Rihanna. Not too dirty and has that right kind of sexuality that you can listen to with their significant other. It's playful and leaves more to the imagination without having to spell it out for the listeners. I like the electronic rock/hip hop tone of the song, it's really good.
(B+)

11. "Love The Way You Lie" Part II Featuring Eminem
This is a good sequel song to her #1 worldwide hit with Eminem that ends the album on a strong note. Eminem of course comes through with a hit verse that brings a lot of intensity to the song and Rihanna brings a lot of vulnerability as she did with their first collaboration. This is fine track to conclude the album.
(B+)


Wow, I really enjoyed "Loud" more than I thought I would. Following such a good album like "Rated R", you think Rihanna would drop the ball but this is a great pop album. It's up-beat, fun and once again shows a wide range of musical genres that work as a whole. I'd say the only problem is that "Loud" doesn't have clear theme like her last two albums. After the edgier attitude of "Good Girl Gone Bad" and serious, inner demons concept of "Rated R", "Loud" seems content with just being lighter and more optimistic which isn't bad. The music is overall still pretty strong, I love the singles from the album from "Only Girl" to "Man Down". Also Rihanna never forgets to take things seriously and really show some substance like with "California King Bed". The collaborations are solid for the most part (all though Nicki doesn't bring much to the table in "Raining Men") Overall, "Loud" is just a great pop album that shows that Rihanna can surprisingly be versatile with different genres of music and has enough talent to pull it off. The album went on to sell over 8 million worldwide and had her most successful opening week sales of her career as well as 3#1 singles. She became the youngest artists who accumulated the most #1 singles since Mariah Carey. Sure, Rihanna isn't one of the most gifted musicians and singers, but with "Loud" she once again shows she is marketable pop artist who knows her way around a handful of hits.

"Rihanna's fifth studio effort, "Loud", is the sum of the best from the Caribbean born pop star. From dance-pop to rock to reggae, Rihanna and her team of talented writers/producers craft an album filled with hits and enjoyable music that proves that Rihanna is worthy of the success she has garnered so far."
(B+)

Talk That Talk (2011)

1. "You Da One"
"You Da One" is cute, if I could describe it. It's Rihanna singing about the love and joy that comes from being so smitten by someone. The beat is nice and the lyrics are decent enough. A cool opening track for the album.
(B)

2. "Where Have You Been"
"Where Have You Been" is electronic/EDM heaven if you ask me. A single that was perfect for the clubs and that beat is pretty insane. The lyrics are rather limited but for dance-pop, this is euphoric bliss at it's finest. Surely it's one of the best songs in its genre and will get your body moving immediately.
(A-)

3. "We Found Love" Featuring Calvin Harris
Becoming a #1 smash hit around the world, especially in the US for #10 consecutive weeks, "We Found Love" was pretty unescapable in the clubs in the fall of '11. I remember it fondly and enjoying the hell out of it. "We Found Love" is almost a cautionary tale of love having dangerous consequences like drug addiction, abuse, alcoholism, etc. Or at least, that's what the video heavily implies. Anyway, "We Found Love" is another great song for its genre that set the dance floors on fire and is remembered for its unforgettable melody and hook.
(A)

4. "Talk That Talk"
This title track sees Rihanna teaming up with Roc A Fella/hip hop veteran Jay-Z and it makes for a pretty good track. The beat is good, the lyrics have Rihanna singing about a man she wants to confidently talk to her in a manner that will win her heart. Jay-Z's verse is okay, if not serviceable and could have been better. It's an otherwise harmless track that makes for a decent song.
(B-)

5. "Cockiness (Love It)"
Lol, oh this song! It's not really a song as it's more like a musical porno if anything. I mean with lyrics like "Suck my cockiness/like my persuasion", it's not that hard to figure out what Rihanna is talking about. For God sakes she even chants "I love it when you eat it" over a beat that has a guy saying "blow job". "Cockiness (Love It)" could have been a clever sex track if written MUCH better but it's all kind of laughable.
(D+)

6. "Birthday Cake"
More an interlude than a song, "Birthday Cake"...is just there. A part of me is glad it's not a song (even though an extended version was made with Chris Brown of all people) Like "Cockiness", I felt it would have been mediocre at best. Next track!

