We first acknowledged her in 2007 where she used to be a goody girl with a smudge of hope in becoming the next Beyonce. But who knows that turns out 5 years later that she is now becoming one of the biggest popstars in the universe called Rihanna. We all know how We Found Love was all over the world. How it slay the world with the smash beat that unleashes your mind with repetitive yet meaningful lyrics. It was #1 in more than 30 countries including US’ Billboard Hot 100.
And this year she doesn’t want to take a rest and go with another album. She was first hinting it that she’s going to release another album in between 2012 by tweeting it to her fans. And last September, she released her debut single regarding to her new album called Diamonds. The new album (which she was naming it Side Effects and changing it to Unapologetic.) will be released November 19th, but then it got leaked to today and I have finally heard it.
Phresh Off The Runway
It starts off with sick, light but cheap beats, something that you’d hear in indie chick rapper tracks. It sounds turbulent and at some point, so ratchet. This is a song that you would probably use to shade a typical artist. But then the chorus came and catchy lyrics like “Fresh off the runway, fresh off fresh off the runway”. Such a hood track and so naughty. It’s like Rude Boy mixed with Talk That Talk (the song).
(3.5/5)
Diamonds
The second song is the debut single to this album. Again with the repetitive lyrics but here, you will be stunned by her vocal. As far as I’m concerned, this is her best vocal to date. I see that she’s been polishing her voice off within her break and focus more on her career than controversies. This is what I’m looking for her. A mid-tempo song with flawless vocal like her previous discography such as California King Bed, Unfaithful or Russian Roulette makes her easier to deliver mid-high belting notes.
(5/5)
Numb ft. Eminem
Contorting melody and light beats. You can say that this is the next big thing. I’d like to say there are some “horror beats” with both deep & light beat and thick bass beat. Something that Kanye will use for his records. You can hear that she’s done wipe her voice and deliver such vocal because the vocal layers in the chorus parts to different direction structured. Eminem’s verse… I’m just going to say that his verse doesn’t sound like it used to be. It sounds prosaic. But otherwise, there is something about this song that is so addicting for me.
(4.5/5)
Pour It Up
It begins with evocative tune with *****-popping lyrics about money and wealth. I can hear the deep voice like in Kendrick Lamar’s Drank. This sounds like Jamie Foxx’s Blame It with clubby, dark and fumy. That’s what I would say. It would’ve been better with more enthusiastic lyrics because it’s so basic. I think this track’s influenced by rap artists because I can imagine Tyler the Creator rapping in between the song and I gotta tell you, it sounds magnificent in my head.
(3.5/5)
Loveeeee Song ft. Future
One of my favorite tracks off of this album. The intro sounds really promising like organ strings and spacey tune so I hope for something radiant. Especially when Future starts to shout words like what Pitbull would say and create detonated tunes and ****. But instead, the song goes off with melting and soulful voice by him saying “I don’t wanna give you the wrong impression” but he did give me the wrong impression! The song sounds phlegmatically bubbly and woozy. Rihanna’s unique voice is making me cry because this means that she’s able to kill other genre by playing her voice. And what about the guitar tunes?? It makes this song even more tragically beautiful.
(5/5)
Jump
By the intro you can say that this song is going to be sick because it filled with deep beats and Rihanna’s jittery voice. The vocal layering and the climax fused so well into a higher part that turns out to be a breakdown. And it’s a heavy breakdown with dubstep noise. It sounds very rackety I’m afraid it’s going to wreck this sex anthem. But for me it sounds more like Skrillex ft. Rihanna. The nearest contender of this song would probably S&M because it kinda has the same theme.
(3/5)
Right Now
Considered to be the next single and I ain’t complainin’ because this song is so entertaining. IF you’re one of those general public that likes to be in the club poppin’ ***** and twerk all the time. For me this is just okay. I would say that this is not generic but because this song is by David Guetta I’m afraid I have to say yes, this is generic and basic. But this is enough for people outside to praise this song because it is enjoyable. This is just like the mature version of Only Girl (In The World).
(2.5/5)
What Now
This song is one of my favorite tracks too, because this shows off her vocal technique too. The chorus stands out the most because it has two versions. She first sang it cool then the second time she sang, she took it the next level. The belt that she sang is unique. The belts may sound thin and airy but if you listen to it carefully, it’s thick and the runs to the end of the chorus are just on point. The climax from the verse to the chorus is just wicked. The next Farewell to be honest. Another vocal slayage from her.
(4.5/5)
Stay ft. Mikky Ekko
It’s such a beautiful ballad (if you call it ballad). The first part she just throws her voice and lays it down neatly. In this song she collaborates with Mikky Ekko. His voice is just as promising as Rihanna’s. His vibrato is well strained and structured. This is also promising for Rihanna’s vocal. It proves that she doesn’t need gimmick and just let loose like this. Because this song is beautiful and so as her voice and could be considered classic.
(5/5)
Nobodies' Business ft. Chris Brown
Even the title screams for itself. It features his current beau and also the one who’s been the public enemy and that is Chris Brown. When I heard the snippet I didn’t pay attention to it much. But when I hear it completely. I was in awe and completely different genre from the previous tracks. It brings you back to disco and dance era like MJ’s discography. It’s glamour and fun. Classy disco. The piano tune adds the color to this song and makes it funkier. A perfect pop song because they both deliver different vocal, Chris’ voice resembles MJ at some point. While Rihanna is just calm and let her voice flow itself to the song.
(5/5)
Love Without Tragedy/Mother Mary
I think this song’s influenced by ‘70s and ‘80s specifically classic rock, slow rock and glam. I’m going to review one by one. LWT is influenced by Hollywood’s dark scene and drama, I think. The intro sounds like that old song, Bette Davis Eyes and I think it has something classic tunes. While Mother Mary reminds me of Stevie Nicks’ record or something. Both of the tracks are so unique because it samples genres that many people have forgot. Otherwise both of them are decent.
(3.5/5)
Get It Over With
I think this is the most boring song that I’ve heard in this song. Repetitive lyrics, basic vocal and else. What stands out most from this track I think it’s just the instrument because this is an R&B song with full orchestra. I’m talking about violin, cello, organ etc. But I should give credits to the vocal layering that sounds decent and on point to as well. The title screams well for me too, though.
(1/5)
No Love Allowed
I think this song used a sample from a song that I once heard but I don’t know what’s the name of the song. I think this genre’s called reggaeton. Or reggae? Or ska? I don’t care. But her thick accent as she sang this is so cute and there’s also funny part in some of the parts because I imagine her voice is smokey and kinda shriek at one point. It’s a fun song and definitely the next Man Down based on its theme-wise and musically.
(3/5)
Lost in Paradise
This song has a breath of Rated R, I think. Because the way that this song plays is kind of tragic, in my way. It starts slow then comes the problems that are the trembling beats then when the chorus comes, it stops and hit all this over with light dubstep beats and Rihanna’s voice. It is actually great and underrated. Probably because it’s the last song of the album and people are usually stop the album before it reaches the end of the song. For me it’s just okay.
(2.5/5)
Basically for me this is a great album. At first I wasn’t sure because Rihanna is trying and (not that I’m shading) so thirsty for her career that she’s afraid of losing her spotlight because of looking like being unproductive. Overall this would’ve been a great album if she doesn’t have to rush it.
UNAPOLOGETIC
(4/5)
