‘Hell hath no fury like a woman scorned.’ Forget Chris Brown. Rihanna’s back. Rated-R is an edgy and dark insight into the turbulent mind of a troubled girl. Immediately after a controversial domestic abuse case, there’s an underlying feeling that Rihanna felt a responsibility to her fans to share her experience. In Rated-R, Rihanna bares her soul fearlessly in what she calls ‘the movie, the story of her life.
As her first album with a Parental Advisory stamp, this record is angrier, grittier and more aggressive than anything we’ve heard so far. From echoing gunshots in ‘Russian Roulette’ to lesbian exploits in ‘Te Amo’, Rihanna aims to shock with this album, and shock she certainly does. Obvious hits include club anthems ‘Wait Your Turn’, ‘Hard’ (featuring Young Jeezy) and the powerful ‘Russian Roulette’ (produced by Ne-Yo). Rihanna is at her best on these tracks with strong beats behind captivating and haunting melodies.
Other highlights include ‘G4L’ and ‘Stupid in Love’. It’s difficult to deny the real sense of vulnerability and hurt in her voice in ‘Cold Case Love’. However, one flaw may be that occasionally the album can feel somewhat disconnected. Perhaps this blend of strong beats followed by soulful ballads is intended to convey the highs and lows of her experiences. Unfortunately, it doesn’t quite get there.
‘I lick the gun after I’m done cuz I know that revenge is sweet.’ she sings at one point. It’s easy to over analyse and relate everything back to the Brown saga. Yes, Rihanna is angry, vengeful and bitter on this album, but she shows real strength of character in a strong and mature comeback. This is a daring, raw and intriguing offering from Rihanna, definitely not for the faint hearted. If you’re a Rihanna fan, then this is not to be missed. If not, it’s worth a listen even just to get inside her head for a while. Be careful though; you might just find her getting into your head too.
Review by Aoife Doylel | OMG Entertainment | Leading Entertainment Website with Music, Lifestyle, Comedy, Fashion, Games, Films, TV, Food, Drink, Reviews and Culture.
