Good Girl Gone Bad - Rihanna

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Rihanna made a good choice making this her first single, as if to say that yes - that fantastic single everyone is humming, that made her the first female to be top of the UK charts on downloads alone, was all down to her and when you pick up this album and look at the back of the case that is the first thing you will see. Umbrella just adds to the amount of fantastic hits Rihanna has had, and shows she has no plan on slowing down anytime ...
...thus far, which is a good sign. With the title of the track being what it is, you really don't know what to expect. The track is the opposite of 'Unfaithful', and concentrates on getting your own back on cheating males. As I mentioned, the track is a different style and I wish that could be rewarded but the track doesn't work as anything than a statement of 'girl power'. Be careful about cheating on Rihanna though, because apparently she won't stop ... more

Allow me to introduce someone you may have heard a lot of lately, not in the news but on the radio, that person is Robyn Rihanna Fenty, who now goes by the stage name of just - Rihanna. At just 19 years of age this girl is famous for her work on the R&B circuit, although some people who are interested in different types of music may have dipped in and out of herself over the years as she released her debut album in August 2005 titled 'Music of the Sun'. A perfect summer album title you would think, and I believe the people behind Rihanna are probably a well oiled machine trying to do everything right. The follow-up album would be 'A Girl Like Me' in 2006, making 'Good Girl Gone Bad' her third album in less than three years as it was released on June 5th 2007. Something that even she can't believe herself according to recent interviews.

Discovered at the age of 15, it was Jay-Z who signed her to his label, 'Def Jam Records', and due to Rihanna immense popularity over the years she now finds herself singing alongside her boss on her latest track, 'Umbrella'. Rihanna has much appeal for her raunchy look, and along with this new album she pushed the barrier by dancing around with umbrellas and painting herself silver for the video shoot. The cover for 'Good Girl Gone Bad' features Rihanna slanting diagonally across the album in a more classy black and white look as opposed to the close-ups of her face that have been the main feature of the previous two albums. How does this Barbados born beauty live up to her reputation? Keep reading to find out.

UMBRELLA - "When the sun shines we shine together."
Track One - 4mins 18secs

Rihanna made a good choice making this her first single, as if to say that yes - that fantastic single everyone is humming, that made her the first female to be top of the UK charts on downloads alone, was all down to her and when you pick up this album and look at the back of the case that is the first thing you will see. Umbrella just adds to the amount of fantastic hits Rihanna has had, and shows she has no plan on slowing down anytime soon. Featuring Jay-Z on the opening to the track, many people feel this single defines the new direction that Rihanna plans to go in. To be honest, I don't see a new direction but I do see someone sticking to what she does best, and making a memorable track to go along with the likes of 'Unfaithful' and 'SOS'. Whilst many people will probably think the premise for the track is stupid, it works really well as a love song and inviting that one love to stand under your umbrella when it is raining. I dare you not to think of this song everytime someone says, "Oo baby it's raining." Bad weather will never be the same again, and even if you do begin getting bored of this song I'm sure you will love listening to it again in a years time. FIVE STARS.

PUSH UP ON ME - "And lets play a game, I won't be a teen."
Track Two - 3mins 15secs

This song is another one with a romantic premise, but perhaps it's not as classy as the way things were worded in Umbrella. The track is more about the physical side of things, and perhaps 19 is the new 29 as she sings about no longer being a teen and showing her 'sexy little thing' her room. With quite a high tempo to the track, it feels as though it was better designed to dance to, although I expect listening to it quite a lot will give you a headache. There's effort here, but that can't hide that it's a weak track. TWO STARS.

