RIHANNA: TALK THAT TALK - REVIEW

Rihanna - Talk that Talk

Rihanna's sixth Disc arrives just as quickly as it can be forgotten. The Collection of eleven Tracks showcase the Barbadian Pop Princess vocally at her best, but her tireless ambition to remain relevant makes me question the necessity of releasing Talk that Talk this quickly.  It's clear that Music is a  Numbers Game with the Rihanna Navy, their being dead-set on whatever Milestone it is that they are trying to obtain in the Billboard ranks.

Are any of the Tracks on this Set remarkable?  In all honesty, no.  Anyone trying to convince me that first single We Found Love is Rihanna's  best work will be met with stiff resistance from me as I am a firm Believer that the Track is the product of a rushed Studio Session together with Calvin Harris. The Homage to early '90s House Music is recurring Motif on stronger potential Single, Where Have You Been, produced together with Dr. Luke and Harris.  The Track sounds v. much like where Pop  is right now in this David Guetta-dominated Era.

Despite catering much to a Dance Music-loving audience of late, Rihanna never forgets her Urban roots in bringing-out Jay-Z for the Titular Track (co-written with Diddy).  She wears her Caribbean Colours proudly on opening Track You Da One, another contribution from Super-Producer Dr. Luke.  Meanwhile, Watch n'Learn gives us that Sex-obsessed Rihanna whom we have grown to love, her commanding: "Just because I can't kiss back/Doesn't mean you can't kiss that" ...not really leaving much to the imagination.  Beyoncé-esque Birthday Cake clocking-in at 1:18 serves no real purpose other than proving that perhaps with a little less hastiness, something great could have come out of these Sessions.

Longtime Collaborators StarGate keep things sounding a bit familiar on Drunk on Love and Roc Me Out, relegated later in the Sequence and sounding a bit like that harder-hitting Rated R Album which I never loved in all  honesty.

Talk That Talk likely will garner that requisite Hit or two needed before Rihanna heads back to the Studio to churn-out yet another Album, rendering all of this all the more disposable.  Clocking-in a just-over 37 minutes, even her most loyal Fans would have to question whether or not they truly are getting the value they deserve.  The Disc will be released via Universal Music Canada on November 18, 2011.

JENNIFER LOPEZ - LOVE REVIEW

In what is easily her best work since 1999 debut On the 6, Jennifer Lopez gives it her all on this her seventh studio effort. She proves once again that she can do it all despite her impossibly hectic itinerary - a Mother of Twins, Wife, Designer, Entrepreneur, Television Personality, Actress and oh yeah, a Singer. Lopez's surprising switch last year to Island Def Jam/Universal Music has played a pivotal role in her sudden musical resurgence after spending some celebrated years at Sony Music - some years not so celebrated. And after spending over two years on this Disc Love?, expectations are heightened but fear not - she delivers.

We all know how infectious On the Floor (ft. Pitbull) is with that Lambada sample it features. In fact it has already reached the top of the Charts in Canada, but on this Disc are a few more missiles waiting to fire thanks to Super-Producer RedOne who not only oversaw that mentioned first Single, but also the thematically similar Papi with its dramatic synths and big choruses; an outstanding piece of Pop. Invading My Mind and Hypnotico also have the Swedish-Moroccan's signature sound imprinted and interestingly, Lady Gaga is credited on both these Tracks. Admittedly they are more telling of her The Fame era rather than her current Born this Way era.

The-Dream and Tricky Stewart who have been rather hit-or-miss since finding meteoric success with Rihanna on her star-making Good Girl Gone Bad Disc from 2008, yield a result leaning more towards  the "hit" side with the aptly-named Good Hit. The Track is defined most by its experience-altering Breakdown complete with a Key Change. Villain and Run the World are met with mixed results and easily could have been eliminated here without much impact.

RIHANNA - LOUD REVIEW

Already on her fifth album, Rihanna's latest effort LOUD is a welcomed return to form after venturing to the dark side on 2009's Rated R. Understandably, she had her own personal matters to cope with at the time.  Rihanna though, always has been synonymous with fun Pop Music and inasmuch as I support trying new things, at the same time there is an unsaid expectation from the Public that an artist shouldn't veer too far out of character.

Much of the reason why this new album works so well is the electric chemistry Rihanna has with American-based Swedish producers Stargate, who have helped her achieve a sound which worked best for her on 2008's Good Girl Gone Bad. That album spawned smash hits Don't Stop the Music and Take a Bow. Since then, they have reached number one together on Billboard's Hot 100 Chart with both singles Rude Boy and Only Girl (in the World).

Some of the stronger tracks on LOUD are also collaborations with Stargate including second single What's My Name? (ft. Drake), Complicated and also Fading, all somewhat of a sonic continuation of where she left off with Rude Boy - euphoric, melodic and heavy on the synth and percussion. What makes these tracks distinctly hers is the catchy Island-influenced refrains she crafts, whether it be "ella ella ella", "eh eh eh", "away away away" or just simply "na na", Rihanna sure understands the meaning of infectious. Racy potential third single S&M is exactly as naughty as its title suggests, with the Bajan export proving that she is now fully a Woman, declaring "Sex in the air/ I don't care 'cause I like the smell of it".

Taking cues from BFF Katy Perry, Rihanna goes Pop Rock on the superb California King Bed, which although is no match to Perry's Teenage Dream, it is equally feel-good in its bittersweet melancholy - a reflection on passionate love. The track is a true testament to her coming into her own as a Vocalist, as she has made leaps and bounds in terms of strength over the past couple years. She also shares in Perry's love of the Bottle  on Avril Lavigne-sampling Cheers (Drink to That) - a reminder that the Party Girl has returned.