!Discussion: "LOUD (2010)"

[weber_dubois22]

Rihanna's latest album released a couple days ago.
What does everyone think of the CD or it's singles so far?

Comments

[another-slender.livejournal.com]

ooo, yay, I love discussion posts! I'll go track by track:

1. S&M -- I love this song! It's so fun...the vocals are big and sassy and it's just the perfect opener for an album called Loud, haha.

2. What's My Name? (feat. Drake) -- I love What's My Name, but I really prefer the early version that leaked before the whole album leaked. It's a slightly different arrangement than the album version. I think I may have overplayed this song for myself already & I find that I often skip it when I listen to the whole album. The video is really cute, though, and I think it's hilarious/adorable how Drake is so into Rihanna throughout the whole thing. Especially with their history, it just makes the video totally endearing. I will say I would've like more dancing in the video since it's a more upbeat song.

3. Cheers (Drink To That) -- When I first read that Avril Lavigne's 'I'm With You' was sampled in this song I was really apprehensive. However, when I finally heard the song, I was relieved because it's really not that bad at all. I adore Rihanna's accent in it, especially how she pronounces 'Jameson,' lol.

4. Fading -- This song's good but I find it a little generic sounding. I do really love the sample of Enya's song, 'One By One.' I think my love for that song and the way it's used in Fading probably redeems the song for me on the whole. & the way Rihanna sings 'fading' in the chorus reminds me a little of Jazmine Sullivan's song, 'Holding You Down (Goin' in Circles)' which is another song that I just love.

5. Only Girl (In the World) -- I'm still not sick of this song! The chorus is so big vocally, it's fantastic. It never fails to make me want to dance. & the video is gorgeous!

6. California King Bed -- This song is just okay to me. I find it boring, to be honest. Her voice, again, sounds great, though.

7. Man Down -- I looove this song!! I love the story, I adore Rihanna's accent, the melody, just everything about it is fantastic. It's definitely my favorite from the album.

8. Raining Men (feat. Nicki Minaj) -- Another one that I love...it's so damn catchy and I love the "Oh yeah yeah, Ohhh-oo-whoa," part, haha. I'm a really big Nicki fan, but I have to say I'm not too impressed with her verse here. The way her voice cracks at the very end of the, 'Do you want to sit on the back while I wheelie, really? Really!? No, for real...really?' line irks me and almost ruins her verse for me, haha. I know, I'm weird.

9. Complicated -- I love this song, too. It's so fun to sing along to, especially the chorus, haha. Yet another song where Rihanna shows off how big her vocals can be. Awesome!

10. Skin -- Another song that I love..it's so damn sexy. Enough said.

11. Love the Way You Lie (Part II) (feat. Eminem) -- I'm a longtime Eminem fan & I loved the original part I. I love Part II just as much.

12. Love the Way You Lie (Piano Version) -- A gorgeous iteration...the lack of the backing track allows one to focus on the lyrics and their weight. I do find myself missing the swell of the music during the chorus, though, so I think I like the other version better than the solely piano version.

If you couldn't tell, I really love Rihanna's big vocals on the album, haha. She's really going for it and belting almost every chorus. Her voice and it's delivery have grown so much and it sounds awesome.
Overall, I really love this album.
I don't yet know if it will replace Good Girl Gone Bad as my favorite Rihanna album...and I also don't know yet if I like it better than Rated R because I feel like the whole mood & context of Rated R really elevates the album to a much more interesting piece of work. Time will tell, I guess! :D