Album Review: Loud by Rihanna

I didn't quite get all the praise of Rihanna's Rated R which came out last year, but now I sort of get it.  I've listened to enough of these contemporary R&B albums by female artists to understand that they are all overly formulaic and Rated R was different enough to make it unique.  This album has a few ventures from the formula, songs like "Skin", but all in all the album feels rushed together and pushed out.

It starts as a dance album, then brings in ballads, and pop singles that we've heard now over and over again.  It would have been a much better album had they stuck with one theme or the other.  Personally I think the dance stuff is the strongest on the album, so if they had stuck with that it would have been I think a passable album. 

As it is this album doesn't have much to offer.  Following the Rhapsody rating method I give it 1 out of 5 stars for Just OK.

I would say throw the dance songs on a player and go run.

My dance EP for Loud
1. S&M
2.What's My Name?
3. Cheers
4. Only Girl
5. Man Down