Whether rocking out in the car, working out in the gym or dancing your socks off at the club, Rihanna is your girl. After six albums in seven years - two in the past year alone - one might expect an artist to lose steam. Rihanna, however, still seduces with her strong vocals, deep lyrics and solid club beats. According to People magazine, Talk That Talk, the Barbadian star's new album, is "one of 2011's best pop-diva statements." People's assessment of her latest record is right on track.
Rihanna has cranked out some of the hottest songs on the radio since her introductory album Music of the Sun came out in 2005. She has produced 11 No. 1 singles, including modern classics like "Umbrella," "Disturbia" and "Only Girl (In the World)." Her ability to create seductive songs which are catchy and offer an escape into a world of explicit sexuality are the keys to this pop-diva's success, and Talk That Talk continues this trend. Like any album, though, it is a mix of hot singles and middling fillers.
Talk That Talk begins with the reggae-inspired "You Da One" which harkens back to her Caribbean roots. The slower song is followed by club-friendly hit "Where Have You Been." A thumping bass and electronic riffs in "Where Have You Been" make you want to jump out of your seat, get on the stage and showcase how awesome you are. "We Found Love," my favorite song of the album, and "Talk That Talk," which features Jay-Z, are just as hook-heavy and tantalizing.
Rihanna continues with more dance-pop anthems like "Red Lipstick," but the bleak lyrics she is known for after songs like "Disturbia" and "Love the Way You Lie" - her smash collaboration with Eminem about domestic abuse - are also prevalent on Talk That Talk. While a pro at making carefree, club-ready hits, Rihanna is equally adept at showing off her dark side. "Cockiness," for example, is as crude as "S&M" but without the same musical appeal. In addition, her minute-long song "Birthday Cake" keeps to the blatant erotic lyrics for which bad-girl Rihanna has come to be known. These darker tracks are stark contrasts to the sweet "We All Want Love."
All things considered, as long as the beats stay fresh and Rihanna keeps churning out tracks like "Roc Me Out," a phenomenal song which has gone under the radar so far, I don't mind the mingling of the new hard-core Rihanna with her original softer side. Overall, she sticks to her roots and doesn't stray from what her audience desires in Talk That Talk. Where her previous releases, including Loud, fell short of feeling like a complete album, Talk That Talk soars with its mixture of edgy, erotic tracks as well as melancholic songs.
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