(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.
| -- Degrees -- | 10 | 20 | 30 | 40 | 50 | 60 | 70 | 80 | 90 | 100 |
| 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 | | |||||||||
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."
Steam Meter Rating
ok i like this cd. not great though. its a good dance album. (pink comes to mind).
Awesome album! I love every song. This is truely an album I can let play song to song. Great job Rihanna, I Love your talent.
This my Stuff. Rihanna is da new hot girl now. Best Album this year tied with Ms. Kelly Rowland
Its a hott album. A lot of time she sounds like other artist, but its still hott.
THIS ALBUM IS MY SHIT!!!
Definetly loving Rihanna's new album she really showed growth and maturity on this album and im glad to see that Brandy album Afrodisiac was her inspiration in making this album cause it definetly was a Classic just like Rihannas own...
Favorite Tracks
Rehab
Good Girl Gone Bad
Lemme Get That
Dont Stop The Music
Breaking Dishes
Hate That I Love You...