This is going to be an interesting review. This album came out at a time in my life where I had so much going on, my genre of music had changed drastically, and I missed this release entirely. Without going into too much detail, I didn’t get around to listening to it until after a few years of its release, not to mention I’ve never actually listened to in its entirety. I know what you’re all thing: who is this imposter feigning her Rihanna Navy membership.

So I can say 100% this is going to be an unbiased look at the album. Everything I interpret, rediscover, research will mostly be me educating myself.
I know how much people love this album, and I’m excited to get started.

…

Post Rated R, in her interviews Rihanna described this album as a large pop of joy. Its loud in its ideas and themes, its a total 180 from the themes of Rated R. She wanted to go back to being happy, now whether or not that applied to her personal life I cannot speculate. But I do know being angry is not easy. Her red hair during this era is iconic to this day, and again shows her need to move on from the dark attitude.

1. S&M (single) – What a motherfucking excellent opener. The composition is more edm synth based, less of her typical R&B from the early 2000’s. Its such a high tempo dance number. Everything about this song is so insane. The sound, the lyrics, the INSANELY descriptive insinuations. It was the first time I head sex being described in a song so vividly, and I love it. ‘I know the pain is for pleasure’- controlled pain. Not unwarranted, not abusive. ‘Sex in the air, i don’t care I love the smell of it’ – literally makes you think of the smell and has turned into an iconic Rihanna lyric. Along with the obvious interpretation, its almost a nod to the media assumptions about her life. The media is the sadist, Rihanna is the masochist, and she will not stop pushing for the sadism. She almost gets off on it? Overall – an easy 10/10 and I doubt there will ever be any disagreements there
2. What’s My Name (single) – this is a cute composition, for a very very very dirty song. There isn’t anything about the production that excites me, so I will put my focus on the lyrics that have opened my eyes up. ‘the square root of 69 is ATE something’ ‘i need a boy to take it over’ ‘i really wanna see if you can go downtown with a girl like me’ ‘every door you enter, I will let you in’ ‘back and forth you rock me’ I will just leave those there, and let you also picture the porno in your head also. The chorus in my opinion is that feeling, what you have an insane orgasm and you kinda just forget who you are, what you are, why you are. I would like to add that I usually despise cameos from rappers, but drake added a lot here and I kinda love his verse. Overall – 8/10

3. Cheers (Drink To That) (single) – this was the album that just kept on giving in terms of singles that she released way past the album release. And boy was this song just the epitome of a single. Its sucha feel good, sway, getting high (i would imagine?) type of song. Bass, the hip hop beats, its almost such a simple composition that takes it to a whollllle ‘nother level with her lower vocals. Oh man oh man oh man. I love her vocals on this, she doesnt belt, she’s just vibin and its contagious. What I learned while just looking up things for this album, was that the ‘yeah ee yeah’ on the song is actually Avril Lavigne’s ‘Im with You’. I knew it sounded wicked familiar, but man that just made me love the song more. The lyrics are simple but effective. The short silenced verse of a crowd singing the chorus is such a perfect addition. Overall – 9.5/10
4. Fading – synths, strings, the hip hop beats given us to in this type of melody followed by a piano are not something I was expecting. It almost sounds like everything thrown into the composition instrumentally, but man does it work, its so fucking beautiful. And then she starts singing: ‘you say you love me, they feel like words to me’. That one phrase encapsulates the entire essence of the song. She stopped feeling the initial pull to her significant other, shes changing, she wants to move on, shes finally ready to move on. Its that feeling in your head, when the switch flips, and you finally realize youre better off without someone. Once that switch flips its like no matter what they say to convince you, it aint ever gonna happen man. Overall – 8/10
5. Only Girl (In The World) (single) – I’m going to get so much flack for this one, I can already feel it. I’ll start with the composition, edm pop with the dance synths. There is absolutely nothing I like about this song. Yes I said it, I’m prepared to get ripped a new on for saying it. Actually I take it back, the only part I like is the one bridge that sounds like a similar sound to shut up and drive: ‘take me for a ride ride, oh baby take me high high’. My problem with this song is how disjointed it feels, the melodies are just not meshing with me. It exemplifies the title of the album but not in a good way, its a very very loud song that randomly goes quiet and then the belting again. Generic lyrics. But its an iconic Rihanna song that I am in the minority for not liking. Overall – 6/10, I will never budge on this so no take backs. But again its a personal opinion.
6. California King Bed (single) – As much as I dislike Only Girl, this song just takes me to a whole different world. The intro are these beautiful soothing guitar strings, followed by the sweetest lyrics that make you tear up. You can feel what she’s singing, its that good of a song. ‘chest to chest, nose to nose, palm to palm, we were always just that close’ – and cue a crying fest. I’m fanning myself just writing this. The beauty of the simplicity of that one phrase is insurmountable. The soft way she sings it, you can literally feel the emotions that anyone feels in a relationship where you give up your own inhibitions to try to trust completely. ‘so how come when I reach with my fingers, it feels like more than distance between us’ – but no matter how much physical vulnerability, the emotional contact takes precedence. And when thats not there, its heartbreaking. The acoustic guitar, electric guitar, percussions embrace her vocals soooo perfectly. This is one of my favorite Rihanna ballads. I know I’m going on for quite a bit on this, but I just wanted to add: in the bridge she says just when she’s going to give up, the confusion of the touch wanting her to give in, the conflict of not seeming desperate, it all hits so close to home. If you havent heard this, I please recommend you bless your ears and soul to this masterpiece. Overall -10/10