7. "We All Want Love"
Wow, a song will actual substance again!? Well who knew Rihanna was such an advocate for utopic love...but it's kinda moving. I like this song for that reason cause bluntly sexual Rihanna isn't much fun, so I'd gladly take this Rihanna, thank you!
(B)

8. "Drunk On Love"
Not to be confused with Beyoncé's "Drunk In Love", "Drunk On Love" sees Rihanna singing about her insatiable thirst for being in enamored with her lover. Once again, it's surprising seeing this love sick side of Rihanna. What happened to all that sex talk?! Another nice break from that Riri.
(B-)

9. "Roc Me Out"
Well, Rihanna's back to her horny self as she sings for her man to "rock her out left and forth". I guess this time the song is catchy enough and isn't so blunt about its sexual nature. Overall it's okay.
(C)

10. "Watch n' Learn"
"Watch n' Learn" is more "fun under the sheets" type of music but at least this time it's catchier than the last song and has a melody that's ear candy for me. For a song about having sex multiple times every way and anywhere it's surprisingly pleasant.
(B-)

11. "Farwell"
"Farwell" is a nice ender to the album. I like at least better than "The Last Song" cause it tells a story of a person saying goodbye. It at least gives me more emotional resonance as well, so not bad.
(C+)

12. "Red Lipstick"
This deluxe track is a electronic R&B/Hip Hop song that sees Rihanna so fascinated by red lipstick. It's kind of dull and boring, which makes me realize why it was left off the main album. It's kind of pointless.
(D+)

13. "Do Ya Thing"
Hmmm, I like the old school pop/R&B feel of "Do Ya Thing". "Do Ya Thing" has a good message of two people in a relationship have other attractions to other people but still respecting each other. It's interesting take on being in a possibly polyamorous relationship and just having your fun but still being down for you significant other. A pretty good song all things considered.
(C+)

14. "Fool in Love"
Ending things off for the album is this pop/rock track with Rihanna painfully admitting she is a "fool in love". I like the instrumentation, especially the guitar solo towards the end. The lyrics and melody are decent as well as Rihanna's vocals, so this is a nice end to the album.
(B)


Originally intended to be a re-release of "Loud", "Talk That Talk" was kind of a rushed production yet the album isn't as bad as you think it would be. It's strength are the dance-pop songs, which at this point are Rihanna's specialty. She just excels at that genre with hits like "We Found Love" and "Where Have You Been" encompassing the best of the EDM genre. "Talk That Talk" is probably Rihanna's most sexually explicit album. She toyed with it in "Rated R" and had fun with it in "Loud", but this time she is spelling things out which I feel is when the album is at its weakest. It's not a bad album by any means but it doesn't have the dark and daring approach of "Rated R" or the bright, euphoric dance pop of "Loud". For the most part it is enjoyable, I just wish Rihanna pushed herself more at this point in her career lyrically and production wise. She really didn't have much to say with this album despite it's several hits that continued her immense commercial success. She doesn't seem to be growing as a artist though and is starting to give more of the same with each album which is sad cause Rihanna can be very good at times or very lackluster at others.

"Talk That Talk" is an easy album to listen to at times, though it's overtly sexual nature can be grating at times. There are moments of excellence when it comes to the dancefloor intensity that makes Rihanna a pop sensation but as a whole, it's an otherwise pretty good album that could have been better."
(B-)

Unapologetic (2012)

1. "Phresh Out The Runway"
This is kind of an auto-tuned mess of an opener. It's more chaotic noise than an actual song. Can't even really understand what Rihanna is singing about. I actually had to look up the lyrics to find out that Rihanna is singing about being fashionable and flashy...but its very incoherent. One of her worst songs if you ask me.
(F)

2. "Diamonds"
Now THIS is a song! Thank you Sia for writing such a great single! It's catchy, has a wonderful melody and nice lyrics. This should have been the opener for the album, not that cluster f@#$ of nonsense. This is the kind of music that Rihanna should do more of and it shows her fans as well as casual listeners love it as it went to #1. A stellar track.
(A-)

3. "Numb" Featuring Eminem
Now, I'm trying to understand what "Numb" is about, considering it's a track so lackluster even Eminem's verse feels random and unnecessary. The lyrics are so...I hate to use this word but..."basic" and simple minded. There is no meaning or depth to them. All I can say in the positive for this track is the beat is cool...that's about it. Next!
(D-)

4. "Pour It Up"
Awww, "Pour It Up". A song that is pretty much a stripper's anthem. It is a degrading song if you ask me. Only to be surpassed by it's horribly unflattering music video with Rihanna leaving literally nothing to the imagination but it's to be expected with a poorly made song like this. I mean at least "S&M" was fun but "Pour It Up" isn't. We get it Rihanna, your a freak, now let's move on to some good music shall we?
(D+)

