Rated R

Like a few people, i wasn't sure with this album but gave it a punt. and my god im glad i did. very different compared to the older stuff she has done. Rated R comes across as edgy, imaginative, lyrically great and just different. and these days, that is basically the combination you need to be a success, and Rihanna has done a quality job here. in truth, she may lose a few fans who are stuck in their ways are not accepting her "new sound" but she will, in my view, gain so many more as you can't fail to see the appeal of this album. best tracks are "Hard", "Photograph" and "The Last Song". but honestly, each track is really good in it's own right with some awesome beats and vocal talent. a definite recommendation

good album but a shame this is the censored version they could have stated that in the description

Rated R is the album Rihanna has been threatening to make ever since bursting onto the scene with SOS and its inspired 'Tainted Love' steal. The 'Umbrella' single was, of course, brilliant but the acccompanying album patchy - it took me months to get round to buying Rated R but I've probably played it more than any other CD released in 2009. The production is gorgeous (Russian Roulette somehow pulls off the trick of sounding smooth and yet slightly sinister at the same time), the songwriting uniformly strong and the plethora of guest stars complement the project instead of getting under everybody else's feet. R & B as a genre is so often lazy and self serving, Rated R is an actual five star classic, almost a 'Thriller' for the 21st century if you want to believe the hype.

This is an example of how an artist can become more rough around the edges when she gets polished. Rated R showcases a different, darker side of Rihanna, with both darker themes and sounds. With tracks like "Russian Roulette" - ending on a gunshot - the album can be seen to fit its name. When Rihanna sings about difficult subjects, the emotion is conveyed to the listener on a higher level than before.

There is still enough variation with excellent balancing. Even some dancehall spices are brought to the mix with "Rude Boy", and Slash's guitar riffs on the fast-paced "Rockstar 101" sound delicious. The album has the right amount of featuring acts, and Jeezy's tight verse really fits in where it is.

Rated R is surely Rihanna's best album to date.

this is one corker of an album, and proof that she has grown up into a talented young woman. the vocals are strong and only after the second listen, i'm hooked (and thats rare).
its her most grown up album to date, and a far cry from her early early days.