Rihanna - Loud [Reviews]

Rihanna returns from the darkness of Rated R with Loud, a collection of happy-go-lucky, fan-pleasing tunes. The set’s first single, “Only Girl in the World,” established this precedent with its upbeat urbantronica melody and RiRi’s belting of its title within the chorus.

The party continues with “Cheers (Drink to That),” with the Barbadian diva toasting to the weekend and with it, some much needed R and R (no pun intended).

“S&M” is one of ‘Loud’s’ guilty pleasures, as Rihanna chants “Cause I may be bad, but I’m perfectly good at it/Sex in the air, I don’t care, I love the smell of it/Sticks and stones may break my bones/But chains and whips excite me” over a raucous dance melody. This is further punctuated with the recurring “Na-na-na-na-come on” she peppers into the prose.

“Raining Men” is a female empowerment anthem featuring a guest flow from none other than Nicki Minaj. Borrowing practically nothing from the Weather Girls‘ 1982 hit of a similar name, Rihanna breaks down the numbers, reassuring that there are plenty of other fish in the sea for ladies being hit on by lowlife men.

Things tone down on “California King Bed,” a lament about the emotional distance between Rihanna and her unnamed lover. The heat gets turned up and the physical presence drastically reduced on “Skin,” a more sensual interpretation of the raunchy lyrics presented in “S&M.”

Though Loud does contain its share of good tunes, it lacks the boundary-pushing cuts that permeated Rihanna’s previous albums. Given fans’ and critics’ reactions to Rated R, Loud also listens as an appeasing return to No. 1s such as “Umbrella” and “Take a Bow” rather than reflecting where she may be personally (yes, we’re referring to the Chris Brown incident, on which she’s been quite dismissive and reassuring that she’s fine. We can only take her at her word, but is simply including “Love the Way You Lie (Part II)” with Eminem all she has to say about the situation?). Well, we also aren’t saying she should dwell. Instead, we take Loud as a balance to her last disc’s seemingly dark mood and appreciate the smile-inducing cuts it includes.

That’s My Jam’s Rating:
5. Get It Now
4. Get It On Sale
3. Get It As a Gift
2. Get It To a CD Exchange Store
1. Don’t Get It At All

Track List:
1. “S&M”
2. “What’s My Name?” feat. Drake
3. “Cheers (Drink to That)”
4. “Fading”
5. “Only Girl in the World”
6. “California King Bed”
7. “Man Down”
8. “Raining Men” feat. Nicki Minaj
9. “Complicated”
10. “Skin”
11. “Love the Way You Like (Part II)” feat. Eminem