5. "Loveeeeeeee Song" Featuring Future
Well, this song is just annoying from Future's auto-tuned gargling (that's what it sounds like to me so I'll call it that) "Loveeeee Song" just feels like clashing of beats and lyrics are decent but the production is surely lacking. Wow, I am not a fan of this album so far.
(C-)

6. "Jump"
We have dubstep right here and the beat is pretty cool, though the sample of Ginuwine's "Pony" just makes me want to listen to that song rather than this one. It's just more lust ridden lyrics over a heavy robotic beat which Rihanna doesn't seem to be tired of but I'm starting to. It's just meh.
(C)

7. "Right Now" Featuring David Guetta
You know the last time Rihanna and David Guetta collaborated, they created probably one of my favorite EDM songs ("Who's That Chick?") But sadly this song (like most of the album so far) is quite subpar with lyrics that are forgettable and a beat that doesn't know what it wants to sound like. It's all just loud (no pun intended) noise that don't make a coherent sound. Oh well.
(C-)

8. "What Now"
Nope, nope, NOPE!! This is just an attack on my ears! Vocally and production wise, "What Now" is another mess of a song. Rihanna's voice has never been this poor since "Unfaithful" (*shivers*) "What Now" seems to be telling an emotional story with it's lyrics but the shrieking vocals from Rihanna and that thunderous beat that feels like the producers forgot what they were doing halfway through the song which ruins the songs' potential meaning. It's all really a shame. Another major fail for Rihanna!
(F)

9. "Stay" Featuring Mikky Ekko
I honestly don't get this album's inconsistency. You have the utter dreck that are songs like "Numb" and "Phresh Out The Runaway", then you have a song like "Stay". A song with deep emotional depth and well written lyrics as well as solid vocal work from both Rihanna and Mikky Ekko. Rihanna (or at least her team of writers/producers) know how to make a great song...yet all they have done is waste precious time with terrible fillers and only have rare standouts like this song. This is a stunning ballad. Why can't the album be more like this?! WHY!!??
(A-)

10. "Nobody's Business" Featuring Chris Brown
Well their relationship make have ended violently but both Rihanna and Chris Brown seem to still have chemistry when it comes to their music. "Nobody's Business" has a fun, old school R&B feel to it that I can't help but dance to. The lyrics are sweet and may even symbolize Riri and Chris' relationship, a relationship that is complicated and doesn't deserve the scrutiny that it has garnered. It's their business and they will always have each others' back, which is a nice message.
(B+)

11. "Love Without Tragedy/Mother Mary"
Well, this is quite the emotional song with Rihanna singing some emotional lyrics about love, her life in the limelight and the asking for some religious intervention. It's a bit saddening with Rihanna lamenting that she is even prepared to die. Some pretty heavy stuff for an album that has been pretty dull and light on substance. Looks like "Unapologetic" is on the up and up.
(B)

12. "Get It Over With"
Filled with rain and water metaphors, "Get It Over With" seems to be talking about an impending fight or something ominous that's about to happen. What that maybe is very vague, at least to me. Hard to critique it as a song as it's just kind of...there. Nothing good or horrible, just...meh.
(C)

13. "No Love Allowed"
Well, this just feels like filler doesn't it? A Caribbean beat driven track that sees Rihanna singing partly in Jamaican patois but the song is pretty dull even if the lyrics are detailing a pretty unsettling relationship. I'm pretty bored by it really.
(D+)

14. "Lost In Paradise"
Another track with a chaotic beat...another song that is rather flat in it's delivery. Nothing really bad, just a mixed bag. The title is nice though, but I'm just not a fan.
(C-)

15. "Half of Me"
Well, this a revealing song for Rihanna. I like it when she gets this vulnerable showing that her public persona is just a part of her and that the world doesn't get to see all of her. It's a good message to send out to her fan and other listeners that she has other aspects of her personality but at the end of the day is still a person. I like it and it is a nice bonus track.
(B)


"Unapologetic" got a lot of mixed reactions from critics who felt like the album was rushed...and I agree. The album only has a handful of good songs amongst an album with no theme apparent and seems content with being mediocre at best. "Unapologetic" is the true definition of a mixed with it's good, it's pretty awesome ("Diamonds", "Stay") but when it's bad, it's some of Rihanna's worst ("What Now", "Numb") Like I said, with "Rated R", Rihanna showed she was a competent artist who can delve deep with her music. Sure, there are moments like that on this album but they are so few and far in between. Thank God for the likes of Sia and even Chris Brown for managing to bring some life to an otherwise weak release from Rihanna. The album managed to sell well and garner her a Grammy (To which I don't understand) but to be it feels a little uninspired. It's one again more of the same from Rihanna with tiny bits of great music that should have taken up the majority of the album. Also, Rihanna should really take up song writing and try to open herself up more as an artist. The sexualized music has grown repetitive at this point and the moments where we she the beauty of her softer side is once again where her music shines bright (no pun intended!) Also, the dance-pop hits just weren't there with this album besides "Right Now", but it wasn't among her best.

"For an album called "Unapologetic", Rihanna has quite a bit to be sorry for with her 7th studio album. It's a lukewarm record at best with some songs that are worthy of much praise but a lot more songs that feel juvenile and pitiful."
(D+)

Anti (2016)

1. "Consideration" Featuring SZA
This is a cool opener with a nice beat and has Rihanna singing alongside SZA about a relationship that sees Rihanna at odds with her man. It causes irrefutable pain and I like how the song kind of abruptly concludes. It's a good intro.
(B)

2. "James Joint"
A nice sounding interlude...but an interlude no less that doesn't make much of an impression. Next track!

3. "Kiss It Better"
Oh this song is my jam!  Now this is a song that I rather hear from Rihanna than her relentless songs of her sexual practices. This song has an old school R&B feel to it that is for grown folks ready to make up and Rihanna manages to do things tastefully despite the repeated F bombs. I will be rewinding this one often, I just know it! 
(B+)

4. "Work" Featuring Drake
Becoming her very recent 14th #1 single on the Hot 100, "Work" could have used more "work" in of itself. Hard to believe this song took 8...yes...8 writers to write it! This is what I like to call "catchy gibberish". I mean it's not really a song and despite Rihanna using Jamaican patois once again for this dancehall/reggae joint, the song makes no sense from a lyrical stand point. Even Drake hot off his "Hotling Bling" success can't raise this song from mediocrity. Now I know a song from this genre doesn't need much lyrical depth or the best production but it's just a lousy song that feels lazy. Not to mention, for a song that officially made Rihanna the third artist in history with the most number ones, it's kind of sad.
(C-)

5. "Desperado"
This to me is like a hip hop western that has a nice beat. Rihanna, once again, takes on her bad girl image by singing about two heart broken criminals. It's a pretty decent track and I like the feel of it which truly does invoke the sound of the western genre. I mean, anything at this point can be a step up from "Work".
(B)

6. "Woo"
"Woo" feels like filler with Travis Scott randomly echoing "woo" during the chorus and Rihanna expressing deep concern over her man's apparent former/new lover or "side chick". The song just doesn't standout, even though its production tries to make up for the song's lyrical shortcomings.
(C)

7. "Needed Me"
Bringing back her bad girl image, Rihanna puts her man "on blast" about him needing her and for him not to get it the other way around. I enjoy this one. Sure Rihanna's "I'm a bad b!tch" routine is just an act, but sometimes it can be a pretty entertaining act none the less.
(B-)

8. "Yeah, I Said It"
Here we have Rihanna once again making a song about how she likes to tease and please...or having her man please her in this case. It feels more like a prolonged interlude than a song that leaves you hot and bothered.
(C)

9. "Same Ol' Mistakes"
"Same Ol' Mistakes" feels like one of those songs that goes on for far longer than it needs to. At the half way point, you're already wanting the song to be over before it switches it's beat. Now I get the lyrics and I'm all for Rihanna being enlightened by feeling like a brand new person, but this is pretty dire. I mean by simply making the song shorter, you have a more cohesive track that feels more enjoyable but oh well.
(D+)

10. "Never Ending"
This is a nice piano ballad/mid-tempo track from Rihanna with some good lyrics and a beautiful melody.
(B)

11. "Love On The Brain"
Wow, this came right out of left field...but I really like this one. "Love On The Brain" draws inspiration from 1950's/1960s pop music from the days of Motown and Cadillac Records. Rihanna's vocal delivery is quit stunning here matching the singing inflections of such great singers from that heyday like Etta James. This track was such a pleasant surprise. 
(A-)

