• "Talk That Talk" by Rihanna
  Label: Def Jam
  Release Date: November 21st 2011

Before I actually listened to Talk That Talk, from the bold album title – I thought Rihanna would be defending herself from the scrutiny. You know how artists always have that one album, or at least those couple of songs on an album where they take a swing at critics and haters who disapprove of their material because it’s so artificial and lacks any real sort of essence? Yeah, that’s what I thought Talk That Talk was gonna be able. Rihanna making an attempt to back up that she may be the #1 chick in the game.

Boy was I wrong.

Talk That Talk is Rihanna taking her sexy cuts from previous albums like the bubbly “Push Up On Me” from Good Girl Gone Bad, with a dash of “Rude Boy” from her album Rated R, and a pinch of “Skin” from Loud. This combination makes this definitely Rihanna’s raunchiest album to date, with the smuttiest level over 9000.

While Talk That Talk may be the album that finally breaks through the glossy poppiness into the core of who Rihanna actually is, this may be one of Rihanna’s in-cohesive albums to date. If you’re expecting some sort of growth between Loud and this album – keep looking my friend because it doesn’t exist. While there are some gems that live on this album, the bulk of it seems just thrown together to complete something by the fourth quarter of 2011. Should we give her a break however, considering that this album was originally going to be a re-release of Loud? Nah, nuts to that. She knew what she was getting into.

The album starts off with the automatically single worthy “You Da One”, which marks Rihanna’s first collaboration with major producer Dr. Luke and penned by Ester Dean. The song is just so radio friendly, with Rihanna crooning over this reggae influenced pop hit. Following that are the two Calvin Harris records, incredibly strong in their own right. “Where Have You Been” – which plays to Rihanna’s studio strengths of the large powerful vocals over a dubstep influenced beat. Definitely one of my favorite tracks off the album. The second comes in the lead single “We Found Love” which follows the same formula, however – not as dope as the previous. It took the music video to breathe any sort of life into this record, and that’s okay. Sometimes visuals are what we need. After this track however, Rihanna strips down from her pop radio sound into a much more sex number – showcasing the lovely vixen that she is.

The first comes in the form of “Talk That Talk” featuring Jay-Z, which is a bit of an underwhelming record to have such a big name feature on. StarGate, if this is what you brought on your first sort of collaboration at all with Hov – you can keep that, and stay off his next album as well. The record swings back my way with the raunchy “Cockiness (Love It)” with the oh so delicious lyrics, “Suck my cockiness, lick my persuasion/Eat my words and then swallow your pride down.” How could you not love that? Bangladesh came strong on this one, keeping with Rihanna’s sound of a reggae themed joint. This by no means could ever be a single, and if it was – if you thought S&M being banned was bad – the video for this one will be enclosed in a capsule and shot into the sun. “Birthday Cake” follows that, and it may be one of Rihanna’s biggest mistakes – hell, the biggest mistake on the album thus far. What definitely sounded like the strongest track on the album, was cut down to a measly 1 minute and 18 seconds. “Birthday Cake” is an absolute banger, and if she’s smart – she’ll release the full thing solely as a single.

At this point, Rihanna pulls the plug on any sort of sexual fantasy you were having with her – now diving into the “love” part of the album. Really? We were just getting things under way and you pull out the love card? Rihanna comes strong on the track “We All Want Love”, a midtempo citing we all just want to be love in the end. “Drunk On Love” and “Roc Me Out”, like the rest of the album, doesn’t explore any new area whatsoever. In fact, these two records sound the most like previous Rihanna records. But we’re pulled back into the the island pop swing of things with the Hit Boy produced “Watch N Learn” – which features several fun elements like that can be found on his other single, “Ni**as In Paris”. The combination of him and Priscilla Renea got Rihanna down to the core on this one, and I can see this as a future single.

“Farewell” is the standard big ballad closer that will more than likely be a single on the album as well. With the same content as Adele’s “Someone Like You” and the similar big sounds like the Rated R cut “Fire Bomb”, this will serve as a future Rihanna single for sure. It’s just got all the elements.

On the bonus track side, the only one you may need to worry about is the Chase & Status produced “Red Lipstick” which borrows a dirty grungy dubstep theme over another sexual and dirty Rihanna track. Luckily they don’t borrow too many elements from the Nicki Minaj demo “Saxon” that surfaced years ago, prior to Rated R. “Do Ya Thang” and “Fool In Love” are automatically trash bin worthy – don’t worry bout those.

Overall, Talk That Talk had it’s moments. And it’s moments played to Rihanna’s strengths – catchy reggae themed pop singles. Yet overall, 10 years down the line – this album won’t be remembered in any sort of capacity. In fact, next November we’ll probably have a new album from Rihanna where she begins to rehash joints from this album. What I hope Rihanna does after the promotion and 5 or 6 singles Def Jam will release from this album, is to sit down – and attempt to create something meaningful. Good Girl Gone Bad was a game changer for you, Rated R was a game changer, hell – even Loud was the full culmination of you defining yourself as an artist. This album showed no growth, and has tread no new real boundaries.

Meelz’ Favorites: “Where Have You Been”, “Cockiness”, “Birthday Cake”, “We All Want Love”, “Watch N Learn”, “You Da One”