Following in her own tradition to release a new album every year since 2009, R&B/pop sensation Rihanna, is enjoying the labor of work which turned out to be her seventh studio album, Unapologetic. The unexpected project follows the footsteps of its hip/hop and dance influenced predecessor by maintaining the hard, explicit attitude. Some may think five albums in five years is a bit much, but the artist has always been known for her singles, not her full albums. Preceded by the new number one single, "Diamonds", the album has some good moments, but ultimately shows the singer needs a much needed break.
David Guetta lends a hand to the production on the opening track, "Phresh Out the Runway", a fast-paced, hip/hop experiment where the artist seems the drop the f-bomb every other second. The song will certainly grab attention, so it does its job, but as a whole it is not as impressive as I was hoping for. Not a song I would give a second listen to. Next.
The album's lead single, which just hit the top spot on the Billboard Hot 100, is one I have criticized in the past. "Diamonds" is a nice change for Rihanna, showing a somewhat softer side to her tough exterior, but I can only laugh at the finished product. "Shine bright like a diamond", she sings in an annoying chipmunk voice. Vocals apparently are not her best asset.
It was the featured guest that had me extrememly excited to blast "Numb", but not even his professional rapping skills can save the mediocre track. The artist seems to be bored as she repeats the same word over and over again. Eminem, in all his glory, outshines Rihanna even though his verse lasts all but 20 seconds. Too repetitive, nothing innovative, a disappointing miss for sure.
"Strippers are going all up and down that pole", Rihanna sings on "Pour It Up", a track where the only thing on her mind seems to be money. I feel the song is trying too hard, Rihanna is taking on a persona that does not fit with her image. Besides finding it hard to believe the artist could be a badass, the song is simply a boring creation and too short to make a real impact of any sort.
"Loveeeeee Song" starts off with featured guest, Future, talking about how he needs love and affection in a surprisenly captivating voice. Not to sound repetitive myself, but Future's contributions are the highlight of the track. Rihanna's vocals are fine, I just feel she does not convey as much emotion as her guest. The duet is good in pieces, but it does not compare to the work I consider to be her best.
Sass and fierceness take center stage on "Jump", an uptempo cut with enough energy to tear any roof off. Rihanna's delivery is actually sharp for once, however, the hook is somewhat of a letdown. The song does a good job at combining musical elements from the 90s and today. Was Skrillex responsible for any part of the production? One of the album's most interesting moments.
Guetta returns for a second round on "Right Now", the danciest, pop moment found on the entire track list. The song relies heavily on loud production and will surely receive major airplay in the clubs. If the track were to be released as a future single it would not surprise me one bit. The radio-friendly nature of the beat and lyrics is similar to the artist's past hits.
Things slow down once "What Now" begins to play. I have been critical of Rihanna's real vocal abilities, when they are not Auto-Tuned beyond recognition, but here I have to take that back because she does a pretty damn good job. The track is convincing, the lyrics sound to be sentimental and meaningful, and I couldn't get over how powerful the whole thing was. Good job girl.
The moment I was dreading has finally come. The first true ballad on the album, "Stay", is a low point for the effort and the artist. Rihanna cannot tackle a ballad just yet, sad when she has already released seven albums. There is not much depth to the song, although the male vocals are beautiful, and the important moments were a bit of a flatline. Subpar vocals, half-tried songwriting, a boring four minutes.
Calm yourself down. Yes, Chris Brown is featured on one of the album's tracks and it may just be one of its main highlights. The star-crossed, abusive lovers seem head over heels in love on "Nobody's Business". "There's no other love just like this", the two sing to each other on a duet with many similarities to Michael Jackson's "The Way You Make Me Feel". The two do have undeniable chemistry.
The longest track on the album comes in the form of a two-parter. "Love Without Tragedy/Mother Mary" starts off strong, featuring an 80s sounding delivery I have never heard from the artist before. However, things take a turn for the worse as the second half comes rolling by. Rihanna's vocals are nice, but they don't tell the story the lyrics are trying to say. I'm honestly torn between this one.
"Get it Over With" starts off slow and keeps that pace the entire time. Again, Rihanna sounds tired, as if she is just going through the motions, wishing it was over before it ever began. The track is uninteresting, it was hard to keep my attention on what was playing. I would classify it as just filler, after one listen I am sure everyone will forget what it was even about.
Featuring a weird, unnecessary, Caribbean feel, "No Love Allowed" may just be the worst moment on the album, feeling lost and out of place when compared to the rest of the tracks. "I was fly until you left me to the floor" are some of the amateurish lyrics the artist recites on the four-minute track. I can understand the artist's roots, but the song does not work and bring the album down a few notches.
The album closes with "Lost in Paradise", a track which features a unique, 80s rock vibe I immediately enjoyed. The artist's vocals are slightly altered, but they sort of work with everything else going on. The song is a strong, powerful closing track that succeeds even though it probably sounded like a mess on paper. It is dark, would have fit in with Rated R, and shows talent is buried within somewhere.
Unapologetic is creating a divide between fans and critics as it did with me and my first listen. Rihanna is not my favorite artist on the scene today, but I certainly appreciate many songs she has contributed. The woman cannot craft a great, solid album though. This new creation feels a little rushed at time, however, it does have strong, bright moments buried in the middle. The vocals presented are a bit lackluster and the songwriting needs some work. After a terrible opening, the album finds light halfway through, only to lose it all once it all comes to an end. Is this the artist's worst project? I would say yes. Will it stop it from reaching number one? Probably not. It receives a 70%.
Tracks to Hear: "Loveeeee Song", "Jump", "What Now" and "Nobody's Business"
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