DON'T STOP THE MUSIC - "Let's escape the music DJ let it play."
Track Three - 4mins 27secs

Vocally, going into this track works brilliantly after the previous track, and it almost sounds like two tracks in one giving the sort of prelude effect that Justin Timberlake is famous for after his last album. It's another song with a club infulence, although it doesn't begin as in your face as 'Push Up On Me' did. Starting slower, this track eases you into the crazed dancing point, and what would you expect from a track that's all about not stopping the music -- you're clearly supposed to be dancing to it all night, and in that situation it would probably work really well. I read an interview where Rihanna said her new look is all about being 'glam rock', well so far this album feels like it has been about Umbrella and club music. The past two tracks could have easily been independantly made remixes. 'Pon De Replay' was Rihanna's first single, then 'SOS' was the cousin to that song.. I'm willing to say Don't Stop The Music is the grown up sister, and sadly she's lost her edge. TWO STARS.

BREAKIN' DISHES - "I'm a fight a man."
Track Four - 3mins 20secs

Now immediately with this track beginning it sounds different to anything we've heard thus far, which is a good sign. With the title of the track being what it is, you really don't know what to expect. The track is the opposite of 'Unfaithful', and concentrates on getting your own back on cheating males. As I mentioned, the track is a different style and I wish that could be rewarded but the track doesn't work as anything than a statement of 'girl power'. Be careful about cheating on Rihanna though, because apparently she won't stop fighting until she sees the police lights. TWO STARS.

SHUT UP AND DRIVE - "My engine is ready to explode, explode, explode."
Track Five - 3mins 33secs

Leading on from the previous track, Shut Up And Drive begins just as agressively with a loud guitar that you wouldn't expect from Rihanna tracks. Another track with a strange title, but that worked for Umbrella, and this is due to be the second single off the album. The track is feel good, but believe me it's not about driving your car to the shops, and instead it is full of sexual inuendos. I'm sure this will be blasting out of cars as soon as the video hits the music channels though. May you just find yourself singing along. THREE STARS.

HATE THAT I LOVE YOU - "One of these days maybe your magic won't effect me."
Track Six - 3mins 43secs

The first single on the album to actually be able to fit into the catagorey of a ballad, and this track has already gained a cult following. Ne-Yo is pretty much on top of everything right now, and featuring heavilly vocally on this track (as well as I'll bet he had a big hand in writing it) is probably one of the reasons this track is blowing up right now. From singing about sex, this is the first time on the album we've heard about love since the first track - and I'm pretty sure they're the key subjects of what all the tracks have been about so far. 2/6 ain't bad, eh? Vocally it is very sweet and romantic, a song for lovers, and I'm sure many people have been in a situated where they've had feelings for someone they shouldn't -- this is the first time I've heard it sung about. FOUR STARS.

SAY IT - "Baby baby don't be shy."
Track Seven - 4mins 10secs

Continuing along the lines of the ballad nature of the previous track, the song begins with a strange 'zoom' sound and then Rihanna starts singing in quiet mode (I know, unsual). The theme for the song is that boys are never true to girls, and never tell them how they're feeling about the relationship, and the truth is what Rihanna wants her boyfriends to say. After a while, this quite simple theme and the plain throughout vocals and tune get quite old, and you're hoping Rihanna will pull something out of the bag to save this track. The most adventurous Rihanna gets on this track is saying a few words quicker than the rest, which is a farcry from the work she did with Ne-Yo on the previous track. TWO STARS.

SELL ME CANDY - "Talk to me take care of my dreams."
Track Eight - 2mins 45secs

This sounds more like it when it begins, starting slightly slow but with more of an edge the pace soon picks up and feels like perhaps the album is done being quiet and romantic - she wants to be loud and lustfull. The track has actually got a really infectuous beat, although it's now track eight and she hasn't sung about anything except men - sorry, but this isn't something I would expect from someones third album. As that last sentence pretty much explains, selling candy is all about selling love. I believe the song is probably about men bringing a little bravery to the table when it comes to a relationship, which makes sense why it comes straight after 'Say It'. Whilst the themes, sorry theme, is getting repetitive this is a catchy track and the shortest on the album. THREE STARS.

