Album Review: Rihanna - Unapologetic

Rihanna
Unapologetic
Rating: Yeah Daddy Make Me Want It

Right on target again, Rihanna releases her new album Unapologetic almost a year after her last album Talk That Talk, which featured one of her biggest singles ever, the Calvin Harris assisted "We Found Love." Talk That Talk featured some killer singles but overall felt rushed and slapdash, almost buckling under the weight of lots of filler. Unapologetic is a definite improvement, however, it is basically overshadowed by some very questionable calls, primarily the inclusion of her ex (and abuser) Chris Brown on the track "Nobody's Business" which is for all intents and purposes a unity anthem for their rather twisted relationship. This track, which incidentally is a pretty fabulous old-school house track, haunts the album in many ways, making a lot of the lyrics throughout the record circumspect. For a record titled Unapologetic, there is awful lot of focus on her relationship issues, and a very confused thematic line. Which is disappointing because sonically Unapologetic is her most focused and adventurous record in years.

Leading off with the warped synths and crisp 808 beats of "Phresh Out The Runway" Rihanna is pure attitude, radiating a strength that unfortunately gets muddled over teh course of the record.



Working with a whole host of producers, Rihanna embraces the latest EDM trends and merges them forcefully with her innate pop sensibilities. On the Chase & Status assisted "Jump" she throws in a Ginuwine sample and a fierce dupstep drop.



David Guetta contributes to the fast paced electro-house anthem "Right Now."



"Lost In Paradise" is a dubstep influenced track with a killer build and chorus.



There are also several songs which are texturally more interesting. The trip-hop/Dirty South influenced "Numb" featuring a rap break from Eminem is actually one of the most intriguing tracks she has done in awhile,



and "Pour It Up" has nice dark edge to its beats and twinkling synths.



And even the ballads, which usually are the worst thing on her records, have interesting twists to them. "Stay" a duet with Mikky Ekko is minimally backed and features a strikingly open and vulnerable vocal from Rihanna;



"What Now" is a big ballad that works for some reason, it tows the line of going over the top and just holds it in;



and "Loveeeeeee Song" with Future is a strange, spacey R&B track that has a laid-back vibe, making it a killer jam.



But all this good will is tempered by just the overall weirdness of the lyrics throughout that actually seem to be apologizing for her odd relationship with Chris Brown, making her look like a victim of Stockholm Syndrome. And they waver back and forth between her lauding her relationship with Brown on "Nobody's Business" where they sing about "becom[ing] love's persona, to showing obvious fear on "No Love Allowed" where "Your love hit me to the core, I was fine til you knocked me to the floor." You start suffering from whiplash after a point. Which is disappointing considering Unapologetic is actually a fantastic record, sounding fresh and forward-thinking, and edgier than 90% of what is on Top 40 radio. It is Rihanna's life to lead and she can do what she wants, however destructive and misguided it is, but honestly, I would have more respect for her if she would make up her damn mind one way or the other. If you are going to be unapologetic, then stop with the mixed messages.

Rating Scale:

Chilfos: masterpiece; coolest thing I've heard in ages.

Woof Daddy: excellent; just a hair away from being a masterpiece.

Grrrr: very good; will definitely be considered for my top releases of the year.

Yeah Daddy Make Me Want It: good; definitely invites further listens and piques one's interest for more material.

Meh: not horrible, but certainly not great; could have either been polished, trimmed, or re-thought.

Jeez Lady: what the hell happened? Just plain bad. They should hang their heads in shame and be forced to listen to Lady Gaga ad nauseam as penance.

Tragicistani: so bad, armed villagers with pitchforks and torches should run the artist out of the country for inflicting this abomination on the human race.