Explicit, as a term, fails to encaspulate the raunchy lyrics, filthy beats and grinding rhythms that characterise Rihanna’s sixth album Talk that Talk. Once again the singer demonstrates her capacity to transcend the limitations of RnB, engaging with electro, hip-hop and dubstep.
This genre collision is artfully undertaken; for example in “You Da One” Rihanna’s sultry voice is permeated with a dubstep beat. Other highlights include the sampling of the XX’s “Intro” in “Drunk on Love,” which complements Rihanna’s soaring melodies and the lyrical vulnerability of “I feel like I’m a hopeless romantic”. The descending beat of Jay-Z collaboration “Talk that Talk” is also indisputably catchy; with Rihanna’s reggae vocal repeatedly hooking us with the choral line “Love it when you talk that talk to me”.
The album is full of Rihanna’s most sonically punchy and hard-hitting tracks; for example, “Where have you been” resounds with an electronic mania. The twinkling, synth musical bridge in “Roc Me Out” also adds a textual dimension to a clichéd RnB beat reminiscent of 50 Cents “Take Me to the Candy shop”.
My reservations stem from a perceived over-reliance upon sex as a theme. Songs such as “Cockiness”, and “Watch N Learn” are provocative but lyrically unconvincing. The line “Suck my cockiness; lick my persuasion” is so transparently sexual as to make the euphemism redundant. The semi-electro beat of the equally eroticised “Birthday Cake”, is also rhythmically intriguing but at 1 minute 22 seconds the song feels unsatisfyingly fragmented.
However, the Beyoncé-esque power ballads, ‘We All Want Love’ and ‘Farewell’ diffuse the sexually explicit harshness of other tracks. The softened melodies and clean instrumentals are a welcome change and the choral symphonic stampede achieved in “Farewell” is an uplifting and sentimental ending to the album. On the deluxe version of the album is “Red Lipstick”. Produced by Chase and Status, it has a grimy, dubstep beat again indicating the extent of Rihanna’s musical progression. Yet despite the album’s blend of seemingly discordant genres it is well managed, a credit to the hardest working woman in the industry today.
4 Stars