LEMME GET THAT - "Why spend mine when I could spend yours."
Track Nine - 3mins 41secs

As the track begins you can hear the infulence of her Barbados background and it's a very sun friendly tune. This isn't her usual singing, and it's much more broken up by the strange beat. The male voice in the song isn't that prominent, which I expect is why he has gone uncredited, however after doing a little bit of research it is apparently Justin Timberlake. Would expect much more from a track he is involved with, as the theme is about men buying things for women. I really didn't want to give any of this album the bottom rating, but I can't find myself to like this sound. It's all too much, I guess it could have been worse - I didn't have to give any stars. ONE STAR.

REHAB - "Baby you're my disease."
Track Ten - 4mins 54secs

I also hear that Justin and Timbaland were involved heavily in creating this track, and as the longest on the album I immediately expect something special. Special is what you shall get. It was quite funny to hear the name of this track pop-up when so many celebrities are entering rehab, but this track isn't designed to be funny and it works really powerfully. The rehab being sung about isn't the typical fighting drugs, and rather it is fighting a broken relationship. A slow tune with powerful lyrics. I feel that this should be the second single over 'Shut Up And Drive'. A potential classic. FIVE STARS.

QUESTION EXISTING - "Who am I living for?"
Track Eleven - 4mins 8secs

This album has been an up and down ride getting close to the end, and you really don't know whether to expect a slow song or a club song next. It appears the club songs are done with though as this track begins, very slow and almost sounds quite depressing. Every now and again Rihanna's usual vocals pick up, but most of the time her voice is muffled with an effect that makes her sound really far away. The lyrics are once again very powerful, and perhaps aimed at younger teens - although I can't see that this song really applies to Rihanna who has had chart success since being 16/17. Much like how without the help of Ne-Yo, her romantic ballad seemed to go down hill, her sketchy subject track goes downhill without the involvement of Timbaland. ONE STAR.

GOOD GIRL GONE BAD - "Easy for a good girl to go bad."
Track Twelve - 3mins 35secs

Things seem to be getting a bit brighter to finish the album off, and you'd hope for something good from the title track of the album although that's not how things always go. The pace of the song sounds upbeat, and I think this works really well as the final (official) song on the album. Normally you would expect the title track early on the album, but this song pretty much brings the whole album together as the first 11 tracks were the tunnel and this track is her coming out of the tunnel as this transformed woman. Perhaps that gives an explination to why her songs on the album were not as new sounding as I would have expected, and her fourth album will be her big challenge. She'll be out of her teens then. The track is very nice and ear friendly, and the track is pretty much about everything she's been through and how it has changed her. FOUR STARS.

CRY - "I should have never let you hold me baby."
Track Thirteen - 3mins 53secs

I'll never really get my head around bonus tracks, but Cry comes as the bonus for those who purchase the album. It's another sad sounding track, as you would expect from the title. When will we get a song called Cry and it will actually be happy? 'Good Girl Gone Bad' was a great way to end the album, so lets hope this track doesn't ruin things. The tune for the track sounds slightly like 'Unfaithful' (sorry, I will stop bringing that track up, I just liked it so much) and Rihanna actually seems to believe the lyrics that she is singing, something that you don't feel only ever other track included. The premise for the song is very simple, a broken relationship and not wanting her ex to see how upset she is because of this, and I guess because the premise is so simple that's why they chose not to officially name it on the album. Whilst the song never really hits its peak, it works well at what it does. THREE STARS.

I think it's a shame that listening to a whole album of Rihanna will make you realise that the people behind her only let you see what they want you to see. Whilst there are some great tracks, and she will always be a name I personally look out for with new releases, her work on her own really lacks that special something and I don't see how she can really progress much further without gaining a little bit more independance and personality that she seems to show by hiding behind some producers. I just this evening saw her performance on the MTV Movie Awards 2007 where she sung 'Umbrella' live, and her live voice leaves a lot to be desired - although her stage presence gets her through.

'Good Girl Gone Bad' is almost a sure thing to be number one in the album charts in the UK this week, but her fourth album is going to have to be perfect for her to keep her diehard fans as opposed to the fans that are just going through their Rihanna stage. Too many weak links for an album that I really wanted to love. 

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