This album is the moment that Rihanna really got serious in her quest for music-making. After being infamously physically assaulted by Chris Brown, her then-boyfriend, fans of Rihanna speculated that she would release an album that would be full of raging anger in response to such a terrible thing. Rihanna who was only 21 at the time, decided to do her best to make a decent album despite the negativity and the horrible experience of being assaulted by a lover and having the press report about it. In her quest to create a decent commercial breakthrough album, she requested the assistance of a bunch of different producers to create an album that was something worth taking seriously and unique simultaneously. The result is Rated R, seen as her best album overall to this very day by music critics abroad. The album spawned six successful singles, which was a huge feat for an artist at the time of Rihanna’s Pop/R&B/Rap-based background. Let’s take a listen to this album and we shall hear where it takes us.

Mad House begins with some distorted sounds including percussion and vocals, and launches into an organ-based piece of music with a sampled vocal introduction. Soon enough, this launches into a dirty, bass-heavy R&B-styled tune that is surprisingly better than you would expect. This is merely an introductory track, but it still sounds very, very good. Rihanna sings some sweet harmonies throughout, and she is really on fire throughout. A very good start to the album.

Wait Your Turn begins with some dirty keyboard-styled sounds, and launches into a good starting tune. Rihanna proclaims: “The wait is over!” She sings with a style, grace and confidence that would have made many singers at the time very jealous. Rihanna pours her heart and soul into a magical piece of music that sounds emotional, fresh and unique to this day. Although this tune is likely aimed at younger music fans, in particular those who followed the charts, this is a euphoric and fantastically sweet listen throughout for most music lovers. Despite the shame and humiliation of being physically beaten, it sounds as though Rihanna is dealing with life just fine. A good digital ballad that, even as a track little paid attention to in retrospect, the darkness and raunchiness of Rihanna cannot be underestimated. A very cool listening experience that sounds well mixed and crafted. A very decent listen from start to finish.

Hard features Jeezy. It begins with some weird Industrial Music-styled sounds, and Rihanna sings very naturally well on this song. It quickly launches into a very Rap Music based tune. This is better than expected, and she reveals herself to be a switched-on, nymphomaniac sort of Pop star. Her image, style and music is definitely her own. She points ahead to a brighter future musically and in fame terms for herself on this song. Nonetheless, another good musical effort that flows very well. The beats, basslines, piano and other assorted creative sounds are excellent. This music also has a broad appeal to it, with some Rap Music basis, but with a commercial Pop nature. Nonetheless, a really great listen for what this music is. Jeezy’s appearance is decent and he sounds like he is high or wasted, his performance is also welcome and excellent on this song. Good and interesting music that perfectly defined what 2009 was all about. The outro is very fresh and pretty sounding, and Rihanna comes of age here. Another good song.

Stupid In Love is a piece with some sadly melodic piano and is likely about the Chris Brown assault incident. Rihanna delivers a melodramatic song that addresses personal romance issues and demons within herself. She sings with emotion and passion throughout, and Rihanna does a wonderful job about her own personal experiences in love. A great song and Rihanna reveals the guilt, shame and regret about a postmodern relationship that has fallen apart. A string section enters, and this piece becomes even more dramatic throughout. A song that is most definitely worth hearing if you are crying and feeling awful after your love is gone. This is a song that is a better piece of breakup music than anything Ariana Grande made in a similar vein. A pretty, moving and heartbreaking listening experience that is really refreshing in its variety and consistency. A good piece of four-minute-long Pop balladry.

