Music Album: Unapologetic by Rihanna

Barely a year since she released her last album, Rihanna returns with the cocky and extremely confident Unapologetic. An album many critics have described as an open love letter to Chris Brown, with rumours that they have rekindled their romance. Why the album maybe considered to be an ode to 'Brown is largely due to their collaboration Nobody's Business where they both sing 'Ain't nobody business but mine and my baby...'

Diamonds, the Sia-penned first single is a sombre ballad that sees her take a break from the dance/pop first singles she explored with her last two albums. I give credit to her for exploring a different music direction but the truth is that it does not set the tone for the album. Other songs that stand out and sound different just like Diamonds are the bonus track Half of Me, penned by Emeli Sande and Stay (Featuring Mikky Ekko). On songs like the dark Love Without Tragedy/Mother Mary and reggae-tinged No Love Allowed, she sings about love lost and the turmoil of being in love, the former containing lyrics like - "...you use to be this boy I love, and I use to be this girl of your dreams, who knew the course of this one drive injured us fatally, you took the best years of my life and I took the best years of your life..." - which could be referencing the infamous incident that occurred between her and Chris Brown in 2009, thereby providing another reason why the album was inspired by him.

Unapologetic pretty much explores new urban r&b sounds which have not been her musical trend in recent years, as we see on songs like Fresh Off the Runway, Loveeee Song, Jump and the stripper anthem Pour It Up. In my opinion I think she actually sounds better on the ballads than she does on the up-tempos this time around. There is something very dark about the overall theme of the album that makes it sound like an extension of her 2009 album, Rated R, and just like 'R, the album does sound rushed, yet stands strong. Just like her past three albums she maintains the same formula in the sense that there are upbeat songs, some ballads and a song or two inspired by her caribbean roots.