Spins: Album reviews

Rihanna – Rated R

Artist: Rihanna
Title: Rated R
Label: Def Jam
Genre: Pop/R&B/Electronica

Those expecting more breezy dance pop from Barbadian-born diva Rihanna are in for a rude awakening. Rated R, Rihanna’s fourth album, forgoes all the psuedo-Euro dance pop that has become all the rage among every Lady Gaga hopeful, and instead embraces the dark forboding bass driven beats of dubstep. Complimenting her punk couture fashion sense with dark themes and even heavier beats, Rihanna has somehow pulled out her first true artist album with Rated R, a rather seamless piece of work that finds the singer courting the underground in ways no one could have seen coming. Sure to polarize her fans, Rated R is undeniably a major leap forward for Rihanna, who has all of a sudden made the switch from pop cipher to risk-taking artist.

Rated R is an apt name for this album, as it finds Rihanna dealing with serious subject matter and themes, echoed through her very deliberate choice in beats and collaborators. The music is dark, hard, and moody with lyrics to match. Gone are the playful come-ons of tracks like “Don’t Stop the Music” and in their place are speakerblasting tracks by UK producers Chase & Status. Known for their crowdpleasing drum&bass and dubstep productions, Chase & Status in no way water down their sound to fit Rihanna’s template. In fact, the rest of the album bends to what they have created for her. Despite producing only three tracks on the album they leave the biggest impact on the album’s tone. The album intro “Mad House” warns frightened listeners to turn away before pummelling the ears with a dirty dubstep synth. The track gives way to the first certified dubstep/pop collaboration, the enigmatic but fascinating “Wait Your Turn”. Rihanna’s Caribbean drawl works perfectly over the grimey production which soars during the chorus. Midway through the album Chase & Status deliver another major feat with “G4L” an impeccably produced track that finds Ri-Ri dropping “niggas” and “motherfuckers” over a seductively snaking synth and a wall of bass and percussion that doesn’t let up.

Even when working with more commercial talent such as Ne-Yo and the Dream, Rihanna maintains her musical hard edge. “Russian Roulette” is a powerful yet somber ballad about love gone wrong. Hip-hop tracks such as “Hard” and “Rockstar 101″ are punctuated with industrial clanging and roaring guitars (with Slash appearing on “Rockstar 101″). Even a Justin Timberlake collaboration, “Cold Case Love”, is a melancholy pop opus. Lyrically Rihanna does not run from her Chris Brown altercation with tracks like “Stupid In Love” seeming to directly address it. And while there are some moments that can definitely be overlooked (I’m looking at you “The Last Song”) the album remains remarkably cohesive and focused, considering the scattered nature of previous albums.

While Rated R does not possess any obvious hits and will definitely divide fans into love it or hate it camps, it is a true album, a rarity among pop releases in 2009. With its intimate and emotional content and groundbreaking fusion of dubstep and pop, it is sure to leave a lasting impact on the pop landscape. Major kudos to Rihanna for taking a big risk at the height of her career with this dark and experimental piece.

- Norman Mayers

www.myspace.com/rihanna
www.rihannanow.com

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mp3 / CD