Rihanna – "Anti"

princess abumere

February 2, 2016 10:38 AM

"Anti" shows a whole new side of Rihanna, it bears the feelings of what perhaps could be the woman on the inside.

"Anti" cover

We were only getting our heads round the fact Rihanna had released a new single with Drake and them like magic, her much anticipated eighth LP “Anti” was here!

Since the debut of her very first album “Music of the Sun” in 2005, the singer fondly called ‘Ri Ri’ by fans released an album almost every year then paused in 2012 after the release of “Unapologetic”. With every new Rihanna album, there has always been a marketing strategy involving the reinvention of the singer’s style – new hair, new clothes, new swag, this time there wasn’t any of that. It seemed as though the strategy of her record label was keep the fans hungry. Boy, were we starving!

READ:Pop star's ANTI album certified platinum by RIAA

The album contains 13 tracks while the deluxe version consists of 15 tracks. “Anti” is quite different from Rihanna’s other releases, it’s not girly pop and it’s void of dance tracks; well there’s the exception of ‘Work’ which is a dancehall song featuring Drake. The “Anti” sound is easy, alternative, down-tempo and hazy. The ‘Take a bow’ crooner showcases she’s been taking more vocal lessons.

The intro song ‘James joint’ is an easy-going track, kind of announcing the Captain is back and the Navy (her fans) are waiting for her command. The follow up song ‘Kiss it better’ is reminiscent of a 80s R&B jam, if you shut your eyes you can almost picture Rihanna and her back up singers engaged in some two step choreography.

The album shows a whole new side of Rihanna, it bears the feelings of what perhaps could be the woman on the inside.

“Feel like a brand new person, but I don’t care I’m alive", she belts out on ‘Same ol’mistakes’.

"Darling, would you mind giving my reflection a break from the pain it's feeling now?” she sings on ‘Consideration’.

Since her relationship with Chris Brown, Rihanna hasn’t exactly been in a serious relationship and home girl expresses she’s not really about to get into one on ‘Needed me’ which has a trap vibe to it. Meanwhile she oozes some sexiness on ‘Yeah I said it’ produced by Timbaland.

At first listen of the album, I asked where is Rihanna, the cheeky party girl, the life lover we know but listening again, I realize she’s right here, just showing you what’s really on the inside - “Anti”. And in the usual style of the Barbadian singer, take it or leave it, she’s still going to do her.

Score: 3.5/5

princess abumere