Review by Sandy Wei
Everyone who knows me knows Rihanna’s my girl. I’ve stated before that if I could posses any music artist’s body, style, music and life it would be Riri’s without a doubt. Well, you know, after the CB incident. Anyway, I change my mind. I want everything but not so much her music. Harsh, I know. Don’t come running at me with sharp scissors just yet.
Loud released this month as Rihanna’s fifth studio album with a heavy sound of pop-rock. I was already not a fan when the first single produced by StarGate, “Only Girl (In the World)”, hit the airwaves. The singing was borderline yelling. Really pretty yelling. But, still yelling. The second single featuring Canadian rap artist Drake, “What’s My Name”, was much better. The music video helped.
Naturally, I feared I wouldn’t be into the rest of the album based on the first two singles. The rumored third single is “S&M” with more angry hollering. I personally prefer Rihanna’s signature lazy singing voice which we hear in “Cheers (Drink to That)” that is interestingly mixed with Avril Lavigne’s “I’m With You”. A song that I can see myself blasting on my (standard) stereo system as I cruise on the roads (to work) in my drop top (that I don’t have).
Acoustic ballad “California King Bed” has quite a nice country vibe to it. If I can imagine Taylor Swift singing it I am going to go ahead and throw it under country-pop. Another curious track is “Love the Way You Lie (Part II)” featuring Eminem which serves as a response to the original hit single. It’s curious because… IT’S THE SAME. I mean, okay, it’s not exactly the same. But the chorus is disappointingly the exact same. The only track on Loud that makes me want to bust a move and c-walk in heels is “Raining Men” featuring Nicki Minaj.
I getchu, babygirl. You want to give the rock genre a taste. I applaud any artist that can step out of their comfort zone and be open to crossing boundaries. How else will art evolve, amirite? I know lately you’ve been telling the media that this album is about you doing you. I respect that. So I hope it’s been worth losing my interest in wanting to posses you. Trust me, you want me to want to posses you. Because that means… not much.
Rating: 5.5/10
Label: Def Jam
Favorites: What’s My Name, Raining Men, Cheers (Drink to That).
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