ROCKSTAR 101 features Guns ‘N’ Roses guitar legend Slash. It begins with some similar drum machine beats, cut-up vocals and warped-sounding guitar parts by Slash. This certainly sounds quite different and is a party-oriented tune about being a rebel for that said party lifestyle. Surprisingly, despite the fact that this clearly isn’t a hit single, the attitude, menacing feel and music sound quite memorable and is worth your time. Not everybody is into R&B mixed with subtle Rock guitars, but this is a sexually oriented piece that sounds very top-notch. This is the sort of music for ladies who enjoy nightclubbing and having fun as well. Regardless, this is much better than expected. A really cool listening experience that goes into a sweeter-sounding musical section in the second half of the song. Very, very good music. The chorus quickly returns and Rihanna indicates that she is a Rockstar, albeit without a guitar herself and someone who is a night owl. Very dramatic, but good.

Russian Roulette is the lead single from the album. It begins with some screaming guitars, and quickly enters into a sensual and beat-driven piece with some sexually oriented whispering. Soon enough, Rihanna sings in a torn-up yet near-perfect manner that is likely about suicide and/or suicidal thoughts after a rough patch in love. Indeed, this is a sad listen but even out of context of Rihanna’s own life, it sounds very, very good. A gorgeous but heartbreaking song that sounds pretty and relatable. Nonetheless, this is a very good piece of music that is rather close to the bone for many out there, regardless of whether you are single or with a partner. Rihanna definitely has talent, and she puts her heart on her sleeve in this song. A sad but monumentally awesome song. Very deep, emotional and enjoyable listening, this paves the way for songs such as Diamonds, another Rihanna classic. It ends with some beats and deep breathing, followed by a gunshot indicating suicide by gun. Not a happy song, but a very good listen regardless.

Fire Bomb begins with some muted and distorted heavy guitar riffs, and launches into a very sweetly melodic song with a 1980s feel to it. This continues on from the previous song in concept and music and has a musically melodic piano, clean electric guitars and some awesome and moving vocals from Rihanna. A great song, especially in the chorus. This lyrically is about losing the plot, and despite the headspace that Rihanna may have been in at the time, this is another genuinely good listening experience with some fuzz-laden guitars. A moving and pulsating piece of music. Rihanna needs to give herself more credit for songs such as these, and she has a lovely and natural singing voice. Nonetheless, this music is really cool and is a decent piece of well-constructed songcraft. It has a moody string section in the second half, which makes this music even more emotional. Nonetheless, this is another fairly underrated song, although the guitars are a little annoying. It ends after four minutes in length. It ends with the sound of fire and police sirens. Different.

Rude Boy is the big hit from this album and is a must-listen for fans of all sorts of music. It begins with funky electronic sounds and beats, quickly launching into an absolute classic from 2009. This is outright sexual in a female way, as Rihanna woos all the men born in the 1990s or just before then to come and get her. A very profane but entertaining listen that is fantastic and is directly about sex. “Come on rude, rude boy, can you get it up? Come on rude, rude boy, is you big enough? Take it, take it, baby, baby, take it, take it…love me!” is a fantastic chorus and the song exudes a rebellious attitude. This song got Rihanna attention from the upcoming music streaming generation and points ahead to the future of music in the early 2010s, which was celebratory Electronic based party music for the next generation of music lovers. A very excellent song, this is fantastically excellent and has cross-gender appeal. A classic worth putting on repeat. Fantastic music. Great to hear.

Photographs features will.i.am. It begins with some moody-sounding fingerpicked acoustic guitar, and heavy bass guitar and launches into a good song that is gorgeous and moody throughout. will.i.am’s appearance is welcome and his voice sounds soothing throughout. This is a sad and poignant reflection of wanting an ex-partner back. This is a good song that is about missing one’s true love. Most people have serious relationships with a genuine heartbreaking moment, and this song reflects that very well. A bit naff compared to the other amazing songs on this album, but by no means outright bad. In the midsection is melodramatic and has some symphonic arrangements to match it all. will.i.am gets singing in the second half of the tune, and he reflects from a male perspective the experience of heartbreak as well. Nonetheless, although this song likely could have been edited down a little length-wise, this is a really good listen. Sad music, but not all music needs to be happy 24/7. A good song that needs a little editing, but still good regardless.

