Unapologetic has come every with me since I got it - to work, in my car and on my runs. The second time I played it through I found myself singing along to a lot of the tracks (I apologise Rihanna).
However, there is a fresh sound to it too.
Overall it's a solid album and there some welcome surprises.
In the past I've seemed to enjoy the upbeat and sexual songs she's known for but this time, I'm more partial to the songs that have a fresh sound for the star.
Of course we get the 'I don't give a damn and I'll embrace my sexuality if I like' Rihanna we all love. However, we also get introduced to a raw and softer side, particularly in my favourite track of the album Stay and Mother Mary, which is a two-part track which starts off with Love Without Tragedy. It's a refreshing change.
Unapologetic is Rihanna's seventh album in seven years and she still seems to have plenty to work with when it comes to her music. She's still pumping out good music and I hope she continues to.
I'm just wondering when she's going to slow down or run out of material ... but going by her track Right Now, I'd say she's making the most of the present.
Track by Track
Here is a round down of Unapologetic - song, by song.
Fresh Off the Runway - Your first introduction to the album, an upbeat track and a classic Rihanna start.
Diamonds - No explanation needed. You Know it. The first single from the album.
Numb featuring Eminem - Catchy. Eminem is amazing.
Pour It Up - I'm loving this song. A good tune, catchy, a little gangsta in a good way. Lyrics may not have taken too much effort. Kind of a mind ya business kind of track.
Loveeeeee Song featuring Future - A fave of the album. Lyrically sound.
Jump - a slight reminder of Skin from the Loud album, just slightly harder and faster. There's a bit of a dubstep sound in there, in which I can just imagine people jumping around to it. Also incorporates Ginuwine's Pony lyrics.
Right Now - the David Guetta featured track - and it's obvious Guetta appears as soon as it starts. It's a feel good song. It took me a couple of times to listen to it before I became a fan, but eventually I loved it.
What Now - shows Rihanna's softer side. Incorporates some soft and harder sounds.
Stay featuring Mikky Ekko - My ultimate fave of the album. It's soft and a little old-school sounding. It's a nice break in the album. A nice break from the more intense songs.
Nobody's Business - When I first heard Nobody's Business I was a little disappointed. I was expecting amazing things from the two of them together as R&B; heavyweights. It is a decent track, just not the gold I thought they would provide. However, the more I hear it, the more it grows on me.
Love Without Tragedy/Mother Mary - a two-part track which starts off with Love Without Tragedy (familiarity with Message in a Bottle by The Police) before just over two minutes into it, switches to Mother Mary - a deep and prayer-like track.
Get It Over With - Not that fussed about this song.
No Love Allowed - it's her token reggae-sounding track which shows off her gorgeous accent.
Lost In Paradise - Another fave. Good sound to it and very current.
