While Rihanna’s newest album “Loud” is inconsistent, genre-wise, it’s not all bad.  In addition to the widely known and played out Only Girl (In the World) and Part Two of Love the Way You Lie, featuring Eminem, the album contains tracks hinting at Rihanna’s Barbadian ancestry as well as running up the tab on radio friendly hits.
Rihanna throws us right into the album with S&M, definitely the type of song we’re sure to hear in the club.

Good beats, slightly kinky, and makes you want to dance: “Sticks and stones may break my bones, but chains and whips excite me”.
Drake provides a male counterpart in What’s My Name.  While the “oh na na’s” are a little annoying at first, the song is certainly catchy and Drake’s vocals compliment nicely

Cheers (Drink to That) opens with vocals compliments of Avril Lavigne (but which sound much more like those of Alanis Morisette), fading into a mellow R&B tribute to nights out: “Got my Ray Bans on and I’m feelin hella cool tonight/everybody’s vibin so don’t nobody start a fight”

While Fading makes good use of piano, and there is nothing technically bad about the song, the repetition is a bit much. Probably could have done without this one, Rihanna.

Only three words are necessary to describe California King Bed: cheesy and boring.
Moving on! Man Down vibes on Rihanna’s island roots. Song about an accidental murder …though it’s an extremely random subject compared to her other songs, it’s surprisingly addictive.

With the collaboration of up and coming hip hop artist Nicki Minaj, Rihanna plays on an oldie with Raining Men adding modern technology to create this catchy track.  Her recognizable voice paired with that of Minaj’s provides for a funky listen.

Complicated is just that—complicated. If we had to choose one track from the album to prove the inconsistency, this would be it. While Rihanna has had one of the most successful careers for a female vocalist worldwide, we see (or hear rather) that she is still trying to figure out her style and genre.

ffBefore concluding with Part Two of Love the Way You Lie, we hear Skin, a sensual ballad reminding us of a more modern version of old school Destiny’s Child. Again, the album is a little all over the place in category, but with her track record of achievements, Rihanna can afford to surprise us. With all the success she has already claimed at just twenty two, it is crazy to fathom what is to come from the talented young philanthropist.