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Music News: Rihanna Revisited: A look back at her 6 studio albums (3-1)
Member Since: 6/30/2012
Posts: 19,226
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Rihanna Revisited: A look back at her 6 studio albums (3-1)
To celebrate the release of Rihanna's new album Unapologetic, Digital Spy is looking back over her previous six albums, rating them from least to most favourite.
After covering the bottom three records earlier this week, find out where we placed the final ones below:
3. Loud
Released: November 15, 2010
Singles: 'Only Girl (In the World)', 'What's My Name?', 'S&M', 'California King Bed', 'Man Down', 'Cheers (Drink To That)'
Chart peak: UK: No. 2 US: No. 3
Producers: Rihanna, Carl Sturken and Evan Rogers, Alex da Kid, The Runners, Stargate, Tricky Stewart, Soundz
Following the dark and moody Rated R, Rihanna took a more light-hearted approach to the aptly-titled Loud. The set's Stargate-helmed lead single 'Only Girl (In The World)' was head and shoulders above the majority of the dance-pop in the charts at the time, while the Drake-assisted follow-up 'What's My Name?' found her rediscovering her Bajan roots, albeit with a stronger hip-hop edge.
The collection is Rihanna's most single-heavy one to date, officially putting out seven tracks - although her collaboration with Nicki Minaj on 'Raining Men' was serviced to radio and 'Love The Way You Lie Pt. II' managed to creep into the singles chart on its own. The LP was considerably less cohesive than its predecessor, but it remains an impressive collection of urban pop songs. RC
Best track: 'What's My Name?'
The single that never was: None, they were all released!
2. Good Girl Gone Bad
Released: June 4, 2007 (Reloaded: June 2, 2008)
Singles: 'Umbrella', 'Shut Up And Drive', 'Hate That I Love You',
'Don't Stop The Music', 'Take A Bow', 'If I Never See Your Face
Again', 'Disturbia'
Chart peak: UK: No. 1 US: No. 2
Producers: The Carter Administration, Carl Sturken and Evan Rogers, Hannon Lane, Ne-Yo, Neo Da Matrix, J.R. Rotem, Tricky Stewart, Stargate, Shea Taylor, Timbaland
Even if it did rain for every week it was at number one in the UK, frankly we didn't care because 'Umbrella' is what people call 'a modern classic'. Rihanna was suddenly propelled into fully-fledged popstardom, and although the mega hit is definitely one of her best cuts, Riri's third studio set still had plenty more anthems up its sleeve. Follow-up 'Shut Up And Drive' brought out her inner rock chick, complete with sassy quips and car-skidding sound effects, while 'Don't Stop The Music' was an instant dancefloor classic.
GGGB offered more still; 'Hate That I Love You' is a smooth guitar-led R&B ballad that showed Rihanna's softer side, while 'Breakin' Dishes' is a strutting ode to female empowerment - and confirmed that you won't find Riri slaving over the kitchen sink. What's more, the Reloaded collection also gave us the heart-squeezing 'Take A Bow' and the brilliantly kooky 'Disturbia'. It marked the beginning of the controversial and chart-leading Rihanna that we all know today and remains her best-selling collection to date. LC
Best track: 'Umbrella'
Single that never was: 'Breakin' Dishes'
1. Rated R
Released: November 23, 2009
Singles: 'Russian Roulette', 'Rude Boy', 'Te Amo', 'Hard'
Chart peak: UK: No. 9 US: No. 4
Producers: Rihanna, The Carter Administration, Carl Sturken and Evan Rogers, Chase & Status, The-Dream, Chuck Harmony, Ne-Yo, Stargate, Tricky Stewart, will.i.am, The Y's
After the monumental success of Good Girl Gone Bad secured her position as a global act, Riri got serious on the follow-up. The set marked the beginning of her partnership with dubstep duo Chase & Status, kicking off the trend of adding wobbly basslines into pop. Lead single 'Russian Roulette' was a tense, gun-wielding ballad that many thought was a risky move, but it eventually paid off in spades.
The collection remains her most critically-acclaimed to date, praised for its moody and heartfelt ballads including 'Cold Case Love' and 'Stupid In Love' after a turbulent time in the papers with Chris Brown. That said, it wasn't all doom and gloom; the call-to-arms anthem 'Hard' contains her fans' favourite lyric: "That Rihanna reign just won't let up," while 'Rude Boy' served as one of its more instant hits. It may have taken time to grow on the ears, but as a body of work, it still sounds fresh and exciting a full three years after its release. RC
Best track: 'Hard'
The single that never was: 'Fire Bomb'
Which is your favourite Rihanna album? Leave your comments in the box below:
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Member Since: 12/13/2011
Posts: 12,192
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Member Since: 4/21/2011
Posts: 42,362
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GGGB > RR
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Member Since: 10/12/2010
Posts: 17,351
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Everyone knows that Breakin' Dishes would've smashed if it was released... I'll never understand why that wasn't a single
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Member Since: 10/13/2010
Posts: 10,512
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I'd put Loud on #1. But I almost agree on anything 
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Member Since: 4/29/2012
Posts: 15,977
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Quote:
Originally posted by H-I-M
GGGB > RR
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#Delusional
And they better preach the fact that Hard is her best song 
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Member Since: 5/3/2012
Posts: 42,099
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I'm pretty sure Loud peaked at #1 in the UK, the same week What's My Name? was #1 there...
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Banned
Member Since: 10/13/2008
Posts: 20,553
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GGGB is overrated to the pits.
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Member Since: 5/3/2012
Posts: 42,099
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Fading was the single that never was from Loud
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Member Since: 9/22/2011
Posts: 9,178
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Member Since: 10/27/2007
Posts: 7,915
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YASSS Fire Bomb 
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Member Since: 9/23/2009
Posts: 12,662
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Member Since: 12/7/2011
Posts: 21,578
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 True tea.
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Member Since: 10/16/2011
Posts: 582
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RR is one of the greatest albums of the past 20 years. Hands down.
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Member Since: 3/3/2011
Posts: 4,231
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Rated R is her best album to date.
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Member Since: 2/14/2012
Posts: 9,793
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GGGB isn't overrated. It truly is a consistent, bold, fresh and varied pop/r&b album. It's Rihanna's watershed. 
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Member Since: 3/13/2012
Posts: 1,602
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Praise Rated R everything you want, it deserves it 
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Member Since: 3/21/2012
Posts: 55,134
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Loud peaked at number 1 in the UK next to WMN!!! Rihanna produced LOUD I didn't know that
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Member Since: 10/14/2010
Posts: 6,781
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Quote:
Originally posted by liberalmusiclover
Fading was the single that never was from Loud |
Fading was the song Rihanna should've never recorded in her career.
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Member Since: 2/16/2010
Posts: 69,775
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Quote:
Originally posted by RihMark
GGGB is overrated to the pits.
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This. 
At this point it's not even close to her best.
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