Pop musicians can be particularly lazy, but 22-year-old singer Rihanna certainly isn't. Loud is her fifth record in five years and we don't even count DVDs and remix albums. Loud's singles Love The Way You Lie (with Eminem) and Only Girl (In The World) are already big hits and judging by the quality of the album, many more can follow. Most of the songs on this CD are equipped with so-called earwigs:
the choruses settle in your ear and don't go out for days. Fans of the Rihanna from the time of her debut can indulge in the dancehall of Man Down, but otherwise they are ignored. Not only does Rihanna work hard, she also doesn't want to dwell on a certain style. A song like California King Bed wouldn't look out of place on an album by country pop star Taylor Swift. This contrasts sharply with the raps of Raining Men and the pulsating house beats of Complicated. Pop is the only unifying factor on this album that lays the foundation for a new successful part in Rihanna's career. (JE)more
