Rated R, Rihanna
# Wednesday 23rd December, 2009 - 5:34am with 0 comments
So, for the last few weeks I’ve been listening to Rihanna‘s new album, Rated R, and hoping to think of something to write about it– it had to grow on me, for one thing. At first, I only liked a couple of songs, but now I find myself listening to the whole thing and kind of wanting to shimmey or dance to it, or at least feeling somewhat motivated by the /entire/ thing, which is a big deal. It’s not the kind of album you have life-changing revelations about or anything, but it is definitely an album worth having if you enjoy catchy music that makes your hips move.
The album has an entire different feel that you’d expect, in many ways, from Rihanna. It’s like she’s taken off the kid gloves and is coming at you as a grown-up. While they aren’t totally provocative songs, there are themes that most would consider a bit on the side of ‘edge’.
The following will be a detailed track-listing and what exactly I think of each song– as well as a link to where you can buy each song, or the entire album if you want it. 
- Mad House – 1:34 — The opening song, which sets the pace for the entire thing with the ‘disclaimer’ that isn’t really to be heeded.
- Wait Your Turn – 3:46 — Granted, not one of my favourite tracks on the album, but it still has its catchy moments, and the beat is danceable.
- Hard – 4:10 — as odd as it sounds, this song makes me feel like the biggest bitch in the yard and you know, wanting to dare anyone to step to me- it works so well for some RP I do. Also, mucho catchy.
- Stupid in Love – 4:10 — this song speaks to me crazily- it’s slower paced, much like Unfaithful, but with a different kind of feel, like she’s the one been done wrong and too ‘stupid’ to realise it but swearing up and down she isn’t that stupid. It’s great.
- Rockstar 101 – 3:58 — one of my favourites off of the album, even though it’s lyrics are simple and the beat isn’t all that intense- the guitar with it somehow draws it in, that and it has a general swagger feel to it.
- Russian Roulette – 4:47 — the first song I heard from the album and the reason I wanted to get it- it gives that feel that she’s grown up, considering she’s talking a bit about straight up murder/suicide. Regardless, /I/ think it’s a kind of nod to the risks you take with anyone, also, extremely catchy.
- Fire Bomb – 4:17 — I love this song, it’s such a me song with all the fiery attributes, and the fact that she’s got this whole ‘someone has to understand me, and what I’m going through’ feeling. It’s also rather catchy in the chorus, though the beat is something more mellow.
- Rude Boy – 3:42 — Actually one of my least favourite songs, while it can be catchy, it just doesn’t speak to me at all, but I could honestly see it being a club hit. :\
- Photographs – 4:46 — Even though it’s kind of a reminiscent song rather than a love song, I do absolutely think of it as a love song and enjoy it as such– will-i-am adds so much to it’s crazy. A favourite.
- G4L – 3:59 — Another song that kind of crept up onto me, and I’d have said I loved it before even knowing it’s name, but it reminds me of a lot of characters I’ve played over the years, and it has that ‘biggest bitch’ and swagger feel to it. Mm.
- Te Amo – 3:28 — Though it’s not something I’d consider a favourite song, it does have this danceableness to it, that kind of comes out as a seduction and fear more than anything else.
- Cold Case Love – 6:04 — Sadness personified, but also in that way that Unfaithful was, beautifully done and one that I could fall in love with over and over again.
- The Last Song – 4:16 — Probably the softest song on the entire album, and fitting as she ends the whole thing on a note of beauty. I do love Rihanna’s voice, especially when she’s /singing/.
download from Itunes • download from Amazon.com
While some people are going off about how Rihanna has given up on her roots and is no longer any good, I found this album to be amazing, and what some would probably consider a Senior album, when the artist comes into her own and finds her own voice, outside of exactly what everyone else want. I hope to see more songs and albums from Miss Rihanna that are this catchy and danceable.