Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.In no other field of music does the autobiographical imperative wield as much power as it does in R&B.
And while Rihanna's Rated R doesn't exult in such resonances with the alacrity of Whitney Houston's I Look To You, it's a constant itch behind many of these songs: if tracks like "Hard", "Stupid In Love" and "Cold Case Love" weren't written specifically about the contretemps with her abusive former boyfriend Chris Brown, they surely play fast and loose with that event. Which is somewhat difficult to square with the edgy undertow of violent inferences lurking beneath the album's surface, from the Grace Jones-esque leatherclad-dominatrix cover image and references to pain and flagellation, to inflammatory song titles such as "Russian Roulette" and "Fire Bomb" as metaphors for the state of relationships. The slightly robotic, uninflected timbre of Rihanna's vocals works to the benefit of "Wait Your Turn" and "Hard", where it's layered over a swirl of synths. But too much of the album sounds ponderously dystopian. Much better is the Justin Timberlake-produced "Cold Case Love", a slow burner of creepy strings and bongos blended over the piano riff, which takes its time to reach full momentum.
Download this Cold Case Love; Hard; Wait Your Turn
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments