Rihanna Gets Rough and Graphic!!
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.
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)
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 hook. So this is a solid track that made for a radio hit single.
(B+)
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 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 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-)
Through this snapped filled ballad, Rihanna sings of being 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 rock/hip hop beat. It's catchy enough too that it doesn't bore you. Shame it wasn't a bigger single.
(B)
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 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)
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 b 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-)
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 b 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 [i]but[/i] 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+)
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 [i]but[/i] 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-)
"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)
"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)
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+)
"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 [i]meh[/i]. Not a strong end to an otherwise good album.
(C)
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 [i]meh[/i]. 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 more of 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+)
(B+)
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