Day 9: Rihanna – Rated R


I must say that I was quite surprised after listening to Rihanna’s latest album.  I found it to be quite good.  It’s a dark, emotional album that offers a deeper glimpse into the mind and artistry of one of the world’s most popular singers/entertainers.  The sound and style of this album is quite different from what we’ve heard before (which may be one of many reasons why some fans have turned away). There’s a musical versatility not quite seen on previous releases.  Rihanna’s vocal performances seem a little more seasoned and confident and sprinkled with more emotion (thankfully).  And I think we now see the perfect melding of her image and musical style.  It may not flow well on this side of the Atlantic but that’s probably due in large part to the fickle nature of our audience.  I give Rihanna lots of credit for pushing her talent into a different direction and taking some risks.  One thing the world didn’t need was Girl Good Gone Bad, Part II.  And with “Hard” becoming her 13th top ten hit on the Billboard Charts, looks like “Rihanna Reign” won’t be letting up anytime soon.