7. Man Down (single) – and we back to having a traditional reggae influenced track. The song again embraces the title of the album: ‘loud’, Bob Marley influences are apparent. What I read was that after Good Girl Gone Bad Rihanna had vocal lessons, because prior to she had no formal training. Man is it so obvious in this album with the pitches shes hitting, alto, mezzo soprano, head voice and just everything in between. This song’s composition is actually nothing fancy but it also lays the foundation for her voice, shes singing about how she was the one that wronged the man in her relationship in public. Whenever she’s talking about messing up and singing to her mom, I get this insanely warm fuzzy feeling inside. Overall – 7/10
8. Raining Men (single) – hmmm. I dont know where to go with this one. I’ll start with the lyrics, basically stating women are the shit and men are expendable resources that will keep coming no matter how many they go through, they dont need them to be dependable. Yeah I hate this. I’m going to stop sugar coating it, it could have a lot strong moments if not for the stupid pre chrous eeny miny moe crap. Plus the trap music was just over the top, needed to be a little restrained. Overall – 5/10
9. Complicated – sing woman sing. Fuck I can feel the vibrating of the force behind her voice. Again I apologize for being repetitive but I feel like her vocals should be more appreciated on this record more than ever, its so apparent her range is flawless and vast. The lyrics are so relatable, some romantic partners are insanely complicated. They want it, but they’re terrified, or theyre not sure, or just have their issues that get in between of wanting to be completely with someone. But whats refreshing is shes not tolerating, Rihanna is over it. Be straight, everyone should give up the complicated mess, because once it becomes hard to love it take a toll on your well being. Overall – 7/10

10. Skin – Sexy sexy sexy. Descriptive. The song that makes everyone want to rip their clothes off and just have sex, its no secret. The lyrics are again are induce such imagery, and make me literally picture a porno. Whenever people ask what song comes to mind when I think of having sex to music, its always this song. The sultry composition along with the lyrics ‘just skin’ are so perfect. Overall – 7/10
11. Love the Way You Lie (Part II) – The second part to an already hit song. I’m not going to go into depth on this because I want to do a separate post that plays both part I and II off each other. This is a great response to the first one, from a female perspective. A beauty. Just want to give credit Skylar Grey for being insanely talented for being able to express so eloquently. And thank you Skylar for giving the song over to this album. Overall – 10/10

I dont know who said that Rihanna is not an album artist, they have not listened to an album in its entirety if they are saying that. The last three albums I’ve reviewed, including this one barely have any skips. Sure this one is not as cohesive in terms of its themes, but they all mesh so well I really cannot complain. Not to mention the chaos is kind of on point with the vision of the entire era. Initially, I was not looking forward to this album at all, mostly my favorite version of Rihanna is the no fucks given version. But somehow shes all that in this album, with red hair, with being oh so sexy, and showing hints of vulnerability and large quantities of that badass attitude. Its literally just her having fun and somehow its become one of my favourite Rihanna albums over this listen. I did not expect that.

Excellent piece of work. I really dont have any complaints, except for a few songs here and there, they all hit me in way that surprised me. Shorter yes, but its flows and doesn’t leave you wanting more. It hits the spot just right.
Album Review – 8/10