G4L is an electronic piece from the start, with bleeps and other sounds. Rihanna launches into a piece of dark, gritty music with some pseudo-rapping that reflects the desire to murder someone. A dark and somewhat disturbing tune that sounds very messed up lyrically, but is still enjoyable in its own way. This proves that even the ladies can be gangsters, and Rihanna is brave and good enough to show her darkest side of emotions. Even for such a track, this certainly has a deep appeal to it. This may be a lesser track, but by no means is it outright bad. Rihanna declares herself to be a “gangster for life” and sings about gun-related violence. Dark and different, this is a menacing side to Rihanna that you would never think that she would ever have. Good even for a less famous track from this album. The ending is melodramatic.

Te Amo is Spanish for I Love You, and is the next song on this album. It begins with some bongos and electronic sounds, launching into a romantic ballad about bisexuality, which is a bit different. In this postmodern era, unorthodox LGBTQ+ sexuality is becoming more and more commonplace, and this tune is a good piece about the matter. Again, this is also about heartbreak and rejection and does not sound positive lyrically. The music throughout complements the lyrics, with a Spanish and Latin American Music feel to it all. Nonetheless, this is a good song that is not very happy. Rejecting a lady who has the hots for Rihanna, the star points out the heartbreak of rejection musically. A good listen that ends with Spanish guitar work.

Cold Case Love is a six-minute plus piece. It begins with stereo panned organ, and Rihanna sings from a dark and disturbed place. She doesn’t sound at all happy on this song, and she is deeply personal and emotional on this song. She openly expresses heartbreak and disappointment throughout, and the music present is very enjoyable and pretty. A very sweet tune for all its negativity and heartbreak. It sounds like Rihanna at this point in time was struggling to deal with demons and personal emotions. The string section throughout is very pretty and is followed by more singing, bongos and shakers. Rihanna obviously had some tremendously great musical talent within her, and the mixture of lyricism, melodies and pristine production really makes her music come alive. This is a sad and good ballad that is only really let down by the lengthy nature of the music. Even so, that is worth overlooking as the emotion, drama and human nature of this music count. In the second half, beats and percussion enter making this tune even more emotional per se. A really good song that paints the scene of tears, broken hearts and broken promises. Unfortunately, the guitar solo on this song is rather awful and fairly unnecessary as well. No doubt that this otherwise is a really great song to listen to. The music present is different, however, which is a good thing. The guitars are faded out, leaving strings and percussion to wrap up with. Very sad and deep music.

The Last Song says it all. It begins with some warped, rather Psychedelic Electronic sounds and enters into a good closing song of this album. Rihanna continues to articulate heartbreak and tragedy from a lady’s perspective. Some Coldplay-styled guitars enter, and this piece of music builds up in ferocity and intensity throughout. Rihanna sounds like she is torn apart, and the listener certainly can sympathise with this music given the context of her own personal life. Eventually, drums kick in and this rather textural piece is a good way to finish off a fairly decent album listening experience. Rihanna’s beautiful voice is very pretty and enjoyable to listen to, time after time. A guitar solo is in the second half, sounding like a poppier version of David Gilmour. This does sound very good, and Rihanna sounds amazing throughout. Even for a lesser track, this does sound extremely good. Rihanna’s moment of fame and respect had come on this album, and this album concludes with some dramatic guitars that are nicely played. A good finish.

This is an album that is better than expected for an artist of Rihanna’s musical nature. Rihanna articulates her gorgeous singing voice into the best sort of music for her. These are poppy R&B ballads with a touch of Rap Music that appeal to both men and women in the world of music, rather than just a male or female audience. This is likely Rihanna’s best album, but she delivers what she promises. If there is a flaw here, it is the fact that some of the material is a little weaker than the hit singles on this recording, but even these are listenable. Still, should you listen to this album? Absolutely, this is a magical listening experience of broken-hearted postmodern blues with fine production and performances.

Killer.

8/10