We first heard from Rihanna back in summer 05’ when she released her first ever single ‘Pon De Replay’. After topping the charts with two killer dance-pop records, the Barbadian singer charged things up with the hit soul-searching ballad ‘Unfaithful,’ from her new album ‘Good Girl Gone Bad’. Rihanna is one of the best female rnb artists out there and the volume of this album shows how talented she really is. The album supersedes all her previous work and is truly inspirational, with both brilliant vocals and beats. Having reviewed this album almost a month early, and experienced with the rnb genre, I call all fans of this type of music to buy this album when it hits retail.
Album opener Umberella feat Jay-Z is one of the hottest singles of the year. The track is both catchy and club rotation material, with a hot rnb twist. Jay-Z’s appearance on the track also makes for pleasurable listening and overall assembles Umbrella into an all round banger. You could literally leave the CD to play as every single is unique and brings out Rihanna’s true potential and talent. Hate That I Love You feat Ne-yo is also a track to watch out for. Having interviewed him not so long ago, I was surprised by his outstanding knowledge of music and love, which surpassed mine by miles. Ne-yo tells love how it is; no hidden agendas, no bullshit, just plain heart-breaking experiences he has encountered with various women over the years. Overall the album is one of the best collections of hits I’ve ever listened to.
Rihanna has done the exact same thing as Britney and Christina have when they released their second albums. She grew up! Her vocal executions and lyrical content has improved dramatically, quite so that ‘Good Girl Gone Bad’ puts her previous album to shame. You go Rihanna, you go!
Rating: 5/5
Words by: Bertan Budak
For a chance to win an umbrella, signed by Rihanna herself, visit http://defjam.co.uk/rihanna_comp/