12. "Higher"
You know, Rihanna, as a singer, is VERY inconsistent. After some good vocal work during the last track, she decides to throw it all away and give us this ear rape of a song! Actually, I'm sorry, "Higher" isn't even a song! It's Rihanna yelling endlessly into the microphone for 2 minutes. Yup, that pretty much sums it up. Next!
(F)

13. "Close To You"
This is another good ballad that is a god given relief after the last track. The lyrics are sweet and like I said, Rihanna's vulnerability should be shown more often as it fits her. It feels more real than her going on about her sex life and how tough she is any day.
(B-)

14. "Goodnight Gotham"
Ok....this is just weird and unnecessary. I mean I was thinking this was a Batman reference but instead it's just a smashing of various sounds and beats! Such a weird and worthless interlude.

15. "Pose"
Ok, this is just a lame filler with Rihanna singing silly lyrics about posing. The writing is just poor and childish. A bad song, nothing more, nothing less!
(D)

16. "Sex With Me"
You know, the beat to this is nice but I simply groan at the utter narcissistic babble that Rihanna is singing about. I mean it's just Rihanna repeatedly saying "sex with me is amazing" over and over with references to social media...that's it. It's just sad but this is just another poorly written track that should have been left on the cutting room floor and not on the deluxe version of this album...or any album for that matter.
(D-)


Finally I've reached Rihanna's latest album, "Anti"...or R8 as her fans have been calling it. It's hard to believe Rihanna has released 8 studio albums in little over a decade. Some albums have been better than others considering the rushed feeling of some of them with Rihanna releasing an album every year since her debut. Rihanna is quite the oversaturated artist but it seems to have worked in her favor becoming one of the most successful artist of her generation (and history too) She is the best selling artist of the digital era but that's mostly because of her great singles. Rihanna had said to be more of a singles artist than an album artist and I would agree. Not to say she hasn't had good album because "Rated R" and "Loud" remain her best and are good albums for sure. But since "Loud", her albums seemed to get weaker with every release. "Talk That Talk" had it's problems but was passable overall and then there's "Unapologetic", probably her worst album thus far feeling the most rushed in production and uneven in what it wants to be. Now we have "Anti", an album that took 4 years for Rihanna to complete. In the meantime, she was pushing random singles like "B!tch Betta Have My Money", "American Oxygen" and "FourFiveSeconds" to get fans and casual listeners ready. Surprisingly, those songs aren't featured on the album. I honestly would have liked to have heard them on here. Sure "Bitch Betta Have My Money" could be written by a 12 year old, but the latter two are good songs, with a stunning guitar solo from the legendary Paul McCartney. "Anti" isn't a bad album and is an improvement but doesn't reach the dark pathos of "Rated R" or the awesome dance-pop of "Loud. I hate to keep bringing up those albums with each review but those albums I feel is when Rihanna peaked as an artist and just hasn't recaptured that balance of style and substance with her music. Also lacking in the album is the dance-pop that Rihanna excels at as she goes for a more urban influenced sound electronic hip hop beats with little pop to be heard. Rihanna should really re-think her next album and go back to that genre. What made her best albums work were how she tackled a wide variety of musical genres but "Anti" sticks to one sound, only drifting to other genres like dancehall for "Work". But nothing more can be said considering the album has been a success so far in landing at #1 on the BB 200 charts. Rihanna's career seems to be riding high no matter how much her music is surely lacking. She certainly has a lot more maturing to do with her music and should re-invent herself more. She has been quoted as to saying she wants to be the "Black Madonna"...and sure has the success and image to fulfill that dream but Rihanna should take her music to a different direction. I'd love to see her experiment more with other genres of music more and write about other things besides her need to get the D. Also, lose the bad girl image and soften herself up again like Madonna did. But we'll see what comes from Rihanna with her 9th studio album.

"Anti" is a pretty decent effort from Rihanna that sees her singing about her continued sexual desires and hardened mentality. But the album's strengths barely shine through the rest of the mediocrity."
(C+)

Such a pity that no one has responded to your reviews yet. You should come to the Beyonce board instead where we mostly talk about female pop stars. Loud and Good Girl Gone Bad are my top albums from RiRi, while the rest were pretty decent. I like her reggae albums, I grew up listening to reggae. I was listening to Anti album last nite, and it's quite good. I really like Consideration, Kiss It Better, Same Ol' Mistakes, and Needed Me. I really didn't care for the bonus tracks at all. She should have left them off.

You dodge a question like a character dodges a punch on Mortal Kombat.-IceJJFish