Album Review: Rihanna – Loud

I’ve decided to do album reviews here on a regular basis. You can comment this post if you want my opinion on a certain album, or tweet me @adiek84. I’ve already asked on Twitter and Facebook for some suggestions and the next reviews will be for the latest albums of Kings of Leon, My Chemical Romance, Linkin Park, Bruno Mars, Cee-Lo Green, Pink Floyd, Sting, Alex Band (or Alex Max Band in Germany) and Kanye West. Most of them I haven’t even listened to yet, so be patient, please. I’m gonna start with Rihanna’s latest album “Loud”:

1. S&M

What an opener! S&M is a strong and catchy dance track with some fierce lyrics! It’s totally addictive. Only negative point: is there really a second verse? I mean, I know that the bridge is catchy as hell, but a second verse consisting of two repeated lines from the first verse is just sad! Instead of relying on the bridge and chorus so much by repeating them countless times, they should’ve made a similar catchy second verse!
4/5

2. What’s my name

Since I’ve heard “Loud” for the first time, I think I haven’t spend a day without chanting “Oh na na” in my head at least once! In my opinion Rihanna reaches her full potential with reggae songs like “What’s my name”. The song is pure sex and fun with Rihanna almost purring the verses. The song features rapper Drake, but to be honest I almost only listen to the version without his rap. Sorry, Drake!
5/5

3. Cheers (Drink to That)

This song is supposed to be sung at the top of your lungs in a smokey bar after a couple of Vodkas. A sample taken from Avril Lavigne’s “With You” spices the song up. Not strong enough to be a single, in my opinion, cause it’s just a tiny bit too repetitive, but still an awesome album track.
3/5

4. Fading

Fading is a nice mid-tempo ballad in “Te Amo” style. Well, I don’t really know what more to say to it. It’s an okay song.
3/5

5. Only Girl (In the World)

The first single of “Loud” is also the strongest song on the whole album. “Only Girl” is catchy, exciting and loud. It’s no surprise that, even though there are already two other singles released with “S&M” and “What’s my Name”, it still gets lots of airplay and it’s still high in the charts in multiple countries.
6/5

6. California King Bed

This is one of only two real ballads of the whole album. “California King Bed” describes the vulnerability and insecurity when you’re in a relationship. The verses are a bit boring and the song as a whole is a classical ballad: beautiful, but done a million times before.
3/5

7. Man Down

Here comes my favourite! “Man Down” is a totally badass reggae song. The lyrics are dangerous, funny and fierce. Yes, all in one song! The song tells the story of a woman who has just shot a man at Central Station and is now running away from the police, contemplating what she has just done. I don’t know if I have any German readers, but the song strongly reminds me of the German artist Gentleman.
5/5

8. Raining Men

Nicky Minaj is featured on dancehall track “Raining Man” and I have to say she kind of steals Rihanna the show. The song is a fun track and I guess it will be the next US-single. Definitely a club banger! The verses are a bit annoying though. Rihanna almost sounds as if she has the hiccups.
4/5

9. Complicated

Musically “Complicated” is one of the best tracks of the album. The chorus is super catchy and Rihanna gives one of her best vocal performances. The problem is just, that there are still lyrics, and they would win the ultimate award of cheesyness if there was one. The verses are boring and repetitive and this is really sad, because this song could have been so awesome!
3/5

10. Skin

I totally fell in love with that track when I’ve heard it for the first time! It’s pretty mellow and the lyrics + the electronic vibe create a mysterious and sexy feeling. Good track.
4/5

12. Love the way you lie Part II

Well, we all know “Love the way you lie Part I” and this is Part II with Rihanna singing the whole song and Eminem just rapping the bridge. It’s a beautiful ballad, written by none other than Skylar Grey/Holly Brook, who has probably written the hooks to all rap songs in the charts right now. The only negative point is that the song is kind of over already, because it was played to death by the media and the new verses don’t really change that.
4/5