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Rihanna - Good Girl Gone Bad
Rihanna - Good Girl Gone Bad
 (Def Jam Records)

- reviewed by Chris G

Call it drinking the kool-aid or maybe she's just broken through to the next level, I'm officially under Rihanna's spell. On this, her third CD, it marks the first time I've listened to more than the radio served single.

An ear-blessing move because the album was beyond anything I expected from her musically.

Rihanna looks every bit the R& B star yet she’s just enough off center to make herself unique, the album validates that observation. She blends a super smoothie of tracks, with light touches of rock, pop, club, an electrified Timbaland track or two that mix together seamlessly.

"Shut Up and Drive" is a metaphor to come and get this stuff, I'm giving you permission, come enjoy the ride, that good girl being bad. It’s also representative for the hybrid sound she navigates with ease. "Sell Me Candy" seems to be an internet favorite – judging by comments I’ve read. I was more impressed by the spare drum kit sound of "Lemme Get That", a complete banger that Rihanna is practically rapping over, a taste of what if. more..

- reviewed by Chris G

Call it drinking the kool-aid or maybe she's just broken through to the next level, I'm officially under Rihanna's spell. On this, her third CD, it marks the first time I've listened to more than the radio served single.

An ear-blessing move because the album was beyond anything I expected from her musically.

Rihanna looks every bit the R& B star yet she's just enough off center to make herself unique, the album validates that observation. She blends a super smoothie of tracks, with light touches of rock, pop, club, an electrified Timbaland track or two that mix together seamlessly.

"Shut Up and Drive" is a metaphor to come and get this stuff, I'm giving you permission, come enjoy the ride, that good girl being bad. It's also representative for the hybrid sound she navigates with ease. "Sell Me Candy" seems to be an internet favorite - judging by comments I've read. I was more impressed by the spare drum kit sound of "Lemme Get That", a complete banger that Rihanna is practically rapping over, a taste of what if.

"Say It" is beach blanket MTV/TRL music at its finest. The chorus can get annoying but I rarely go to the beach anyway.

"Question Existing" is nothing like party time, yet fantastic in concept and execution as it's relevant for the celebrity magnified times we live in. Rihanna asks who she's living for, who can she trust, who her real friends are, "who wants to date me for me." Certainly not a groundbreaking message, but it has the feel of heartfelt questions, minus the poor me tears on the page.

With just 12 songs, at face value the album might be considered short, but there is absolutely no filler. I'm guessing an extra four or five songs would have made the difference between overload and just right.

If you're looking for something new in the blur of music-by-the numbers sitting on store shelves, Good Girl Gone Bad makes for a refreshing listen.

back to the ratings..

Track By Track
-- Degrees --102030405060708090100
1.  Umbrella
2.  Push Up On Me
3.  Don't Stop The Music
4.  Breakin Dishes
5.  Shut Up and Drive
6.  Hate That I Love You
7.  Say It
8.  Sell Me Candy
9.  Lemme Get That
10. Rehab
11. Question Existing
12. Good Girl Gone Bad
The Industry Says

Village Voice - "Good Girl never settles on a sound, and Rihanna vacillates between aping Gretchen Wilson, Ashanti, Gwen Stefani, and Pink. Nonetheless, she often sounds every bit like the superstar she clearly intends to be.. if nothing else, she's the hardest-working marginally talented artist out there."


VIBE - ".. she rarely capitalizes on her roots. Instead of the booming dancehall beats of longtime producers Syndicated Rhythm, the production team's West Indian flavor is synthesized with standard-issue urban pop. As a result, the hook-laden Good Girl is 100-degrees-in-the-shade hot - and about as deep as a puddle."


IGN - "Is Rihanna really a "good girl gone bad"? Not sure how to answer that, but she's definitely on the path to maturity, both in terms of musical selection and lyrical inspiration. It's more like Dyna Girl has finally turned into Electro Woman. More importantly, her affinity for '80s pop restructured in electro glide sheen puts a somewhat new, somewhat fresh spin on the conventional wisdom of contemporary R&B."



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